December 21.--At 3 o’clock this morning I heard the bugles of the troops marching to battle. When will my turn come?
December 22.--Yesterday was a good day. The action continues. The thunder of cannon can be heard to the east and west.
Little Jeanne begins to talk at length and very expressively. But it is impossible to understand a word she says. She laughs.
Leopold has sent me thirteen fresh eggs, which I will reserve for little Georges and little Jeanne.
Louis Blanc came to dine with me. He came on behalf of Edmond Adam, Louis Jourdan, Cernuschi and others to tell me that he and I must go to Trochu and summon him to save Paris or resign. I refused. I should be posing as an arbiter of the situation and at the same time hamper a battle begun and which may be a successful one. Louis Blanc was of my way of thinking, as were also Meurice, Vacquerie and my sons, who dined with us.
December 23.--Henri Rochefort came to dine with me. I had not seen him since August of last year, when we were in Brussels. Georges did not recognise his godfather. I was very cordial. I like him very much. He has great talent and great courage. The dinner was a very merry one, although we are all threatened with incarceration in a Prussian fortress if Paris is captured. After Guernsey, Spandau. So be it.
I bought for 19 francs at the Magasins du Louvre a soldier’s cape with hood, to wear on the ramparts.
My house continues to be crowded with visitors. To-day a painter named Le Genissel called. He reminded me that I saved him from the galleys in 1848. He was one of the insurgents of June.
Heavy cannonade during the night. A battle is in preparation.
December 24.--It is freezing. Ice floes are floating down the Seine.
An item of news of present-day Paris: A basket of oysters has just reached the city. It sold for 750 francs.
At a bazar in aid of the poor at which Alice and Mme. Meurice acted as vendors, a young turkey fetched 250 francs.
December 26.--Louis Blanc called, then M. Floquet. They urge me to summon the Government to do something or resign. Again I refuse.
M. Louis Koch paid 25 francs for a copy of the _Rappel_ at the bazar in aid of the poor. The copy of _Les Châtiments_ was purchased by M. Cernuschi for 300 francs.