"Such was the purpose, but a manifesto of the Banquet Committee, drawn up by Marrast, it is said, and, at all events, issued in 'Le National' this morning, declaring the design not only of a banquet, but of a procession, changed everything. The address sets forth that all invited to the banquet would assemble at the Place de la Madeleine to-morrow at about noon, and thence, escorted by the National Guard, and accompanied by the students of the universities, should proceed by the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, at the extremity of the Avenue des Champs Elysees, and thence to the immense pavilion on the grounds of General Shian. Only one toast, 'Reform, and the right to assemble,' was announced to be drunk, and then a commissary of police could enter a formal protest against the whole proceeding on the spot, on which to base a legal prosecution, and the multitude would disperse." "A very sensible mode of procedure," quietly remarked the journalist, "and one eminently calculated to relieve your friend Guizot and my friend Barrot from the awkward dilemma of a direct issue." "But so thought not my friend Guizot. Like his oracle, the sage Montesquieu, he thought, 'Who assembles the people causes them to revolt.' He took fright at the manifesto, as he was pleased to dignify the simple programme in this morning's 'National,' and so, early in the sitting, it was announced that the reform banquet was utterly prohibited by M. Delessert, Prefect of Police, on the express injunction and responsibility of M. Duchatel, Minister of the Interior, by and with the advice of M. Hebert, Minister of Justice." "Ha! and what said Odillon Barrot?" cried the journalist. "He--why he said nothing at all, but immediately retired at the head of the opposition from the Chamber." "To consult?" "Of course. An hour after, they returned in a body two hundred and fifty strong, with Barrot at their head, who at once mounted the tribune and denounced the despotism of the Ministry in forbidding the peaceful assembling of the citizens, without tumult or arms, to discuss their political rights. Duchatel replied, under great excitement. "'Shall reform committees dare to call out the National Guard at their pleasure?' he asked. "'Will you dare to call out the National Guard?' retorted De Courtais, fiercely. 'Only try it!' "'The Government of France will never yield!' rejoined the Minister, pale with fury. "'Speak in your own name, Monsieur!' shouted Flocon. "'I shall never speak in yours!' was the answer. "'You play the game of menace!' cried Lesseps. "'The Government will never yield!' again vociferated Duchatel. "'Those were the very words of Charles X.!' observed M. Dantes, sternly. The entire left responded in a terrific roar. "'There is blood in those words!' shouted Ledru Rollin.