Monsieur Beauvisage was then summoned; whereupon Maitre Achille Pigoult the notary rose, and asked leave to make a statement.
“Monsieur le maire,” he said, “has, since yesterday, been attacked by—”
“Ha! ha!” derisive laughter on the part of the electors.
Colonel Giguet rang his bell repeatedly, without being able to enforce silence. At the first lull Maitre Pigoult resumed,—
“I have the honor to inform you, gentlemen, that, attacked by an indisposition which, not serious in itself—”
Fresh interruption, noisier than the first.
Like all military men, Colonel Giguet is not patient nor parliamentary; he therefore rose and called out vehemently,—
“Messieurs, we are not at a circus. I request you to behave in a more seemly manner; if not, I leave the chair.”
It is to be supposed that men in masses like to be handled roughly; for this lesson was greeted with merry applause, after which silence appeared to be firmly re-established.
“I regret to inform you,” began Maitre Achille Pigoult, varying his formula for the third time, “that, attacked by an indisposition happily not serious, which may confine him to his chamber—”