[He mounts the step still laughing, then suddenly
recovers himself and turns with fury.
Who calls me coward? I laughed because I laughed!
[He wrests a musket from the nearest soldier and
stabs him with the bayonet.
Take that!—There’s one at least will laugh no more!
[Oaths and confusion among the gaolers and soldiers.
A sigh of satisfaction from the prisoners. La Fôret
is dragged out. Grégoire looks at his list, then at
De Vardes. The latter advances.