"Confrere," said the Pole, "this day a movement is to be made—a demonstration on behalf of your country—"
"Of Humanity," again softly interposed the Italian. "Attend and share it," said the Pole.
"Pardon me," said Rameau, "I do not know what you mean. I am now the editor of a journal in which the proprietor does not countenance violence; and if you come to me as a member of the Council, you must be aware that I should obey no orders but that of its president, whom I— I have not seen for nearly a year; indeed I know not if the Council still exists."
"The Council exists, and with it the obligation it imposes," replied
Thaddeus.
"Pampered with luxury," here the Pole raised his voice, "do you dare to reject the voice of Poverty and Freedom?"
"Hush, dear but too vehement confrere," murmured the bland Italian; "permit me to dispel the reasonable doubts of our confrere," and he took out of his breast-pocket a paper which he presented to Rameau; on it were written these words:
"This evening May 24th. Demonstration.—Faubourg du Temple.—Watch events, under orders of A. M. Bid the youngest member take that first opportunity to test nerves and discretion. He is not to act, but to observe."
No name was appended to this instruction, but a cipher intelligible to all members of the Council as significant of its president, Jean Lebeau.
"If I err not," said the Italian, "Citizen Rameau is our youngest confrere."
Rameau paused. The penalties for disobedience to an order of the President of the Council were too formidable to be disregarded. There could be no doubt that,—though his name was not mentioned, he, Rameau, was accurately designated as the youngest member of the Council. Still, however he might have owed his present position to the recommendation of Lebeau, there was nothing in the conversation of M. de Mauleon which would warrant participation in a popular emeute by the editor of a journal belonging to that mocker of the mob. Ah! but—and here again he glanced over the paper—he was asked "not to act; but to observe." To observe was the duty of a journalist. He might go to the demonstration as De Mauleon confessed he had gone to the Communist Club, a philosophical spectator.