“Well, now, between ourselves,” continued Gaubertin, after looking about him on all sides and making sure that no one could overhear him, “do you think they are capable of striking a blow?”
“Such as?” asked Rigou, who never allowed himself to understand a hint.
“Well, if the worst of the band, the best shot, sent a ball whistling round the ears of the count—just to frighten him?”
“He’s a man to rush at an assailant and collar him.”
“Michaud, then.”
“Michaud would do nothing at the moment, but he’d watch and spy till he found out the man and those who instigated him.”
“You are right,” said Gaubertin; “those peasants must make a riot and a few must be sent to the galleys. Well, so much the better for us; the authorities will catch the worst, whom we shall want to get rid of after they’ve done the work. There are those blackguards, the Tonsards and Bonnebault—”
“Tonsard is ready for mischief,” said Soudry, “I know that; and we’ll work him up by Vaudoyer and Courtecuisse.”
“I’ll answer for Courtecuisse,” said Rigou.
“And I hold Vaudoyer in the hollow of my hand.”