TESTIMONY OF AN EYE-WITNESS BY VICTOR HUGO

In the days leading up to December 1, 1851, France was calm—too calm. Charras, a cautious man by nature, even unloaded his pistols. The idea of a coup seemed ridiculous. People laughed at the thought that Louis Bonaparte, the President, could ever destroy the Republic. After all, who would believe a man like him capable of such a massive betrayal?

He was seen not as a dangerous figure, but almost a joke. Compared to great military leaders like Napoleon, Louis Bonaparte was viewed as weaka man with no real legacy, only past failures. No one took the threat seriously. “It would be a farce, not a tragedy,” they said.

Bonaparte himself made promises. He spoke often of virtue over power, of being more like Washington than Napoleon. “I want to be a good man,” he said, “not a great conqueror.” Many believed him. Ministers, generals, even his foster sister vouched for his honesty. He had written about poverty, and surrounded himself with both liberals and republicans. The Assembly felt secure, the army seemed loyal, and the public believed him incapable of violence.

One by one, signs of danger were ignored. Those who worried were mocked. “Don’t be foolish,” they were told.

But danger, when ignored, doesn't disappear—it waits.

Optional Ending Line (you can add or skip based on tone):

And when it finally arrived, it didn’t knock. It kicked the door down.