And then I think I shall go to the Chamber, as I want to know what takes place there.

After that, since you desire it, I will let you go back to your own home." It was not more than half-past one when Pierre reached the Palais-Bourbon.

It had occurred to him that Fonsegue would be able to secure him admittance to the meeting-hall, but in the vestibule he met General de Bozonnet, who happened to possess a couple of tickets.

A friend of his, who was to have accompanied him, had, at the last moment, been unable to come.

So widespread was the curiosity concerning the debate now near at hand, and so general were the predictions that it would prove a most exciting one, that the demand for tickets had been extremely keen during the last twenty-four hours.