The children
clung to my hands, half frightened and half eager. Suddenly we saw a
carriage stopped by the chain, and the people crowding round it. Out
of it sprang two gentlemen and a lady, and began hurrying forward
like people hunted. I drew the children back into the church porch,
and was shocked to see that those who were then fleeing in haste and
terror were the Chancellor, M. Seguier, with his brother, the Bishop
of Meaux, and his daughter the beautiful young Duchess de Sully. I
tried to attract their attention and draw them into the church as a
place of safety, but they were in too much haste and terror to
perceive me, and a man began shouting after them:
'To arms, friends, to arms! There's the enemy. Kill him! and we
shall have vengeance for all we suffer!'
The mob rushed after, shouting horribly. Armantine began to cry, and
I took her in my arms, while Nicole held my son.
The whole crowd rushed past us, never heeding us, as we stood above
them, and as we were only thirty yards from home I hoped soon to
reach it, though I hesitated, as the screeches, yells, and howls were
still to be heard lower down the street, and fresh parties of men,
women, and children kept rushing down to join the throng. If it
should surge back again before we could get home, what would become
of us?
Suddenly Gaspard cried out: 'My uncle!' And there was indeed my
brother. 'Good heavens!' he cried, 'you there, sister! They told me
you were gone to church, but I could hardly believe it! Come home
before the mob comes back.
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