By virtue of Article 68, and without waiting the initiative of the Assembly, it would have drawn up a judgment stigmatizing the crime, it would have launched an order of arrest against the President and his accomplices and have ordered the removal of the person of Louis Bonaparte to jail.

As for the Procureur-General he would have issued a warrant of arrest.

All this could have been done by half-past eleven, and at that time no attempt had been made to dissolve the High Court.

These preliminary proceedings concluded, the High Court, by going out through a nailed-up door leading into the Salle des Pas Perdus, could have descended into the street, and there have proclaimed its judgment to the people.

At this time it would have met with no hindrance.