Vaubertrand pushed forward the reluctant François. "It is one of the reporters, citizen commissioner."
"Ahem! One of Citizen Amar's appointments," said Grégoire. "Thou canst go, Citizen Vaubertrand"; and he looked up as he sat at the table.
"Thy name?"
"François," said the thief.
"Thy occupation?"
"Juggler."
The citizen commissioner was on the uncertain line between appearance of sobriety obtained by effort and ebriety past control. As he interrogated François his head dropped forward. He recovered himself with a sharp jerk, and cried sharply:
"Why dost thou not answer? I said, How didst thou get here, and who gave thee thy order to report?"
"Citizen Amar; he is a friend of mine."
"Is he? Well, where is thy sacré report?"