GERMINAL
clean, dressed in cloth, shaven that morning, with their yellow hair and moustaches. They twisted their caps between their fingers, and looked sideways at the furniture, which was in every variety of style, as a result of the taste for the old-fashioned: Henri II. easy chairs, Louis XV. chairs, an Italian cabinet of the 17th century, a Spanish contador of the 15th century, with an altar-front serving as a chimney-piece, and ancient chasuble trimmings re-applied to the curtains. This old gold and these old silks, with their tawny tones, all this luxurious church furniture, had overwhelmed them with respectful discomfort. The Eastern carpets with their long wool seemed to bind their feet. But what especially suffocated them was the heat, heat like that of a hot-air stove, which surprised them as they felt it with cheeks frozen from the wind of the road. Five minutes passed by and their awkwardness increased in the comfort of this rich room so pleasantly warm. At last M. Hennebeau entered, buttoned up in a military manner and wearing on his frock-coat the correct little knot of his decoration. He spoke first.
"Ah! here you are! You are in rebellion, it seems."
He interrupted himself to add with polite stiffness:
"Sit down, I desire nothing better than to talk things over."
The miners turned round looking for seats. A few of them ventured to place themselves on chairs, while the others, disturbed by the embroidered silks, preferred to remain standing.
There was a period of silence. M. Hennebeau, who had drawn his easy chair up to the fireplace, was rapidly looking them over and endeavouring to recall their faces. He had recognised Pierron, who was hidden in the last row, and his eyes rested on Étienne who was seated in front of him.
"Well," he asked, "what have you to say to me?"
He had expected to hear the young man speak and he was so surprised to see Maheu come forward that he could not avoid adding again:
"What! you, a good workman who have always been so sensible, one of the old Montsou people whose family has worked in the mine since the first stroke of the axe! Ah! it's a pity, I'm sorry that you are at the head of the discontented."
Maheu listened with his eyes down. Then he began, at first in a low and hesitating voice.
[192]
