r what he said, but every now and then the crowd shouted
approval of his words.

"The fellow is hatching trouble," I muttered to myself, and, almost
unconsciously, I felt for Le Tellier's note.

"They will attack the Palais Royal," said Madame Coutance. "They are
angry because the prince has been driven away. I am sorry for the
Queen, but they will not hurt her, if she promises to recall him."

"Be still!" I exclaimed with more freedom than politeness, "and listen.
Now, can you understand?"

It had come at last. Chance or fate had given the mob a cry, which was
all they needed. They were bent on plunder and violence, and any
excuse was good enough. Low, deep, and stern, like the early rumblings
of a volcano, the cry sounded; then the volume swelled, became clearer
and more piercing, till at last in one stupendous roar it shook the
place.

"Down with Conde! Down with Conde!"

Marie shivered and gave a gasp of terror, but her aunt still smiled
scornfully; she was really an amazing woman.

"What imbeciles!" she exclaimed; "they do not know who is their best
friend."

"Nor care," said I, "they intend being their own friends this evening.
Stay there a moment while I see to things downstairs."

"Do not venture into the street, Albert," cried Marie, "you will be
killed," and I promised to take no risks.

Collecting the servants, who were half dead through fright, I set them
to work barricading the lower part of the house, and as soon as they
had done all that was possible, I ran again up the stairs to the room
which the ladies still occupied. By now the street was packed, and
more than one dwelling house had been broken open. Out went costly
furniture to be smashed into fragments by the howling rioters, and,
"Down with Conde! Death to the friends of Conde!" echoed and re-echoed
on all sides.

The mob moved nearer, and attacked the house on the opposite side of
the street. Crash went the door, and the people rushed in with cries
of triumph. We saw them appear in a room on a level with our own; the
window was flung open, and a beautiful statue was hurled on to the
pavement below. Down came rich hangings, costly pictures and gilded
mirrors; the small articles only were stolen, the others were hacked
and chopped and trampled to pieces underfoot.

"Madame," said I firmly, "you must delay no longer. For your niece's
sake, if not for your own, you must attempt to escape."

A loud howl added force to my a