"I," answered the same voice.
"And who did you call a wretch?"
"You."
"You are hiding in the parterre; just show yourself!"
A youth, scarcely fifteen years of age, sprang upon the bench with a single bound, and standing head and shoulders above the people, cried: "Here I am. I show myself, as you see."
"Eugene Beauharnais! The son of General Beauharnais!" exclaimed several spectators, who had known the general during his stay in Strasbourg, and who recognized the boy, who had also been there for some time.
General Beauharnais had been much loved, and a group gathered round the boy, whom Augereau on the one side, and Charles on the other stood ready to support.
"Whelp of an aristocrat!" cried Tétrell, on seeing who his adversary was.
"Bastard of a wolf!" retorted the youth, refusing to lower his eyes before the threatening glance of the leader of the Propagande.
"If you make me come down to you," shouted Tétrell, grinding his teeth, "you had better look out, or I will spank you."