The Memoirs of Victor Hugo

"..." I stood gazing at the thing, and as I did so—I am telling truthfully what occurred—there was a deafening report that sounded like a thunder-clap, only it came from below It shook the timber-work and echoed and re-echoed through the church It was succeeded by a second roar, then a third, at regular intervals I recognised the thunder of the cannon, and remembered the gun I had seen in the square I turned to my guide: "What is that noise?" "The telegraph has been at work and the cannon has been fired" "What does it mean?" I continued "It means," said the beadle, "that a grandson has just been born to Louis Philippe" The cannon announced the birth of the Count de Paris These are my recollections of Rheims ..."