minutes, having business elsewhere. Suddenly the whisper of the Italian stole into his ear--"These men are fools. This is not the way to do business; this does not hurt the robber of Nice--Garibaldi's Nice: they should have left it to me." "What would you do?" "I have invented a new machine," whispered the Friend of humanity; "it would remove all at one blow--lion and lioness, whelp and jackals--and then the Revolution if you will! not this paltry tumult. The cause of the human race is being frittered away. I am disgusted with Lebeau. Thrones are not overturned by _gamins_." Before Rameau could answer, Monnier rejoined him. The artisan's face was overcast--his lips compressed, yet quivering with indignation. "Brother," he said to Rameau, "to-day the cause is betrayed"--(the word _trahi_ was just then coming into vogue at Paris)--"the blouses I counted on are recreant. I have just learned that all is quiet in the other _quartiers_ where the rising was to have been simultaneous with this. We are in a _guet-apens_--the soldiers will be down on us in a few minutes; hark! don't you hear the distant tramp? Nothing for us but to die like men. Our blood will be avenged later. Here," and he thrust a revolver into Rameau's hand. Then with a lusty voice that rang through the crowd, he shouted "_Vive le peuple_!" The rioters caught and re-echoed the cry, mingled with other cries,' "_Vive la Republique_!" "_Vive le drapeau rouge_!" The shouts were yet at their full when a strong hand grasped Monnier's arm, and a clear, deep, but low voice thrilled through his ear: "Obey! I warned you. No fight to-day. Time not ripe. All that is needed is done--do not undo it. Hist! the _sergens de ville_ are force enough to disperse the swarm of those gnats. Behind the _sergens_ come soldiers who will not fraternise. Lose not one life to-day. The morrow when we shall need every man--nay, every _gamin_--will dawn soon. Answer not. Obey!" The same strong hand quitting its hold on Monnier, then seized Rameau by the wrist, and the same deep voice said, "Come with me." Rameau, turning in amaze, not unmixed with anger, saw beside him a tall man with sombrero hat pressed close over his head, and in the blouse of a labourer, but through such disguise he recognized the pale grey whiskers and green spectacles of Lebeau. He yielded passively to the grasp that led him away down the deserted street at the angle. At the further end of that street, however, was heard the steady thud of hoofs.