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 Andé-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 André-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-maître in appearance by contrast with his companion, but nevertheless of a downright 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 does n'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 have n'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
