"I will take all the responsibility, so that nobody but myself may be compromised.
And if a victim is required I willingly offer myself; I wish to sacrifice my own life for the safety of the inhabitants." A notary, the wiseacre of the party, remarked that he was running to certain death.
"I know it," he resumed solemnly.

"I am prepared!" The gentlemen looked at each other.

Those words "I am prepared!" filled them with admiration.

Decidedly this man was a brave fellow.

The notary implored him to call in the aid of the gendarmes; but he replied that the blood of those brave soldiers was precious, and he would not have it shed, except in the last extremity.