THE MANIAC. They won't attack. They've got a simpler plan: they'll just blockade us. They'll starve us out. A WORKINGMAN. Well, if they do it for very long, we'll take the road. We've lost a whole day waiting for bread at the bakeries. A WOMAN. You can't get grain. THE MANIAC. It won't arrive tomorrow. A BOURGEOIS. But what are they doing with it? THE MANIAC. I know: they've thrown it into the quarries of Senlis and Chantilly to let it rot, and keep us from eating it. THE BOURGEOIS [_incredulously_]. Nonsense! THE MANIAC. It's true! A WOMAN. It is true. In Champagne the cavalry ruined the wheat crop in order to starve us. THE MANIAC. Worse than that! They poison the bread they give us: it burns your throat and your insides. Twenty people died of it in my part of the city. The order came from Versailles. They want to kill us like rats. DESMOULINS. Absurd. No king wants to murder his people. Only a Nero would do that, and our king is not a Nero. THE MANIAC [_mysteriously_]. I know what the matter is: there are too many people, and they've given orders to depopulate the country. DESMOULINS. You're sick, my friend, you need attention. A WORKINGMAN. There's truth in what he says, though. The Queen would be glad to see us all dead. DESMOULINS. Why so? THE WORKINGMAN. She's an Austrian. The Austrians have always been enemies of France. She married our king in order to injure us. We can't help being nervous so long as she is here. THE OTHERS. He's right.--Out of France with the Austrian! LA CONTAT [_in the midst of the Crowd_]. Why? THE CROWD. What?--What do you mean? LA CONTAT [_showing herself_]. Yes, why? Are you mad to say such things about the most charming of women? THE CROWD. Who dares say anything good of the Austrian here?--Good Lord, why, it's an insult to us! DESMOULINS [_to_ LA CONTAT]. Don't say another word. You'd better get out and not answer them. LA CONTAT. I am in no hurry. DESMOULINS. They're gathering strength from all sides. LA CONTAT. So much the better! A VAGABOND. What did you say, aristocrat? What did you say? LA CONTAT [_brushing him aside_]. Don't sniff at me. I said, Long live the Queen! THE CROWD [_exasperated_]. By God! A CLERK. There's a girl who needs a good thrashing. LA CONTAT. There's a face that needn't wait for one! [_She slaps him._] THE CLERK. Help! [_Some laugh, others shout._] THE CROWD [_gathering round_]. Come and see!--What's the matter?--An aristocrat assaulting a patriot--Into the river! DESMOULINS. Citizens, it's only a joke. THE CROWD [_furiously_]. To the river! HULIN [_bullying the Crowd],_ Here! [_He stands before_ LA CONTAT.] You know me, comrades, I am Hulin. You saw me at work the other day: I smashed in the gate of the Abbey to save our friends the French Guards, who were imprisoned. I'll smash in the head of the first man who comes a step nearer. Respect the women, I tell you! If you want to fight, there's no lack of enemies. Go and find them.