"Come for me."
"I shall be here at nine o'clock precisely."
The little man turned as if to go out.
"Wait," said Schneider; "you are not going away without drinking to the health of the Republic?"
The little man accepted with a bow. Schneider rang, and the old woman came in.
"A glass for citizen Nicholas," he said.
Schneider took the first bottle that came to hand, and inclined it gently over the glass in order not to disturb the wine; a few red drops fell into the glass.
"I don't drink red wine," said the little man.
"True," answered Schneider; then he added, with a laugh, "Are you still nervous, citizen Nicholas?"
"Yes."