CHAPTER 9 Where Jules makes an important decisionThey took a street on the left that led up to Eustache Fripolin Square. A little further up the street they noticed a group of boys of the same age coming their way.
When Aristide recognized them, his face darkened, he hunched his shoulders and said to Jules in a low voice:
‘They’re th’ local nobs’ brats! The mayor’s, the sollicitor’s and the ’igh school ’eadmaster’s. If they pick a fight with ye, don’t ye say owt! ’Em blokes are ’ot-blooded! We ain’t no match for ’em, we’re outnumbered.’
‘Are they that nasty?’
‘Last time a friend o’ mine bumped into ’em and ’e tried t’ fight back, they just beat ’im up. The poor lad woz badly knocked ’bout. ’E cudn’t go t’ school for two weeks!’
‘Weren’t they punished for it?’
‘Th’ creeps denied every
