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Paris had just heard of the disaster of Sedan. The Republic wasproclaimed. All France was panting from a madness that lasted untilthe time of the commonwealth. Everybody was playing at soldier fromone end of the country to the other.

Capmakers became colonels, assuming the duties of generals;revolvers and daggers were displayed on large rotund bodiesenveloped in red sashes; common citizens turned warriors,commanding battalions of noisy volunteers and swearing liketroopers to emphasize their importance.

The very fact of bearing arms and handling guns with a systemexcited a people who hitherto had only handled scales and measuresand made them formidable to the first comer, without reason. Theyeven executed a few innocent people to prove that they knew how tokill, and in roaming through virgin fields still belonging to thePrussians they shot stray dogs, cows chewing the cud in peace orsick horses put out to pasture. Each believed himself called uponto play a great role in military affairs. The cafès of the smallestvillages, full of tradesmen in uniform, resembled barracks or fieldhospitals.

Now the town of Canneville did not yet know the exciting news ofthe army and the capital. It had, however, been greatly agitatedfor a month over an encounter between the rival political parties.The mayor, Viscount de Varnetot, a small thin man, already old,remained true to the Empire, especially since he saw rising upagainst him a powerful adversary in the great, sanguine form of DrMassarel, head of the Republican party in the district, venerablechief of the Masonic lodge, president of the Society of Agricultureand the Fire Department and organizer of the rural militia designedto save the country.

In two weeks he had induced sixty-three men to volunteer in defenseof their country--married men, fathers of families, prudent farmersand merchants of the town. These he drilled every morning in frontof the mayor's window.

Whenever the mayor happened to appear Commander Massarel, coveredwith pistols, passing proudly up and down in front of his troops,would make them shout, "Long live our country!" And this, theynoticed, disturbed the little viscount, who no doubt heard in itmenace and defiance and perhaps some odious recollection of thegreat Revolution.

On the morning of the fifth of September, in uniform, his revolveron the table, the doctor gave consultation to an old peasantcouple. The husband had suffered with a varicose vein for sevenyears but had waited until his wife had one too, so that they mightgo and hunt up a physician together, guided by the postman when heshould come with the newspaper.

Dr Massarel opened the door, grew pale, straightened himselfabruptly and, raising his arms to heaven in a gesture ofexaltation, cried out with all his might, in the face of the amazedrustics:

"Long live the Republic! Long live the Republic! Long live theRepublic!"

Then he dropped into his armchair weak with emotion.

When the peasant explained that this sickness commenced with afeeling as if ants were running up and down his legs the doctorexclaimed: "Hold your peace. I have spent too much time with youstupid people. The Republic is proclaimed! The Emperor is aprisoner! France is saved! Long live the Republic!" And, running tothe door, he bellowed: "Celeste! Quick! Celeste!"

The frightened maid hastened in. He stuttered, so rapidly did hetry to speak" "My boots, my saber--my cartridge box--and--theSpanish dagger which is on my night table. Hurry now!"

The obstinate peasant, taking advantage of the moment's silence,began again: "This seemed like some cysts that hurt me when Iwalked."

The exasperated physician shouted: "Hold your peace! For heaven'ssake! If you had washed your feet oftener, it would not havehappened." Then, seizing him by the neck, he hissed in his face:"Can you not comprehend that we are living in a republic, stupid;"

But the professional sentiment calmed him suddenly, and he let theastonished old couple out of the house, repeating all the time:

"Return tomorrow, return tomorrow, my friends; I have no more timetoday."

While equipping himself from head to foot he gave another series ofurgent orders to the maid:

"Run to Lieutenant Picard's and to Sublieutenant Pommel's and sayto them that I want them here immediately. Send Torcheboeuf to metoo, with his drum. Quick now! Quick!" And when Celeste was gone hecollected his thoughts and prepared to surmount the difficulties ofthe situation.

The three men arrived together. They were in their working clothes.The commander, who had expected to see them in uniform, had a fitof surprise.

"You know nothing, then? The Emperor has been taken prisoner. Arepublic is proclaimed. My position is delicate, not to sayperilous."

