This was a number of the paper entitled "Le Père Duchesne;" which, as is well known, was written by Hébert.
The accusation indeed appeared there in full.
"It is written, and even printed," said Lorin; "but till I hear a similar accusation proceed from the lips of the child,—mind, I mean voluntarily, freely, and without menaces,—notwithstanding Simon and Hébert, I shall disbelieve it, as much as you in reality do yourself."
Simon impatiently awaited the issue of this conversation.
The miserable creature was not unaware of the power exercised upon an intelligent man by the looks which he receives from the crowd, expressive either of sympathy or subtle hatred. Sometimes this subtle influence repels, sometimes it attracts, makes the thought flow out and even draws the person of the man toward that other man of equal or superior mental calibre whom he recognizes in the crowd.
But Fouquier Tinville had felt the keen observation of Lorin, and was anxious to be fully understood by him.
"The examination is about to commence," said the public accuser. "Registrar, resume your pen!"
The registrar, who had just drawn out the preliminaries of the investigation, was waiting, like Hanriot, Simon, and all the rest, till the colloquy between Fouquier and Lorin had ceased.
The child alone appeared perfectly unconscious of the scene in which he was soon to become the principal actor, and his face, which had for an instant gleamed with a ray of the highest intelligence, had relapsed into its listless, apathetic expression.
"Silence!" cried Hanriot, "the Citizen Fouquier Tinville is going to interrogate the child."