Gonchon.What do you mean by your "gambling-dens"? I have merely founded clubs where, under the pretext of enjoying themselves by honest and natural means, men may gather and discuss methods of reforming the State. They are assemblies of free citizens, patriots—
Desmoulins.Where does the Patrie come in?
Gonchon.The Society of the Men of Nature—
Desmoulins.Women of Nature!
Gonchon.A very bad joke. If you haven't enough shame to respect a respectable man, you might at least respect the sign beneath the egis of which stands my house.
Desmoulins [without looking. What sign? "The Forty Thieves"?
Gonchon [furiously]."The Great Necker"!
Desmoulins.That is rather hard on him, Gonchon. [He looks at the sign.] What is on the other side?
Gonchon.Nothing.
Desmoulins.I see another picture.
Gonchon.The Duc d'Orléans—two sides of the same head.
Desmoulins.The front and the back! [The bystanders laugh. Gonchon, with his associates, advances upon Desmoulins.] Very well! I advise you not to drive me to crush you with my Pretorian Guard! Do you want a certificate of citizenship? Oh, Janus Gonchon, I make you a present of it. You give bread to every sneak in Paris, and take it from the honest people, so that they have only one desire: to go and fight. Audax et edax. Long live the Revolution!
