Beadle's Dime Library No. 157 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Sirs = Ma — they took their seats, the ex-abbe said to Bona- arte: ) ' ee The motion prevailed. Send a confidential | man to Lucien at once, that it may be an- : nounced publicly.” The general looked round, and. his eye fell on the two lieutenants at the side table, who seemed to be there on purpose to catch his lance. He nodded, and the lieutenant of | uides started up and came to him in a mo- | ment, : ‘‘ Go to the Luxembourg; report to the Presi- dent of the Council of Ancients, and he will give you an order,” said Bonaparte, in a low voice. ‘It will be necessary to.be prepared for violence on the way back. You understand?” The lieutenant saluted. ee « ‘‘CanI take my comrades. general?” The general made a grimace, ‘* You want Mourad? Whomam I to havo in his place?’ ‘*‘ Roustan, general, another Mameluke, who is now down-stairs.” , The general gave him a searching looks. ‘‘ Does he understand French?” ‘‘The same as Mourad, general, and he has the further recommendation of knowing every thief in Paris, It is the man I told you of.” The tone of their conversation had been low and guarded, and it was in the same tone that the general answered: | ‘Tf you are responsible, send him up.” The lieutenant bowed and departed. He dropped a few wordsin Arabic to M d, who | followed him, as also the lieutenant of dragoons. | Soon after they had left the room a tall, raw- | boned man, with harsh features and very pierc- Mourad, the The murmurs of gratified assent were univer- sa!; for the Council of Ancients had become sticklers for formsin the moment when they were submitting to their new master! The courier came forward with a huge yellow envelope in his belt. He was a little, withered old man, ina magnificent uniform of red velvet and gold and looked as if he could hardly ride a horse, muh less fight. “These officers will act as your escort, and you will deliver this letter forthwith to General onaparte,” said the Presideut. The courier bowed, and replied in a cracked, trembling voice: ‘‘ obey, your excelléncy.” Then he hobbled from the room, and, once outside, turned to St. George : The Red Clubs “It will be a terrible tims. have sworn to have my life if I try to deliver the order; but I am ready to shed my blood for the Council of Ancients.” Lafangere laughed reassuringly. ‘The Red Clubs are no great fighters. ‘will manage to take vou in safély.” Out in front of the palace they found a white horse, magnificently caparisoned; and the courier observed proudly: ‘*That_ is Bucephalus, my charger. Ic has been in the service of the state twenty years now; for be carried the king’s courier in tlie old times.” ‘ihe friends exchanged glances. It was clear they did not admire the virtues of the waite steed of the State in an emergency like the pres- ent. St. George whispered: ‘* We must take him between ‘us, and if they try to stop us, we'll drive Bucephalus on, if we We ing black eyes, entered the room and took up | have to kill him.” his Pigoe behind Bonaparte’s chair, dressed as a meluke, : mi ‘‘ Hallo!” observed Sieyes, “‘ have you wco heathens in your employ, general?” ~ “Yes. This one is Roustan, He understands no French atall, Ihave to converse with him in Arabie altogether, or by signs.” _ " The tall Mameluke stood stolidly at the back’ of the chairs if he heard nothing; but it was the eyes of ae that scanned the generals round him as coolly as if he had been among them ail his life. oo tee Meantime the two lieutenants and Mourad mounted horses held out in the street, and dashed off, full speed, to the Luxembourg. | The oe had gathered in groups on the sidewalk; business seemed to be suspended, and all Paris had the appearance of a city on the eve of some important event. | The 18th Brumaire and the 24 December are the same day, both fateful to France. “Tt looks like a revolution,” said Lafangere as ey rode along; ‘‘ we are in a critical pdsi- oe the people should declare against us to ay. : ‘** Revolutions,are only ple are weary of one form of ry anythirg for a change,” was the tranquil answer of St, George. ‘‘Sece how they look at | us. They are only curious, yet they know a change comes to-day. They would scowl and murmur, if they did not wish it.” They came to the Luxembourg, which they found surrounded with troops, and were halted by an officer who commanded at the great door- way. ‘ St. George and Lafangere had dismounted while Mourad held the horses. ‘* You cannot enter, gentlemen. The Council of Ancients is in session,” said the officer. ° ‘*We come from General’ Bonaparte to re- ceive the orders of his brother, who