“Gentlemen,” he thundered, “the ludicrous outrage of which you have been informed affects not simply and solely a Member of the Cabinet, it affects the Government itself, the Chamber as a whole, it is a blow aimed at the entire Country, an insult you can never brook! more than ever Paris lies terror-stricken at the crimes of Fantômas and his accomplices. This is no time to mitigate stern measures—far from it, we must show a hand of iron! As Minister of Justice, I give you my guarantee that the most peremptory orders shall be issued for the wretches guilty of these acts of violence, the last of which was directed specially at myself, to be energetically pursued and then punished with the utmost rigour of the law. The danger is not one to make us draw back, it should inspirit us to go forward! The Government will ask your suffrages, pledging itself to respect the claims of Right, of Justice and of the Public Safety!” A thunder of acclamation greeted the Minister’s bold words, while from divers quarters came cries of: “The names!... the names of the malefactors!... Juve!... Fantômas!... The police—to work, the police ... Jérôme Fandor!... down with the Press!...” Again and again cries were repeated and through the ever swelling roar of this human flood, that tossed like a tempestuous sea, pierced again and again the names of Juve, Fantômas, and above all of Fandor: “Fandor is at large!... Fandor has disappeared!... arrest Fandor!... lock up Fandor!...” Standing like a statue in the tribune, arms crossed on his breast, eyes aflame, as he looked down at his fellow-members, Désiré Ferrand signalled his assent and approval. But his authority must win a sanction, his power be reinforced, and as the Minister left the tribune, not without reiterating his promise that the sternest and most peremptory orders should be given the whole police force for the arrest of the criminals, a member, leader of one of the most important parties, laid on the table of the House the draft of a motion; this was immediately read by the Clerk of the Chamber, as follows: “_The Chamber, justly indignant, but confidently relying on the Government’s declaration of its resolve energetically to pursue the criminal or criminals guilty of the unspeakable outrage whereof the Minister of Justice has been the victim, hereby offers the latter its sincere and heartfelt sympathy, and proceeds to the order of the day._” The motion was received with unanimous shouts of approval. By show of hands the Chamber voted the order of the day, as proposed, and when, for custom’s sake, the President demanded if any were of the contrary way of thinking, not a hand was raised, not a protest was heard. “By 527 votes in a house of 527 members present, the order of the day is approved!” announced the President triumphantly, as he vacated the chair. “The first time in history,” declared the old hands of the Palais-Bourbon, “the Chamber has ever recorded a unanimous vote!”