“Blow the trumpet! Blow the trumpet!”
Chassons des Aigues disdained the interruption.
“A pledge, a simple pledge should be expressed from time to time. Such as: ‘Impeachment of the Ministers——’”
“Blow the trumpet! Blow the trumpet!” cried young Cadde louder than ever.
Chassons des Aigues tried to make him listen to reason.
“I am not opposed on principle to our friends sounding the hallali of the parliamentarians, but in public gatherings the trumpet is the supreme argument of the minority. We must keep it for the Luxembourg and Palais Bourbon. I should like to point out, my dear fellow, that at the Hôtel de Ville we are in the majority.”
This consideration did not move young Cadde, who continued to vociferate:
“Blow the trumpet! Blow the trumpet! Do you know how to blow the trumpet, Lacrisse? If you don’t, I’ll teach you; it is quite essential for a municipal councillor to know how to blow the trumpet.”
“To resume,” said Chassons des Aigues, as solemn as a judge, “the first pledge of the Council should be the impeachment of the Ministers; the second, the impeachment of the Senators; and the third, the impeachment of the President of the Republic. After a few resolutions of this description the Ministry will proceed to the dissolution of the Council. The Council resists, and makes a vehement appeal to public opinion. Outraged Paris rises——”
“Do you think so?” asked Henri Léon quietly. “Do you really think, Chassons, that outraged Paris will rise?”