"Who is General Dubourg?"
"General Dubourg is General Dubourg," said Charlet.
And there was indeed no other explanation to be offered.
General Dubourg had presented himself before Higonnet and Degousée at the Mairie des Petits-Pères the previous day.
"Gentlemen," he asked, "do you require a general?"
"A general?" Degousée repeated. "In Revolutionary times it only needs a tailor to make anything or anybody—and, given sufficient tailors, there will be no lack of generals."
The general made a mental note of the expression, but, instead of applying to a tailor, he did what was more economical and expeditious. He went to a second-hand clothes dealer! But then it was fitting that a general of fortune should have a makeshift for a uniform.
Well, the general and his uniform combined went to the Hôtel de Ville. Now, it is the proper thing for processions to march at a slow pace, and this particular one did not depart from the usual custom. Étienne had time to go and deposit his despatch at the offices of the National and, by hurrying slightly, he was able to return to the Hôtel de Ville before General Dubourg had effected his entrance.
"Baude," he said, "do you know what is coming?"
"No."