forward Gavard flattered himself that he was a member of a secret society, and was engaged in a conspiracy.  The little circle received no new members, but Logre promised to put it into communication with other associations with which he was acquainted; and then, as soon as they held all Paris in their grasp, they would rise and make the Tuileries’ people dance.  A series of endless discussions, renewed during several months, then began—­discussions on questions of organisation, on questions of ways and means, on questions of strategy, and of the form of the future Government.  As soon as Rose had brought Clemence’s grog, Charvet’s and Robine’s beer, the coffee for Logre, Gavard, and Florent, and the liqueur glasses of brandy for Lacaille and Alexandre, the door of the cabinet was carefully fastened, and the debate began.

Charvet and Florent were naturally those whose utterances were listened to with the greatest attention.  Gavard had not been able to keep his tongue from wagging, but had gradually related the whole story of Cayenne; and Florent found himself surrounded by a halo of martyrdom.  His words were received as though they were the expression of indisputable dogmas.  One evening, however, the poultry dealer, vexed at hearing his friend, who happened to be absent, attacked, exclaimed:  “Don’t say anything against Florent; he’s been to Cayenne!”

Charvet was rather annoyed by the advantage which this circumstance gave to Florent.  “Cayenne, Cayenne,” he muttered between his teeth.  “Ah, well, they were not so badly off there, after all.”

Then he attempted to prove that exile was a mere nothing, and that real suffering consisted in remaining in one’s oppressed country, gagged in presence of triumphant despotism.  And besides, he urged, it wasn’t his fault that he hadn’t been arrested on the Second of December.  Next, however, he hinted that those who had allowed themselves to be captured were imbeciles.  His secret jealousy made him a systematic opponent of Florent; and the general discussions always ended in a duel between these two, who, while their companions listened in silence, would speak against one another for hours at a time, without either of them allowing that he was beaten.

One of the favourite subjects of discussion was that of the reorganisation of the country which would have to be effected on the morrow of their victory.

“We are the conquerors, are we not?” began Gavard.

And, triumph being taken for granted, everyone offered his opinion.  There were two rival parties.  Charvet, who was a disciple of Hebert, was supported by Logre and Robine; while Florent, who was always absorbed in humanitarian dreams, and called himself a Socialist, was backed by Alexandre and Lacaille.  As for Gavard, he felt no repugnance for violent action; but, as he was often twitted about his fortune with no end of sarcastic witticisms which annoyed him, he declared himself a Communist.