‘Come then, gentlemen, one after the other, peaceably to give your opinion, _yes_ or _no_, in order that all things may be done well and orderly, to the glory of God and our own great benefit.’[546] One might have expected that, after this declaration, the leaders of the opposition, De Chapeaurouge and his adherents, would state in due form their alleged grievances. They remained silent. This was an acknowledgment that their accusation was unfounded. They would have found it difficult to assert that the election of the magistrates had been due to the intrigues of a few individuals, in the presence of the people who had themselves made that election freely and honorably. Moreover, ten weeks only had to elapse before the regular renewal of the council; and the opposition did not think that they ought to unmask their batteries so long beforehand. It would be better to employ the time in preparing the change which they wished to bring about. Thus, therefore, after the address of the syndics there was a long silence. After some time De Chapeaurouge rose; but instead of speaking as a tribune who seeks to draw the people after him, he made a remark on acoustics; ‘We cannot hear well,’ said he, ‘the place gives a dull sound.’ There are none so deaf as those who will not hear. In fact, the chief of the opposition pretended that the challenge and invitation of the council had not reached his ears, and that this excused his making a reply. ‘Is a second reading desired?’ said the first syndic; no one demanded it. As the leaders were silent, the youngest and most blustering of their followers began to speak. The opportunity was too tempting not to cry out, and instead of the great piece which was looked for, a little one was produced. Men destitute of culture and acquirements attacked the chief magistrates. One man, who had just come out of prison, flung in the face of the reformers the most absurd accusations. There was an ebullition in the assembly; a tempest in a teacup. The young people caused this first outbreak of excitement, which they show in their pursuit of pleasure and which they easily transfer to public affairs. Claude Sérais, a tailor, one of those who in February had played at _Picca-Porral_, came forward and laid a complaint against Ami Perrin, who enjoyed great respect. It was he who had accompanied Farel the first time that he preached (in 1534) in the convent of Rive. He had not heartily embraced the Reformation, but he was still associated with the reformers. ‘Perrin,’ said Sérais, ‘said that there are traitors at Geneva, people who speak ill of the preachers. He said that Porral was a good man.’ As Porral was a great friend of the Reformation, he was at least as hateful to these people as Farel and Calvin. ‘I replied to him,’ said Sérais, ‘that if he were so, he had no occasion to bring Farel to the prison, to preach to us as if we were thieves who were to be prepared for death.’ ‘Yes,’