Never had they experienced such thrilling excitement before.

They could not get over their surprise at discovering such heroes as Rougon, Granoux, and Roudier in their midst.

At last, half stifled by the stuffy atmosphere, and tired of ever telling each other the same things, they decided to go off and spread the momentous news abroad.

They glided away one by one, each anxious to have the glory of being the first to know and relate everything, and Felicite, as she leaned out of the window, on being left alone, saw them dispersing in the Rue de la Banne, waving their arms in an excited manner, eager as they were to diffuse emotion to the four corners of the town.
It was ten o'clock, and Plassans, now wide awake, was running about the streets, wildly excited by the reports which were circulating.

Those who had seen or heard the insurrectionary forces, related the most foolish stories, contradicting each other, and indulging in the wildest suppositions.