Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/539

 etc., as also the arrests of Rochefort, Mourot, and Assi, have already been described.

Billioray was arrested on Saturday evening in the Rue des Canettes, 19, where he was hidden under the name of Benedech. He was immediately conducted before the Grand Provost, where he was made to pass through a summary interrogatory. He denied for a long time being Billioray of the Commune and Committee of Public Safety, and it was only when confronted with a commissary of police, whom he had caused to be arrested and plundered on the 18th of March, that he ended by avowing his identity. One thousand and fifteen francs were found upon his person. He was then conducted to Versailles to await his trial.

Gambon and Lefrançais were shot in the Rue de la Banque. On Sunday morning, while the battle was still going on in Belleville, Gambon, Géresme, the two Ferrés, Lacord, and several other members of the Commune, had withdrawn to the Mairie of the 20th Arrondissement, escorted by a guard of honor, composed of forty National Guards, and of fifteen boys between fourteen and sixteen years of age, almost unable to carry their guns. The insurgents had taken these boys from the foundling hospital in the Rue d'Enfer, and had given them kepis, embroidered with yellow, had placed guns and cartridges in their hands, saying, "Fire upon whomsoever we tell you, and when we tell you." They carried the last red flag which still floated in Paris.

Gambon, whom report had killed on Thursday, was the only one who wore in his button-hole the badge of the Commune. He had even added to the ribbon, fringed with gold, a head of Liberty framed in the Masonic triangle of silver, on the three sides of which were inscribed these words: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Commune of Paris."