is the president of the council,” replied the creole. ‘* That is different, Pass in.” They traverse 1 the stately halis and came to the Legislative Chamber, where a great tumult seemed to be raging within. There was no sentry at the door, and, as they entered, they perceived the president on the roitrum poundisg with bis gavel for order. As soon as they were perceived silence en- sued, and St. George saluted the president. “ General Bonaparte desires to announce by us that he is at the service of the Republic, to restore order, in obedience to the commands of the Council of Ancients.” ; The grave menin long robes, who had been making such a noise, stared at these two young men, so different from themselves, with cu- roe: but the president responded: ‘** General Bonaparte has the confidence of the council, and we have issued an order assignin - him to the ipeone command of the SPR of the nation. e@ were just about to send it b our courier, but fear he.will be treated wit violence in the street. Do you feel confident to escort him back.” “Tf the President will intrust me with the order,” replied St. George, ‘‘I will deliver it to the general, dead or alive, but if the people see the uniform of the courier I cannot answer for the consequences, till the general has assumed command,” | . There were murmurs all round the chamber. i No, no; the dignity of the council.” Our courier must go.’ oe2E ’ vat? »{> “Very well, Monsieur ident, if are williig trun the risk, we take it.” beet i ” ible when the peo-, Lafangere nodded, and they helped the old mah climb up into his saddle, when Bucephalus trotted slowly out of the gate, with the step of an ancient elephant. ° ' The two officers vaulted on their horses; passed a few words to Mourad, and then set out on their hazardous journey to the Rue de la Vic oire. : Had they been alone they would have’ fear- ed nothing; but as soon as the crowd outside saw the velvet coat of the wagh my courier, they began to rux together and shout: ~~“The order! The order!’ Se BS OV Here came a cry from another quarter: 7 ie 'Honawarte +f ra It was taken up by part of the crowd; when another part roared sava ’ ‘4 bas Bonaparte! ors la loi!” [Down with Bonaparte! Outlaw him!] © © Then some one in the rear thtew a stone at the old man, and instantly rose a t con- fusion of yells, in the midst of which people came running from the side streets, and, as it seemed, in a moment, the whole place was blocked with a crowd; yelling to each other, swaying to and fro, and not one man seeming le, and ready to | to know exactly what was the matter out of the whole assembly. The old courier looked on the crowd and shook his gray head as he said: ‘It is impossible to get through. I must re- turn and report the fact to the council.” St. George and Lafangere drew their swords and took hold of the reins of Bucephalus on either sice, while Mourad the Mameluke dashed in his spurs and made his horse plunge amon the people so they cleared a space in front of the old courier. St. George exerted his voice to its utmost to be neard over the tumult. ° ** Citizens of the Republic! The nation is in peril, and Bonsparte alone can save us. Make way for the order which saves France from the Austrians and kings!” The last words struck the right chord and there was a shrill yell of ‘‘ Vive Bonaparte !” amid which a long lane was cleared as if by magic in the street. ‘*No time to lose! Forward!” shouted the creole and away went the trio. _ Mourad the Mameluke dashed along in front, swinging his long saber and uttering furious yells, while Lafangere and St. George, the former pricking Bucephalus with the point of bis sword at every few steps, made that aged steed renew his youth and fly down the street ae # colts Se : n they went for several ares, the cheers following them likes waves of the sea, till all at ouce a mob of Red Caps surged in from a side street, and a shout arose of: — ** Vive la Republique ! A bas Bonaparte !” ‘““Tt’s that villain, , With the Red Clubs,” cried Lafangere excitedly, ‘Now we must fight. You ought to have finished him last night, St. aan 44 . As he spoke the Caps rushed across the assage; and Crovasse, with a long pike in his nd 7 “We have you at last, traitors. Death to the Turks!” bisbame Yoke mee oy The other Red Caps had armed thémsélves in the hap-hazard style of the Revolution, with butcher’s cleavers, knives, pikes, forks, sickles; anything they could find or hide, — veapons had Deen banished rea the hotises of Paris after the Revolt of the ons, fo y ars before, ate rs ond Mameluke. = < ———E—EEE 'S a life, ‘Luxembourg, his busy head actors "93 had s aparte mi wear the crown