"Lie there," he cried, "you insolent rascal!
Who told you to sit before your betters?"
The violence of the action, and Maignan's heat, were such that
the nearest drew back affrighted; and even Gringuet's servants
recoiled, while the market people gasped with astonishment. But
I knew that the respite would last a moment only, and I stood
forward. "Arrest that man," I said, pointing to the collector,
who was grovelling on the ground, nursing his foot and shrieking
foul threats at us.
In a second my two men stood over him. "In the King's name," La
Trape cried; "let no man interfere."
"Raise him up," I continued, "and set him before me; and Curtin
also, and Fonvelle, and Philippon; and Lescaut, the corn-dealer,
if he is here."
I spoke boldly, but I felt some misgiving. So mighty, however,
is the habit of command, that the crowd, far from resisting,
thrust forward the men I named. Still, I could not count on this
obedience, and it was with pleasure that I saw at this moment, as
I looked over the heads of the crowd, a body of horsemen entering
the square.
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