There were steps on the stairs, which at that alarming noise were instantly quickened.

Yet ere they had reached the top La Boulaye was at the door vociferating wildly.
Into the room came the hostess, breathless and grinning with anxiety, and behind her came Guyot, who, startled by the din, had hastened up to inquire into its cause.
At sight of the Captain stretched upon the floor there was a scream from Mother Capoulade and an oath from the soldier.
"Mon Dieu! what has happened ?" she cried, hurrying forward.
"Miserable!" exclaimed La Boulaye, with well-feigned anger.

"It seems that your wretched hovel is tumbling to pieces, and that men are not safe beneath its roof." And he indicated the broken plaster and the fallen lamp.
"How did it happen, Citoyenne-deputy ?" asked Guyot; for all that he drew the only possible inference from what he saw.
"Can you not see how it happened ?" returned La Boulaye, impatiently.
"As for you, wretched woman, you will suffer for it, I promise you.

The nation is likely to demand a high price for Captain Charlot's injuries." "But, bon Dieu, how am I to blame ?" wailed the frightened woman.
"To blame," echoed La Boulaye, in a furious voice.

"Are you not to blame that you let rooms in a crazy hovel?
Let them to emigres as much as you will, but if you let them to good patriots and thereby endanger their lives you must take the consequences.