“He is going to appear before the overseers—”
“God grant it!” said the recorder, exchanging another glance with the consul. “God grant it, my friends; because, if he despises our customs enough to act otherwise, we must think that he put his house in a state of such formidable defence only to brave the laws.”
“We repeat that what you are saying, recorder, is impossible. Raimond V. cannot deny the authority of the overseers, nor can he deny the authority of the king,” said an auditor.
“But, first, he denies the authority of the king,” cried Master Isnard, triumphantly; “and, since I must tell you, I believe, even after what your worthy consul has told me, that he will deny, not only the royal power, but the rights of the community also; in a word, that he will positively refuse to appear before the overseers, and that he wishes to keep his seines and nets where they are, to the detriment of the general fishery.”
A hollow murmur of astonishment and indignation welcomed this news.
“Speak, speak, consul; is it true?”
“Raimond V. is too brave a nobleman for that.”
“If it is true, yet—”
“They are our rights, after all, and—”
Such were the various remarks which rapidly crossed each other through the restless crowd.