Several, those of the Left in particular, remained in the courtyard, mingling with the National Guards and citizens.
They talked of what they were going to do.
This was the first difficulty.
The Father of the meeting was M.de Keratry.
Was he going to preside?
The Representatives who were assembled in the Great Hall were in his favor.
The Representatives remaining in the courtyard hesitated.
Marc Dufraisse went up to MM.

Jules de Lasteyrie and Leon de Maleville, who had stayed behind with the Representatives of the Left, and said to them, "What are they thinking of upstairs?
To make Keratry President?
The name of Keratry would frighten the people as thoroughly as mine would frighten the middle classes." A member of the Right, M.de Keranflech, came up, and intending to support the objection, added, "And then, think of Keratry's age.

It is madness to pit a man of eighty against this hour of danger." But Esquiros exclaimed,-- "That is a bad reason! Eighty years! They constitute a force." "Yes; where they are well borne," said Colfavru.

"Keratry bears them badly." "Nothing is greater," resumed Esquiros, "than great octogenarians." "It is glorious," added Chamiot, "to be presided over by Nestor." "No, by Gerontes,"[5] said Victor Hennequin.
These words put an end to the debate.

Keratry was thrown out.MM.