A
market woman mounted on the step, and perceiving the mattress,
screeched out, 'The Cardinal--they are carrying off the Cardinal
rolled up in a mattress!'
Their fury was redoubled. I began to unite it to show them there was
nothing, but we had drawn the knots too tight, and Gaspard's little
sword would not of course cut, nay, the gleam of it only added to the
general fury. I really think if the Cardinal had been there they
would have torn him to pieces. They were trying to drag open the
doors, and would have done so much sooner but for the crowds who were
pushed against them and kept them shut. At last there seemed to be
some one among them with a more authoritative tone. The pressure on
the door lessened, and it was to my dismay torn open; but at that
moment my son called out, 'M. Darpent! Oh, M. Darpent, come to my
mother!' Immediately M. Clement Darpent, unarmed and in his usual
dress, with only a little came in his hand, made his way forward.
Before I saw him I heard his welcome voice calling, 'Madame de
Bellaise here! I am coming, M. le Marquis! The Queen! Betise! I
tell you it is a lady of my acquaintance.'
'The Cardinal! She is carrying off the Italian rolled up in a
mattress! Down with the fox!' came another terrible outcry; but by
this time M. Darpent had been hustled up to the door, and put himself
between us and the throng. He could hear me now when I told him it
was merely Mademoiselle's bedding which we were carrying out to her.
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