tremely amusing. At last the long
spindle-shanks was collared, and they would no longer always have his
miserable face and gaol-bird's expression before their eyes. They
all wished him a pleasant journey, and trusted that they might get a
handsome fellow for their next inspector. And in their delight they
rushed about from one stall to another, and felt inclined to dance
round their marble slabs like a lot of holiday-making schoolgirls.
The beautiful Norman, however, watched this outbreak of joy in a rigid
attitude, not daring to move for fear she should burst into tears;
and she kept her hands pressed upon a big skate to cool her feverish
excitement.

"You see how those Mehudins turn their backs upon him now that he's come
to grief," said Madame Lecoeur.

"Well, and they're quite right too," replied Mademoiselle Saget.
"Besides, matters are settled now, my dear, and we're to have no more
disputes. You've every reason to be satisfied; leave the others to act
as they please."

"It's only the old woman who is laughing," La Sarriette remarked; "La
Normande looks anything but happy."

Meantime, upstairs in his bedroom, Florent allowed himself to be taken
as unresistingly as a sheep. The police officers sprang roughly
upon him, expecting, no doubt, that they would meet with a desperate
resistance. He quietly begged them to leave go of him; and then sat
down on a chair while they packed up his papers, and the red scarves,
armlets, and banners. He did not seem at all surprised at this ending;
indeed, it was something of a relief to him, though he would not frankly
confess it. But he suffered acutely at thought of the bitter hatred
which had sent him into that room; he recalled Auguste's pale face and
the sniggering looks of the fish-wives; he bethought himself of old
Madame Mehudin's words, La Normande's silence, and the empty shop
downstairs. The markets were leagued against him, he reflected; the
whole neighbourhood had conspired to hand him over to the police. The
mud of those greasy streets had risen up all around to overwhelm him!

And amidst all the round faces which flitted before his mind's eye there
suddenly appeared that of Quenu, and a spasm of mortal agony contracted
his heart.

"Come, get along downstairs!" exclaimed one of the officers, roughly.

Florent rose and proceeded to go downstairs. When he reached the second
floor he asked to be allowed to return; he had forgotten something, he
said. But the off