All of a sudden we saw, coming from the direction of Boulevard Poissonniere, a sheet of fire, which spread and came on rapidly.

I can vouch for the fact that, before the fusillade began, there had been no report of fire-arms, and that not a single shot had been fired from any of the houses between the Cafe Frascati and the spot where I stood.

At last we saw the soldiers before us level their muskets and threaten us.

We took refuge on Rue Taitbout, under a porte-cochere.

At the same moment the balls flew over our heads, and all around us.