He had heard the woman's agonized cry. The scene that he had witnessed on entering the room had shown him the cause of her distress, and, with the blind, impetuous rage which the sight of any act of violence or injustice towards the weak or helpless rouses in a young and chivalrous soul, he rushed to where Chabot was standing and seized that worthy violently by the shoulder.
"What the devil are you doing?" he demanded furiously.
"That is no business of yours," retorted Chabot, coolly disengaging himself from the other's grasp. "You evidently do not know who I am, young man."
"I have no wish to. It does not interest me. But I do know that you are not wanted here!"
"I am the Deputy Chabot, of the Department of Loir-et-Cher!"
"Indeed," replied the young man, apparently unabashed by so much distinction. "Well, I am Jean Jacques Hauer! And to the devil with your 'deputy'!"
"So you are the fortunate Citizen Hauer," said Chabot, with a dark smile of comprehension. "I see, I see!"
"What do you mean?" asked the artist threateningly.
Chabot turned to Charlotte Corday with a bow.
"I congratulate you, mademoiselle," he said, with meaning in his voice, "I congratulate you on the possession of so well-bred, so well-mannered a lover!"