"Citizens!"
A little door opened and he had to stop. It was Widow Désir who, coming round by the kitchen, brought in six glasses on a tray.
"Don't put yourselves out," she said. "When one talks one gets thirsty."
Maheu relieved her of the tray and Pluchart was able to go on. He said how very touched he was at his reception by the Montsou workers, he excused himself for his delay, mentioning his fatigue and his sore throat, then he gave place to Citizen Rasseneur, who wished to speak.
Rasseneur had already planted himself beside the table near the glasses. The back of a chair served him as a rostrum. He seemed very moved, and coughed before starting in a loud voice:
"Mates!"
What gave him his influence over the workers at the pit was the facility of his speech, the good-natured way in
