"And then, if you don't pay," added Fouan, "they take your lads from you and have them shot!"
Canon nodded his head, and grinned in triumph.
"Well, you see that after all those earth-grubbers are not quite such fools as you thought!" he said to Hyacinthe.
Then, turning to the others, he continued:
"They are always telling us that you are Conservatives, and that you wouldn't allow any change. But it's conservative of your own interests that you are, isn't it? You'll let us work, and you'll help in anything to your own advantage. You'd be prepared to do a good deal, wouldn't you, for the sake of keeping your money and your children? Of course you would, or you'd be a set of arrant blockheads."
No one was drinking now, and an uneasy expression began to appear on the peasants' heavy faces. Canon continued his address, revelling beforehand in the effect which he was going to produce.
"And that's why I'm at ease. I've known all about your feelings since you've driven me away from your doors with stones. As that stout gentleman here said, you will all rally to our side, to us, the Reds and the Communists, when we are installed at the Tuileries."
"No, no! indeed no!" cried Buteau, Delhomme, and the others, all at once.
Hourdequin, who had been listening attentively, shrugged his shoulders.
"You're wasting your breath, my good fellow," he said.