Posterity may, if it pleases, believe that the Parisians were Spartans, and that they fought with desperate valour outside their walls.

I, who happen to see myself what goes on, know that all the fighting is done by the Line and the Mobiles, and that the Parisians are not Spartans.

They are showing great tenacity, and suffering for the sake of the cause of their country many hardships.

That General Trochu should pander to their vanity, by telling them that they are able to cope outside with the Prussians, is his affair.

I do not blame him.