Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/474



"In defending France, I defend Belgium.

"The Belgian Government will be against me, but the Belgian people will be with me.

"In any case, I will have my conscience.

"Receive, sir, the assurance of my distinguished sentiments,

"

Although M. Victor Hugo was not mistaken in the first portion of his declaration that "the Belgian Government will be against me, but the Belgian people will be with me," he certainly was in the latter.

The night following the publication of his letter, a mob gathered in front of his house and greeted him with anything but friendly demonstrations. He was first wakened by a ring at the door-bell, which, coming at about two in the morning, rather surprised him. Putting his head out of the window to ask who was there, he was answered, "C'est Dombrowski." Rather doubting the truth of this assertion, as Dombrowski had been reported killed, he was hesitating what to do, when a large stone crashed through the window directly above his head, quickly followed by a shower of others. At the same time, shouts were raised of "A mort! à mort!" Others facetiously informed him that the Commune had come to ask an asylum. Many called "A bas Jean Valjean!" showing at least an acquaintance with his works. Efforts were made to break open the door, which, happily for the "friend of the people," resisted these attempts. Not a window-pane in the front of the house remained intact, the front rooms were uninhabitable, and but for the timely break of day, M. Hugo might not now be alive to tell the tale.

On the following day, Victor Hugo having been invited by the Belgian Government to leave the country, and having refused, an order was issued for his ejection. It was to be supposed that this great genius, outraged by the ter