All his assurance notwithstanding, General Bonaparte fell back before the outburst produced by his and his soldiers' presence. He removed his hat and signified that he wished to speak. He made to cross the sill of the entrance, when Representative Bigonnet sprang before him, and, barring his passage and that of his armed escort, cried:
"Back—back, rash man! Leave this place at once; you violate the sanctuary of the law!"
The attitude of the Representative of the people, his forceful accents, made their impression upon General Bonaparte. He paled, hesitated, and stopped. A new outburst of indignation resounded in the hall:
"Down with the dictator!"
"Outlaw the audacious fellow!"
"Long live the Constitution!"
"Let us die at our post; long live the Republic!"
Controlling the passion which boiled within him, General Bonaparte shook his head haughtily, and seemed again, by a commanding gesture, to ask for the floor. Once more he essayed to cross the threshold of the hall, followed by his staff, when again several Representatives threw themselves in front of him, forcing him to retire; and Citizen Destrem called in a voice choked with indignation:
"General, did you, then, only conquer in order to insult the national representation?"
Anew, and with redoubled energy, the cries broke out of "Long live the Constitution! Outlaw the dictator!"