There were only eight municipal councillors left; the others were in the hands of the insurgents, as well as the mayor and his two assessors.

The eight remaining gentlemen, who were all on a par with Granoux, perspired with fright when the latter explained to them the critical situation of the town.

It requires an intimate knowledge of the kind of men who compose the municipal councils of some of the smaller towns, in order to form an idea of the terror with which these timid folk threw themselves into Rougon's arms.

At Plassans, the mayor had the most incredible blockheads under him, men without any ideas of their own, and accustomed to passive obedience.

Consequently, as Monsieur Garconnet was no longer there, the municipal machine was bound to get out of order, and fall completely under the control of the man who might know how to set it working.