"That was good to see. I, Citoyen Barabant--I take nothing seriously. Men, individuals, are but blind little animals wriggling for a day or so. I have seen too much of selfishness, of wickedness, of deceits and hypocrisy, to be moved by human motives. Nothing really matters, nothing is serious. But when I see such a sight as that, a whole people rising with one accord, ah, then that thrills me; yes, I am moved!" Barabant was silent, more perplexed concerning his companion than ever, and in this reflective mood he persevered, resolving to be on his watch for artifices and tricks. About the brasserie of the famous brewer the throng was massed so tightly that the two companions would have stuck thirty feet away, unable to turn, had not Santerre, from an upper window, perceived the lanky form of Dossonville. The moment his eye fell upon that appealing figure, he started up, as though awaiting him, and hurrying down-stairs, appeared at the entrance, where, by dint of command and abuse, he managed to open a passage, through which the crowd disgorged them. Barabant, at a nod from Dossonville, remained in an anteroom listening to the compressed rumble of the crowd, that reached him through the open window on the warm, suffocating air. He did not have long to wait. Santerre soon reappeared, excited and red with the emotion communicated to his fleshy head. Dossonville, more tranquil, called him to them. "I must take a message to the Bonnet Rouge," he said. "It is urgent. So I must leave you--only, I do not forget." He glanced at him, adding slyly: "Is there anything you care to ask of the Citoyen Santerre?" Barabant, gulping down his confusion, cried: "Nothing." "Good. Then you are no longer afraid you are dealing with an agent of the perfidious Pitt?" Barabant seized the occasion to vanish through the side exit, carrying with him the memory of a chuckle. * * * * * Nicole no sooner had dismissed Barabant than she regretted the act. Her intuition had warned her that caprice was necessary to counteract her bonhomie, which might have produced in the young man an assurance of facile conquest. But, left to her own devices, to her astonishment she found the solitude oppressive. She made an effort to dispel the ennui by seeking Goursac; but no sooner had she perceived him than, apprehending the banter in which he was privileged to indulge, she halted and then turned away. Toward evening, according to her custom, she joined Louison in search of supper. "What have you done with your companion?" the girl asked at once. "I dismissed him long ago," Nicole answered carelessly: from that quarter she welcomed attack. "A man interferes with the business." "How did you meet him?" "Why, I thought you knew! He has taken the room across from us!" "Ah, indeed. He seems interesting." She took her companion's arm and said abruptly, "I have taken a fancy to him, so garde à toi!"