he walls fall down before your speeches!

GRASSET. What--speeches--are you deaf? 'Tis a case of shooting now. Our
valiant soldiers are there. They have the same hellish fury against the
accursed prison as we have. They know that their brothers and fathers
sit imprisoned behind those walls.... But there would have been no
shooting if we had not spoken. My dear Prosper, great is the power of
intellect. There--(to LEBRET) where are the papers?

LEBRET. Here! (Pulls pamphlets out of his pocket.)

GRASSET. Here are the latest pamphlets which have just been distributed
in the Palais-Royal. Here is one by my friend Cerutti--"Memorial for
the French People;" here is one by Desmoulins, who certainly speaks
better than he writes--"Free France."

HOST. When's your own pamphlet going to appear--the one you're always
talking about, you know?

GRASSET. We need no more. The time has come for deeds. Anyone who sits
within his four walls today is a knave. Every real man must go out into
the streets.

LEBRET. Bravo!--Bravo!

GRASSET. In Toulon they have killed the mayor; in Brignolles they have
sacked a dozen houses; but we in Paris are always sluggards and will
put up with anything.

HOST. You can scarcely say that now.

LEBRET. (who has been drinking steadily). Up, you citizens, up!

GRASSET. Up! Lock up your shop and come with us now.

HOST. I'll come right enough, when the time comes.

GRASSET. Ay, to be sure, when there is no more danger.

HOST. My good friend, I love Liberty as well as you do, but my calling
comes before everything.

GRASSET. There is only one calling now for citizens of Paris--freeing
their brothers.

HOST. Yes, for those who have nothing else to do!

LEBRET. What says he? He makes game of us.

HOST. Never dreamt of it. But now, my friends, look to it that you go
away--my performance will begin in a minute, and I can't find you a job
in it.

LEBRET. What performance? Is this a theatre?

HOST. Certainly, 'tis a theatre. Why, only a fortnight ago your friend
was playing here.

LEBRET. Were you playing here, Grasset?... Why do you let the fellow
jeer at you like that without punishing him?

GRASSET. Calm yourself--it is true; I did play here. This is no
ordinary tavern: 'tis a den of thieves. Come.

HOST. You'll pay first.

LEBRET. If this is a den of thieves I won't pay a single sou.

HOST. Explain to your friend where he is.

GRASSET. This is a strange place. People who play crimina