THE PEOPLE. Forward! [The procession starts. First comes the drummer, followed by Necker's bust, which the Porter carries on his head. He is surrounded by men armed with sticks and hatchets-young men, elegantly attired in silks, wearing jewels and watches, and armed with cudgels and swords; French Guards with drawn sabers; women, first among whom is LA CONTAT, clinging to DESMOULINS' arm. Then comes GONCHON, who carries Orléans' bust, followed by the shopkeepers of the Palais-Royal. Then the rest of the Crowd. A great silence, broken now and then by the low hum of the vast crowd. In the distance, shouting is heard; it grows nearer and nearer, and finally passes through the whole line like a tremor of passion. Then silence for a moment.]
HOCHE [to HULIN, pointing at the People]. Well, Hulin, are you convinced now?
HULIN. Absurd. That disorderly mob! Attack an army? They're all going to be massacred. There's no sense to it. [He follows the procession.]
HOCHE. Where are you going?
HULIN. With them, of course.
HOCHE. Old comrade, your instinct is better than your head.
HULIN. You see that, do you? Do you know where those blind people are going?
HOCHE. Don't bother about understanding. They know: they see for you.
HULIN. Who?
HOCHE. The blind. [The lugubrious roll of the drums is heard in the distance. The People march out slowly. Silence.]