When he recognised his two faithful friends he felt relieved; but he would not let the maid bring a lamp, fearing lest the light might attract a bullet.

He seemed to think that the town was still full of insurgents.

Lying back on an arm-chair near the window, in his pants, and with a silk handkerchief round his head, he moaned: "Ah! my friends, if you only knew!--I tried to go to bed, but they were making such a disturbance! At last I lay down in my arm-chair here.

I've seen it all, everything.

Such awful-looking men; a band of escaped convicts! Then they passed by again, dragging brave Commander Sicardot, worthy Monsieur Garconnet, the postmaster, and others away with them, and howling the while like cannibals!" Rougon felt a thrill of joy.