The doctor demanded with stirring voice: "A little silence, if you please." And after the populace became quiet he continued proudly:

Here is a communication which I have received from the government." And, raising the dispatch, he read:

"Old mayor deposed. Advise us what is most necessary. Instructions later. For the Subprefect, SAPIN, Counselor."

He had triumphed. His heart was beating with joy. His hand trembled, when Picard, his old subaltern, cried out to him from the neighboring group:

"That's all right; but if the others in there won't go out, your paper hasn't a leg to stand on." The doctor grew a little pale. If they would not go out--in fact, he must go ahead now. It was not only his right but his duty. And he looked anxiously at the house of the mayoralty, hoping that he might see the door open and his adversary show himself. But the door remained closed. What was to be done? The crowd was increasing, surrounding the militia. Some laughed.

One thought, especially, tortured the doctor. If he should make an assault, he must march at the head of his men; and as with him dead all contest would cease, it would be at him and at him alone that M. de Varnetot and the three guards would aim. And their aim was good, very good! Picard had reminded him of that.

But an idea shone in upon him, and turning to Pommel, he said: "Go, quickly, and ask the apothecary to send me a napkin and a pole."

The lieutenanthurried off. The doctor was going to make a political banner, a white one, that would, perhaps, rejoice the heart of that old legitimist, the mayor.

Pommel returned with the required linen and a broom handle. With some pieces of string they improvised a standard, which Massarel seized in both hands. Again he advanced toward the house of mayoralty, bearing the standard before him. When in front of the door, he called out: "Monsieur de Varnetot!"

The door opened suddenly, and M. de Varnetot and the three guards appeared on the threshold. The doctor recoiled instinctively. Then he saluted his enemy courteously and announced, almost strangled by emotion: "I have come, sir, to communicate to you the instructions I have just received."

That gentleman, without any salutation whatever, replied: "I am going to withdraw, sir, but you must understand that it is not because of fear or in obedience to an odious government that has usurped the power." And, biting off each word, he declared: "I do not wish to have the appearance of serving the Republic for a single day. That is all."

Massarel, amazed, made no reply; and M. de Varnetot, walking off at a rapid pace, disappeared around the corner, followed closely by his escort. Then the doctor, slightly dismayed, returned to the crowd. When he was near enough to be heard he cried: "Hurrah! Hurrah! The Republic triumphs all along the line!"

But no emotion was manifested. The doctor tried again. "The people are free! You are free and independent! Do you understand? Be proud of it!"

The listless villagers looked at him with eyes unlit by glory. In his turn he looked at them, indignant at their indifference, seeking for some wore that could make a grand impression, electrify this placid country and make good his mission. The inspiration came, and turning to Pommel, he said "Lieutenant, go and gee the bust of the ex-emperor, which is in the Council Hall, and bring it to me with a chair."

And soon the man reappears, carrying on his right shoulder Napoleon II in plaster and holding in his left hand a straw-bottomed chair.

Massarel met him, took the chair, placed it on the ground, put the white image upon it, fell back a few steps and called out in sonorous voice:

"Tyrant! Tyrant! Here do you fall! Fall in the dust and in the mire. expiring country groans under your feet Destiny has called you the Avenge, Defeat and shame cling to you. You fall conquered, a prisoner to the Prussians, and upon the ruins of the crumbling Empire the young and radian Republic arises, picking up your broken sword."

He awaited applause. But there was no voice, no sound. The bewildered peasants remained silent. And the bust, with its pointed mustaches extending beyond the cheeks on each side, the bust, so motionless and well groomed as to be fit for a hairdresser's sign, seemed to be looking at M. Massarel with a plaster smile, a smile ineffaceable and mocking.

