Now, as he made pretence first to peer into it and then to smell its contents, he surreptitiously emptied the potion into it, wondering vaguely to himself whether the men would ever wake again if they had drunk it.

Slipping the phial into his sash he turned to Mother Capoulade, who had descended from the table and stood looking very foolish.
"What is this ?" he demanded angrily.
"It was a last cup of wine for the men," she faltered.

"The night is bitterly cold, Citizen," she added, by way of excusing herself.
"Bah!" snarled Caron, and for a moment he stood there as if deliberating.

"I am minded to empty it into the kennel," he announced.
"Citizen!" cried the woman, in alarm.

"It is good wine, and I have spiced it." "Well," he relented, "they may have it.