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moment we turned the corner by the river…side； the murmur of a multitude
not loud but continuous； struck our ears； even as the breeze off the water
swept our cheeks。 Across the river lay the thousand roofs of the Ile de la
Cite； all sparkling in the sunshine。 But we swept to the right； thinking
little of THAT sight； and checked our speed on finding ourselves on the
skirts of the crowd。 Before us was a bridgethe Pont au Change； I think
and at its head on our side of the water stood the CHATELET； with its
hoary turrets and battlements。 Between us and the latter； and backed
only by the river； was a great open space half…filled with people； mostly
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silent and watchful； come together as to a show； and betraying； at present
at least； no desire to take an active part in what was going on。
We hurriedly plunged into the throng； and soon caught the clue to the
quietness and the lack of movement which seemed to prevail； and which at
first sight had puzzled us。 For a moment the absence of the dreadful
symptoms we had come to know so wellthe flying and pursuing； the
random blows； the shrieks and curses and batterings on doors； the tipsy
yells； had reassured us。 But the relief was short…lived。 The people
before us were under control。 A tighter grip seemed to close upon our
hearts as we discerned this； for we knew that the wild fury of the populace；
like the rush of a bull； might have given some chance of escapein this
case as in others。 But this cold…blooded ordered search left none。
Every face about us was turned in the same direction； away from the
river and towards a block of old houses which stood opposite to it。 The
space immediately in front of these was empty； the people being kept back
by a score or so of archers of the guard set at intervals； and by as many
horsemen； who kept riding up and down； belabouring the bolder spirits
with the flat of their swords；and so preserving a line。 At each extremity
of thismore noticeably on our left where the line curved round the angle
of the buildingsstood a handful of riders； seven in a group perhaps。
And alone in the middle of the space so kept clear； walking his horse up
and down and gazing at the houses rode a man of great stature； booted and
armed； the feather nodding in his bonnet。 I could not see his face； but I
had no need to see it。 I knew him； and groaned aloud。 It was Bezers！
I understood the scene better now。 The horsemen； stern； bearded
Switzers for the most part； who eyed the rabble about them with grim
disdain； and were by no means chary of their blows； were all in his colours
and armed to the teeth。 The order and discipline were of his making：
the revenge of his seeking。 A grasp as of steel had settled upon our friend；
and I felt that his last chance was gone。 Louis de Pavannes might as well
be lying on his threshold with his dead servant by his side； as be in hiding
within that ring of ordered swords。
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It was with despairing eyes we looked at the old wooden houses。 They
seemed to be bowing themselves towards us； their upper stories projected
so far； they were so decrepit。 Their roofs were a wilderness of gutters
and crooked gables； of tottering chimneys and wooden pinnacles and
rotting beams； Amongst these I judged Kit's lover was hiding。 Well； it
was a good place for hide and seek…with any other player than DEATH。
In the ground floors of the houses there were no windows and no doors； by
reason； I learned afterwards； of the frequent flooding of the river。 But a
long wooden gallery raised on struts ran along the front； rather more than
the height of a man from the ground； and access to this was gained by a
wooden staircase at each end。 Above this first gallery was a second； and
above that a line of windows set between the gables。 The blockit may
have run for seventy or eighty yards along the shorecontained four
houses； each with a door opening on to the lower gallery。 I saw indeed
that but for the Vidame's precautions Louis might well have escaped。
Had the mob once poured helter…skelter into that labyrinth of rooms and
passages he might with luck have mingled with them； unheeded and
unrecognized； and effected his escape when they retreated。
But now there were sentries on each gallery and more on the roof。
Whenever one of the latter moved or seemed to be looking inward where
a search party； I understood； were at workindeed； if he did but turn his
head； a thrill ran through the crowd and a murmur arose； which once or
twice swelled to a savage roar such as earlier had made me tremble。
When this happened the impulse came； it seemed to me； from the farther
end of the line。 There the rougher elements were collected； and there I
more than once saw Bezers' troopers in conflict with the mob。 In that
quarter too a savage chant was presently struck up； the whole gathering
joining in and yelling with an indescribably appalling effect：
〃Hau！ Hau！ Huguenots！ Faites place aux Papegots！〃
in derision of the old song said to be popular amongst the Protestants。
But in the Huguenot version the last words were of course transposed。
We had worked our way by this time to the front of the line； and
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looking into one another's eyes； mutely asked a question； but not even
Croisette had an answer ready。 There could be no answer but one。
What could we do？ Nothing。 We were too late。 Too late again！ And
yet how dreadful it was to stand still among the cruel； thoughtless mob and
see our friend； the touch of whose hand we knew so well； done to death
for their sport！ Done to death as the old woman had said like any rat； not
a soul save ourselves pitying him！ Not a soul to turn sick at his cry of
agony； or shudder at the glance of his dying eyes。