M.Baze looked into the courtyard to see if the cannon were still there.

He saw the ammunition wagons ranged in order with their shafts raised, but the places of the six cannon and the two mortars were vacant.
In the avenue of the Presidency the _fiacre_ stopped for a moment.

Two lines of soldiers, standing at ease, lined the footpaths of the avenue.
At the foot of a tree were grouped three men: Colonel Espinasse, whom M.
Baze knew and recognized, a species of Lieutenant-Colonel, who wore a black and orange ribbon round his neck, and a Major of Lancers, all three sword in hand, consulting together.

The windows of the _fiacre_ were closed; M.Baze wished to lower them to appeal to these men; the _sergents de ville_ seized his arms.

The Commissary Primorin then came up, and was about to re-enter the little chariot for two persons which had brought him.
"Monsieur Baze," said he, with that villainous kind of courtesy which the agents of the _coup d'etat_ willingly blended with their crime, "you must be uncomfortable with those three men in the _fiacre_.