Page:Eekhoud - The New Carthage.djvu/242

214 his companion's arm. "For heaven's sake, calm down … we are being overheard!"

A circle of people was, in fact, beginning to form around them. To the usual idle onlooking was added a malignant curiosity, the expectation of a scuffle.

And the more Dupoissy tried to wheedle Vlarding, the more did Vlarding yell:

"For the last time. Monsieur Dupoissy, are you ready to pay me the two thousand francs you owe me?"

"When I have them!" let fly Dupoissy, decidedly at his wits' end.

Vlarding jumped like a burned dog.

"What are you saying?" he cried in the face of the insolvent debtor.

Other dupes now joined the chorus with Vlarding. Each one was claiming his debt.

"Will pay! Won't pay," chanted the crowd hilariously, stamping with fierce joy.

"Messieurs, my good sirs, let me go, I beg you! I'm a French citizen, and I shall call my country's consul. It's an indignity …"

"Have you finished?" jeered the young Saint-Fardiers. "Shame upon the deserter! Shame upon the man of Sedan! Shut your trap! To the door with him!"

But the creditors were getting angry and threatening him with their fists, canes and umbrellas. Vlarding has just knocked his hat off. "No! No! No violence!" the majority of the onlookers interposed hypocritically. "Let the pleasure last!"

Trembling with fear, haggard, livid, perspiration and melting pommade rolling down his forehead and ears, the big man did not budge. But, not having the