"I cannot, for motives of discretion bearing on divers persons, repeat in this letter the recital which I made you vivâ voce on the occasion of which you remind me. However, I wish to answer your courteous appeal by repeating here the words which served as a reason for the iniquitous order by which the life of M. Cernuschi was menaced, during the day on which the troops took possession of the prison of Ste. Pélagie and the Jardin des Plantes.
"These are the words pronounced by the general of division who gave the order of summary execution. Learning that Cernuschi had repaired to the prison, at the door of which I saw his carriage, he said to some one, whom I cannot mention, 'Ah! it is Cernuschi, the man of the 100,000 francs of the plébiscite. Return to the prison, and let him be shot within five minutes.'
"Five minutes represented the time that would be required by the bearer of the order in going to the prison from the Cèdre du Jussieu, whence the general watched the phases of the combat.
"At first I did not understand this strange phrase, but some moments after I remembered that it was the expression of a political vengeance which was about to be exercised against M. Cernuschi for having offered 100,000 francs for the propaganda which the Opposition was to make during the final plébiscite of the Empire.
"Profoundly indignant at what I had just heard, I was fortunate enough to bring about a fortuitous incident to which the already condemned victim owed his salvation.
"Such are the details I am able to furnish you with.
Hervé de Saisy.
XXIX.—(Page 386.)
"Some journals of Paris," wrote the Echo de la Dordogne, on the 19th June, 1871, "have repeated that Tony Moilin had been condemned and shot for having been taken arms in hand on the 27th May. This report is incorrect.
"One single fact was Tony Moilin reproached with: that of having on the 18th March taken possession of the mairie of his arrondissement, and having thus had a share in giving the signal for the insurrection. He was shown a kind of dismissal given by him on that day to M. Hérisson, the mayor whom he had replaced. No witness was heard.