Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/369

 repression, by force of arms, of the riot of the 22d of January, which was the sequence of the 31st of October.

After inquiry upon inquiry, Citizen Protot, grand judge, himself acknowledged that there was no ground for continuing the prosecution.

As Chaudey was still, however, retained in confinement, M. Rousse, advocate, took the necessary steps to obtain his release.

"No formal requisitions will be made against Gustave Chaudey," said Citizen Protot; "only, what would you have? Raoul Rigault is fort monté contre lui, and wishes absolutely to have him shot. But no. Leave him in prison and nothing shall be done to him."

Having first been confined in the Mazas Prison, he was later removed to Sainte-Pélagie, where, on Tuesday night, May 23d, at eleven o'clock, his cell was brusquely entered by Raoul Rigault, who said:

"Well, you are to be shot to-day now  instantly !"

After the first moment of surprise, Chaudey replied:

"You know that I have only done my duty. You come to kill me without any mandate, any judgment. It is not an execution but an assassination."

Raoul Rigault, however, interrupted him with imprecations, and Chaudey was dragged outside.

There, while awaiting a platoon of Federals, for whom Rigault had been obliged to send, the National Guards in the prison having refused to execute the odious work demanded of them, a few more words were exchanged between the butcher and his victim. Chaudey remembered that he was both husband and a father.

"Rigault," said he, "I have a wife and child; you know it."

These words producing no effect upon his enemy, Chaudey had nothing to do but resign himself manfully to his fate. He was then led out to a road near the