his mule and hastened on by my side, the mule trotting
after us.

I made no answer, said nothing, until we reached the gates, where an
excited crowd had collected, and then I asked: "Which way?"

"Do you not hear them shouting?" And Le Brusquet pointed to a crowd
running up the Rue de la Harpe. "Come!" And side by side we ran on.
Panting as he ran by me, Le Brusquet gasped out: "Mademoiselle is
confined in De Mouchy's house. It is there the Vidame must go for
safety with this mob at his heels. Hark! Hear them!"

And shrill and high we heard the cries, "Assassin! Assassin! _Tue_!
_Tue_!"

Le Brusquet chuckled. "It was a happy thought to set the mob on him,
and a happier thought still to pass my day at the gate." Still I made
no answer, but ran on with my teeth set. The mob swung round by the
Mathurins, and, forcing my way round the corner of the road, I saw they
were led by a madman, shouting, yelling, and muttering fearful
imprecations.

Using all my strength I headed the mob at last, only to find the madman
by my side. He glared at me for an instant, and then screamed out:

"You too! You too, friend! Then we shall both see him die." And
bursting into a horrid laugh he clawed at me with his hands. I thrust
him back, and it was only in doing so that the light of a sudden
recognition came to me. The miserable, frenzied being was none other
than De Ganache. God help him!

With another look of pity and horror I ran on; but fast as I went he
kept by me, and side by side we two led the crowd that howled after us
in pitiless rage.

We could see nothing of either Simon or De Lorgnac; but we did not want
for guides. A hundred fingers pointed out their course at every street
corner, and at last a white horse, riderless, and the reins trailing
loosely, came galloping out of a by-street; and a roar went up:

"He is down! he is down! In the Passage of Pity!"

With a yell the madman flashed past me, and hot foot on his heels we
crowded into the narrow street; but, save for a big grey horse
standing, with hanging head and heaving flanks, near the dark archway
at the head of the passage, it was empty. A howl of disappointment
rose behind me, and the mob halted and swayed irresolutely; but I felt
that the end was come, and ran on. Followed by Le Brusquet I passed
the archway, and there in the dark, vaulted passage, with his back to
the door of De Mouchy's house, stood Simon of Orrain, at bay at last!