rified cries with the rapture of a coward.

Thereupon the commander energetically clapped his hat on his head, and
said in a clear voice: "Right or wrong, it matters little to me. I am
commander of the National Guard. I ought to have been at the mayor's
before now. Confess that you are afraid, that you leaven me to act
alone. . . . Well, good-night."

He was just turning the handle of the door, when Rougon forcibly
detained him.

"Listen, Sicardot," he said.

He drew him into a corner, on seeing Vuillet prick up his big ears. And
there he explained to him, in an undertone, that it would be a good plan
to leave a few energetic men behind the insurgents, so as to restore
order in the town. And as the fierce commander obstinately refused to
desert his post, Pierre offered to place himself at the head of such a
reserve corps.

"Give me the key of the cart-shed in which the arms and ammunition are
kept," he said to him, "and order some fifty of our men not to stir
until I call for them."

Sicardot ended by consenting to these prudent measures. He entrusted
Pierre with the key of the cart-shed, convinced as he was of the
inexpediency of present resistance, but still desirous of sacrificing
himself.

During this conversation, the marquis had whispered a few words in
Felicite's ear with a knowing look. He complimented her, no doubt, on
her theatrical display. The old woman could not repress a faint smile.
But, as Sicardot shook hands with Rougon and prepared to go, she again
asked him with an air of fright: "Are you really determined to leave
us?"

"It is not for one of Napoleon's old soldiers to let himself be
intimidated by the mob," he replied.

He was already on the landing, when Granoux hurried after him, crying:
"If you go to the mayor's tell him what's going on. I'll just run home
to my wife to reassure her."

Then Felicite bent towards the marquis's ear, and whispered with
discreet gaiety: "Upon my word, it is best that devil of a commander
should go and get himself arrested. He's far too zealous."

However, Rougon brought Granoux back to the drawing-room. Roudier, who
had quietly followed the scene from his corner, making signs in support
of the proposed measures of prudence, got up and joined them. When the
marquis and Vuillet had likewise risen, Pierre began:

"Now that we are alone, among peaceable men, I propose that we should
conceal ourselves so as to avoid certain arrest, and be at liberty as
so