Benningsen took advantage of the momentary lull to single out with his eye a young man whose dress showed him to be a student of the university, a youth distinguished likewise from the rest of the crowd by his bold, not to say defiant, bearing.
“Hearken, sirrah, your name?”
“Nikon, son of Andreas.”
“Well, Nikon son of Andreas, you seem a more sensible sort of fellow than those around you. Just tell us in a few words to what all this excitement is due?”
“To the picture.”
“What picture?”
“The picture placed at dawn before the Orphan Asylum by command of the Empress Mary. Does that picture tell the truth?” he added with a threatening look.
“How the devil should I know when I haven’t seen it.”
“Come and see it then,” said the student.
This was deemed a good idea by the crowd, who seemed to have taken fresh courage from the student’s bold attitude.