Forthwith certain members shouted to Mege that he ought to read the whole list; but when he wished to do so others vociferated that it was abominable, that such a mendacious and slanderous document ought not to be accorded a place in the proceedings of the French legislature.

Mege went on still in frantic fashion, figuratively casting Sagnier into the gutter, and protesting that there was nothing in common between himself and such a base insulter.

But at the same time he demanded that justice and punishment should be meted out equally to one and all, and that if indeed there were any bribe-takers among his colleagues, they should be sent that very night to the prison of Mazas.
Meantime the President, erect at his table, rang and rang his bell without managing to quell the uproar.

He was like a pilot who finds the tempest too strong for him.

Among all the men with purple faces and barking mouths who were gathered in front of him, the ushers alone maintained imperturbable gravity.