and called for silence. It was then two o'clock.

"I shall take the liberty to observe to the honorable Colonel Giguet,
whose feelings are easily understood, that he took upon himself to
speak, which is against parliamentary usage," said Achille Pigoult.

"I think it is not necessary to call the colonel to order," said the
chairman. "He is a father--"

Silence was re-established.

"We did not come here," cried Fromaget, "to say Amen to everything the
Messieurs Giguet, father and son, may wish--"

"No! no!" cried the assembly.

"Things are going badly," said Madame Marion to her cook in the
garden.

"Messieurs," resumed Achille, "I confine myself to asking my friend
Simon Giguet, categorically, what he expects to do for our interests."

"Yes! yes!" cried the assembly.

"Since when," demanded Simon Giguet, "have good citizens like those of
Arcis made trade and barter of the sacred mission of deputy?"

It is impossible to represent the effect produced by noble sentiments
on a body of men. They will applaud fine maxims, while they none the
less vote for the degradation of their country, like the galley-slave