"Without being exactly uneasy about you," said Madam Lebrenn to her husband, "Velleda and I were beginning to wonder what kept you away so long. It seems that the commotion in Paris is on the increase. Do you know they sounded the call to arms?"
"Oh! Mother," cried Sacrovir with eyes that sparkled with enthusiasm, "Paris has the fever--it follows that all hearts must be beating more strongly. Without knowing one another, people look for and understand at a glance. On all the streets the words you hear are ardent, patriotic appeals to arms. In short, it smells of gunpowder. Oh, mother! mother!" added the young man with exaltation, "what a beautiful sight is the awakening of a people!"
"Keep cool, enthusiast that you are!" said Madam Lebrenn.
And with her handkerchief she wiped the perspiration that stood in drops on her son's forehead. In the meantime Monsieur Lebrenn embraced his daughter.
"Gildas," the merchant called out to his clerk, "some chests must have been brought in during my absence."
"Yes, monsieur, linen bales and looking glasses. They have been deposited in the rear room."
"Very well--they can remain there. Be careful no fire comes near the bales."
"They must be inflammable stuff like bolting-cloth, muslin or gauze," Gildas thought to himself, "and yet they are heavy as lead--another puzzling thing!"
"My dear friend," Lebrenn said to his wife, "I have matters to talk over with you. Shall we go up to your room with the children, while Jeanike sets the table? It is getting late. You, Gildas, may put up the shutters. We shall have but few customers this afternoon."
"Close up the shop! Oh, monsieur, I think you are very right!" cried Gildas delightedly. "I thought so long ago."
And as he ran to execute the orders of his employer, the latter said to him:
"Stop a moment, Gildas. Do not close the front door. I expect several people to call for me. If they come take them to the rear room and notify me."
"Yes, monsieur," answered Gildas with a sigh, seeing he would have preferred to see the shop closed tight, and the door protected with its good strong iron bars, and bolted from within.
"And now, my dear," Lebrenn proceeded to say to his wife, "we shall go up to your room."