'If the accusation be capital,' said the two curés, rising, 'we refuse to act as judges.'
'It is capital,' the people shouted.
'We are forbidden by the canons of the Church to shed blood,' said the curé of S. Étienne du Mont, 'therefore my brother priest and I refuse to act as judges.'
A storm burst forth. Some cried, 'The priests are right;' others thundered, 'We are being hoodwinked; they want to save the prisoner.'
The clamour for judgment on the unfortunate Foulon became deafening. The electors began to fear for themselves.
'Gentlemen, we want two judges in the place of the priests,' said one of them.
'We name MM. Bailly and Lafayette.'
'But M. de Lafayette is absent. What is to be done? shall we wait for him, or will you name some one as a substitute?'
'You judges name your coadjutor.'