Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/370

 chapel, where, in a corner, by the light of a lantern fastened to the wall, and another carried by the overseer Berthier, the procession halted.

Either by design or hazard, the old employees of the prison, who were regarded with suspicion, and themselves destined to a near execution, were absent on that evening. Rigault only had with him the trusty followers of the Commune, the jailor Clement, Brigadier Gentil, and a friend, Préau de Vedel, a volunteer for the assassination; also the platoon for execution.

Vermesch, who had denounced Chaudey, and Pilotell, who had robbed and arrested him, were not at the rendez-*vous.

The Federals seeming to hesitate, Rigault drew his sword, and commanded them, with threats, to fire. The men aimed at first too high, and Chaudey was only wounded in the arm. Clement then fired two shots, when he fell, crying "Vive la République!"

"I will give you enough of a Republic!" cried Gentil; and rushing forward, he fired, breaking his jaw in fragments. Préau de Vedel then advanced and shot him through the head.

Gustave Chaudey was an advocate of talent, and possessed of ardent democratic sentiments. He had been formerly proscribed, was the executor of P. J. Proudhon, the advocate of G. Courbet, and the defender of the Courrier Français; and had thus given sufficient pledges to the cause of the revolution, and of such a nature, as it would seem would have obliged it to spare him. "But the revolution," says Rivarol, "kills above all those who wish to serve it"

The body of Chaudey was found shortly after the entry of the Versailles troops, and his funeral attended by all the eminent journalists and chief notables of Paris. The following address was delivered by M. Etienne Arago,