I nodded my head once to Phillipe, “Excuse me.” I stepped aside so that he could pass into the study and I headed down the stairs. Master LaMontangue’s office lay through the presses, and as I walked through the machinery, magnificent devices that always fascinated me (pity I had no aptitude for them), I greeted the press workers and apprentice typesetters.

With a quick rapping I made my presence known at the Master’s door, and in return he called out, “Come in!” A thin, aged face smiled briefly at me as I slipped in through the door, “Ah, Alexandre, so good to see you. It has been a while since your roguishness has graced my doorstep. You bring news from Versailles?”

“As assuredly as the sun rises in the west and sets in the east.” I gave him my best grin as I deposited the map case upon his desk, “This needs to be printed up, ready for morning delivery. Read it and decide how many copies should be made. This is straight from Monsieur Abelliard.”

He blinked a few times in curiosity as bony hands picked open the map case. He seemed even more surprised to read the title, releasing a quiet, “Great Father in Heaven.” His eyes scanned the document once before reading it again, this time in depth. I stood quietly, smiling confidently at him, waiting to see and hear further reactions.

His reaction came forth as he stood up and rushed to his door, calling into the hallway, “Renoir! Jacque! Diego! Jean! Get the presses ready for printing! Now!” It always surprised me that the old man had so much noise within him. “Marcel! Get over here!” A young man, one of the apprentices, rushed into the hallway, a soldier hastening to his Captain. “Ready the press to print this.” The Master handed Marcel the Declaration, barking out, “And I do not want to see any mistakes. This may be one of the most important news pieces that you will ever print in your life.” With that, Marcel was dismissed with a wave of his hand and the Master turned to me.

“Amazing, isn’t it, Master LaMontangue? Just a month ago they rid the nation of the feudal system and now, today, they have stated what all French people have always had but were denied by the aristocracy.”

The Master held up a finger, looking at me disapprovingly for a moment. He paused thoughtfully, then explained, “I would not rejoice too much yet. Although this does bring hope to my old heart, there are some things that worry me about this document.”

With a slight tilt of my head, I looked at him quizzically. I did not need to voice any questions as he began to answer me within a few breaths.

“You see, Alexandre, they mention both ‘Men’ and ‘Citizens’. They are not one and the same in the eyes of the National Assembly. Nor should they be.” Worry seized further hold in his eyes, then he slowly went on, “No where in this document do they explain the difference, or how the National Assembly will determine the difference.”

I crossed my arms, “I just assumed that they were one and the same. All free men would be considered citizens under the new constitution. It is much simpler that way. This is the start something new, Master LaMontangue! They would not do this halfway and stop.” Though I tried not to let it be known, my voice betrayed my own creeping doubts that the Master was planting within my own mind.

“Do not assume when you are talking about law makers. Though they mean well, they inevitably leave some things out because they do not want to have to deal with them or because they want to leave it vague.” He smiled that quick smile only the cynical ever become proficient in and he made his way to his desk, “Will they determine citizenship by taxation? By age? Residency? Land? I can see quite well that being a citizen can become a privilege much like nobility was to the aristocracy. Citizenship will become the new aristocracy.”

He returned to his desk, gathering up some materials for a job that would last well into the night. Passing the door, away from the pressroom, was Diego, probably heading towards the ink storage closet.