whisper, "These little infantry soldiers are terrible fellows. At the

siege of Rome they flung themselves at the assault like madmen. These

lads are very devils." The officers avoided the gaze of the

Representatives. On leaving the Mairie, M. de Coislin passed by an

officer and exclaimed, "What a disgrace for the uniform!" the officer

retaliated with angry words, and incensed M. de Coislin. Shortly

afterwards, during the march, he came up to M. de Coislin and said to

him, "Sir, I have reflected; it is I who am wrong."

They proceeded on the way slowly. At a few steps from the Mairie the

precession met M. Chegaray. The Representatives called out to him,

"Come!" He answered, while making an expressive gesture with his hands

and his shoulders, "Oh! I dare say! As they have not arrested me...." and

he feigned as though he would pass on. He was ashamed, however, and went

with them. His name is found in the list of the roll-call at the

barracks.

A little further on M. de Lespérut passed them. They cried out to him.

Lespérut! Lespérut!" "I am with you," answered he. The soldiers pushed

him back. He seized the butt-ends of the muskets, and forced his way into

the column.

In one of the streets through which they went a window was opened.

Suddenly a woman appeared with a child; the child, recognizing its father

amongst the prisoners, held out its arms and called to him, the mother

wept in the background.

It was at first intended to take the Assembly in a body straight to

133

The History of a Crime