"A mass of people cried '_Vive Colbert!_' Are you certain of what you say, monsieur ?" "We had nothing to do but open our ears, or rather to close them, so terrible were the cries." "And this was from the people, the real people ?" "Certainly, monsieur; only these real people beat us." "Oh! very well," continued Colbert, thoughtfully.

"Then you suppose it was the people alone who wished to burn the condemned ?" "Oh! yes, monsieur." "That is quite another thing.

You strongly resisted, then ?" "We had three of our men crushed to death, monsieur!" "But you killed nobody yourselves ?" "Monsieur, a few of the rioters were left upon the square, and one among them who was not a common man." "Who was he ?" "A certain Menneville, upon whom the police have a long time had an eye." "Menneville!" cried Colbert, "what, he who killed Rue de la Huchette, a worthy man who wanted a fat fowl ?" "Yes, monsieur; the same." "And did this Menneville also cry, '_Vive Colbert_' ?" "Louder than all the rest; like a madman." Colbert's brow grew dark and wrinkled.

A kind of ambitious glory which had lighted his face was extinguished, like the light of glow-worms we crush beneath the grass.

"Then you say," resumed the deceived intendant, "that the initiative came from the people?
Menneville was my enemy; I would have had him hung, and he knew it well.