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belongs to me。 You shall not take her！〃
He caught hold of the Marquis's bridle with such a strength and
angry will that the horse was forced to back before him。
〃Insolent clod！〃 exclaimed Bellecour； with an angry laugh and a
sharp； downward blow of the butt of his whip upon the peasant's head。
Charlot's hand grew nerveless and released the bridle as he sank
stunned to the ground。 Bellecour touched his horse with the spur
and rode over the prostrate fellow with no more concern than had he
been a dog's carcase。 〃Blaise； see to the girl；〃 he called over his
shoulder； adding to his company： 〃Come； messieurs； we have wasted
time enough。〃
Not a hand was raised to stay him； not a word of protest uttered；
as the nobles rode by； laughing； and chatting among themselves； with
the utmost unconcern of the tragedy that was being enacted。
Like a flock of frightened sheep the peasants stood huddled together
and watched them go。 In the same inaction … for all that not a
little grief was blent with the terror on their countenances … they
stood by and allowed Blaise to lift the half…swooning girl to the
withers of his horse。 No reply had they to the coarse jest with
which he and his fellow…servant rode off。 But La Boulaye； who； from
the point where he and Duhamel had halted； had observed the whole
scene from its inception； turned now a livid face upon his companion。
〃Shall such things be？〃 he cried passionately。 〃Merciful God！ Are
we men； Duhamel； and do we permit such things to take place？〃
The old pedagogue shrugged his shoulders in despair。 His face was
heavily scored by sorrow。
〃Helas！〃 he sighed。 〃Are they not masters of all that they may take？
The Marquis goes no further than is by ancient law allowed his class。
It is the law needs altering； my friend； and then the men will alter。
Meanwhile； behold them … lords of life and death。〃
〃Lords of hell are they！〃 blazed the young revolutionist。 〃That is
where they belong； whence they are come； and whither they shall
return。 Poltroons！〃 he cried； shaking his fist at the group of cowed
peasants that surrounded the prostrate Charlot 〃Sheep！ Worthless
clods！ The nobles do well to despise you； for； by my faith； you
invite nothing but contempt； you that will suffer rape and murder
to be done under your eyes； and never do more than look scared
encouragement upon your ravishers！〃
〃Blame not these poor wretches； Caron；〃 sighed the old man。 〃They
dare not raise a hand。〃
〃Then； pardieu！ here； at least； is one who does dare；〃 he cried
furiously； as from the breast pocket of his coat he drew a pistol。
Blaise； with the girl across the withers of his horse； was
approaching them； followed by Jean。
〃What would you do？〃 cried the old man fearfully； setting a
restraining hand upon La Boulaye's sleeve。 But Caron shook himself
free。
〃This；〃 was all he answered； and simultaneously； he levelled his
pistol and fired at Blaise。
Shot through the head； the servant collapsed forward； then； as the
horse reared and started off at a gallop； he toppled sideways and
fell。 The girl went down with him and lay in the road whilst he
was dragged along； his head bumping horribly on the stones as faster
and faster went the frightened horse。
With a shout that may have been either anger or dismay Jean reined
in his horse； and sat for a second hesitating whether to begin by
recovering the girl； or avenging his comrade。 But his doubts were
solved for him by La Boulaye； who took a deliberate aim at him。
〃Begone！〃 cried the secretary； 〃unless you prefer to go by the road
I've sent your fellow。〃 And being a discreet youth； Jean made off
in silence by the street down which poor Blaise had been dragged。
〃Carom〃 cried Duhamel； in a frenzy of apprehension。 〃I tremble for
you； my son。 Fly from Bellecour at once … now； this very instant。
Go to my friends at Amiens； they will … 〃
But Caron had already left his side to repair to the spot where
Marie was lying。 The peasantry followed him； though leisurely； in
their timid hesitation。 They were asking themselves whether； even
so remotely as by tending the girl； they dared participate in the
violence La Boulaye had committed。 That a swift vengeance would be
the Seigneur's answer they were well assured； and a great fear
possessed them that in that vengeance those of the Chateau might
lack discrimination。 Charlot was amongst them； and on his feet； but
still too dazed to have a clear knowledge of the circumstances。
Presently； however； his faculties awakening and taking in the
situation； he staggered forward； and came lurching towards La
Boulaye； who was assisting the frightened Marie to rise。 With a
great sob the girl flung herself into her husband's arms。
〃Charlot； mon Charlot！〃 she cried； and added a moment later： 〃It was
he … this brave gentleman … who rescued me。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Charlot； 〃I shall remember it to my dying day。〃
He would have said more； but the peasants； stirred by fear； now
roused themselves and plucked at his coat。
〃Get you gone； Charlot； Get you gone quickly；〃 they advised him。
〃And if you are wise you will leave Bellecour without delay。 It is
not safe for you here。〃
〃It is not safe for any of us；〃 exclaimed one。 〃I have no mind to
be caught when the Seigneur returns。 There will be a vengeance。 Ah
Dieu！ what a vengeance！〃
The warning acted magically。 There were hurried leave…takings； and
then； like a parcel of scuttling rabbits； they made for their burrows
to hide from the huntsman that would not be long in coming。 And ere
the last of them was out of sight there arose a stamping of hoofs
and a chorus of angry voices。 Down tine street thundered the
Marquis's cavalcade； brought back by the servant who had escaped and
who had ridden after them。 Some anger there was … particularly in
the heart of the Lord of Bellecour … but greater than their anger
was their excitement at the prospect of a man…hunt； with which the
chase on which they had been originally bent made but a poor
comparison。
〃There he is； Monseigneur〃 cried Jean； as he pointed to La Boulaye。
〃And yonder are the girl and her husband。〃
〃Ah！ The secretary again； eh？〃 laughed the nobleman； grimly； as he
came nearer。 〃Ma foi； life must have grown wearisome to him。 Secure
the woman； Jean。〃
Caron stood before him； pale in his impotent rage； which was directed
as much against the peasants who had fled as against the nobles who
approached。 Had these clods but stood there； and defended themselves
and their manhood with sticks and stones and such weapons as came to
their hands； they might have taken pride in being trampled beneath
the hoofs of the Seigneurie。 Thus； at least； might they have proved
themselves men。 But to fly thus … some fifty of them from the
approach of less than a score … was to confess unworthiness of a
better fate than that of which their seigneurs rendered themselves
the instruments。
Himself he could do no more than the single shot in his pistol would
allow。 That much； however； he would do； and like him whose resources
are reduced； and yet who desires to spend the little that he has to
best advantage； he levelle