"Hullo!" exclaimed Charras, "this exactly suits our book! Here we have a real general under our thumb, and he shall sign our proclamation."
They addressed themselves to General Lobau, explained the situation, and read him the letter, but the general turned his head away.
"Oh! dear me no! I am not such a fool as to sign that." And he went away.
"Eh?" said Charras.
"I'm not surprised," said Mauguin. "A little while ago they refused to put their signatures to an order to go and fetch powder from Soissons."
"That was my order."
"Then, he shrinks back?"
"No doubt of it."
"But, my goodness, in a revolution the man who does that is a traitor.... I will go and have him shot down," cried Charras.
Odilon Barrot and Mauguin leapt to their feet.