While Charles remained in the makeshift headquarters of the War Office, anxiously awaiting news from Lucien and others, directing the troops in support of Louis Bonaparte to march everywhere, a hotel at 37 rue d'auvergne towers had already fallen into the depths of the night, and everyone was asleep.

Since 1848, when the family was concerned about the February Revolution at the time, Victor Hugo, a member of the current French National Assembly, and his family lived here, and this lavishly decorated inn has been famous as a gathering place for a large group of people who share common political or literary opinions.

And just this morning, a group of people who are dissatisfied with the current status quo held a gathering here to denounce President Louis Bonaparte and his party members.

"We didn't vote for Napoleon because he was Napoleon, at least not for me. We voted for this man because he had matured in the prison and had written several good books for the benefit of the poor class. We had hoped of him because of this, but our hopes were in vain, and he proved by his actions that he was only an unprincipled careerist, who used the expectations of the people as a stepping stone to usurp supreme power! In the past few years, he has been lawless, trampled on the law, flouted Parliament, and if we don't stop him, we all know what else he will do!

Yes and no; No matter how bravado he is, I have already seen clearly how small this puppet is at our present level, and only if we ourselves plunge the country into a state of powerless division will we give him a chance! In the next elections, we must be united. Convince the populace that he will no longer be able to stay in a position he does not deserve! ”

In the midst of impassionedness. The famous Victor Hugo made such a call like his colleagues, and they were very enthusiastically agreed.

The party did not disperse until late at night. Exhausted, Hugo returned to his suite, and soon returned to bed and fell asleep.

I don't know how long later, in a daze, he suddenly seemed to hear a sharp knock at the door, but he didn't get up because he was sleeping too deeply.

It wasn't until a moment later that he noticed someone shaking his body violently.

In a daze, he opened his eyes, and found that it was his personal servant shaking him, and his wrinkled face was now full of anxiety.

"What's the matter......" he asked in a low voice with a tiredness still remaining.

"Sir. Someone came to you just now, and it seems that the matter is urgent. The servant replied in a low voice.

"Who?"

"It's Mr. Vercini."

Hugo frowned slightly, and immediately realized that this was a friend in his council.

Why did he come to see me at this time?

Don't...... Is there something terrible going on?

As soon as I thought of this, the original tiredness and drowsiness slowly disappeared.

"Sue him, I'll go see him right away." Hugo replied as he stepped out of bed and began to dress himself.

Soon he was dressed again, and walked briskly to the reception room.

And this Congressman Versini is still sitting in a chair at the moment. But his demeanor was also very anxious, and he was obviously restless.

"My friend, what happened to make you come to me at this time?" With a puzzled expression. Hugo hurried up to meet him.

"The most terrible calamity has happened, my friend." Congressman Vercini's eyes lit up when he saw Hugo, but they quickly dimmed. "Our motherland is about to suffer!"

"What do you mean?" Hugo's eyes widened.

"Just now, a large group of army officers and soldiers poured into the city from various city gates." Councillor Vercini's face turned pale. "They moved very quickly. It looks like I'm prepared. They claimed to have come to the city on the orders of the President to maintain order...... And we didn't hear about it beforehand. ”

Although his tone was not intense, it sounded like a lightning strike to Hugo.

"This is a military coup!" He roared loudly. "What the hell brutes!"

"That's right. This is a military coup. Councillor Vercini nodded abruptly. Moreover, according to reliable sources, the primary target of the rebel army was the Palais Bourbon, and judging by the garrison of the Bourbon, I am afraid that it would ...... Now it has been taken by the rebels. ”

Hugo was silent, his heart was already cold.

The Palais Bourbon is the seat of the Parliament, and if it is occupied, it will be closed, and there will be no one to contend with Louis Bonaparte and his minions.

He understood that the worst of calamities had befallen France.

However, he soon regained his composure, and he knew that he could not let it go, even if it was only for the sake of his country. Even in the face of heavily armed soldiers, he had to act.

"We should resist! We must resist! This madman and his comrades can't be allowed to ruin this country! He shouted again, but there was no longer the panic he had just had, but a little more determination. My friend, we must act! ”

"Yes, we should resist!" Councillor Versini smiled reluctantly, as if pleased with Hugo's first reaction, "So, now I'm here...... Monsieur Hugo, you have always had a great reputation among us, and I have known for a long time that you will not stand idly by in fear at such moments. ”

"Thank you for your attention," Hugo smiled reluctantly, "well, now that time is pressing, let's not waste time, we can't let that damned Bonaparte succeed, even if he occupies the parliament, we must regroup, exercise the power given to us by the law and the people, and call on the people to stand up for freedom and eliminate that damned careerist!" ”

"I'm exactly what you think, sir." Councillor Versini nodded again, "The people have empowered us, even when we face the most terrible of situations. We must also stand up with our heads held high. So...... I gave a short notice to a few members who lived close to me and asked them to go ahead and inform other members. We want to get back together and form an interim parliament. Exercising our statutory powers! ”

"Great!" After hearing the parliamentarian's reply, Hugo was overjoyed. "Where are you going to meet?"

The councillor cautiously looked around for a moment, then replied in a low voice. "At 70 Bronsh Street......"

"Alright, let's go now, I'll hurry up and let the servant prepare the car!" Hugo immediately agreed.

"My friend, you have once again proven yourself to be a heroic son of the Motherland." The moved parliamentarian stretched out his hands and held Hugo's hand tightly.

