At this instant the Assembly door on the Feuillants' Quay opened.
"I fancy this is just what I was waiting for," remarked the mayor.
"Order to let Mayor Petion pass forth," said a voice; "the Assembly demands his presence at the bar of the House, to give an account of the state of the city."
"Just the thing," muttered Petion. "Here I am," he replied, in a loud voice; "I am ready to respond to the quips of my enemies."
The National Guards, imagining that Petion was to be berated, let him out.
It was nearly three in the morning; the day was breaking. A singular thing, the aurora was the hue of blood.
[CHAPTER X.]
BILLET AND PITOU.
On being called by the king, Petion had foreseen that he might more easily get into the palace than out, so he went up to a hard-faced man marred by a scar on the brow.
"Farmer Billet," said he, "what was your report about the House?"