They were ushered into a separate chamber, and isolated from each other as much as possible.

At five o'clock a bell was sounded in the Prefect's cabinet.

The Prefect Maupas called the Commissaries of Police one after another into his cabinet, revealed the plot to them, and allotted to each his portion of the crime.
None refused; many thanked him.
It was a question of arresting at their own homes seventy-eight Democrats who were influential in their districts, and dreaded by the Elysee as possible chieftains of barricades.

It was necessary, a still more daring outrage, to arrest at their houses sixteen Representatives of the People.
For this last task were chosen among the Commissaries of Police such of those magistrates who seemed the most likely to become ruffians.

Amongst these were divided the Representatives.