Several of the Representatives who had already arrived had no sash of office. Some were made hastily in a neighboring house with strips of red, white, and blue calico, and were brought to them. Baudin and De Flotte were amongst those who girded on these improvised sashes.
Meanwhile it was not yet nine o'clock, when impatience already began to be manifested around them.[9]
Many shared this glorious impatience.
Baudin wished to wait.
"Do not anticipate the hour," said he; "let us allow our colleagues time to arrive."
But they murmured round Baudin, "No, begin, give the signal, go outside. The Faubourg only waits to see your sashes to rise. You are few in number, but they know that your friends will rejoin you. That is sufficient. Begin."
The result proved that this undue haste could only produce a failure. Meanwhile they considered that the first example which the Representatives of the People ought to set was personal courage. The spark must not be allowed to die out. To march the first, to march at the head, such was their duty. The semblance of any hesitation would have been in truth more disastrous than any degree of rashness.
Schoelcher is of an heroic nature, he has the grand impatience of danger.
"Let us go," he cried; "our friends will join us, let us go outside."
They had no arms.