Although these two men appeared to belong to the same cause, and entertained the same opinions, the assembly ventured to watch the result, not of their meeting, for they were not walking in the same line, but their approach toward each other. At the first turn they were disappointed in their expectation, as the patriots contented themselves with exchanging looks; at the same time the smaller of the two turned slightly pale,—only from an involuntary movement of the lips it was evident it was not caused by fear, but by disgust.
However, at the second turn, as if the patriot had made a violent effort, his countenance, till now so overcast, cleared up suddenly, and something like a smile passed over his lips as he inclined slightly to the left, with the evident intention of stopping the second patriot in his course.
Near the centre they joined each other.
"Why, upon my word, here is the Citizen Simon!" said the first patriot.
"Himself. But what do you want with the Citizen Simon? And, in the first place, who are you?"
"It seems, then, that you do not recognize me?"
"I do not recognize you, and for an excellent reason,—I never saw you before."
"Not recognize me!—when I had the honor to carry the head of the Princess Lamballe!"
At these words, pronounced with savage fury, and bursting passionately from the mouth of the patriot, Simon started.
"You?" said he, "you?"