They remained thus face to face, Napoleon on the chair, the doctor in front of him about three steps away. Suddenly the commander grew angry.

communication [kə,mju:ni´keiʃən]   n.通信；通讯联系   (初中英语单词)

advise [əd´vaiz]   vt.忠告；建议；通知   (初中英语单词)

neighboring [´neibəriŋ]   a.邻近的；接壤的   (初中英语单词)

assault [ə´sɔ:lt]   vt.袭击；殴打 n.攻击   (初中英语单词)

contest [kən´test, ´kɔntest]   v.争辩 n.争夺；竞赛   (初中英语单词)

lieutenant [lef´tenənt]   n.陆军中尉；代理；副手   (初中英语单词)

banner [´bænə]   n.旗(帜)；头号标题   (初中英语单词)

rejoice [ri´dʒɔis]   v.(使)高兴；欢庆   (初中英语单词)

advanced [əd´vɑ:nst]   a.先进的；高级的   (初中英语单词)

emotion [i´məuʃən]   n.感情；情绪；激动   (初中英语单词)

whatever [wɔt´evə]   pron.&a.无论什么   (初中英语单词)

withdraw [wið´drɔ:]   v.收回；撤销；撤退   (初中英语单词)

republic [ri´pʌblik]   n.共和国；共和政体   (初中英语单词)

slightly [´slaitli]   ad.轻微地；细长的   (初中英语单词)

impression [im´preʃən]   n.印刷；印象；效果   (初中英语单词)

mission [´miʃən]   n.代表团；使馆vt.派遣   (初中英语单词)

pointed [´pɔintid]   a.尖(锐)的；中肯的   (初中英语单词)

commander [kə´mɑ:ndə]   n.指挥员，司令员   (初中英语单词)

dispatch [di´spætʃ]   vt.&n.发送；派遣；调度   (高中英语单词)

anxiously [´æŋkʃəsli]   ad.挂念地；渴望地   (高中英语单词)

surrounding [sə´raundiŋ]   n.周围的事物   (高中英语单词)

militia [mi´liʃə]   n.民兵组织   (高中英语单词)

napkin [´næpkin]   n.餐巾；手帕；尿布   (高中英语单词)

hurried [´hʌrid]   a.仓促的，慌忙的   (高中英语单词)

bearing [´beəriŋ]   n.举止；忍耐；关系   (高中英语单词)

threshold [´θreʃhəuld]   n.门槛；入门；开端   (高中英语单词)

communicate [kə´mju:nikeit]   vi.通讯；传达；传播   (高中英语单词)

obedience [ə´bi:djəns]   n.服从；顺从   (高中英语单词)

escort [´eskɔ:t]   n.伴随者；警卫(队)   (高中英语单词)

indifference [in´difrəns]   n.冷淡；无足轻重   (高中英语单词)

inspiration [,inspi´reiʃən]   n.鼓舞；灵感；启发   (高中英语单词)

napoleon [nə´pəuljən]   n.拿破仑   (高中英语单词)

plaster [´plɑ:stə]   n.灰泥 vt.厚厚地涂抹   (高中英语单词)

destiny [´destini]   n.命运   (高中英语单词)

avenge [ə´vendʒ]   vt.替…报仇   (高中英语单词)

applause [ə´plɔ:z]   n.鼓掌；欢呼；称赞   (高中英语单词)

motionless [´məuʃənləs]   a.静止的；固定的   (高中英语单词)

stirring [´stə:riŋ]   a.活跃的；热闹的   (英语四级单词)

adversary [´ædvəsəri]   n.敌手，对手   (英语四级单词)

instinctively [in´stiŋktivli]   ad.本能地   (英语四级单词)

odious [´əudiəs]   a.可憎的；丑恶的   (英语四级单词)

indignant [in´dignənt]   a.义愤的，愤慨的   (英语四级单词)

placid [´plæsid]   a.平静的；温和的   (英语四级单词)

populace [´pɔpjuləs]   n.平民；大众；人口   (英语六级单词)

beating [´bi:tiŋ]   n.敲；搅打；失败   (英语六级单词)

courteously [´kə:tjəsli]   ad.有礼貌地；殷勤地   (英语六级单词)

salutation [,sælju´teiʃ(ə)n]   n.招呼，致意；行礼   (英语六级单词)

biting [´baitiŋ]   a.刺痛的；尖利的   (英语六级单词)

holding [´həuldiŋ]   n.保持，固定，存储   (英语六级单词)