"The Municipal Council!" murmured my uncle, in a stifled voice. "Quick!
help me off with this beast of a machine! We'll settle our business
afterwards!"

But, suddenly likewise, an idea--a wild, extraordinary idea--came into
my head; but then, whoever is madder than a lover? Besides, I had no
choice of means.

"No!" I replied.

My uncle fell back two paces in terror--and again the enormous helmet
wobbled on his shoulders.

"No," I repeated, firmly, "I'll not help you out, unless you give me the
hand of my cousin Rose!"

From the depths of the strangely elongated visor came, not an angry
exclamation, but a veritable roar. I had "done it!"--I had burned
my ships!

"If you do not consent to do what I ask of you," I added, "not only will
I not help you off with your helmet, but I will call in all your
neighbours, and then go and find the Municipal Council!"

"You'll end your days on the scaffold!" cried my uncle.

"The hand of Rose!" I repeated. "You told me that it would only be by
force that you would be made to say 'yes'--say it, or I will call in the
neighbours!"