DESMOULINS [_coming close to him_]. Why, it's Gonchon! GONCHON [_stumbling_]. Ten thousand devils! For God's sake, what sons of dogs have put up that thing, torn up the street, and stopped traffic! Knock that down, do you hear! THE PEOPLE [_furiously_]. Knock down our barricade? Try it! THE CARPENTER. Listen to me, Captain, and attend to what I say. We'll agree to go away and not question the Committee's orders, even though they're given by fools. There must be discipline in war-time; we're willing to submit, but if you touch one stone of our fortification, we'll smash the faces of you and the rest of your monkeys. THE PEOPLE. Tear down our barricade? GONCHON. Who said anything about tearing it down? Are we masons? We have something better to do. Make way now! THE MASON [_in a menacing tone_]. We'll go, but you understand? GONCHON [_with aplomb],_ I said no one would touch it. No back-talk, now! [_The workers disperse._ DESMOULINS _lags behind._] Didn't you hear, you? DESMOULINS. Don't you allow any privileges to your friends, Gonchon? GONCHON. Oh, it's you, you damned spouter! Arrest that fellow! ROBESPIERRE [_entering_]. Sacrilege! Who dares lift a hand against the founder of Liberty? DESMOULINS. Ah, Robespierre! Thanks. GONCHON [_releasing_ DESMOULINS--_aside],_ A Deputy! The devil! [_Aloud._] Very well. You see, it is my duty to keep order, and I will keep it in spite of everything. ROBESPIERRE. Come with me, Camille. Our friends are meeting in this house tonight. [_He points to the house down-stagey left._] DESMOULINS [_aside]._ I can see Lucile's window from here! [_They go to the house, at the door of which, in an obscure entrance, a man is on guard. He is in his shirt sleeves, has bare legs, and carries a musket._] THE MAN. Who are you? ROBESPIERRE. Robespierre. THE MAN. I don't know you. ROBESPIERRE. Deputy from Arras. THE MAN. Show your card. DESMOULINS. Desmoulins. THE MAN. The little fellow with the cockade? Pass, comrade. DESMOULINS [_pointing to_ ROBESPIERRE]. He is with me. THE MAN. Pass, you, too, citizen Robert Pierre. DESMOULINS [_fatuously_]. Admire the power of eloquence, my friend! [ROBESPIERRE _looks at him with a bitter smile, sighs, and follows him without a word_.] GONCHON [_going to_ THE MAN]. What's going on here? THE MAN. Make way! GONCHON. What's that, you rascal? What are you doing here? THE MAN [_emphatically_]. I am watching over the nation--over the thoughts of the nation. GONCHON. What are you talking about? Have you any papers? Who stationed you here? THE MAN. I. GONCHON. Go home! THE MAN. I am home. My home is the street. I have no home. You go home yourself. Get off my side-walk! [_He makes a step toward_ GONCHON _with a threat_.] GONCHON. Ah! No quarreling, now. I refuse to waste my time squabbling with a drunkard. Now, I shall continue on my rounds. These cursed vagabonds!