"Aid me now, let us do for both, the big 'un as well as the little 'un!"
"Look out for squalls, then," replied the Chourineur, preparing for a struggle, with his two hands squared, and standing well-balanced on his loins; "and mind your eye, Skeleton! If you mean to play the Cut-in-Half, I'll serve you as Gargousse did, and slit your weasand."
"Fall on him!" said Le Gros-Boiteux, getting up.
"Why does this vagabond defend spies? Death to the informer, and to him, too! If he defends Germain he is a traitor!"
"Yes, yes, death to the spy! Death!"
"Yes, and death to the traitor who defends him!"
Such were the cries uttered by the fiercest of the détenus. Another party, more merciful, exclaimed:
"No, let's hear him first!"
"Yes, let him explain; we mustn't kill a man without a hearing!"
"And without means of defence, too! Must we be Cut-in-Halfs?"