the street.

Late as it was, a considerable crowd was assembled before the door in
front of the house; their attitude of silent and respectful anxiety
showed the deep interest felt in the sick man's state; and although no
name was spoken, the frequent recurrence of the words 'he' and 'his'
evinced how absorbingly all thoughts were concentrated upon one
individual. Nor was it only of one class in society the crowd was
composed. Mirabeau's admirers and followers were of every rank and
every section of politicians; and, strangely enough, men whose public
animosities had set them widely apart from each other were here seen
exchanging their last tidings of the sick-room, and alternating and
balancing their hopes and fears of his condition.

'Jostinard calls the malady cerebral absorption,' said one, 'as though
intense application had produced an organic change.'

'Lessieux holds that the disease was produced by those mercurial baths
he used to take to stimulate him on occasions of great public display,'
said another.

'There is reason to believe it a family complaint of some sort,' broke
in--a third; 'the Bailli de Mirabeau sank under pure exhaustion, as if
the machine had actually worn out.'

'_Pardie!_' cried out a rough-looking man in a working dress; 'it is
hard that we cannot repair him with the strong materials the useless
fellows are made of; there are full fifty in the Assembly we could give
for one like _him_.'

'You talk of maladies,' broke in a loud, full voice, 'and I tell you
that the Citizen Riquetti is dying of poison--ay, start, or murmur if
you will--I repeat it, of poison. Do we not all know how his power is
feared, and his eloquence dreaded? Are we strangers to those who hate
this great and good man?'

'Great and good he is,' murmured another; 'when shall we see his equal?'

'See, here is one who has been lately with him; let us learn his news.'

This speech was uttered by a poorly-clad man, with a red cap on his
head, as Gerald was endeavouring to pierce the crowd.

'Who is the citizen who has this privilege of speaking with Gabriel
Riquetti?' said Cabrot, an over-dressed man, who stood the centre of a
group of talkers.

Without paying any attention to this summons, Gerald tried to pursue his
way and pass on; but several already barred the passage, and seemed to
insist, as on a right, to hear the last account of the sick man. For a
moment a haughty impulse to refuse all information thus deman