t the meeting-room, and reached the hall, where
the huge iron-studded door was already yielding to the battering from
outside.

"Throw open the door," La Mothe called out. Someone, I think it was
Ferrieres, stepped forward and undid the bar, springing back quickly as
the door flew open; and for an instant we heard a hoarse roar, and by
the light of many torches, and a huge fire lit in the street, saw a
countless swarm of cruel faces. Out we rushed, striking to the right
and left, splitting them before us as a plank is split by a wedge. So
impetuous was the sally that the crowd gave way on all hands. But our
success was only for a moment. They rallied, and surged back, savage,
furious, thirsting for blood. I shall never forget that night: the
tall, dark houses, the flare-lit street, and that devoted few, around
whom the howling mob raged like the sea about some desolate isle.

Still we pushed them back, for they seemed to have no leaders; but now
one appeared, a man mounted on a tall white horse, and we began to feel
the difference.

"Down with them," he called out; "down with the devil's brood." And
the light of a torch falling on his face I saw it was Simon. His words
gave courage to the mob. He himself led them on, and then there was
fierce, desperate work. We were fighting for our lives--and men fight
hard then--and so we beat them off once more, though one or two had
fallen, and there was scarcely one of us who was not wounded somewhere.
But they had only gone back to breathe, and came on again in such
numbers that those in front could not go back if they would, and I
began to think the end was not far. This time they divided us into
two, and I found myself in a little group near the wall of the
Mathurins, whilst the crowd closed over the rest. Diane was still
safe, but there was death all around us, and my heart sank, not for
myself but for her whom I loved.

"Leave me, Orrain," she gasped. "Save yourself!"

And for answer I drew her closer to me, and fought as I had never
fought before.

The place had become a shambles, though here and there were little
knots of Christaudins fighting for their lives. Again and again I
strove to cut a way through, but it was impossible. For a moment,
however, we found a breathing space. For one little moment the mob
gave way and left us, and it was then that I saw Ferrieres. He had
become detached from us, and was alone. Simon was near him, and with a
face