Page:Colas breugnon.djvu/223

Rh good lick at him! Now is the time to decide; speak up, if you are true men, for when we leave here it will be to act, not to talk."

This brought them all to their feet in a perfect uproar; they broke out in a storm of rage against Racquin, calling him a rascal, and Judas, and swearing that he had sold us outright and all that we possessed; but since he had the police behind him, they were afraid to move or offer any resistance.

"Where is he to be found?" said I.

They told me, at the Town Hall, where he stayed night and day, guarded by a troop of ragamuffins, who were more like jailers than defenders.

"He is a prisoner then, in a word," cried I. "Gangnot, open that door! We will go at once and set him free;—who is with me? It is too late to hang back now!"

"Breugnon," said Saulsoy, scratching his head, "I do not mind a few hard knocks, but it is a different matter to go against a man who represents the law; if you resist the law, you are taking a heavy"

"Res-pon-si-bil-i-ty!" said I. "Well, why not? My shoulders are broad enough to bear it, so none of the rest of you need worry. When I see a scoundrel I kill him first, and find out afterwards if he is Pope or Procurator. When order has