“Ah!” the old woman rejoined, in a strange tone.

Then she again thoughtfully watched the curious scene of panic around her.  The bourgeois gradually disappeared; soon there only remained Vuillet and Roudier, whom the approaching danger inspired with some courage.  As for Granoux, he likewise remained in his corner, his legs refusing to perform their office.

“Well, I like this better,” Sicardot remarked, as he observed the flight of the other adherents.  “Those cowards were exasperating me at last.  For more than two years they’ve been speaking of shooting all the Republicans in the province, and to-day they wouldn’t even fire a halfpenny cracker under their noses.”

Then he took up his hat and turned towards the door.

“Let’s see,” he continued, “time presses.  Come, Rougon.”

Felicite, it seemed, had been waiting for this moment.  She placed herself between the door and her husband, who, for that matter, was not particularly eager to follow the formidable Sicardot.

“I won’t have you go out,” she cried, feigning sudden despair.  “I won’t let you leave my side.  Those scoundrels will kill you.”

The commander stopped in amazement.

“Hang it all!” he growled, “if the women are going to whine now—­Come along, Rougon!’

“No, no,” continued the old woman, affecting increase of terror, “he sha’n’t follow you.  I will hang on to his clothes and prevent him.”

The marquis, very much surprised at the scene, looked inquiringly at Felicite.  Was this really the woman who had just now been conversing so merrily?  What comedy was she playing?  Pierre, meantime, seeing that his wife wanted to detain him, deigned a determination to force his way out.

“I tell you you shall not go,” the old woman reiterated, as she clung to one of his arms.  And turning towards the commander, she said to him:  “How can you think of offering any resistance?  They are three thousand strong, and you won’t be able to collect a hundred men of any spirit.  You are rushing into the cannon’s mouth to no purpose.”

“Eh! that is our duty,” said Sicardot, impatiently.

Felicite burst into sobs.

“If they don’t kill him, they’ll make him a prisoner,” she continued, looked fixedly at her husband.  “Good heavens!  What will become of me, left alone in an abandoned town?”

“But,” exclaimed the commander, “we shall be arrested just the same if we allow the insurgents to enter the town unmolested.  I believe that before an hour has elapsed the mayor and all the functionaries will be prisoners, to say nothing of your husband and the frequenters of this drawing-room.”

The marquis thought he saw a vague smile play about Felicite’s lips as she answered, with a look of dismay:  “Do you really think so?”

“Of course!” replied Sicardot; “the Republicans are not so stupid as to leave enemies behind them.  To-morrow Plassans will be emptied of its functionaries and good citizens.”