He reflected for some minutes before the astonished faces of hissubordinates and then continued:

"It is necessary to act, not to hesitate. Minutes now are worthhours at other times. Everything depends upon promptness ofdecision. You, Picard, go and find the curate and get him to ringthe bell to bring the people together, while I get ahead of them.You, Torcheboeuf, beat the call to assemble the militia in arms, inthe square, from even as far as the hamlets of Gerisaie andSalmare. You, Pommel, put on your uniform at once, that is, thejacket and cap. We, together, are going to take possession of themairie and summon Monsieur de Varnetot to transfer his authority tome. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Act, then, and promptly. I will accompany you to your house,Pommel, Since we are to work together."

Five minutes later the commander and his subaltern, armed to theteeth, appeared in the square just at the moment when the littleViscount de Varnetot, with hunting gaiters on and his rifle on hisshoulder, appeared by another street, walking rapidly and followedby three guards in green jackets, each carrying a knife at his sideand a gun over his shoulder.

While the doctor slapped, half stupefied, the four men entered themayor's house and the door closed behind them.

"We are forestalled," murmured the doctor; "it will be necessarynow to wait for reinforcements; nothing can be done for a quarterof an hour."

Here Lieutenant Picard appeared. "The curate refuses to obey," saidhe; "he has even shut himself up in the church with the beadle andthe porter."

On the other side of the square, opposite the white closed front ofthe mairie, the church, mute and black, showed its great oak doorwith the wrought-iron trimmings.

Then, as the puzzled inhabitants put their noses out of the windowsor came out upon the steps of their houses, the rolling of a drumwas heard, and Torcheboeuf suddenly appeared, beating with fury thethree quick strokes of the call to arms. He crossed the square withdisciplined step and then disappeared on a road leading to thecountry.

The commander drew his sword, advanced alone to the middle distancebetween the two buildings where the enemy was barricaded and,waving his weapon above his head, roared at the top of his lungs:"Long live the Republic! Death to traitors!" Then he fell backwhere his officers were. The butcher, the baker and the apothecary,feeling a little uncertain, put up their shutters and closed theirshops. The grocery alone remained open.

Meanwhile the men of the militia were arriving little by little,variously clothed but all wearing caps, the cap constituting thewhole uniform of the corps. They were armed with their old rustyguns, guns that had hung on chimney pieces in kitchens for thirtyyears, and looked quite like a detachment of country soldiers.

When there were about thirty around him the commander explained ina few words the state of affairs. Then, turning toward his major,he said: "Now we must act."

While the inhabitants collected, talked over and discussed thematter the doctor quickly formed his plan of campaign.

"Lieutenant Picard, you advance to the windows of the mayor's houseand order Monsieur de Varnetot to turn over the town hall to me inthe name of the Republic."

But the lieutenant was a master mason and refused.

"You are a scamp, you are. Trying to make a target of me! Thosefellows in there are good shots, you know that. No, thanks! Executeyour commissions yourself!"

The commander turned red. "I order you to go in the name ofdiscipline," said he.

"I am not spoiling my features without knowing why," the lieutenantreturned.

Men of influence, in a group near by, were heard laughing. One ofthem called out: "You are right, Picard, it is not the propertime." The doctor, under his breath, muttered: "Cowards! " Andplacing his sword and his revolver in the hands of a soldier, headvanced with measured step, his eye fixed on the windows as if heexpected to see a gun or a cannon pointed at him.

When he was within a few steps of the building the doors at the twoextremities, affording an entrance to two schools, opened, and aflood of little creatures, boys on one side, girls on the other,poured out and began playing in the open space, chattering aroundthe doctor like a flock of birds. He scarcely knew what to make ofit.

As soon as the last were out the doors closed. The greater part ofthe little monkeys finally scattered, and then the commander calledout in a loud voice:

"Monsieur de Varnetot?" A window in the first story opened and M.de Varnetot appeared.

The commander began: "Monsieur, you are aware of the great eventswhich have changed the system of government. The party yourepresent no longer exists. The side I represent now comes intopower. Under these sad but decisive circumstances I come to demandyou, in the name of the Republic, to put in my hand the authorityvested in you by the outgoing power."

