THE MAN. Who are you? Where are you going at this hour?
VINTIMILLE [handing him a paper]. Can you read?
THE MAN. Papers? Of course, I can read. [To HULIN.] You read them. What is it?
HULIN [after having read]. A pass. It's all right. Signed by the Committee of the Hötel de Ville. Countersigned by the Captain of the Bourgeois Militia, Gonchon.
THE MAN. Good joke! Anybody can buy those. [He grumblingly allows VINTIMILLE to pass.]
VINTIMILLE. Of course! Everything can be bought. [As he turns to go, he throws a coin at THE MAN.]
THE MAN [on the alert]. What! What's that?
VINTIMILLE [without turning]. You see. Take it and keep your mouth shut.
THE MAN [running to VINTIMILLE and blocking his way]. So you're an aristocrat? You're trying to bribe me?
HULIN [interposing]. Don't, comrade, don't. I know him very well. [He goes to VINTIMILLE.]