Monsieur and Monseigneur are a little out of fashion just at present on
this side of the Loire."
"As they soon also shall be on the other," said Westerman.
"Well, I have told him," and Denot pointed to Santerre, "what it is I
propose to do for you, and the terms on which I will do it."
"Terms indeed!" said Barrere. "The Republic is not accustomed to make
terms with her servants. Come, tell us at once: are you a republican?"
Denot hesitated; not that he was ashamed to own himself a republican,
but his blood was boiling with passion at the language and tone in which
he was addressed, and yet he did not dare to shew his anger.
"Of course he is a republican," said Santerre, "or why would he come
here? Take a glass of wine, friend Denot, and pluck up your courage,"
and Santerre passed the wine-bottle to him. "If you are true to us, you
need not fear us."
"He must pronounce himself a republican," said Barrere, "or we cannot
deal with him. Come, young man, can you put your mouth to so much
inconvenience as to give us some slight inkling of your present
political principles? All we know of you as yet is, that three weeks
since you were a pestilent royalist, and a leader of royalists.
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