A THIRD And oak leaves in her hair. THE BRETON Is Reason truly a woman? THE MAN IN THE CLOAK God knows! A MAN Ha! he says God! God is a word forbid! THE MAN IN THE CLOAK Then Reason knows. A MAN That’s better. [_Singing within. A band of dancers, men and women, whirl into the square._ THE CROWD Carmagnole! THE DANCERS _Dansons la Carmagnole! Vive le son, vive le son! Dansons la Carmagnole! Vive le son du canon!_ [_The crowd breaks and joins the dancers. They take hands and with uncouth and extravagant gestures circle once or twice around the statue, then with a long cry exeunt._ A WOMAN The great procession forms upon the quai! ANOTHER It winds and winds about and comes this way! [_Exeunt men and women._ GRÉGOIRE _and the man in the cloak remain_. GRÉGOIRE The priests are gone. It is Reason’s fête day. THE MAN IN THE CLOAK Reason, being a woman, will have her way. GRÉGOIRE Still, Monsieur l’Abbé— THE ABBÉ I am known! GRÉGOIRE To serve Monsieur, I had the honour at Morbec. THE ABBÉ Monsieur le Baron’s seneschal, I think. GRÉGOIRE The same,—but I am gaoler now in Nantes. THE ABBÉ That night in June your musket would not fire! Diable! I’ve played and lost! Well, fellow? GRÉGOIRE Hein? THE ABBÉ The wind blows cold in Nantes, and so I wear This cloak! So long I’ve looked on fires of hell I needs must have a hat to shade my eyes!— But now I’ll cock it in the face of all— Cold, wind, darkness, devils, and Republic! GRÉGOIRE I think the citizen has lost his head. THE ABBÉ Ay, and my heart as well. Holà! what’s that? [_A noise without. Clash of steel and excited voices._