"Tights!" Danton was hardly able to gasp out the word. The idea of Madame's ample figure in tights nearly took away his breath.
"Yes," Madame went on, as if she had not noticed his surprise; "but I shall, of course, wear a little classic drapery out of respect for the prejudices of Lucille. But see how the helmet becomes me."
She opened the wardrobe, and Danton saw the gleam of polished armour. She donned a helmet, slipped her left arm through a shield, and, taking a lance in her right hand, stood with her back against the wall, under the legend of "Liberty, Fraternity, Equality--or Death."
Danton could only look; he was speechless.
"Listen, Danton, listen; do you hear the cry? 'Vive le Drapeau Rouge!' It is the workmen who are passing. You see I have arranged the tricolour on the balcony, so that only the red shows."
"But, my God, Madame, the Drapeau Rouge!"
"What is that?" demanded Danton, as he heard the sound of a drum downstairs.
"There, the baker is ringing," said Madame, and passing by Danton, she went towards the door and called out, "Two loaves, Julie; two loaves."
"And is Julie going to the baker in that costume?" shrieked Danton, and, attired in his pyjamas, he rushed downstairs.
"Mille diables!" he yelled, as he pulled back Julie from the hall-door. "To the kitchen, hussy."
But Julie, lightly tapping the drum, sped upstairs to her mistress.
"Good-morning, Monsieur," said the baker, "long live the Republic."
"Two loaves," replied Danton. "I am busy to-day, Monsieur," he added, to explain his brusqueness and stop further conversation.
"Ah, yes, Monsieur Danton, you will soon have to go to the Mairie. I shall go up there myself when I shall have delivered my bread. It will be a great day for the procession. 'Vive le Drapeau Rouge!'" And the baker waved his hand towards the balcony as Danton almost shut the door in his face.
Danton flung the loaves on the table in the hall, and again hearing the tap of a drum, this time from above, he bounded upstairs and rushed into the bedroom. There was Julie beating the drum, Lucille standing beside her in a white linen costume, sash a little below her knees, and wearing a Phrygian cap. Next her, and towering over her, was majestic Madame. Danton was beside himself. Forgetting that he had no slippers on, he kicked viciously at the drum, as he yelled to Julie to leave the room.