Then, towards noon, he passed through the town and visited the guard-houses, speaking of a possible attack, and letting it be understood, that the insurgents were not far off; but he relied, he said, on the courage of the brave national guards.  If necessary they must be ready to die to the last man for the defence of the good cause.  When he returned from this round, slowly and solemnly, after the manner of a hero who has set the affairs of his country in order, and now only awaits death, he observed signs of perfect stupor along his path; the people promenading in the Cours, the incorrigible little householders, whom no catastrophe would have prevented from coming at certain hours to bask in the sun, looked at him in amazement, as if they did not recognize him, and could not believe that one of their own set, a former oil-dealer, should have the boldness to face a whole army.

In the town the anxiety was at its height.  The insurrectionists were expected every moment.  The rumour of Macquart’s escape was commented upon in a most alarming manner.  It was asserted that he had been rescued by his friends, the Reds, and that he was only waiting for nighttime in order to fall upon the inhabitants and set fire to the four corners of the town.  Plassans, closed in and terror-stricken, gnawing at its own vitals within its prison-like walls, no longer knew what to imagine in order to frighten itself.  The Republicans, in the face of Rougon’s bold demeanour, felt for a moment distrustful.  As for the new town—­the lawyers and retired tradespeople who had denounced the yellow drawing-room on the previous evening—­they were so surprised that they dared not again openly attack such a valiant man.  They contented themselves with saying “It was madness to brave victorious insurgents like that, and such useless heroism would bring the greatest misfortunes upon Plassans.”  Then, at about three o’clock, they organised a deputation.  Pierre, though he was burning with desire to make a display of his devotion before his fellow-citizens, had not ventured to reckon upon such a fine opportunity.

He spoke sublimely.  It was in the mayor’s private room that the president of the Provisional Commission received the deputation from the new town.  The gentlemen of the deputation, after paying homage to his patriotism, besought him to forego all resistance.  But he, in a loud voice, talked of duty, of his country, of order, of liberty, and various other things.  Moreover, he did not wish to compel any one to imitate him; he was simply discharging a duty which his conscience and his heart dictated to him.

“You see, gentlemen, I am alone,” he said in conclusion.  “I will take all the responsibility, so that nobody but myself may be compromised.  And if a victim is required I willingly offer myself; I wish to sacrifice my own life for the safety of the inhabitants.”

A notary, the wiseacre of the party, remarked that he was running to certain death.