"Long live the sovereign people!"
And now, having finished his discourse, he withdrew from the balcony.
A voice shouted from the street:—
"Down with property!"
"Abajoooo!"
The throng again started on its march, and in a short time Marroquín and all his comrades had joined it, raising aloft a tremendous blue standard on which could be read these words:—
"IMMEDIATE ABOLITION OF RELIGION AND THE CLERGY!"
All was tumult, noise, and gayety on that day, the thirtieth of September, in the capital of Spain. Brass bands marched through the street, playing patriotic airs; all the balconies (especial pains were taken that there should be no exceptions) were decked with variegated hangings; the church bells pealed forth a hypocritical jubilee; triumphal arches were built in all haste on the principal streets to receive the conquerors of Alcolea, the emigrés and martyrs of the revolution; numerous patriotic crowds rushed through the city, ready at any instant to listen to the words of all the orators, more or less improvised for the occasion.
The one which Marroquín had joined was not the least noisy and enthusiastic.