have felt in being chosen."

Everybody laughed.

Simon Giguet then produced silence by demanding speech of the
chairman, whose shirt was already wet and became still wetter as he
mustered all his courage to say:--

"Monsieur Simon Giguet has the floor."



IV

THE FIRST PARLIAMENTARY TEMPEST

"Messieurs," said Simon Giguet, "I ask permission to thank Monsieur
Achille Pigoult, who, although our meeting is altogether friendly--"

"It is a meeting preparatory to the great primary meeting," said the
solicitor Marcelin.

"That is what I was about to explain," resumed Simon, "I thank
Monsieur Achille Pigoult for having insisted on the strictness of
parliamentary forms. This is the first time that the arrondissement of
Arcis has been at liberty to use--"

"At liberty!" said Pigoult, interrupting the orator.

"At liberty!" cried the assembly.