Even the "Globe," usually so grave and circumspect, yielded to the general _furore_, and printed whatever statements reached it.

But the more unscrupulous papers were the ones to read.

The "Voix du Peuple" in particular made use of the public feverishness to increase its sales.

Each morning it employed some fresh device, and printed some frightful story of a nature to drive people mad with terror.

It related that not a day passed without Baron Duvillard receiving threatening letters of the coarsest description, announcing that his wife, his son and his daughter would all be killed, that he himself would be butchered in turn, and that do what he might his house would none the less be blown up.