“None whatever! I am convinced that a display of force would effect no useful end. Accordingly, I begged the authorities not to disturb themselves. They wished to send us out the dragoons! Why not the artillery at once?”
“And who are the delegates to whom we shall have to reply?”
“There are eight of them. But it is the famous Balestrier who is at their head and acts as their mouthpiece.”
“He is a very intelligent fellow, only he reads too many books beyond his power of comprehension.”
“The rest are honest enough, but they have been incited to revolt by their companions at Troyes, and I am afraid I shall find them more violent than they are naturally disposed to be. They assume an attitude and play a rôle.”
“We will judge them by their actions.”
Pointing out to his uncle on the laboratory table a glass recipient of moderate size, Marcel said—
“Look at this jar, Uncle Graff. If I were to throw a lighted match into it, in a moment I could annihilate all these ill-advised strikers.”
“Then that is the famous powder?”
“Yes.”