"Accepted," said Louis, as he gazed contemptuously down on his opponent. "What do you take us for, when you talk all that nonsense against our employer, just because he has got money? Do you think we are so stupid as not to understand, that if he had no money, he couldn't give us work? For my part I wish he had a great deal more, because if he were richer, he could employ more workmen. Do you imagine that he buries his money? Doesn't it pass from his pocket into those of his men? You ask what right he has to this money,-why he gained it by selling the articles which we make, and which he pays us for making. Instead of abusing him because he has made a fortune, we should do much better if we put some of our wages into the Savings' Bank, and then we might be capitalists like him. I don't say we should be as rich-that doesn't always happen-but he began by being a workman, as we are now, some forty years ago, and as he was clever and not lazy, nor fond of wasting his time, making silly speeches to fill other people with discontent, like Clément Roux there, his master at last took him into partnership, and then by degrees he has become what he is to-day. Some of us perhaps may succeed in being like him, and all can at least save something, if we are industrious, to leave to our sons, and if they don't become rich, perhaps our grandsons may. The rich are very often the children or grandchildren of the poor-God preserve me, then, from cursing the rich, for by doing so I might be cursing my own children or grandchildren!"

"All very fine," mumbled Roux, "but it does not prevent the humiliation we must endure at having to receive wages, and being in these men's pay."

the

"Stuff and nonsense," exclaimed Louis, " isn't everybody in pay of somebody else? Is not the doctor in the pay of his patients and the lawyer of his clients, while the professor, the judge, and the officer are in the pay of the government. And you, Monsieur Clément, who come here to sow discord and

make us discontented with our wages, are not you in the pay of the International?"

This was hitting the right nail on the head, Roux looked somewhat confused and stuttered out something about those who were not friends of the people, but who supported the interest of the rich. The majority of the workmen were on Louis' side; still there were a few who sympathized with the Communists, the dispute however was suddenly interrupted by the hurried entrance of a young workman who had just returned from taking some chairs to a grand mansion in the Champs Elysées.

"News! my friends, important news!" he exclaimed, waving a newspaper in his hand. "The last edition of the Gaulois!"

"What is it, Paul?" all eagerly cried out.

"Why nothing more nor less than that we are likely to go to war with Prussia!"

"War with Prussia! Bravo, bravo!" shouted nearly all the workmen, throwing up their caps in the air, and abandoning their tools in the excitement of the moment. "Good news indeed!

Why I will cry Vive l'Empereur' for once," remarked one of the most democratic of the party.

"For my part," said Camille, "I don't see what there is to rejoice about. War will make everything dearer, many of us will be drawn by the conscription, and have to leave our work, as well as our homes and families! I am for peace, I am!"

"You, a Frenchman, Camille, and not in favour of war!" said an enthusiastic young Bonapartist. "Vive l'Empereur! À bas Bismarck! In a fortnight we shall be at Berlin."

"But the war is not declared yet," said Camille, "and perhaps there'll be none after all. This is the first I have heard about it. What is the cause, and whence comes the rumour? After all it may turn out to be a false report. Come Paul, get on the table, and read us your Gaulois."

Paul did so. The story is well known to us, it is now a

matter of history. It was the first intimation of the storm which was about to burst over Europe. A Prussian prince was a candidate for the crown of Spain. France could not stand this supposed insult, and a despatch had been sent to Berlin demanding that the prince's candidature should be withdrawn, or war would be the alternative.

CHAPTER IV.

WAR.

"Boys and girls,

And women that would groan to see a child
Pull off an insect's leg, all read of war,

The best amusement for our morning's meal.
The poor wretch who has learn'd his only prayers
From curses, who knows scarcely words enough
To ask a blessing from his heavenly Father,
Becomes a fluent phraseman, absolute
And technical in victories and defeats,
And all our dainty terms for fratricide,
As if the soldier died without a wound,
As if the fibres of this godlike frame
Were gored without a pang."

COLERIDGE.

It was the evening of the 15th July; Madame Laforce was busy at her work. Her old mother sat knitting mechanically in her chair. Louis' quick step was heard on the stairs, and flushed with excitement he suddenly burst into the room.

"It's true! quite true, mother!" he exclaimed, we shall have war, the minister has announced it in the chamber, the reserves are called out, the Emperor starts for the frontier in a few days, and in a fortnight our brave army will be at Berlin, bravo!"

"Alas! alas!" groaned Madame Laforce, as she dropped into a chair and clasped her hands, "this is sad news: how can you rejoice, Louis, when you must know, that however victorious we may be, thousands of lives must be sacrificed?

"Oh, but it is a grand thing to die for the country, my mother; it will all be for the glory of France! The Prussians have been so insolent too, our honour could not stand it any longer. It won't be a long war, I assure you, in a month's

time we shall have peace, and the Rhine for our north-eastern frontier."

"Louis! Louis," said the old grandmother, "I have twice seen the Prussians at Paris; God grant that I may not see them here again! who knows how this war may end?"

"Never fear, grandmother, the Prussians will not be allowed to set foot on French territory, I can assure you."

The door opened again and Josephine entered; her eyes were red with crying; she threw herself down into a chair, and for a long time her sobs prevented her from speaking.

"Alas! this wicked war," she sighed, "poor Pierre, he is sure now to have to go and fight; perhaps, too, he will be killed by those evil Prussians. Who would have thought it a month ago? Don't you remember telling us, Louis, that there seemed no chance of war?"

"Oh, yes! I remember it, sister, but in these days political events change very rapidly, peace one day, war the next. You ought to be glad, Josephine, perhaps Pierre will distinguish himself on the field, and become a general; who knows? I think I shall volunteer myself."

"No! no, Louis," said his mother with a shudder, your duty is not to go and fight the Prussians, but to stay at home and protect me and your sister and grandmother."

"We shall see, mother, we shall see!" said Louis.

"I could scarcely make my way here, mother," said Josephine; "all the streets and boulevards are crowded with people, the whole population seems to be out of doors. They are shouting 'À Berlin! à Berlin! Vive la guerre ! À bas Bismarck,' and singing the Marseillaise and Mourir pour la Patrie. such an excitement; I was quite frightened, I assure you. Then to think that all should be rejoicing, when so many must be slain, and what for? Just for an idea !”

never saw

"You are not a true patriot, Josephine," said her brother reproachfully. "I can't stay in such gloomy society, I shall go