CHAPTER XXV 

The defence. 

Intense excitement, which found vent in loud applause, greeted Déroulède's statement. 

"_Ça ira! ça ira! vas-y Déroulède!_" came from the crowded benches round; and men, women, and children, wearied with the monotony of the past proceedings, settled themselves down for a quarter of an hour's keen enjoyment. 

If Déroulède had anything to do with it, the trial was sure to end in excitement. And the people were always ready to listen to their special favourite. 

The citizen-deputies, drowsy after the long, oppressive day, seemed to rouse themselves to renewed interest. Lebrun, like a big, shaggy dog, shook himself free from creeping somnolence. Robespierre smiled between his thin lips, and looked across at Merlin to see how the situation affected him. The enmity between the Minister of Justice and Citizen Déroulède was well known, and everyone noted, with added zest, that the former wore a keen look of anticipated triumph. 

High up, on one of the topmost benches, sat Citizen Lenoir, the stage-manager of this palpitating drama. He looked down, with obvious satisfaction, at the scene which he himself had suggested last night to the members of the Jacobin Club. Merlin's sharp eyes had tried to pierce the gloom, which wrapped the crowd of spectators, searching vainly to distinguish the broad figure and massive head of the provincial giant. 

The light from the petrol lamp shone full on Déroulède's earnest, dark countenance as he looked Juliette's infamous accuser full in the face, but the tallow candles, flickering weirdly on the President's desk, threw Tinville's short, spare figure and large, unkempt head into curious grotesque silhouette. 
who were sat on the benches?
what had tired them out?
what were they now expecting?
for how long?
Where was Citizen Lenoir?
in a chair?
what on?
was he somehow responsible?
what had he done to make it happen?
Did Robespierre and Deroulede get on?
who was expecting to win?
who had to shake himself awake
which club had Lenoir been talking to?
was the room lit by candles?
was it electric lights?
what light shone on Deroulede?
Does he have a pale face?
did he look carefree?
how did he look?
who accused Juliette?
men, women, and children
ame from the crowded benches round; and men, women, and children
the past proceedings
wearied with the monotony of the past proceedings
enjoyment.
an hour's keen enjoyment. 
quarter of an hour
for a quarter of an hour's keen enjoyment. 
High up
High up, on one of the topmost benches
no
High up, on one of the topmost benches,
bench
High up, on one of the topmost benches
yes
 the stage-manager of this palpitating drama.
He was the stage-manager
the stage-manager of this palpitating drama
yes
Déroulède's earnest, dark countenance as he looked Juliette's infamous accuser full in the face
Déroulède
Citizen Déroulède 
Lebrun
 Lebrun, like a big, shaggy dog, shook himself free from creeping somnolence
Jacobin Club
uggested last night to the members of the Jacobin Club
no
The light from the petrol lamp
no
he light from the petrol lamp
yes
The light from the petrol lamp shone full on Déroulède's earnest, dark countenance
no
 full on Déroulède's earnest, dark countenance
no
full on Déroulède's earnest, dark countenance
earnest and dark
Déroulède's earnest, dark countenance
Tinville
Déroulède's earnest, dark countenance as he looked Juliette's infamous accuser full in the face, but the tallow candles, flickering weirdly on the President's desk, threw Tinville's