The captain looked out for something to say in reply, and found nothing. But Girbal discharged this shaft:
"A Republican speaking against liberty. That is funny."
"A droll story," chimed in Langlois.
Bouvard turned on him with this question:
"Why don't you give all you possess to the poor?"
The grocer cast an uneasy glance over his entire shop.
"Look here, now, I'm not such an idiot! I keep it for myself."
"If you were St. Vincent de Paul, you would act differently, since you would have his character. You obey your own. Therefore, you are not free."
"That's a quibble!" replied the company in chorus.
Bouvard did not flinch, and said, pointing towards the scales on the counter: