Such an indignity, put upon the man they most trusted in the entire assembly of the Convention, had greatly incensed the crowd.

The women jeered at the soldiers as soon as they appeared, and Merlin dared not actually forbid Deroulede to speak.
_"A la lanterne, vieux cretin!"_ shouted one of the women, thrusting her fist under Merlin's nose.
"Give the word, Citizen-Deputy," rejoined another, "and we'll break his ugly face.

_Nous lui casserons la gueule!_" "_A la lanterne! A la lanterne!"_ One word from Deroulede now would have caused an open riot, and in those days self defence against the mob was construed into enmity against the people.
Merlin's work, too, was not yet accomplished.

He had had no intention of escorting Deroulede himself; he had still important business to transact inside the house which he had just quitted, and had merely wished to get the Citizen-Deputy well out of the way, before he went upstairs again.
Moreover, he had expected something of a riot in the streets.

The temper of the people of Paris was at fever heat just now.