During the dinner a telegram signed “François Hugo” arrived, announcing
that a provisional government had been formed: Jules Favre, Gambetta,
Thiers.
September 5.--At 6 o’clock in the morning a telegram signed “Barbieux,”
and asking the hour of my arrival in Paris, is brought to me. I instruct
Charles to answer that I shall arrive at 9 o’clock at night. We shall
take the children with us. We shall leave by the 2.35 o’clock train.
The Provisional Government (according to the newspapers) is made up of
all the Deputies of Paris, with the exception of Thiers.
At noon, as I was about to leave Brussels for Paris, a young man, a
Frenchman, accosted me in the Place de la Monnaie and said:
Monsieur, they tell me that you are Victor Hugo.”
“Yes.”
“Be so kind as to enlighten me. I would like to know whether it is
prudent to go to Paris at present.”
“Monsieur, it is very imprudent, but you should go,” was my reply.
We entered France at 4 o’clock.
At Tergnier, at 6.30, we dined upon a piece of bread, a little cheese,
a pear and a glass of wine. Claretie insisted upon paying, and said:
“I want particularly to give you a dinner on the day of your return to
France.”
En route I saw in the woods a camp of French soldiers, men and horses
mingled. I shouted to them: “Long live the army!” and I wept.
At frequent intervals we came across train-loads of soldiers on their
way to Paris. Twenty-five of these passed during the day. As one of them
went by we gave to the soldiers all the provisions we had, some bread,
fruit and wine. The sun shone brightly and was succeeded by a bright
moon.
We arrived in Paris at 9.35 o’clock. An immense crowd awaited me. It was
an indescribable welcome. I spoke four times, once from the balcony of a
café and thrice from my carriage.
When I took leave of this ever-growing crowd, which escorted me to Paul
Meurice’s, in the Avenue Frochot, I said to the people: “In one hour you
repay me for twenty years of exile.”
They sang the “Marseillaise” and the “Chant du Depart.”
They shouted: “Long live Victor Hugo!”
The journey from the Northern Railway station to the Rue Laval took two
hours.
We arrived at Meurice’s, where I am to stay, at mid-night. I dined with
my travelling companions and Victor. I went to bed at 2 o’clock.
At daybreak I was awakened by a terrible storm. Thunder and lightning.
I shall take breakfast with Paul Meurice, and we shall dine together at
the Hotel Navarin, in the Rue Navarin, where my family is staying.
PARIS, September 6.--Innumerable visits, innumerable letters.
Rey came to ask me whether I would consent to join a triumvirate
composed as follows: Victor Hugo, Ledru-Rollin, and Schoelcher. I
refused. I said: “It is almost impossible to amalgamate me.”
I recalled several things to his mind. He said: “Do you remember that
it was I who received you when you arrived at the Baudin barricade?” * I
replied: “I remember the fact so well that--. And I recited the lines at
the beginning of the piece (unpublished) upon the Baudin barricade:
_La barricade était livide dans l’aurore,
Et comme j’arrivais elle fumait encore.
Rey me serra la main et dit: Baudin est mort..._
* Representative Baudin was killed on the barricade in the
Faubourg Saint Antoine on December 2, 1852, during Louis
Bonaparte’s coup d’Etat.
He burst into tears.
September 7.--Louis Blanc, d’Alton-Shée, Banville and others came to see
me.
The women of the Markets brought me a bouquet.
September 8.--I am warned that it is proposed to assassinate me. I shrug
my shoulders.
This morning I wrote my “Letter to the Germans.” It will be sent
tomorrow.
Visit from General Cluseret.
At 10 o’clock I went to the office of the Rappel to correct the proofs
of my “Letter to the Germans.”
September 9.--Received a visit from General Montfort. The generals
are asking me for commands, I am being asked to grant audiences,
office-seekers are asking me for places. I reply: “I am nobody.”
I saw Captain Feval, husband of Fanny, the sister of Alice. * He was a
prisoner of war, and was released on parole.
* Wife of Charles Hugo.
All the newspapers publish my “Appeal to the Germans.”
September 10.--D’Alton-Shée and Louis Ulbach lunched with us. Afterwards
we went to the Place de la Concorde. At the foot of the flower-crowned
statue of Strasburg is a register. Everybody comes to sign the
resolution of public thanks. I inscribed my name. The crowd at once
surrounded me. The ovation of the other night was about to recommence. I
hurried to my carriage.
Among the persons who called upon me was Cernuschi.
September 11.--Received a visit from Mr. Wickham Hoffman, Secretary of
the United States Legation. Mr. Washburne, the American Minister, had
requested him to ask me whether I did not think that some good might
result were he to intervene *officiously* and see the King of Prussia. I
sent him to Jules Favre.
September 12.--Among other callers was Frédérick Lemaître.
September 13.--To-day there is a review of the army of Paris. I am alone
in my chamber. The battalions march through the streets singing the
“Marseillaise” and the “Chant du Depart.” I hear this immense shout:
For France a Frenchman should live,
For France a Frenchman should die.*
* The “Chant du Depart.”