"We must deliberate before taking any decision," he said to the
commander. "My wife is perhaps not wrong in accusing us of forgetting
the true interests of our families."
"No, indeed, madame is not wrong," cried Granoux, who had been listening
to Felicite's terrified cries with the rapture of a coward.
Thereupon the commander energetically clapped his hat on his head, and
said in a clear voice: "Right or wrong, it matters little to me. I am
commander of the National Guard. I ought to have been at the mayor's
before now. Confess that you are afraid, that you leaven me to act
alone. . . . Well, good-night."
He was just turning the handle of the door, when Rougon forcibly
detained him.
"Listen, Sicardot," he said.
He drew him into a corner, on seeing Vuillet prick up his big ears. And
there he explained to him, in an undertone, that it would be a good plan
to leave a few energetic men behind the insurgents, so as to restore
order in the town. And as the fierce commander obstinately refused to
desert his post, Pierre offered to place himself at the head of such a
reserve corps.
"Give me the key of the cart-shed in which the arms and ammunition are
kept," he said to him, "and order some fifty of our men not to stir
until I call for them."
Sicardot ended by consenting to these prudent measures. He entrusted
Pierre with the key of the cart-shed, convinced as he was of the
inexpediency of present resistance, but still desirous of sacrificing
himself.
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