The shadows on the walls assumed the clumsy postures of bewildered conscripts stretching out their fingers.

Pierre closed the boxes regretfully; he left there a hundred and nine guns which he would willingly have distributed; however, he now had to divide the cartridges.

Of these, there were two large barrels full in the furthest corner of the cart-shed, sufficient to defend Plassans against an army.

And as this corner was dark, one of the gentlemen brought the taper near, whereupon another conspirator--a burly pork-butcher, with immense fists--grew angry, declaring that it was most imprudent to bring a light so close.

They strongly approved his words, so the cartridges were distributed in the dark.