M. de Varnetot replied: "Doctor Massarel, I am mayor of Canneville,so placed by the proper authorities, and mayor of Canneville Ishall remain until the title is revoked and replaced by an orderfrom my superiors. As mayor, I am at home in the mairie, and thereI shall stay. Furthermore, just try to put me out." And he closedthe window.

The commander returned to his troops. But before explaininganything, measuring Lieutenant Picard from head to foot, he said:

"You are a numskull, you are--a goose, the disgrace of the army. Ishall degrade you."

The lieutenant replied: "I'll attend to that myself." And he wentover to a group of muttering civilians.

Then the doctor hesitated. What should he do? Make an assault?Would his men obey him? And then was he surely in the right? Anidea burst upon him. He ran to the telegraph office on the otherside of the square and hurriedly sent three dispatches: "To theMembers of the Republican Government at Paris"; "To the NewRepublican Prefect of the Lower Seine at Rouen"; "To the NewRepublican Subprefect of Dieppe."

He exposed the situation fully; told of the danger run by thecommonwealth from remaining in the hands of the monarchistic mayor,offered his devout services, asked for orders and signed his name,following it up with all his titles. Then he returned to his armycorps and, drawing ten francs out of his pocket, said:

"Now, my friends, go and eat and drink a little something. Onlyleave here a detachment of ten men, so that no one leaves themayor's house."

Ex-Lieutenant Picard, chatting with the watchmaker, overheard this.With a sneer he remarked: "Pardon me, but if they go out, therewill be an opportunity for you to go in. Otherwise I can't see howyou are to get in there!"

The doctor made no reply but went away to luncheon. In theafternoon he disposed of offices all about town, having the air ofknowing of an impending surprise. Many times he passed before thedoors of the mairie and of the church without noticing anythingsuspicious; one could have believed the two buildings empty.

The butcher, the baker and the apothecary reopened their shops andstood gossiping on the steps. If the Emperor had been takenprisoner, there must be a traitor somewhere. They did not feel sureof the revenue of a new republic.

Night came on. Toward nine o'clock the doctor returned quietly andalone to the mayor's residence, persuaded that his adversary hadretired. And as he was trying to force an entrance with a few blowsof a pickax the loud voice of a guard demanded suddenly: "Who goesthere?" M. Massarel beat a retreat at the top of his speed.

Another day dawned without any change in the situation. The militiain arms occupied the square. The inhabitants stood around awaitingthe solution. People from neighboring villages came to look on.Finally the doctor, realizing that his reputation was at stake,resolved to settle the thing in one way or another. He had justdecided that it must be something energetic when the door of thetelegraph office opened and the little servant of the directressappeared, holding in her hand two papers.

She went directly to the commander and gave him one of thedispatches; then, crossing the square, intimidated by so many eyesfixed upon her, with lowered head and mincing steps, she rappedgently at the door of the barricaded house as if ignorant that apart of the army was concealed there.

The door opened slightly; the hand of a man received the message,and the girl returned, blushing and ready to weep from being staredat.

The doctor demanded with stirring voice: "A little silence, if youplease." And after the populace became quiet he continued proudly:

Here is a communication which I have received from the government."And, raising the dispatch, he read:

"Old mayor deposed. Advise us what is most necessary. Instructionslater.
"For the Subprefect,"SAPIN, Counselor."

He had triumphed. His heart was beating with joy. His handtrembled, when Picard, his old subaltern, cried out to him from theneighboring group:

"That's all right; but if the others in there won't go out, yourpaper hasn't a leg to stand on." The doctor grew a little pale. Ifthey would not go out--in fact, he must go ahead now. It was notonly his right but his duty. And he looked anxiously at the houseof the mayoralty, hoping that he might see the door open and hisadversary show himself. But the door remained closed. What was tobe done? The crowd was increasing, surrounding the militia. Somelaughed.

One thought, especially, tortured the doctor. If he should make anassault, he must march at the head of his men; and as with him deadall contest would cease, it would be at him and at him alone thatM. de Varnetot and the three guards would aim. And their aim wasgood, very good! Picard had reminded him of that.

