Behind the assassin who holds the poniard comes the trembling wretch who holds the sponge.
Dupin took refuge in his study.

They followed him.

"My God!" he cried, "can't they understand that I want to be left in peace." In truth they had tortured him ever since the morning, in order to extract from him an impossible scrap of courage.
"You ill-treat me worse than the gendarmes," said he.
The Representatives installed themselves in his study, seated themselves at his table, and, while he groaned and scolded in an arm-chair, they drew up a formal report of what had just taken place, as they wished to leave an official record of the outrage in the archives.
When the official report was ended Representative Canet read it to the President, and offered him a pen.
"What do you want me to do with this ?" he asked.
"You are the President," answered Canet.

"This is our last sitting.

It is your duty to sign the official report." This man refused..