Of course Andre-Louis had heard of him.  Who had not, by then?

Looking at him now with interest, Andre-Louis wondered how it came that all, or nearly all the leading innovators, were pock-marked.  Mirabeau, the journalist Desmoulins, the philanthropist Marat, Robespierre the little lawyer from Arras, this formidable fellow Danton, and several others he could call to mind all bore upon them the scars of smallpox.  Almost he began to wonder was there any connection between the two.  Did an attack of smallpox produce certain moral results which found expression in this way?

He dismissed the idle speculation, or rather it was shattered by the startling thunder of Danton’s voice.

“This —­ Chapelier has told me of you.  He says that you are a patriotic —.”

More than by the tone was Andre-Louis startled by the obscenities with which the Colossus did not hesitate to interlard his first speech to a total stranger.  He laughed outright.  There was nothing else to do.

“If he has told you that, he has told you more than the truth!  I am a patriot.  The rest my modesty compels me to disavow.”

“You’re a joker too, it seems,” roared the other, but he laughed nevertheless, and the volume of it shook the windows.  “There’s no offence in me.  I am like that.”

“What a pity,” said Andre-Louis.

It disconcerted the king of the markets.  “Eh? what’s this, Chapelier?  Does he give himself airs, your friend here?”

The spruce Breton, a very petit-maitre in appearance by contrast with his companion, but nevertheless of a down-right manner quite equal to Danton’s in brutality, though dispensing with the emphasis of foulness, shrugged as he answered him: 

“It is merely that he doesn’t like your manners, which is not at all surprising.  They are execrable.”

“Ah, bah!  You are all like that, you —­ Bretons.  Let’s come to business.  You’ll have heard what took place in the Assembly yesterday?  You haven’t?  My God, where do you live?  Have you heard that this scoundrel who calls himself King of France gave passage across French soil the other day to Austrian troops going to crush those who fight for liberty in Belgium?  Have you heard that, by any chance?”

“Yes,” said Andre-Louis coldly, masking his irritation before the other’s hectoring manner.  “I have heard that.”

“Oh!  And what do you think of it?” arms akimbo, the Colossus towered above him.

Andre-Louis turned aside to Le Chapelier.

“I don’t think I understand.  Have you brought this gentleman here to examine my conscience?”

“Name of a name!  He’s prickly as a — porcupine!” Danton protested.

“No, no.”  Le Chapelier was conciliatory, seeking to provide an antidote to the irritant administered by his companion.  “We require your help, Andre.  Danton here thinks that you are the very man for us.  Listen now... "