Pagina 252 di 896

The people closed round, and looked at Monsieur the Marquis.

There was nothing revealed by the many eyes that looked at him

but watchfulness and eagerness; there was no visible menacing or

anger. Neither did the people say anything; after the first cry,

they had been silent, and they remained so. The voice of the

submissive man who had spoken, was flat and tame in its extreme

submission. Monsieur the Marquis ran his eyes over them all, as

if they had been mere rats come out of their holes.

He took out his purse.

"It is extraordinary to me," said he, "that you people cannot

take care of yourselves and your children. One or the other of

you is for ever in the way. How do I know what injury you have

done my horses. See! Give him that."

He threw out a gold coin for the valet to pick up, and all the

heads craned forward that all the eyes might look down at it as

it fell. The tall man called out again with a most unearthly cry,

"Dead!"