The History of a Crime: The Testimony of an Eye-WitnessHugo, Victor
History
The History of a Crime: The Testimony of an Eye-Witness
Hugo, Victor
France -- History -- 1789-1900
When the train again started Charras heaved the deep, joyous sigh of a
freed man, and said, "At last!"
He raised his eyes, and perceived his two jailers by his side.
They had got up behind him into the carriage.
"Ah, indeed!" he said to them; "you there!"
Of these two men there was only one who spoke, that one answered,--
"Yes, Colonel."
"What are you doing here?"
"We are keeping watch over you."
"But we are in Belgium."
"Possibly."
"Belgium is not France."
"Ah, that may be."
"But suppose I put my head out of the carriage? Suppose I call out?
Suppose I had you arrested? Suppose I reclaimed my liberty?"
"You will not do all that, Colonel."
"How will you prevent me?"
The police agent showed the butt-end of his pistol and said "Thus."
Charras burst out laughing, and asked them, "Where then are you going to
leave me?"
"At Brussels."
"That is to say, that at Brussels you will salute me with your cap; but
that at Mons you will salute me with your pistol."
"As you say, Colonel."
"In truth," said Charras, "it does not matter to me. It is King
Leopold's business. The Bonaparte treats countries as he has treated the
Representatives. He has violated the Assembly, he violates Belgium. But
all the same, you are a medley of strange rascals. He who is at the top
is a madman, those who are beneath are blockheads. Very well, my
friends, let me go to sleep."
And he went to sleep.
Almost the same incident happened nearly at the same moment to Generals
Changarnier and Lamoricière and to M. Baze.
The police agents did not leave General Changarnier until they had
reached Mons. There they made him get down from the train, and said to
him, "General, this is your place of residence. We leave you free."
"Ah!" said he, "this is my place of residence, and I am free? Well,
then, good-night."
And he sprang lightly back into the carriage just as the train was
starting, leaving behind him two galley sergeants dumfounded.
The police released Charras at Brussels, but did not release General
Lamoricière. The two police agents wished to compel him to leave
immediately for Cologne. The General, who was suffering from rheumatism
which he had caught at Ham, declared that he would sleep at Brussels.
"Be it so," said the police agents.
They followed him to the Hôtel de Bellevue. They spent the night there
with him. He had considerable difficulty to prevent them from sleeping
in his room. Next day they carried him off, and took him to
Cologne-violating Prussian territory after having violated Belgian
territory.
The _coup d'état_ was still more impudent with M. Baze.
They made M. Baze journey with his wife and his children under the name
of Lassalle. He passed for the servant of the police agent who
accompanied him.
They took him thus to Aix-la-Chapelle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account