"Much as usual, Citizen Key-bearer. It seems to me you do not often find us at fault?"
"Ah!" said Mardoche; "and vigilance is more than ever necessary to-night."
"Bah!" said Duchesne, who had now approached.
"Truly."
"Why, then?"
"Open the window, and I will tell you all about it."
Gilbert opened it, and shook hands with Mardoche, who had already made friends with the two gendarmes.
"What is it, Citizen Mardoche?" repeated Gilbert.
"The sitting of the Convention has been rather hot to-day. Have you read about it?"