Then,
remembering in good time, despite their excitement, that the manager of
the Opera had done nothing to deserve injury to himself or his
property, they paused in this work of destruction, and with the sudden
caprice of children, gave out ringing cheers for him and for Pequita;--
while their uncertainty as to what to do next was settled for them by
Paul Zouche, who, mounting on one of the pedestals which supported the
columns of the entrance to the Opera, where his wild head, glittering
eyes and eager face looked scarcely human, cried out:
"Damnation to Carl Perousse! Why do you idle here, my friends, when you
might be busy! If you want Freedom, seek it from him who is to be your
new Prime Minister!"
A prolonged yell of savage approval answered him,--and like an angry
tide, the crowd swept on and on, gathering strength and force as it
went, and pouring through the streets with fierce clamour of shouting,
and clash of hastily collected weapons,--on and on to the great square,
in the centre of which stood the statue of the late King, and where the
house of Carl Perousse occupied the most prominent position. And the
moon, coming suddenly out of a cloud, stared whitely down upon the
turbulent scene,--one too often witnessed in history, when, as Carlyle
says, 'a Nation of men is suddenly hurled beyond the limits.
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