y drawn as if to take him at his word,
when the terrible shrieks of Angelique pierced every ear. The crowd
turned in astonishment to see who it was on horseback that cried so
terribly, "Do not kill him! Do not kill Le Gardeur de Repentigny!" She
called several citizens by name and entreated them to help to save him.

By her sudden interference Angelique caused a diversion in the crowd.
Le Gardeur rose up to his feet, and many persons recognized him with
astonishment and incredulity, for no one could believe that he had
killed the good Bourgeois, who was known to have been the warm friend of
the whole family of De Repentigny.

De Pean, taking advantage of the sudden shift of feeling in the crowd
and anxious for the safety of Angelique, seized the bridle of her horse
to drag her forcibly out of the press, telling her that her words had
been heard and in another instant the whole mob would turn its fury upon
her, and in order to save her life she must fly.

"I will not fly, De Pean. You may fly yourself, for you are a coward.
They are going to kill Le Gardeur, and I will not forsake him. They
shall kill me first."

"But you must! You shall fly! Hark! Le Gardeur is safe for the present.
Wheel your horse around, and you will see him standing up yonder quite
safe! The crowd rather believe it was I who killed the Bourgeois, and
not Le Gardeur! I have a soul and body to be saved as well as he!"

"Curse you, soul and body, De Pean! You made me do it! You put those
hellish words in my mouth! I will not go until I see Le Gardeur safe!"

Angelique endeavored frantically to approach Le Gardeur, and could not,
but as she looked over the surging heads of the people she could see Le
Gardeur standing up, surrounded by a ring of agitated men who did not
appear, however, to threaten him with any injury,--nay, looked at him
more with wonder and pity than with menace of injury.

He was a prisoner, but Angelique did not know it or she would not have
left him. As it was, urged by the most vehement objurgations of De Pean,
and seeing a portion of the crowd turning their furious looks towards
herself as she sat upon her horse, unable either to go or stay, De
Pean suddenly seized her rein, and spurring his own horse, dragged her
furiously in spite of herself out of the tumult. They rode headlong to
the casernes of the Regiment of Bearn, where they took refuge for the
moment from the execrations of the populace.

The hapless Le Gardeur be