ievotion to an idea, in the c generosity chooks 23 Mourad turned round in his saddle and looked back at St. George: ‘*Remember me, brother,” he said simply. ‘‘There cannot be two St. Georges any longer, and it is fit the last marquis should <cie like his father.” Lafangere heard him and so did St. George; but they had no idea what he meant till they saw him charge into the mob ot Red Caps, aii alone, and begin to cut and slesh cn aij) sices like a demon incarnate, while a broad lane opened itself though the crowd for them to ass, St. George knew well that a Paris mob, that has once tasted blood, is dangerous, and he the Rue de la Victoire, leaving Mourad behind to fight the Red Cap Club alone. When they got to the house he and Lafangere tore the old courier off bis horse and rushed bim. into the mansion and up-stairs into the middle of the throng of generals, till they came in tront of Bonaparte. Here St. George saluted hastily, and, without giving the old courier time to utter a word, whisked the big euvelope out of bis belt and handed it to the general, saying: ‘We had to cut our way through, general, and Mourad: is behind yet. Can we have leave to rescue him?” Bonaparte nodded impatiently even as he tore open the big yellow meres so full of fate to France, containing as it did the order nominat- ing him general-in-chief and announcing the ab- dication of the Directory. , “* Ay, ay, take Roustan,” he said. _. Then, as they were leaving the room, he rose and read to the excited generals: “1Sth Brumaire, in the year VIIT of the Ripritac, one and indi le. ; i ‘In view of the intense political excitcment,pre- vailing in Paris, and to secure to the sworn repre- mies § of _ —— —~ white 7 oR apes ve menace a mob of unruly spirits, a urther, in view of the fact that the Directots. Barra lins and Gohier, have basely resigned their posts, it has been resolvéd by the Council of Ancients, that their future 2 shall take place in the palace of St. Cloud, and that General Napoleon Bona be given the supreme command of the troops of the nation and directed to preserve the peace of the Re- public at any hazard. “In the name of the Republic, se — “ Livcren BONAPARTE, > M. “ President of the Council.” A mighty shout shook the room, and the offi- ‘| cers, as by one motion, flashed out their swords and shouted: ‘** Vive Bonaparte |” . None cried, ** Vive la Republique.” Already. . they began to see the differenee. The young leader, with flashing eye, thrust the paper in his breast, and cried out, as he snatched up his hat: ‘*To horse, gentlemen! I answer for the safety of France! Forward!” There was a thunder of feet, a clank of spurs and steel scabbards on the stairs, a waving of plumes, and a glitter of gold bullion, as the fu- ture marshals, dukes and kings of Europe rushed down to the street after their young chief, each eager to be first in the saddle. hey heard a wild cheering in the street far away, but thought little of it, and felt no fear of any possible mob; for generals, staff, order- lies and all, made a body of four or five hundred mounted men, all well armed. The mere im- posing presence of such a body would overawe any crowd in Christendom. Away they went with a clatter and rattle of accouterments, followed by the cheers of the people till they dashed into the broad avenue that led to the Luxembourg, and saw the whole place black with people. Bonaparte said a word to Murat, his adjutant, who rode beside bim, and out rode all the order- lies in a compact line, with their sabers drawn, shouting: . ae ® “ Clear the way!” : The crowd shrunk back on all sides in terror and admiration, as the glittering body of gen- erals and staff officers dashed by, and the shouts of ‘‘ Vive Bonaparte!” bécame louder than ever. In front of all the glittering epaulets and “<< lacings, in his simple dark green coat, hree-cornered hat, white breeches and top- boots, the least attractive figure in the crowd, rode the victor of Arcola and the Pyramids, on y Arab, his pale face eager and full of as he swept on to his destiny, looking straight before him. He never even noticed, so great was his ab- straction, a group of horsemen in the crowd at the side of the street, just dismounting round a’ space cleared among the people. ; His eyes were fixed on the palace of the dreaming of the future glories in store for darling of victory. He never looked to the-side of the street, where the last effort of the wild men of nt itself in vain opposition to the Decrees of Fate. Yet there, at the side of the street, la the ; first of many men who were to perish t of thrown away Bo- €om turned Bucepbalus into the lane and sped on to | (E(0)