"Hardly had I hold of the rope--and that was not in a hurry, I can tell you,--when they stood in file! and I realised that the number of soldiers more or less had nothing to do with the matter, but that it was worth more to be a general of one's country than a minister of Louis-Philippe. At the end of a hundred yards I had to give up my place to others: they would have killed me, I believe, to take the rope from me, so I let go and planted myself in front of one of the hedges which the people formed all along the boulevard; but I was violently pushed by the surging of the crowd against a dragoon's horse, and I had one of my big toes nearly broken. It was horribly painful, but, upon my word, it seemed as though enthusiasm could give me courage to bear the pain, if not actually make me forget it, for, hopping along, I followed the cortège as far as the place d'Austerlitz. The vast crowds which were gathering there became more and more menacing. A man with a long beard was haranguing the citizens; he held a red flag, and wore a Phrygian cap. They were discussing preparations for a fight. I listened to it all without understanding much of what it meant. Suddenly, a squadron of cavalry rushed full tilt at the people in a terrible charge: several shots were fired at the same time. Although wounded in the foot, as I have said, I did not stay to be the last on the square. As I was running away, I recognised a friend of mine called Auguste. "'Where are you going?' I asked him. "'With the Republicans, of course!' he replied. "'What to do?' "'To attack all the guardhouses at the barriers. Are you coming?' "'Rather! Yes.' And I went. A few of the guardhouses made resistance, but nearly all surrendered without firing. I had no arms, to my disgust. Fortunately, during the attack on one of the positions, a young man, well dressed and with refined manners, fired a pistol; it was overloaded: the butt end went one way and the muzzle another, and the young man fell backwards. I leapt upon the muzzle, picked it up and put it in my pocket, intending to cock it on the sly. "'Good! the Republicans have artillery,' said Auguste. "Meanwhile the young man of the pistol picked himself up; he was hurt in the hand, and blood was flowing copiously. "'Where is there a piece of rag?' he said; 'who has a bit of linen?' "A boy in a blouse tore his shirt and gave strips of it to the injured man, who kissed him. "'How funny it is!' I said to Auguste. 'I have never cried at a play and yet I am crying now.'