'You are very calm, monsieur,' said one of the guards.
'Sir,' replied Foulon at once, 'crime alone can be disconcerted. Take a pinch of snuff.'
'Why did you want us to eat hay?' shouted some of the crowd.
'Because I eat it myself,' replied Foulon, 'in the shape of beef. Cows eat hay—and I eat cows. Can I wish you anything better?'
M. de Poizc, one of the electors, then addressed the people, urging upon them the illegality of precipitately condemning the accused, without giving him an opportunity of summoning witnesses to prove his innocence.
'Let everything be done in order.'
'Yes, in order,' the mob shouted.
'Every culprit must be first judged,' continued the elector.
'Yes, judged first and hung after,' was answered.
'That comes in order, does it not?' some one cried, and there rose a laugh.