The Life of Galois 11
banquet was held. About 200 Republicans were present, all extremely hostile to the
government of Louis-Philippe. The proceedings became more and more riotous, and
Galois was seen with a glass in one hand and a dagger in the other. His companions
allegedly interpreted this as a threat to the king’s life, applauded mightily, and ended
up dancing and shouting in the street.
Next day, Galois was arrested. At his subsequent trial, he admitted everything, but
claimed that the toast proposed was actually ‘To Louis-Philippe, if he turns traitor,’
and that the uproar had drowned the last phrase. But he also made it crystal clear that
he expected Louis-Philippe to do just that. Nevertheless, the jury acquitted him, and
he was freed on 15 ...