When the tree was dead the Municipal Council declared that the dignity of the Republic required its removal.

For this, as they feared the displeasure of the working classes, they selected an advanced hour of the night.

However, the conservative householders of the new town got wind of the little ceremony, and all came down to the square before the Sub-Prefecture in order to see how the tree of Liberty would fall.

The frequenters of the yellow drawing-room stationed themselves at the windows there.

When the poplar cracked and fell with a thud in the darkness, as tragically rigid as some mortally stricken hero, Felicite felt bound to wave a white handkerchief.