"Ah, it's you, hypocrite!" Barabant answered scornfully.
There was a movement of incredulity and alarm among the prisoners, who hastened to withdraw from them. Cramoisin, as though whipped across the face, fell back, scowling and cursing, while Nicole, seizing Barabant's arm, cried:
"Barabant, what have you done?"
"Nicole," he answered, "do you remember what Goursac said when they arrested him?"
"No."
"'They are liberating me.' Well, I too wish to be free. I have lived like a dog for months. That is ended. I will not cringe before this bully, who will send us to-morrow to the guillotine."
"Then you are determined to die?"
"Yes."
"So be it."