The Gods are Athirst by Anatole France

The 24 Frimaire, at ten in the forenoon, under a clear bright sun that was melting the ice formed in the night, the _citoyens_ Guenot and Delourmel, delegates of the Committee of General Security, proceeded to the Barnabites and asked to be conducted to the Committee of Surveillance of the Section, in the Capitular hall, whose only occupant for the moment was the _citoyen_ Beauvisage, who was piling logs on the fire. But they did not see him just at first because of his short, thickset stature.

In a hunchback's cracked voice the _citoyen_ Beauvisage begged the delegates to seat themselves and put himself entirely at their service.