Rougon's name flew from mouth to mouth, with exclamations of surprise in the new town, and of praise in the old quarter.

The idea of being without a sub-prefect, a mayor, a postmaster, a receiver of taxes, or authorities of any kind, at first threw the inhabitants into consternation.

They were stupefied at having been able to sleep through the night and get up as usual, in the absence of any settled government.

Their first stupor over, they threw themselves recklessly into the arms of their liberators.

The few Republicans shrugged their shoulders, but the petty shopkeepers, the small householders, the Conservatives of all shades, invoked blessings on those modest heroes whose achievements had been shrouded by the night.