"For you will be able to tell me the meaning of all this noise, this
beating of drums,--

"'Clamorque, virum, clangorque tubarum.'"

"A terrible misfortune has happened," answered the mayor. From the tone
of his voice one might have imagined it was he himself who had been
afflicted; and the lawyer was so strongly impressed in this way, that he
said,--

"My dear friend, what is the matter? _Quid?_ Courage, my friend, keep
cool! Remember that the poet advises us, in misfortune never to lose our
balance of mind:--

"'AEquam, memento, rebus in arduis,
Sevare mentem.'"

"Incendiaries have set Valpinson on fire!" broke in the mayor.

"You do not say so? Great God!

"'Jupiter,
Quod verbum audio.'"

"More than that. Count Claudieuse has been shot, and by this time he is
probably dead."

"Oh!"