"I told you what we want," proceeded Lebrenn. "I shall now mention what we want no longer--we no longer want that two hundred thousand privileged electors be the sole arbiters of the fate of thirty-eight million proletarians or small holders, similar to what happened when a trifling minority of conquerors, Roman or Frankish, despoiled, enslaved and exploited our fathers for twenty centuries. No, we want an electoral or industrial feudality no more than we will tolerate the feudality of conquerors! Wife, is that right, or is it wrong?" "It is right! Serfdom and even slavery have in reality perpetuated themselves down to our own days," answered Madam Lebrenn with indignation. "It is right! I am a woman, and I have seen women, the slaves of an insufficient wage, die by degrees, exhausted by excessive toil and want. It is right! I am a mother, I have seen young girls, the virtual slaves of certain manufacturers, forced to choose between dishonor and enforced idleness, which means hunger. It is right! I am a wife, and I have seen fathers of families, honest, industrious and intelligent traders, the slaves and victims of the whim or the usurious cupidity of their seigneurs the large capitalists, suffer bankruptcy, and be plunged into ruin and despair. Finally, your resolution is good and just, my friend," added Madam Lebrenn, extending her hand to her husband, "because, if you have hitherto been fortunate enough to escape many a snare, it is your duty to go to the assistance of those of our brothers who are afflicted with misfortunes that we remain exempt from." "Brave and generous woman! You redouble my strength and courage," said the merchant, pressing Madam Lebrenn's hand in ecstacy. "I expected no less from you. But just as are the rights that we demand for our brothers, they will have to be conquered by force, arms in hand." "I believe it, my friend." "Accordingly," proceeded the merchant, "to-night, the barricades--to-morrow, battle. That is the reason why I fetched my son from his College. Do you approve? Shall he remain with us?" "Yes," answered Madam Lebrenn. "Your son's place is at your side." "Oh, thank you, mother!" cried the young man, joyously embracing his mother, who clasped him to her breast. "Look at him, father," said Velleda to the merchant with a smile and nodding toward Sacrovir, "he looks as happy as if he were graduated." "But tell me, my friend," asked Madam Lebrenn, addressing the merchant, "will the barricade, on which you and my son are to fight, be near our place? on this street?" "It will be at our very door," answered Lebrenn. "Agreed?" "All the better!" exclaimed Madam Lebrenn. "We shall be there--near you." "Mother," interjected Velleda, "should we not prepare lint to-night, and bandages? There will be many wounded." "I was thinking of that, my child. Our shop will serve as field-hospital."