Pagina 547 di 896

Not only that; but the village, light-headed with famine, fire,

and bell-ringing, and bethinking itself that Monsieur Gabelle had

to do with the collection of rent and taxes--though it was but a

small instalment of taxes, and no rent at all, that Gabelle had

got in those latter days--became impatient for an interview with

him, and, surrounding his house, summoned him to come forth for

personal conference. Whereupon, Monsieur Gabelle did heavily bar

his door, and retire to hold counsel with himself. The result of

that conference was, that Gabelle again withdrew himself to his

housetop behind his stack of chimneys; this time resolved, if his

door were broken in (he was a small Southern man of retaliative

temperament), to pitch himself head foremost over the parapet,

and crush a man or two below.