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to fell had opened its mouth and spoken； and grievously at a loss； he
looked for help to his companions。
Later in the day； some Catholics were killed by the mob。 But their
deaths as far as could be learned afterwards were due to private feuds。
Save in such casesand they were fewthe cry of VIVE LA MESSE！
always obtained at least a respite： more easily of course in the earlier
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hours of the morning when the mob were scarce at ease in their liberty to
kill； while killing still seemed murder； and men were not yet drunk with
bloodshed。
I read the hesitation of the gang in their faces： and when one asked
roughly who we were； I replied with greater boldness； 〃I am M。 Anne de
Caylus； nephew to the Vicomte de Caylus； Governor； under the King； of
Bayonne and the Landes！〃 This I said with what majesty I could。 〃And
these〃 I continued〃are my brothers。 You will harm us at your peril；
gentlemen。 The Vicomte； believe me； will avenge every hair of our
heads。〃
I can shut my eyes now and see the stupid wonder； the baulked
ferocity of those gaping faces。 Dull and savage as the men were they
were impressed； they saw reason indeed； and all seemed going well for us
when some one in the rear shouted； 〃Cursed whelps！ Throw them over！〃
I looked swiftly in the direction whence the voice camethe darkest
corner of the room the corner by the shuttered window。 I thought I made
out a slender figure； cloaked and maskeda woman's it might be but I
could not be certain and beside it a couple of sturdy fellows； who kept
apart from the herd and well behind their fugleman。
The speaker's courage arose no doubt from his position at the back of
the room； for the foremost of the assailants seemed less determined。 We
were only three； and we must have gone down； barricade and all； before a
rush。 But three are three。 And an arquebuseCroisette's match burned
splendidlywell loaded with slugs is an ugly weapon at five paces； and
makes nasty wounds； besides scattering its charge famously。 This； a
good many of them and the leaders in particular； seemed to recognise。
We might certainly take two or three lives： and life is valuable to its
owner when plunder is afoot。 Besides most of them had common sense
enough to remember that there were scores of Huguenots genuine
hereticsto be robbed for the killing； so why go out of the way； they
reasoned； to cut a Catholic throat； and perhaps get into trouble。 Why risk
Montfaucon for a whim？ and offend a man of influence like the Vicomte
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de Caylus； for nothing！
Unfortunately at this crisis their original design was recalled to their
minds by the same voice behind； crying out； 〃Pavannes！ Where is
Pavannes？〃
〃Ay！〃 shouted the butcher； grasping the idea； and at the same time
spitting on his hands and taking a fresh grip of the axe； 〃Show us the
heretic dog； and go！ Let us at him。〃
〃M。 de Pavannes；〃 I said coollybut I could not take my eyes off the
shining blade of that man's axe； it was so very broad and sharp〃is not
here！〃
〃That is a lie！ He is in that room behind you！〃 the prudent
gentleman in the background called out。 〃Give him up！〃
〃Ay； give him up！〃 echoed the man of the pole…axe almost good
humouredly； 〃or it will be the worse for you。 Let us have at him and get
you gone！〃
This with an air of much reason； while a growl as of a chained beast
ran through the crowd； mingled with cries of 〃A MORT LES
HUGUENOTS！ VIVE LORRAINE！〃cries which seemed to show that
all did not approve of the indulgence offered us。
〃Beware； gentlemen； beware；〃 I urged； 〃I swear he is not here！ I
swear it； do you hear？〃
A howl of impatience and then a sudden movement of the crowd as
though the rush were coming warned me to temporize no longer。 〃Stay！
Stay！〃 I added hastily。 〃One minute！ Hear me！ You are too many
for us。 Will you swear to let us go safe and untouched； if we give you
passage？〃
A dozen voices shrieked assent。 But I looked at the butcher only。
He seemed to be an honest man； out of his profession。
〃Ay； I swear it！〃 he cried with a nod。
〃By the Mass？〃
〃By the Mass。〃
I twitched Croisette's sleeve； and he tore the fuse from his weapon； and
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flung the guntoo heavy to be of use to us longer to the ground。 It was
done in a moment。 While the mob swept over the barricade； and
smashed the rich furniture of it in wanton malice； we filed aside； and
nimbly slipped under it one by one。 Then we hurried in single file to the
end of the room； no one taking much notice of us。 All were pressing on；
intent on their prey。 We gained the door as the butcher struck his first
blow on that which we had guardedon that which we had given up。 We
sprang down the stairs with bounding hearts； heard as we reached the
outer door the roar of many voices； but stayed not to look behindpaused
indeed for nothing。 Fear； to speak candidly； lent us wings。 In three
seconds we had leapt the prostrate gates； and were in the street。 A cripple；
two or three dogs； a knot of women looking timidly yet curiously in； a
horse tethered to the staplewe saw nothing else。 No one stayed us。
No one raised a hand； and in another minute we had turned a corner； and
were out of sight of the house。
〃They will take a gentleman's word another time；〃 I said with a quiet
smile as I put up my sword。
〃I would like to see her face at this moment；' Croisette replied。 〃You
saw Madame d'O？〃