The war had now offered a new pretext for him to visit Don Marcelo's wine-vaults.
"Let them come!" he would say with a heroic gesture as he took stock of his treasure trove.

"Let them come when they will! We are ready for them!" The care and increase of his provisions, and the investigation of news were the two functions of his existence.

It seemed necessary to procure ten, twelve, fifteen papers a day; some because they were reactionary, and the novelty of seeing all the French united filled him with enthusiasm; others because they were radical and must be better informed of the news received from the government.

They generally appeared at midday, at three, at four and at five in the afternoon.

An half hour's delay in the publication of the sheet raised great hopes in the public, on the qui vive for stupendous news.