d shawls, for by this time the whole town had heard, with perhaps a
few exaggerations, of the act I had performed. On arriving at the Town
Hall, I saw a number of gentlemen in full dress, with various insignia,
whom I suspected to be the civic authorities, standing on the steps,
drawn up to welcome me. My bearers halted when a small gentleman, in a
powdered wig and cocked hat, who was, I found, the mayor, stepping in
front of the rest, made me a long oration, at which the mob cheered and
cheered again. I then found, from all eyes being turned towards me,
that it was expected I should say something in return. I accordingly
expressed, in the best French I could command, my sense of the honour
done me, and my satisfaction at having been the means of saving the life
of one who, from his many virtues, was esteemed by his fellow-citizens;
and I added I felt sure that those who had intended to put him to death
were under an erroneous impression, as was shown by the generous way in
which they treated me. I now begged to thank my bearers for having
carried me so long on their shoulders, and, unwilling though I was to
descend from so honourable a position, I requested that they would have
the goodness to put me down on my feet that I might see their faces, so
that I might be able at any future time to recognise them, which I owned
I should at present be unable to do.

After some demur, they at last acceded to my request, letting me down on
my feet. When I did see their countenances, it struck me that they were
as hideous a set of ruffians as any of those I had before seen.

Concealing my feelings, however, I shook each of them by the hand,
calling them my dear brothers, and assuring them that I should never
forget the honour done me. After they had shaken themselves and
stretched their brawny limbs, they appeared inclined to get hold of me
again and carry me off on another round of the Place. Feeling
especially unwilling, for the reason I have before given, to undergo
another ovation, I stepped back among the civic authorities, and got
inside the Town Hall, conducted by a gentleman, who whispered that he
was a friend of Monsieur Planterre's, and that he had been sent by him
to escort me back to his house.

"Monsieur Planterre is anxious to get out of the town as soon as
possible, and advises you to do the same, for we cannot tell at what
moment the mob may change their minds, and perhaps take it into their
heads to hang