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by reason and by justice。 It was said that the word /impossible/ was not French。 Yet there was an impossibility by which he took pride in being stoppedthat of injustice； and that of disloyalty； even the faintest； to the Right。 ＇Loud applause。＇
Silence being once more restored；
〃Monsieur；〃 said one of the electors； after obtaining the floor from the chairman； 〃you say that you will accept no post under government。 Does not that imply reproach to public functionaries？ My name is Godivet； I am registrar of the archives； but I do not consider that a reason why I should incur the contempt of my fellow…citizens。〃
Sallenauve replied；
〃I am happy； monsieur； to learn that the government has invested a man like you with functions which you fulfil； I am sure； with perfect uprightness and great ability； but I venture to ask if you rose to your present position at one jump？〃
〃Certainly not； monsieur； I began by being a supernumerary for three years； after that I passed through all the grades； and I can show that favor had nothing to do with my promotion。〃
〃Then； monsieur； what would you say if with my rank as deputy （supposing that I obtain the suffrages of this arrondissement） I； who have never been a supernumerary and never passed through any grades； and whose only claim upon the administration is that of having voted for it；what would you say if I were suddenly appointed over your head as the director…general of your department？〃
〃I should sayI should say； monsieur； that the choice was a good one； because the king himself would have made it。〃
〃No； monsieur； you would not say it； or if you said it aloud； which I scarcely think possible； you would think in your heart that the choice was ridiculous and unjust。 'How the devil；' you would say to yourself； 'could this man； this sculptor； know anything about the intricate business of registering archives？' And you would be right in condemning such royal caprice； for what becomes of long and honorable services； justly acquired rights； and steady promotion under such a system of arbitrary choice？ It is that I may not be the accomplice of this crying abuse； because I think it neither just nor honest nor useful to obtain in this way important public functions； that I denounce the system and bind myself to accept no office。 Is this； monsieur； pouring contempt on public functions？ Is it not rather lifting them to higher honor？〃
Monsieur Godivet declared himself satisfied； and said no more。
〃/Ah ca/！ monsieur；〃 cried another elector； after demanding the floor in the rather tipsy voice； 〃you say you will ask no favors for your constituents； then what good will you be to us？〃
〃My friend； I did not say I would ask nothing for my constituents。 I said I would ask nothing but what was just； but that； I may add； I shall ask with energy and perseverance； for that is how justice should be followed up。〃
〃But；〃 persisted the voter； 〃there are various ways of doing justice； witness the suit I was made to lose against Jean Remy； with whom I had trouble about a boundary〃
Colonel Giguet； interrupting；
〃Come； come； you are not going； I hope to talk about your private affairs； and speak disrespectfully of magistrates？〃
The voter resumed；
〃Magistrates； colonel； I respect； for I was one myself for six months in '93； and I know the law。 But； returning to my point； I ask monsieur； who is here to answer questions； to me as well as to others； what he thinks about tobacco licenses。〃
〃My opinion on tobacco licenses！ That is rather difficult to formulate； I can； however； say that； if my information is correct； they are usually very well distributed。〃
〃Hey！ hey！ you're a man； you！〃 cried the inebriate elector； 〃and I'll vote for you； for they can't fool you；no！ But they do give those licenses all wrong！ Look at that daughter of Jean Remy。 Bad neighbor。 Never owned anything but his cart； and fights every day with his wife〃
〃But； my good fellow；〃 said the chairman； interposing； 〃you are abusing the patience of this assembly。〃
〃No； no！ let him talk！〃 cried voices from all parts of the room。
The voter was amusing； and Sallenauve himself seemed to let the chairman know he would like to see what the man was driving at。
The elector； being allowed to continue； went on：
〃I was going to say； with due respect to you； colonel； about that daughter of Jean Remy's；a man I'll pursue to hell； for my bounds were in their right place； and them experts was all wrong。 Well！ what did that slut do？ Left her father and mother and went to Paris！ What did she do there？ I didn't go to see； but I'm told she made acquaintance with a deputy； and has got the tobacco license for the rue Mouffetard； the longest street in Paris。 But I'd like to see my wife； widow of an honest man； doubled up with rheumatism for having slept in the woods during that terror in 1815；I'd like to see my poor widow get a license！〃
〃But you are not dead yet；〃 they shouted to him from all parts of the room。 The colonel； meantime； to put an end to the burlesque scene； nodded to a little confectioner who was waiting for the floor； a well… known Republican。 The new questioner； in a falsetto voice； put the following insidious question to the candidate；a question which might； by the way； be called national in Arcis；
〃What does Monsieur think of Danton？〃
〃Monsieur Dauphin；〃 said the chairman； 〃I have the honor to remind you that Danton belongs to history。〃
〃To the Pantheon of history； monsieur； that is the proper expression。〃
〃Well； history； or the Pantheon of history； as you please； but Danton is irrelevant here。〃
〃Permit me； Mr。 Chairman；〃 said Sallenauve； 〃though the question does not seem to have much purpose on the bearing of this meeting； I cannot forego the opportunity thus given me to give proof of the impartiality and independence with which I can judge that great memory； the fame of which still echoes in this town。〃
〃Hear！ hear！〃 cried the assembly； almost unanimously。
〃I am firmly convinced；〃 resumed Sallenauve； 〃that if Danton had been born in a calm and peaceful epoch like our own； he would have shown himself； what in fact he was； a good father； a good husband； a warm and faithful friend； a man of kindly temper； who； by the force of his great talents； would have risen to some eminent place in the State and in society。〃
〃Yes； yes！ bravo！ very good！〃
〃Born； on the contrary； in troublesome times； and amid the storm of unchained passions； Danton was better constituted than others to kindle the flame of that atmosphere of fire。 Danton was the torch that fired； his scarlet glare lent itself only too readily to scenes of blood and horror which I must not recall。 But； they said； the national independence was at stake； traitors and dissemblers must be awed；in a word； a cruel and awful sacrifice was necessary for the public weal。 Messieurs； I do not accept that theory。 To kill； without the necessity demonstrated a score of times of legitimate defence； to kill women； children； prisoners； unarmed men； was a crime；a crime； look at it how you will； that was execrable； those who ordered it； those who consented to it； those who executed it are； to my mind； deserving of the same reprobation。〃
I wis