And turning towards the commander, she said to him: "How can you think of offering any resistance?
They are three thousand strong, and you won't be able to collect a hundred men of any spirit.
You are rushing into the cannon's mouth to no purpose." "Eh! that is our duty," said Sicardot, impatiently.
Felicite burst into sobs.
"If they don't kill him, they'll make him a prisoner," she continued, looked fixedly at her husband.

"Good heavens! What will become of me, left alone in an abandoned town ?" "But," exclaimed the commander, "we shall be arrested just the same if we allow the insurgents to enter the town unmolested.

I believe that before an hour has elapsed the mayor and all the functionaries will be prisoners, to say nothing of your husband and the frequenters of this drawing-room." The marquis thought he saw a vague smile play about Felicite's lips as she answered, with a look of dismay: "Do you really think so ?" "Of course!" replied Sicardot; "the Republicans are not so stupid as to leave enemies behind them.

To-morrow Plassans will be emptied of its functionaries and good citizens." At these words, which she had so cleverly provoked, Felicite released her husband's arms.

Pierre no longer looked as if he wanted to go out.
Thanks to his wife, whose skilful tactics escaped him, however, and whose secret complicity he never for a moment suspected, he had just lighted on a whole plan of campaign.
"We must deliberate before taking any decision," he said to the commander.