Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/438

 d'Ulm. Arrived at No. 38, the apartment of M. Fourès, father-in-law of Millière, was searched with particular care. No one was discovered, but a soldier watching at the door saw the ex-deputy in the act of escape. Seeing all hope impossible, he drew his revolver and fired six times, but without wounding any one.

He was immediately conducted before General de Cissey, where he replied with firmness to the questions made to him. He was then directed towards the Pantheon. As he mounted the steps of the peristyle, an officer pointed out to him the traces of balls. It was there that, two days before, thirty National Guards were shot by his orders for having refused to defend the barricades.

Arrived at the top of the steps he stood facing the soldiers, when an officer obliged him to turn his face towards the door of the church, with his back to the troops; but by counter-order of a superior officer, he was again made to resume his former position, at the same time being forced to kneel.

Millière uncovered his breast, and, lifting his right arm, cried in a loud tone, "Vive la République! Vive le Peuple! Vive l'Humanité! Vive." A discharge of chassepots interrupted his last words, and he fell leaning towards his left side.

His shirt was pierced with balls near the heart, over which a large stain of blood appeared. One ball had struck him in the right eye. An officer then approached, and, placing his revolver at his ear, fired, giving him the coup de grâce. Millière's wife had been killed on the previous day fighting at a barricade.

On the same day another of Millière's associates met the just reward of his crimes. This was Jules Vallès, the man who, in writing of defending Paris, said that the Commune would defend it by every means, and added: "If M. Thiers is a chemist, he will understand us."