A door opened, and a little procession passed by amidst an uproar of exclamations and hasty footsteps.

Then, standing at his table, the President rang his bell and declared the sitting open.

But few members remained silent, however, whilst one of the secretaries, a dark, lanky young man with a harsh voice, read the minutes of the previous sitting.

When they had been adopted, various letters of apology for non-attendance were read, and a short, unimportant bill was passed without discussion.

And then came the big affair, Mege's interpellation, and at once the whole Chamber was in a flutter, while the most passionate curiosity reigned in the galleries above.