"I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do." Hugo also shook his hand. "The front is fraught with risks, and our enemies have proven how insidious and brazen they are. But. I'm glad that we can at least fight to the death for our country...... At a time when the country is in danger, there are still so many people who have come forward regardless of their own safety......"

Just as the two of them were holding hands tightly, almost tears in their eyes, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the door. The footsteps were messy, and it looked like there was more than one person.

The two of them looked at each other, and they were a little flustered in their hearts.

As if to intensify the panic, there was a sudden knock at the door.

"Open the door! Open the door! Several yells rang out from outside the door.

"Who?" Hugo's valet asked warily.

"We're here on a mission, please open the door!" An answer came from outside the door. "Let Congressman Hugo come out and see me!"

"Sir is not here!" The servant hurriedly replied.

"According to our tip, he's here now!" The voice outside the door became more hurried and stern, "If you insist on not being there, then we will search immediately." Open the door! ”

Then, without giving the people inside a chance, the people outside the door slammed the door. The loud tom tom made the whole building shake.

"Bang!"

And it didn't last long. The door slammed open.

Then several soldiers, led by an officer, forced their way up.

They searched straight through the rooms. Hugo and Vercini were soon found.

"Who is Mr. Hugo?" The officer looked at the two men and asked rather sternly.

After glancing at Councillor Vercini, Hugo frowned.

"You don't know me? Well, I'm the one you're looking for, what do you mean! ”

"Why should I know you?" The officer's stern face suddenly sneered, and then, he took out a piece of paper from his arms and shook it at him, "Mr. Hugo, I was ordered to inform you that you have been arrested!" Now, please come with me first! ”

Then he looked at Councillor Vercigny, who was standing next to Hugo, "This gentleman, I also want to inform you that you have also been arrested!" According to the special order I received, anyone who stayed with him at this time was to be arrested! ”

This arrogant and unbridled declaration made Hugo's eyes widen in shock.

"I'm a member of the National Assembly, and so is he, we all enjoy legal immunity, what right do you have to arrest us?! Now, get me out of here right now! ”

"I don't know what immunity is, but I have orders from the chief!" The officer replied loudly, and then he waved his hand to the soldiers next to him, "Hurry up and take them all back!" ”

"You're not a policeman, what right do you have to arrest us?" Councillor Versini forcibly pushed away the hand of one of the soldiers reaching for him, while shouting a protest to the men, "Sir? Who is it? Are you Louis Bonaparte's rebels?! ”

"In accordance with the President's special decree, the police have been temporarily suspended and are now in our place." The officer explained, waving his hand and ordering the soldiers to arrest both men, "Also, the president represents the country, and you have no right to question the president's orders!" Those who rebel against orders are traitors! ”

Then, he picked up his pistol and pointed it at Councillor Vercini, "If you want to ask us what our rights are, all right, I sue you, this is our right!" According to the special order, if anyone dares to arrest him, we have the right to kill him! So, sir, I advise you not to challenge our patience! ”

The officer's arrogant speech left Hugo and Versini speechless for a while, and they did not know how to answer.

The muzzle of the black hole was pointed at them, and it was clear that if he dared to resist or even delay, he would really shoot.

Since the beginning of the revolutionary era, the officers and men of the army have always been arrogant and regard the government as dispensable, and the republic has only been established for such a short time, and it has not been able to establish authority in their hearts. They obey only the so-called governors, and there is no council in their eyes.

"France, how far will you fall!" Hugo let out a long sigh.

He understood that he had now fallen victim to a well-planned campaign and would not be able to participate in any resistance that threatened Louis Bonaparte.

He undoubtedly wanted to resist Louis Bonaparte, but that didn't mean he wanted to die in vain in this situation.

Seeing that neither of them was resisting, the soldiers also surrounded them and forcibly took them into custody. They pulled so hard that their hands hurt.

These officers and soldiers did not know anything about literature or literature, and in their eyes, Hugo was no different from those rich men who were high and high, so in order to carry out the strict orders from above, their attitude was very rude, and they only wanted to send these people back as soon as possible so that they could be handed back to the top.

The group then forcibly escorted the two councillors out of the door, down the stairs, into a carriage, and galloped towards the intended place of detention.

As he walked out of the door of the hotel, Hugo looked up at the roof of the hotel and his heart was heavy.

He knew that he might never see it again.

For he would never have begged Louis Bonaparte and his lackeys for mercy and compromise.

"You won't be crazy for long!" With endless indignation, he shouted to the officers escorting him, "Your masters, a modern-day Caligula and Nero, will fall sooner than they do!" And you will bear the same infamy as him! ”

His insults made the officer impatient, and then he waved his hand, and a soldier smashed the butt of a gun directly into his chest, causing him to lose his voice in pain.

"I don't know who Caligula and Nero are, but I do know you're talking too much nonsense, sir." The officer looked at Hugo with a slight mockery.

Victor Hugo's experience is by no means isolated.

At the same time as the wee hours of the morning, after receiving the news of the occupation of the Palais Bourbon, a large-scale arrest was carried out in Paris on time. On the basis of a blacklist drawn up in advance, a large group of soldiers scattered towards the apartments of prominent parliamentarians, newspaper editors, and opposition figures in the city, intending to arrest them one by one in accordance with a special decree signed by the President.

Because it was early in the morning, many of them were arrested in their sleep, and very few escaped. (To be continued......) R1292