ERS. The cleaver and axe are our weapons; our life is
in the slaughter house; we know the hue of blood, and care not if we
kill _cattle_ or _nobles_!

Children of blood and strength, we look with indifference upon the pale
and weak; he who needs us, has us; we slaughter beeves for the nobles;
the nobles for the people!

The cleaver and axe are our arms; our life is in the slaughter house:
Hurrah for the slaughter house! the slaughter house! the slaughter
house! the slaughter house!

THE MAN. Come! I like the next group better; honor and philosophy are at
least named in it. Good evening, madame!

THE BAPTIZED. It would be better if your excellency should say,
'citizeness,' or 'woman of freedom.'

WOMAN. What do you mean by the title, 'madame?' From whence did it come?
Fie! fie! you smell of mould!

THE MAN. Pardon my mistake!

WOMAN. I am as free as you, I am a free woman; I give my love freely to
the community, because they have acknowledged my right to lavish it
where I will!

THE MAN. And have the community given you for it these jewelled rings,
these chains of violet amethysts?... O thrice beneficent community!

THE WOMAN. No, the community did not give them to me; but at my
emancipation I took these things secretly from the casket of my husband,
for he was my enemy, the enemy of freedom, and had long held me
enslaved!

THE MAN. Citizeness, I wish you a most agreeable promenade!

They pass on.

Who is this marvellous-looking warrior leaning upon a two-edged sword,
with a death's head upon his cap, another upon his badge, and a third
upon his breast? Is he not the famous Bianchetti, a condottiere employed
by the people, as the condottieri once were by the kings and nobles?

THE BAPTIZED. Yes, it is Bianchetti; he has been with us for the last
eight or ten days.

THE MAN (_to Bianchetti_). What is General Bianchetti considering with
so much attention?

BIANCHETTI. Look through this opening in the woods, citizen, and you
will see a castle upon a hill: with my glass I can see the walls,
ramparts, bastions, etc.

THE MAN. It will be hard to take, will it not?

BIANCHETTI. Kings and devils! it can be surrounded by subterranean
passages, undermined, and....

THE BAPTIZED (_winking at Bianchetti_). Citizen general....

THE MAN (_in a whisper to the Baptized_). Look under my cloak how the
cock of my pistol is raised!

THE BAPTIZED (_aside_). Oh woe!--(_Aloud._) How do you mean to conduct
the s