ome, Gamelin found his mother and old Brotteaux playing a
game of piquet by the light of a smoky tallow-candle. At the moment the
old woman was calling "sequence of kings" without the smallest scruple.

When she heard her son was appointed juryman, she kissed him in a
transport of triumph, thinking what an honour it was for both of them
and that henceforth they would have plenty to eat every day.

"I am proud and happy," she declared, "to be the mother of a juryman.
Justice is a fine thing, and of all the most necessary; without justice
the weak would be harassed every moment of their lives. And I think you
will give right judgment, Evariste, my own boy; for from a child I have
found you just and kind-hearted in all concerns. You could never endure
wrong-doing and always tried what you could to hinder violence. You
compassionated the unfortunate and that is the finest jewel in a juror's
crown.... But tell me, Evariste, how are you dressed in your grand
tribunal?"

Gamelin informed her that the judges wore a hat with black plumes, but
that the jury had no special costume, that they were dressed in their
every-day attire.

"It would be better," returned the good woman, "if they wore wig and
gown; it would inspire more respect. Though you are mostly dressed
carelessly, you are a handsome man and you set off your clothes; but the
majority of men need some fine feathers to make them look imposing; yes,
the jury should have wigs and gowns."

The _citoyenne_ had heard say that the duties of a juror of the Tribunal
carried a salary; and she had no hesitation in asking the question
whether the emoluments were enough to live respectably on, for a
juryman, she opined, ought to cut a good figure in the world.

She was pleased to hear that each juror received an allowance of
eighteen livres for every sitting and that the multiplicity of crimes
against the security of the State obliged the court to sit very
frequently.

Old Brotteaux gathered up the cards, rose from the table and addressing
Gamelin:

"_Citoyen_," he said, "you are invested with an august and redoubtable
office. I congratulate you on lending the light of your integrity to a
tribunal more trustworthy and less fallible perhaps than any other,
because it searches out good and evil, not in themselves and in their
essence, but solely in relation to tangible interests and plain and
obvious sentiments. You will have to determine betwixt hate and love,
which is done