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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。 It was dreadful indeed。
〃Ah； well；〃 muttered a woman beside me to her companionthere
were many women in the crowd〃it is down with the Huguenots； say I！
It is Lorraine is the fine man！ But after all yon is a bonny fellow and a
proper； Margot！ I saw him leap from roof to roof over Love Lane； as if
the blessed saints had carried him。 And him a heretic！〃
〃It is the black art；〃 the other answered； crossing herself。
〃Maybe it is！ But he will need it all to give that big man the slip to…
day；〃 replied the first speaker comfortably。
〃That devil！〃 Margot exclaimed； pointing with a stealthy gesture of
hate at the Vidame。 And then in a fierce whisper； with inarticulate threats；
she told a story of him； which made me shudder。 〃He did！ And she in
religion too！〃 she concluded。 〃May our Lady of Loretto reward him。〃
The tale might be true for aught I knew； horrible as it was！ I had
heard similar ones attributing things almost as fiendish to him； times and
again； from that poor fellow lying dead on Pavannes' doorstep for one； and
from others besides。 As the Vidame in his pacing to and fro turned
towards us； I gazed at him fascinated by his grim visage and that story。
His eye rested on the crowd about us； and I trembled； lest even at that
distance he should recognise us。
And he did！ I had forgotten his keenness of sight。 His face flashed
suddenly into a grim smile。 The tail of his eye resting upon us； and
seeming to forbid us to move； he gave some orders。 The colour fled from
my face。 To escape indeed was impossible； for we were hemmed in by
the press and could scarcely stir a limb。 Yet I did make one effort。
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〃Croisette！〃 I muttered he was the rearmost〃stoop down。 He may
not have seen you。 Stoop down； lad！〃
But St。 Croix was obstinate and would not stoop。 Nay； when one of
the mounted men came； and roughly ordered us into the open； it was
Croisette who pushing past us stepped out first with a lordly air。 I；
following him； saw that his lips were firmly compressed and that there
was an eager light in his eyes。 As we emerged； the crowd in our wake
broke the line； and tried to pursue us； either hostilely or through eagerness
to see what it meant。 But a dozen blows of the long pikes drove them
back； howling and cursing to their places。
I expected to be taken to Bezers； and what would follow I could not
tell。 But he did always it seemed what we least expected； for he only
scowled at us now； a grim mockery on his lip； and cried； 〃See that they do
not escape again！ But do them no harm； sirrah； until I have the batch of
them！〃
He turned one way； and I another； my heart swelling with rage。 Would
he dare to harm us？ Would even the Vidame dare to murder a Caylus'
nephew openly and in cold blood？ I did not think so。 And yetand yet
Croisette interrupted the train of my thoughts。 I found that he was
not following me。 He had sprung away； and in a dozen strides reached
the Vidame's stirrup； and was clasping his knee when I turned。 I could
not hear at the distance at which I stood； what he said； and the horseman to
whom Bezers had committed us spurred between us。 But I heard the
Vidame's answer。
〃No！ no！ no！〃 he cried with a ring of restrained fury in his voice。
〃Let my plans alone！ What do you know of them？ And if you speak to
me again； M。 St。 CroixI think that is your name； boyI willno； I will
not kill you。 That might please you； you are stubborn； I can see。 But I
will have you stripped and lashed like the meanest of my scullions！ Now
go； and take care！〃
Impatience； hate and wild passion flamed in his face for the moment…
transfiguring it。 Croisette came back to us slowly； white…lipped and quiet。
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〃Never mind；〃 I said bitterly。 〃The third time may bring luck。〃
Not that I felt much indignation at the Vidame's insult； or any anger
with the lad for incurring it； as I had felt on that other occasion。 Life and
death seemed to be everything on this morning。 Words had ceased to
please and annoy； for what are words to the sheep in the shambles？ One
man's life and one woman's happiness outside ourselves we thought only
of these now。 And some day I reflected Croisette might remember even
with pleasure that he had； as a drowning man clutching at straws； stooped
to a last prayer for them。
We were placed in the middle of a knot of troopers who closed the line
to the right。 And presently Marie touched me。 He was gazing intently
at the sentry on the roof of the third house from us； the farthest but one。
The man's back was to the parapet； and he was gesticulating wildly。
〃He sees him！〃 Marie muttered。
I nodded almost in apathy。 But this passed away； and I started
involuntarily and shuddered； as a savage roar； breaking the silence； rang
along the front of the mob like a rolling volley of firearms。 What was it？
A man posted at a window on the upper gallery had dropped his pike's
point； and was levelling it at some one inside： we could see no more。
But those in front of the window could； they saw too much for the
Vidame's precautions； as a moment showed。 He had not laid his account
with the frenzy of a rabble； the passions of a mob which had tasted blood。
I saw the line at its farther end waver suddenly and toss to and fro。 Then
a hundred hands went up； and confused angry cries rose with them。 The
troopers struck about them； giving back slowly as they did so。 But their
efforts were in vain。 With a scream of triumph a wild torrent of people
broke through between them； leaving them stranded； and rushed in a
headlong cataract towards the steps。 Bezers was close to us at the time。