THE MAN. That's hard to tell. How are we going about it? We'll see. Sufficient unto the hour is the work thereof. HULIN. These French devils are all alike. They think of what may happen in a hundred years, and not of the next day. THE MAN. Perhaps. But then others will think of us in a hundred years. HULIN. Much good that you! THE MAN. My bones thrill already! What troubles me is that in history they won't know my name. HULIN. You're vain! THE MAN. Well, I love glory. HULIN. It's a fine thing, of course. The only trouble is that you can't enjoy it until you're dead. A good pipe is better. [VINTIMILLE _enters right._] VINTIMILLE. The streets are empty. Two vagabonds talking about glory. A little mound of broken furniture, put there by a lot of epileptics. So this is the great revolution! A patrol of guards is enough to put the rabble in its place. What are they waiting for at Versailles? THE MAN [_getting up quickly and going to_ VINTIMILLE]. What's he want? VINTIMILLE [_ironically, as he glances at_ THE MAN]. Is this a new uniform of the Archers? Get out of here, old man! THE MAN. Who are you? Where are you going at this hour? VINTIMILLE [_handing him a paper_]. Can you read? THE MAN. Papers? Of course, I can read. [_To_ HULIN.] You read them. What is it? HULIN [_after having read_]. A pass. It's all right. Signed by the Committee of the Hötel de Ville. Countersigned by the Captain of the Bourgeois Militia, Gonchon. THE MAN. Good joke! Anybody can buy those. [_He grumblingly allows_ VINTIMILLE _to pass._] VINTIMILLE. Of course! Everything can be bought. [_As he turns to go, he throws a coin at_ THE MAN.] THE MAN [_on the alert_]. What! What's that? VINTIMILLE [_without turning_]. You see. Take it and keep your mouth shut. THE MAN [_running to_ VINTIMILLE _and blocking his way_]. So you're an aristocrat? You're trying to bribe me? HULIN [_interposing_]. Don't, comrade, don't. I know him very well. [_He goes to_ VINTIMILLE.] VINTIMILLE [_casually_]. Why, it's-- HULIN. Hulin. VINTIMILLE. Of course. [_A moment's silence. They look at each other._] HULIN [_to_ THE MAN]. Let him pass. THE MAN [_furiously--shouting_]. He wanted to bribe me--he wanted to buy my conscience! VINTIMILLE. Your conscience? What should I do with it? The idea! I pay for favors done me. Quick! Take it. THE MAN. I'm not doing favors! I'm doing my duty. VINTIMILLE. Then it's to pay you for doing your duty. What do I care? THE MAN. You don't pay people for doing their duty. I am free! VINTIMILLE. Your duty and your liberty won't feed you. I refuse to argue. Hurry up, now; money is always good, no matter how one gets it. Don't stand there like that; you know you want it. I know you'll end by taking it. I suppose you want more, eh? How much do you want, free man? THE MAN [_who has several times been on the point of taking the money, jumps upon_ VINTIMILLE. HULIN _pulls him away_]. Let me go, Hulin! Let me go! HULIN. Stop it!