"What does it matter, dear friend, what circumstances cause my presence?"
"Have you come to fight?"
"I have come to do what I can ... they told me you had received a list of twelve Carlists. If you are hard put to find a dozen Republicans, make use of me; I shall make one, at all events."
"But suppose I am in no such difficulty?..."
"Then, dear friend, excuse me from taking part in this row."
"You are not keen about it."
"I think the cause ridiculous."
"What! ridiculous?"
"Yes, in my opinion, you should wait in silence for official news from Blaye. The Duchesse de Berry is, first and foremost, a woman; and by what right do you say of a princess, because she is a princess, what you would not say of the widow of your grocer?"
"What is one to do?" said Carrel, who felt at heart and from the chivalrous point of view that I was right in my view of the question.