But an idea shone in upon him, and turning to Pommel, he said: "Go,quickly, and ask the apothecary to send me a napkin and a pole."

The lieutenant hurried off. The doctor was going to make apolitical banner, a white one, that would, perhaps, rejoice theheart of that old legitimist, the mayor.

Pommel returned with the required linen and a broom handle. Withsome pieces of string they improvised a standard, which Massarelseized in both hands. Again he advanced toward the house ofmayoralty, bearing the standard before him. When in front of thedoor, he called out: "Monsieur de Varnetot!"

The door opened suddenly, and M. de Varnetot and the three guardsappeared on the threshold. The doctor recoiled instinctively. Thenhe saluted his enemy courteously and announced, almost strangled byemotion: "I have come, sir, to communicate to you the instructionsI have just received."

That gentleman, without any salutation whatever, replied: "I amgoing to withdraw, sir, but you must understand that it is notbecause of fear or in obedience to an odious government that hasusurped the power." And, biting off each word, he declared: "I donot wish to have the appearance of serving the Republic for asingle day. That is all."

Massarel, amazed, made no reply; and M. de Varnetot, walking off ata rapid pace, disappeared around the corner, followed closely byhis escort Then the doctor, slightly dismayed, returned to thecrowd. When he was near enough to be heard he cried: "Hurrah!Hurrah! The Republic triumphs all along the line!"

But no emotion was manifested. The doctor tried again. "The peopleare free! You are free and independent! Do you understand? Be proudof it!"

The listless villagers looked at him with eyes unlit by glory. Inhis turn he looked at them, indignant at their indifference,seeking for some wore that could make a grand impression, electrifythis placid country and make good his mission. The inspirationcame, and turning to Pommel, he said "Lieutenant, go and gee thebust of the ex-emperor, which is in the Council Hall, and bring itto me with a chair."

And soon the man reappears, carrying on his right shoulder NapoleonII in plaster and holding in his left hand a straw-bottomed chair.

Massarel met him, took the chair, placed it on the ground, put thewhite image upon it, fell back a few steps and called out insonorous voice:

"Tyrant! Tyrant! Here do you fall! Fall in the dust and in themire. expiring country groans under your feet Destiny has calledyou the Avenge, Defeat and shame cling to you. You fall conquered,a prisoner to the Prussians, and upon the ruins of the crumblingEmpire the young and radian Republic arises, picking up your brokensword."

He awaited applause. But there was no voice, no sound. Thebewildered peasants remained silent. And the bust, with its pointedmustaches extending beyond the cheeks on each side, the bust, somotionless and well groomed as to be fit for a hairdresser's sign,seemed to be looking at M. Massarel with a plaster smile, a smileineffaceable and mocking.

They remained thus face to face, Napoleon on the chair, the doctori front of him about three steps away. Suddenly the commander grewangry.

What was to be done? What was there that would move this people andbring about a definite victory in opinion? His hand happened torest on his hip and to come in contact there with the butt end ofhis revolver under his red sash. No inspiration, no further wordwould come. But he drew his pistol, advanced two steps and, takingaim, fired at the late monarch. The ball entered the forehead,leaving a little black hole like a spot, nothing more. There was noeffect. Then he fired a second shot, which made a second hole, thena third; and then, without stopping, he emptied his revolver. Thebrow of Napoleon disappeared in white powder, but the eyes, thenose and the fine points of the mustaches remained intact. Then,exasperated, the doctor overturned the chair with a blow of hisfist and, resting a foot on the remainder of the bust in a positionof triumph, he shouted: "So let all tyrants perish!"

Still no enthusiasm was manifest, and as the spectators seemed tobe in a kind of stupor from astonishment the commander called tothe militiamen:

You may now go to your homes." And he went toward his own housewith great strides, as if he were pursued.

His maid, when he appeared, told him that some patients had beenwaiting in his office for three hours. He hastened in. There werethe two varicose-vein patients, who had returned at daybreak,obstinate but patient.

The old man immediately began his explanation: "This began by afeeling like ants running up and down the legs."