"And then the left cheered?" exclaimed Flocon.
"Most emphatically," was the reply.
"And what said Guizot then?" asked Ledru Rollin.
"He calmly said that no such demonstrations could induce him to add to or withhold a single syllable of what he designed to say, or to pretermit a single act he had designed to do. As long as his Ministry remained in office he should cause public order to be respected, according to his best judgment, and as he had always done. He should consider himself answerable for all that might happen, and should in all things act as conscience might dictate for the best interests of the country."
"A noble answer!" exclaimed M. Dantès, with enthusiasm.
Ledru Rollin and Louis Blanc assented.
"And what next?" pursued Flocon.
"After considerable confusion," continued Lamartine, "M. Odillon Barrot rose and demanded, in consequence of the situation of the cabinet, a postponement of the proposition for its impeachment, fixed for to-morrow."
"Ah! And what said the Chamber?" asked Flocon.
"The demand was so loudly reprobated that M. Barrot immediately said he made the proposal in entire submission to the majority."