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208 "Well, does he do it?"

"He tries his best."

"I ask you, has he kept the town in order? No! Well then, we will do it ourselves!"

"Master Racquin has solemnly promised us that if we keep perfectly quiet, all our property shall be protected, and the disturbances be confined to the suburbs."

"And how is he going to keep that promise?"

"He was forced to make some kind of a treaty with the brigands, but he says that it was only to get them in his power."

"To hoodwink us, you mean,—why, such a treaty is a positive crime!"

They all hung their heads, looking angry and shamefaced as well as frightened, and Denis Saulsoy said quickly, timidly, that it was not safe always to speak out what one thought. Gangnot was a man of few words, but he gave the anvil another blow, and said, "Colas is right!"

"What are you afraid of, Denis? said I. "You are among friends,—do you think that walls have ears? Here, Gangnot, go and stand in front of the door with that hammer of yours, and knock the head off the first man that tries to enter; he may have ears to listen with, but I bet that he won't have a tongue to wag, after Gangnot has had a