On ordinary occasions, the streets of Frankfort are utterly deserted by ten o'clock. This night, however, the case was different. Groups of ill-looking, ruffianly fellows, were collected at the corners of the streets; and more than once, beneath the blouse, I could detect the glitter of a furtive weapon. There were lights and bustle in the club-houses, and every thing betokened the approach of a popular emeute. "You will do well," said I to the Swiss porter of the _Russischer Hof_ on re-entering, "to warn any strangers in your house to keep within doors to-morrow. Unless I am strangely mistaken, we shall have a repetition of the scenes in Paris to-morrow. In the mean time, I shall trouble you for my key." I rose next morning at six, and looked out of my window, half expecting to see a barricade; but for once I was disappointed--the Germans are a much slower set than the French. At nine, however, there were reasonable symptoms of commotion, and I could hear the hoarse roar of a mob in the distance whilst I was occupied in shaving. Presently up came a waiter. "The Herr Professor desires me to say that, if you have no objection, he would be glad to breakfast in your room." My apartments were on the third story. "Show him up," said I; and my friend entered as pale as death. "O August Reignold, this is a horrible business!" "Pshaw!" said I, "how can you expect unity without a row?" "But they tell me that the mob are already breaking into the assembly--into the free, inviolable, sacred parliament of Germany!" "Is that all? They might, in my humble opinion, be doing a great deal worse." "And they are beginning to put up barricades." "That's serious," said I; "however, one comfort is, that they expect somebody to attack them. Take your coffee, Professor, and let us await events with fortitude. You are tolerably safe here." The Professor groaned, for his spirit was sorely troubled. I really felt for the poor man, who was now beginning, for the first time, to taste the bitter fruits of revolution. They were as ashes in his academical mouth. There was a balcony before my window, from which I could survey the whole of the Zeil, or principal street of Frankfort. The people were swarming below as busy as a disturbed nest of ants. A huge gang of fellows, with pickaxes, took up their post immediately in front of the hotel, and began to demolish the pavement with a tolerable show of alacrity.