noon
All the doors were left open . He made an ostentatious show of his presidency over a non-existent council in the midst of this desert , and appeared so deeply impressed with the responsibility of his mission that the doorkeeper , meeting him two or three times in the passages , bowed to him with an air of mingled surprise and respect . He was seen , too , at every window , and , in spite of the bitter cold , he appeared several times on the balcony with bundles of papers in his hand , like a busy man attending to important despatches . Then , towards noon , he passed through the town and visited the guard-houses , speaking of a possible attack , and letting it be understood , that the insurgents were not far off ; but he relied , he said , on the courage of the brave national guards . If necessary they must be ready to die to the last man for the defence of the good cause . When he returned from this round , slowly and solemnly , after the manner of a hero who has set the affairs of his country in order , and now only awaits death , he observed signs of perfect stupor along his path ; the people promenading in the Cours , the incorrigible little householders , whom no catastrophe would have prevented from coming at certain hours to bask in the sun , looked at him in amazement , as if they did not recognize him , and could not believe that one of their own set , a former oil-dealer , should have the boldness to face a whole army . In the town the anxiety was at its height .