Upon these words, Riou, who knew me well, caught me by the arm.  ’A thousand pardons,’ he said, ’M. le Maire; but I entreat you, do not go.  Who can tell what is outside?  Since this morning there is something very strange on the other side of the gates.  If M. le Maire would listen to me, he would keep them shut night and day till that is gone, he would not go out into the midst of it. Mon Dieu! a man may be brave.  I know the courage of M. le Maire; but to march without necessity into the jaws of hell:  mon Dieu!’ cried the poor man again.  He crossed himself, and none of us smiled.  Now a man may sign himself at the church door—­one does so out of respect; but to use that ceremony for one’s own advantage, before other men, is rare—­except in the case of members of a very decided party.  Riou was not one of these.  He signed himself in sight of us all, and not one of us smiled.

The other was less familiar—­he knew me only in my public capacity—­he was one Gallais of the Quartier St. Medon.  He said, taking off his hat:  ’If I were M. le Maire, saving your respect, I would not go out into an unknown danger with this man here, a man who is known as a pietist, as a clerical, as one who sees visions—­’

‘He is not a clerical, he is a good citizen,’ I said; ’come, lend us your lantern.  Shall I shrink from my duty wherever it leads me?  Nay, my good friends, the Maire of a French commune fears neither man nor devil in the exercise of his duty.  M. Paul, lead on.’  When I said the word ‘devil’ a spasm of alarm passed over Riou’s face.  He crossed himself again.  This time I could not but smile.  ‘My little Riou,’ I said, ’do you know that you are a little imbecile with your piety?  There is a time for everything.’

‘Except religion, M. le Maire; that is never out of place,’ said Gallais.

I could not believe my senses.  ‘Is it a conversion?’ I said.  ’Some of our Carmes dechausses must have passed this way.’

’M. le Maire will soon see other teachers more wonderful than the Carmes dechausses,’ said Lecamus.  He went and took down the lantern from its nail, and opened the little door.  When it opened, I was once more penetrated by the same icy breath; once, twice, thrice, I cannot tell how many times this crossed me, as if some one passed.  I looked round upon the others—­I gave way a step.  I could not help it.  In spite of me, the hair seemed to rise erect on my head.  The two officers stood close together, and Riou, collecting his courage, made an attempt to laugh.  ‘M. le Maire perceives,’ he said, his lips trembling almost too much to form the words, ‘that the winds are walking about.’  ’Hush, for God’s sake!’ said the other, grasping him by the arm.