"It is this," said Simon, who, accustomed to the manners of the municipals, believed, on perceiving Maurice, that he came as an ally; "this traitor, this spy, this ci-devant, this aristocrat, prevents me from belaboring Capet," and he shook his fist at Lorin.
"Yes, by Heaven, I did prevent it," said Lorin, drawing his sword; "and if you again call me ci-devant, aristocrat, or traitor, I will run my sword through your body."
"A threat!" cried Simon; "guard! guard!"
"I am the guard," said Lorin; "so you had better not call; for if I come to you, I will exterminate you."
"Come here, Citizen Municipal, come here," said Simon, now seriously alarmed at Lorin's threats.
"The sergeant is quite right," said the municipal, to whom he had appealed for assistance; "you are a disgrace to the nation, coward, to beat a child."
"And why did he beat him? Do you know the reason, Maurice? Because the child would not sing 'Madame Veto;' because the child would not insult his mother."
"The miserable wretch!" said Maurice.
"And you also?" said Simon. "Am I surrounded by traitors?"
"You villain!" cried the municipal, seizing Simon by the throat, and tearing the last from his hand; "try to prove that Maurice Lindey is a traitor," and he applied the leather strap vigorously to the shoulders of the shoemaker.