"Gentlemen," said Roudier, breathlessly, without thinking of taking
any oratorical precautions, "I believe that a band of insurgents is
approaching the town."
These words were received with the silence of terror. Rougon alone had
the strength to ask, "Have you seen them?"
"No," the retired hosier replied; "but we hear strange noises out in the
country; one of my men assured me that he had seen fires along the slope
of the Garrigues."
Then, as all the gentlemen stared at each other white and speechless,
"I'll return to my post," he continued. "I fear an attack. You had
better take precautions."
Rougon would have followed him, to obtain further particulars, but he
was already too far away. After this the Commission was by no means
inclined to go to sleep again. Strange noises! Fires! An attack! And
in the middle of the night too! It was very easy to talk of taking
precautions, but what were they to do? Granoux was very near advising
the course which had proved so successful the previous evening: that
is of hiding themselves, waiting till the insurgents has passed through
Plassans, and then triumphing in the deserted streets. Pierre, however,
fortunately remembering his wife's advice, said that Roudier might
have made a mistake, and that the best thing would be to go and see for
themselves. Some of the members made a wry face at this suggestion;
but when it had been agreed that an armed escort should accompany the
Commission, they all descended very courageously.
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