"I have; for her laws, her liberty, her property, and her honour." (Bravo! from the crowd.)
"Yet you are not a Republican?"
"No; no more than you are."
This produced confusion on the bench. The hit was contemptuously accidental; but it was a home-thrust at the chief, who had former been a domestic in the Tuileries, and was still strongly suspected of being a spy of the Bourbons. The crowd who knew his story, who are always delighted with a blow at power, burst into a general roar. But a little spruce fellow on the bench, who had already exhibited a desire to take his share in the interrogatory, now thrust his head over the table, and said in his most searching tone—
"To come to the point—Prisoner, how do you live? What are your means? All honest men must have visible means. That is my question." (All eyes were now turned on me.)
I was now growing angry; and, pointing to the pile of purses and watches on the table—
"No man," said I, "needs ask what are your visible means, when they see that pile before you. Yet I doubt if that proves you to be an honest man. That is my answer."
The little inquisitor looked furious, and glanced towards the chief for protection; but his intrusion had provoked wrath in that quarter, and his glance was returned with a rigid smile.
"Prisoner," said the head of the tribunal, "though the question was put improperly, it was itself a proper one. How do you live?"
"By my abilities."