"Now that incorrigible drinker, my second in command, has gone off with his batch, I don't mind asking you to step in and have a drop of wine." "Thank you," answered Lomaque; "but I have rather a fancy for hearing the trial this morning.

Suppose I come back afterward?
What time do you go to your Section?
At two o'clock, eh?
Good! I shall try if I can't get here soon after one." With these words he nodded and went out.

The brilliant sunlight in the courtyard made him wink faster than ever.

Had any of his old enemies been with him, they would have whispered within themselves, "If you mean to come back at all, Citizen Lomaque, it will not be soon after one!" On his way through the streets, the chief agent met one or two police office friends, who delayed his progress; so that when he arrived at the revolutionary tribunal the trials of the day were just about to begin.
The principal article of furniture in the Hall of Justice was a long, clumsy, deal table, covered with green baize.

At the head of this table sat the president and his court, with their hats on, backed by a heterogeneous collection of patriots officially connected in various ways with the proceedings that were to take place.