Leonard, the Baltimorean, suggested that before they
took arms up against the government; they had better investigate a
little further. With this intention they rose very early and started for
a more respectable quarter of the city. On turning the corner
they were amazed to meet the gentlemanly Corporal, who was trying the
night before to slit their throats. He wanted to know where they were
going. They plausibly assured him that "as they could not sleep in their
lodgings on account of fleas they had decided to take a mouthful of
fresh air." "Well" responded the Corporal, "you better take a mouthful
of something else. Come with me and have a 'petit verre'." They
accompanied him to the cafe and pretended to enjoy themselves, which
however, they were far from doing. After some conversation the
Corporal said:
"Mes enfants you must be around here at ten o'clock". They assured him
that they would be on hand and to have no fear. When he had departed
they quietly stepped out of the cafe and resumed their walk towards the
Tuilleries. They wandered round and round through the narrow streets
until they utterly lost their bearings. They came at last to a wide
avenue in which there seemed to be great excitement. The cafes were
all full of men and women, the sidewalks were thronged with a mad crowd,
while cries of "Vive la Commune" were heard on all sides.
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