"And they did well. France wants order. Out with you all, or I shall fire on you. Citizens indeed! See to that stuff burning."
The peasants, awed, slunk away. Grégoire coolly mounted the stairs.
"Hold!" cried the marquis.
"I arrest thee in the name of the law! Here is my order."
The marquis took it.
"The light is bad," he said; "but I see it is in good form. The law I obey—and muskets"; and then, in a half-whisper to François: "Run! run! I will hold the stairs."
Grégoire overheard him.
"The citizen émigré! I arrest him!" and he went up a step.
"Back!" cried the marquis, lunging fiercely at the too adventurous commissioner, who leaped down the stairway with the agility of alarm.
"Fire!" he cried.