He gave less attention, however, to the arms than to the people engaged in distributing them, and his piercing eyes sought eagerly to distinguish their faces.
"Oh! oh!" thought he, "there is M.Cruce, little Brigard and Leclerc, who dares to call himself Bussy.

Peste! the bourgeoisie is grandly represented; but the nobility--ah! M.de Mayneville presses the hand of Nicholas Poulain; what a touching fraternity! An orator, too!" continued he, as M.de Mayneville prepared to harangue the assembly.
Briquet could not hear a word, but he thought that he did not make much impression on his audience, for one shrugged his shoulders, and another turned his back.

But at last they approached, seized his hand, and threw up their hats in the air.

But though Briquet could not hear, we must inform our readers of what passed.
First, Cruce, Marteau, and Bussy had complained of the inaction of the Duc de Guise.
Marteau was spokesman, and said, "M.

de Mayneville, you come on the part of M.le Duc de Guise, and we accept you as his ambassador; but the presence of the duke himself is indispensable.