"And you shall hear it yourself, counselor," returned Van Tricasse in a passion, "for it will come better from my mouth than from yours! Yes, monsieur, yes, any delay would be dishonorable. The town of Quiquendone has waited nine hundred years for the moment to take its revenge, and whatever you may say, whether it pleases you or not, we shall march upon the enemy."
"Ah, you take it thus!" replied Niklausse harshly. "Very well, monsieur, we will march without you, if it does not please you to go."
"A burgomaster's place is in the front rank, monsieur!"
"And that of a counselor also, monsieur."
"You insult me by thwarting all my wishes," cried the burgomaster, whose fists seemd likely to hit out before long.
"And you insult me equally by doubting my patriotism," cried Niklausse, who was equally ready for a tussle.
"I tell you, monsieur, that the army of Quiquendone shall be put in motion within two days!"
"And I repeat to you, monsieur, that forty-eight hours shall not pass before we shall have marched upon the enemy!"
It is easy to see, from this fragment of conversation, that the two speakers supported exactly the same idea. Both wished for hostilities; but as their excitement disposed them to altercation, Niklausse would not listen to Van Tricasse, nor Van Tricasse to Niklausse. Had they been of contrary opinions on this grave question, had the burgomaster favored war and the counselor insisted on peace, the quarrel could not have been more violent. These two old friends gazed fiercely at each other. By the quickened beating of their hearts, their red faces, their contracted pupils, the trembling of their muscles, their harsh voices, it might be conjectured that they were ready to come to blows.
But the striking of a large clock happily checked the adversaries at the moment when they seemed on the point of assaulting each other. At last the hour has come!" cried the burgomaster.
"What hour?" asked the counselor.
"The hour to go to the belfry tower."
"It is true, and whether it pleases you or not, I shall go, monsieur."
"And I, too."
