the like, so witching were the words and glances, and laid aside his tricolor! Well may Major Lecointre shake his head with a look of severity; and speak audible resentful words. But now a swashbuckler, with enormous white cockade, overhearing the Major, invites him insolently, once and then again elsewhere, to recant; and failing that, to duel. Which latter feat Major Lecointre declares that he will not perform, not at least by any known laws of fence; that he nevertheless will, according to mere law of Nature, by dirk and blade, 'exterminate' any 'vile gladiator' who may insult him or the Nation;—whereupon (for the Major is actually drawing his implement) 'they are parted,' and no weasands slit.[1]
BLACK COCKADES
But fancy what effect this Thyestes Repast, and trampling on the National Cockade, must have had in the Salle des Menus; in the famishing Bakers'-queues at Paris! Nay such Thyestes Repasts, it would seem, continue. Flandre has given its Counter-Dinner to the Swiss and Hundred Swiss; then on Saturday there has been another.
Yes, here with us is famine; but yonder at Versailles is food, enough and to spare! Patriotism stands in queue, shivering hunger-struck, insulted by Patrollotism; while bloodyminded Aristocrats, heated with excess of high living, trample on the National Cockade. Can the atrocity be true? Nay look: green uniforms faced with red; black cockades,—the colour of Night! are we to have military onfall; and death also by starvation? For, behold, the Corbeil Cornboat, which used to come twice a day, with its plaster-of-paris meal, now comes only once. And the Townhall is deaf; and the
- ↑ Moniteur (in Histoire Parlementaire, iii. 59); Deux Amis, iii. 128–141; Campan, ii, 70–85; etc. etc.
