The little one then turned to me.
"Citizen Representative," said he to me, "those are volleys. They are attacking the barricades over there. Really you must go away."
I answered him, "But you yourselves are going to stay here."
"As for us, we are armed," resumed he; "as for you, you are not. You will only get yourself killed without benefiting any one. If you had a gun, I should say nothing. But you have not. You must go away."
"I cannot," I answered him. "I am waiting for some one."
He wished to continue and to urge me. I pressed his hand.
"Let me do as I like," said I.
He understood that my duty was to remain, and no longer persisted.
There was a pause. He again began to bite his bread. The gurgling of the dying man alone was audible. At that moment a sort of deep and hollow booming reached us. The old woman started from her chair, muttering, "It is the cannon!"
"No," said the little man, "it is the slamming of a street-door." Then he resumed, "There now! I have finished my bread," and he dusted one hand against the other, and went out.