In an evil day Charles Monnier, enrolled in the National Guard, had received promotion in that patriotic corps. From that date he began to neglect his shop, to criticise military matters, and to think that if merit had fair play he should be a Cincinnatus or a Washington, he had not decided which. "Yes," resumed Charles, ladling out the punch, "thou hast wit enough to perceive that our generals are imbeciles or traitors; that _gredin_ Bonaparte has sold the army for ten millions of francs to Bismarck, and I have no doubt that Wimpffen has his share of the bargain. McMahon was wounded conveniently, and has his own terms for it. The regular army is nowhere. Thou wilt see--thou wilt see--they will not stop the march of the Prussians. Trochu will be obliged to come to the National Guard. Then we shall say, 'General, give us our terms, and go to sleep.' "I shall be summoned to the council of war. I have my plan. I explain it--'tis accepted--it succeeds. I am placed in supreme command--the Prussians are chased back to their sour-krout. And I--well--I don't like to boast, but thou'lt see--thou'lt see--what will happen." "And thy plan, Charles--thou hast formed it already?" "Ay, ay,--the really military genius is prompt, _mon petit Armand_--a flash of the brain. Hark ye! Let the Vandals come to Paris and invest it. Whatever their numbers on paper, I don't care a button; they can only have a few thousands at any given point in the vast circumference of the capital. Any fool must grant that--thou must grant it eh?" "It seems just." "Of course. Well, then, we proceed by sorties of 200,000 men repeated every other day, and in twelve days the Prussians are in full flight. The country rises on their flight--they are cut to pieces. I depose Trochu--the National Guard elects the Saviour of France. I have a place in my eye for thee. Thou art superb as a decorator--thou shalt be Minister des Beaux Arts. But keep clear of the canaille. No more strikes then--thou wilt be an employer--respect thy future order." [Charles Monnier seems to have indiscreetly blabbed out his "idea," for it was plagiarised afterwards at a meeting of the National Guards in the Salle de la Bourse by Citizen Rochebrune (slain 19th January, 1871, in the affair of Montretout). The plan, which he developed nearly in the same words as Charles Monnier, was received with lively applause; and at the close of his speech it was proposed to name at once Citizen Rochebrune General of the National Guard, an honour which, unhappily for his country, the citizen had the modesty to decline.]