I could not help appealing to Mademoiselle's kindness of
heart, and asking if they could not be sheltered in the palace, till
the canaille grew tired of waiting. She shrugged her shoulders, and
called them miserable Mazarinites, but I think she would have
permitted them to remain within if her father had not actually
conducted them out, saying, 'I will not have them fallen upon IN
HERE,' which was like throwing them to the beasts. We ladies were
full of anxiety, and all hurried up to the roof to see their fate.
Like hungry hounds the mob hunted and pelted these respectable
magistrates down the Rue de Conde, their robes getting torn as they
fled and stumbled along, and the officers, standing on the steps of
the hotel of M. le Prince, among whom, alas! was d'Aubepine. Waved
their yellow scarves, laughed at the terror and flight of the unhappy
magistrates, and hounded on the mob with 'Ha! There! At him! Well
thrown!'
Suddenly a darker line appeared, advancing in order; there was a
moment's flash of rapiers, a loud trumpet call of 'Back, ye cowards!'
The row of men, mostly in black hats, with white collars, opened,
took in among them the bleeding, staggering, cruelly-handled
fugitives, and with a firm front turned back the vile pursuers. I
could distinguish Clement Darpent's figure as he stood in front, and
I could catch a tone of his voice, though I could not made out his
words, as he reproached the populace for endeavouring to murder their
best friends.
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