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die。〃 Instantly a thousand breathless and angry voices repeated the
cry of 〃Death to the poisoner！〃
Then began one of those scenes of massacre and torture； worthy of
cannibals； horrible to relate； and the more incredible； that they happen
almost always in the presence； and often with the aid； of honest and
humane people； who； blinded by false notions and stupid prejudices； allow
themselves to be led into all sorts of barbarity； under the idea of
performing an act of inexorable justice。 As it frequently happens； the
sight of the blood which flowed in torrents from Goliath's wounds
inflamed to madness the rage of his assailants。 A hundred fists struck
at the unhappy man； he was stamped under foot； his face and chest were
beaten in。 Ever and anon； in the midst of furious cries of 〃Death to the
poisoner！〃 heavy blows were audible； followed by stifled groans。 It was
a frightful butchery。 Each individual； yielding to a sanguinary frenzy；
came in turn to strike his blow； or to tear off his morsel of flesh。
Womenyes； womenmothers！came to spend their rage on this mutilated
form。
There was one moment of frightful terror。 With his face all bruised and
covered with mud； his garments in rags； his chest bare； red； gaping with
woundsGoliath； availing himself of a moment's weariness on the part of
his assassins； who believed him already； finished； succeeded； by one of
those convulsive starts frequent in the last agony； in raising himself to
his feet for a few seconds； then； blind with wounds and loss of blood；
striking about his arms in the air as if to parry blows that were no
longer struck； he muttered these words； which came from his mouth；
accompanied by a crimson torrent： 〃Mercy！ I am no poisoner。 Mercy！〃
This sort of resurrection produced so great an effect on the crowd； that
for an instant they fell hack affrighted。 The clamor ceased； and a small
space was left around the victim。 Some hearts began even to feel pity；
when the quarryman； seeing Goliath blinded with blood； groping before him
with his hands； exclaimed in ferocious allusion to a well…known game：
〃Now for blind…man's…bluff。〃
Then； with a violent kick； he again threw down the victim； whose head
struck twice heavily on the pavement。
Just as the giant fell a voice from amongst the crowd exclaimed： 〃It is
Goliath！ stop！ he is innocent。〃
It was Father d'Aigrigny； who； yielding to a generous impulse； was making
violent efforts to reach the foremost rank of the actors in this scene；
and who cried out； as he came nearer； pale； indignant； menacing： 〃You are
cowards and murderers！ This man is innocent。 I know him。 You shall
answer for his life。〃
These vehement words were received with loud murmurs。
〃You know that poisoner；〃 cried the quarryman； seizing the Jesuit by the
collar； 〃then perhaps you are a poisoner too。
〃Wretch；〃 exclaimed Father d'Aigrigny； endeavoring to shake himself loose
from the grasp； 〃do you dare to lay hand upon me？〃
〃Yes； I dare do anything；〃 answered the quarryman。
〃He knows him： he's a poisoner like the other；〃 cried the crowd； pressing
round the two adversaries； whilst Goliath； who had fractured his skull in
the fall； uttered a long death…rattle。
At a sudden movement of Father d'Aigrigny； who disengaged himself from
the quarryman； a large glass phial of peculiar form； very thick； and
filled with a greenish liquor； fell from his pocket； and rolled close to
the dying Goliath。 At sight of this phial； many voices exclaimed
together： 〃It is poison！ Only see！ He had poison upon him。〃
The clamor redoubled at this accusation； and they pressed so close to
Abbe d'Aigrigny； that he exclaimed： 〃Do not touch me！ do not approach
me！〃
〃If he is a poisoner；〃 said a voice； 〃no more mercy for him than for the
other。〃
〃I a poisoner？〃 said the abbe； struck with horror。
Ciboule had darted upon the phial； the quarryman seized it from her；
uncorked it and presenting it to Father d'Aigrigny； said to him： 〃Now
tell us what is that？〃
〃It is not poison；〃 cried Father d'Aigrigny。
〃Then drink it！〃 returned the quarryman。
〃Yes； yes！ let him drink it！〃 cried the mob。
〃Never；〃 answered Father d'Aigrigny； in extreme alarm。 And he drew back
as he spoke； pushing away the phial with his hand。
〃Do you see？ It is poison。 He dares not drink it；〃 they exclaimed。
Hemmed in on every side； Father d'Aigrigny stumbled against the body of
Goliath。
〃My friends；〃 cried the Jesuit； who； without being a poisoner； found
himself exposed to a terrible alternative； for his phial contained
aromatic salts of extraordinary strength； designed for a preservative
against the cholera； and as dangerous to swallow as any poison； 〃my good
friends； you are in error。 I conjure you； in the name of heaven〃
〃If that is not poison； drink it！〃 interrupted the quarryman； as he again
offered the bottle to the Jesuit。
〃If he does not drink it； death to the poisoner of the poor！〃
〃Yes！death to him！ death to him！〃
〃Unhappy men！〃 cried Father d'Aigrigny； whilst his hair stood on end with
terror； 〃do you mean to murder me？〃
〃What about all those； that you and your mate have killed； you wretch？〃
〃But it is not trueand〃
〃Drink； then！〃 repeated the inflexible quarryman； 〃I ask you for the last
time。〃
〃To drink that would be death；〃 cried Father d'Aigrigny。
〃Oh！ only hear the wretch！〃 cried the mob； pressing closer to him； 〃he
has confessedhe has confessed！〃
〃He has betrayed himself！〃＇40＇
〃He said； ‘to drink that would be death！'〃
〃But listen to me；〃 cried the abbe； clasping his hands together； 〃this
phial is〃
Furious cries interrupted Father d'Aigrigny。 〃Ciboule； make an end of
that one！〃 cried the quarryman； spurning Goliath with his foot。 〃I will
begin this one！〃 And he seized Father d'Aigrigny by the throat。
At these words； two different groups formed themselves。 One； led by
Ciboule； 〃made an end〃 of Goliath； with kicks and blows； stones and
wooden shoes； his body was soon reduced to a horrible thing； mutilated；
nameless； formlessa mere inert mass of filth and mangled flesh。
Ciboule gave her cloak； which they tied to one of the dislocated ankles
of the body； and thus dragged it to the parapet of the quay。 There； with
shouts of ferocious joy； they precipitated the bloody remains into the
river。 Now who does not shudder at the thought that； in a time of
popular commotion； a word； a single word； spoken imprudently； even by an
honest man； and without hatred； will suffice to provoke so horrible a
murder。
〃Perhaps it is a poisoner！〃 said one of the drinkers in the tavern of the
Rue de la Calandrenothing moreand Goliath had been pitilessly
murdered。
What imperious reasons for penetrating the lowest depths of the masses
with instruction and with lightto enable unfortunate creatures to
defend themselves from so many stupid prejudices； so many fatal
superstitions； so much implacable fanaticism！How can we ask for
calmness； reflection； self…control； or the sentiment of justice from
abandoned beings； whom ignorance has brutalized； and misery depraved； and
suffering made ferocious； and of whom society takes no thought； except
when it chains the