“I know it,” he resumed solemnly.  “I am prepared!”

The gentlemen looked at each other.  Those words “I am prepared!” filled them with admiration.  Decidedly this man was a brave fellow.  The notary implored him to call in the aid of the gendarmes; but he replied that the blood of those brave soldiers was precious, and he would not have it shed, except in the last extremity.  The deputation slowly withdrew, feeling deeply moved.  An hour afterwards, Plassans was speaking of Rougon as of a hero; the most cowardly called him “an old fool.”

Towards evening, Rougon was much surprised to see Granoux hasten to him.  The old almond-dealer threw himself in his arms, calling him “great man,” and declaring that he would die with him.  The words “I am prepared!” which had just been reported to him by his maid-servant, who had heard it at the greengrocer’s, had made him quite enthusiastic.  There was charming naivete in the nature of this grotesque, timorous old man.  Pierre kept him with him, thinking that he would not be of much consequence.  He was even touched by the poor fellow’s devotion, and resolved to have him publicly complimented by the prefect, in order to rouse the envy of the other citizens who had so cowardly abandoned him.  And so both of them awaited the night in the deserted building.

At the same time Aristide was striding about at home in an uneasy manner.  Vuillet’s article had astonished him.  His father’s demeanour stupefied him.  He had just caught sight of him at the window, in a white cravat and black frock-coat, so calm at the approach of danger that all his ideas were upset.  Yet the insurgents were coming back triumphant, that was the belief of the whole town.  But Aristide felt some doubts on the point; he had suspicions of some lugubrious farce.  As he did not dare to present himself at his parents’ house, he sent his wife thither.  And when Angele returned, she said to him, in her drawling voice:  “Your mother expects you; she is not angry at all, she seems rather to be making fun of you.  She told me several times that you could just put your sling back in your pocket.”

Aristide felt terribly vexed.  However, he ran to the Rue de la Banne, prepared to make the most humble submission.  His mother was content to receive him with scornful laughter.  “Ah! my poor fellow,” said she, “you’re certainly not very shrewd.”

“But what can one do in a hole like Plassans!” he angrily retorted.  “On my word of honour, I am becoming a fool here.  No news, and everybody shivering!  That’s what it is to be shut up in these villainous ramparts.  Ah!  If I had only been able to follow Eugene to Paris!”

Then, seeing that his mother was still smiling, he added bitterly:  “You haven’t been very kind to me, mother.  I know many things, I do.  My brother kept you informed of what was going on, and you have never given me the faintest hint that might have been useful to me.”