按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
suffering made ferocious； and of whom society takes no thought； except
when it chains them to the galleys； or binds them ready for the
executioner！ The terrible cry which had so startled Morok was uttered by
Father d'Aigrigny as the quarryman laid his formidable hand upon him；
saying to Ciboule： 〃Make an end of that oneI will begin this one！〃
＇40＇ This fact is historical。 A man was murdered because a phial full of
ammonia was found upon him。 On his refusal to drink it； the populace；
persuaded that the bottle contained poison； tore him to pieces。
CHAPTER XXIV。
IN THE CATHEDRAL。
Night was almost come； as the mutilated body of Goliath was thrown into
the river。 The oscillations of the mob had carried into the street；
which runs along the left side of the cathedral； the group into whose
power Father d'Aigrigny had fallen。 Having succeeded in freeing himself
from the grasp of the quarryman； but still closely pressed by the
multitude that surrounded him； crying； 〃Death to the poisoner！〃 he
retreated step by step； trying to parry the blows that were dealt him。
By presence of mind； address； and courage； recovering at that critical
moment his old military energy； he had hitherto been able to resist and
to remain firm on his feetknowing； by the example of Goliath； that to
fall was to die。 Though he had little hope of being heard to any
purpose； the abbe continued to call for help with all his might。
Disputing the ground inch by inch； he manoeuvred so as to draw near one
of the lateral walls of the church； and at length succeeded in ensconcing
himself in a corner formed by the projection of a buttress； and close by
a little door。
This position was rather favorable。 Leaning with his back against the
wall； Father d'Aigrigny was sheltered from the attacks of a portion of
his assailants。 But the quarryman； wishing to deprive him of this last
chance of safety； rushed upon him； with the intention of dragging him out
into the circle where he would have been trampled under foot。 The fear
of death gave Father d'Aigrigny extraordinary strength； and he was able
once more to repulse the quarryman； and remain entrenched in the corner
where he had taken refuge。 The resistance of the victim redoubled the
rage of the assailants。 Cries of murderous import resounded with new
violence。 The quarryman again rushed upon Father d'Aigrigny； saying；
〃Follow me； friends！ this lasts too long。 Let us make an end of it。〃
Father d'Aigrigny saw that he was lost。 His strength was exhausted； and
he felt himself sinking； his legs trembled under him； and a cloud
obscured his sight； the howling of the furious mob began to sound dull
upon his ear。 The effects of violent contusions； received during the
struggle； both on the head and chest； were now very perceptible。 Two or
three times； a mixture of blood and foam rose to the lips of the abbe；
his position was a desperate one。
〃To be slaughtered by these brutes； after escaping death so often in
war！〃 Such was the thought of Father d'Aigrigny； as the quarryman rushed
upon him。
Suddenly； at the very moment when the abbe； yielding to the instinct of
self…preservation； uttered one last call for help； in a heart…piercing
voice； the door against which he leaned opened behind him； and a firm
hand caught hold of him； and pulled him into the church。 Thanks to this
movement； performed with the rapidity of lightning； the quarryman； thrown
forward in his attempt to seize Father d'Aigrigny； could not check his
progress； and found himself just opposite to the person who had come； as
it were； to take the place of the victim。
The quarryman stopped short； and then fell back a couple of paces； so
much was he amazed at this sudden apparition； and impressed； like the
rest of the crowd； with a vague feeling of admiration and respect at
sight of him who had come so miraculously to the aid of Father
d'Aigrigny。 It was Gabriel。 The young missionary remained standing on
the threshold of the door。 His long black cassock was half lost in the
shadows of the cathedral； whilst his angelic countenance； with its border
of long light hair； now pale and agitated by pity and grief； was
illumined by the last faint rays of twilight。 This countenance shone
with so divine a beauty； and expressed such touching and tender
compassion； that the crowd felt awed as； with his large blue eyes full of
tears； and his hands clasped together； he exclaimed； in a sonorous voice：
〃Have mercy； my brethren！ Be humanebe just！〃
Recovering from his first feeling of surprise and involuntary emotion；
the quarryman advanced a step towards Gabriel； and said to him： 〃No mercy
for the poisoner！ we must have him！ Give him up to us； or we go and take
him！〃
〃You cannot think of it； my brethren；〃 answered Gabriel； 〃the church is a
sacred placea place of refuge for the persecuted。〃
〃We would drag our prisoner from the altar！〃 answered the quarryman；
roughly； 〃so give him up to us。〃
〃Listen to me； my brethren；〃 said Gabriel； extending his arms towards
them。
〃Down with the shaveling！〃 cried the quarryman； 〃let us go in and hunt
him up in the church！〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 cried the mob； again led away by the violence of this wretch；
〃down with the black gown！〃
〃They are all of a piece！〃
〃Down with them！〃
〃Let us do as we did at the archbishop's！〃
〃Or at Saint…Germain…l'Auxerrois！〃
〃What do our likes care for a church？〃
〃If the priests defend the poisoners； we'll pitch them into the water
too！〃
〃Yes； yes！〃
〃I'll show you the lead！〃 cried the quarryman； and followed by Ciboule；
and a good number of determined men； he rushed towards Gabriel。
The missionary； who for some moments had watched the increasing fury of
the crowd； had foreseen this movement； hastily retreating into the
church； he succeeded； in spite of the efforts of the assailants； in
nearly closing the door； and in barricading it by the help of a wooden
bar； which he held in such a manner as would enable the door to resist
for a few minutes。
Whilst he thus defended the entrance； Gabriel shouted to Father
d'Aigrigny： 〃Fly； father！ fly through the vestry！ the other doors are
fastened。〃
The Jesuit； overpowered by fatigue； covered with contusions； bathed in
cold sweat； feeling his strength altogether fail； and too soon fancying
himself in safety； had sunk； half fainting； into a chair。 At the voice
of Gabriel； he rose with difficulty； and； with a trembling step；
endeavored to reach the choir； separated from the rest of the church by
an iron railing。
〃Quick； father！〃 added Gabriel； in alarm； using every effort to maintain
the door； which was now vigorously assailed。 〃Make haste！ In a few
minutes it will be too late。 All alone！〃 continued the missionary； in
despair； 〃alone； to arrest the progress of these madmen！〃
He was indeed alone。 At the first outbreak of the attack； three or four
sacristans and other members of the establishment were in the church；
but； struck with terror； and remembering the sack of the archbishop's
palace； and of Saint…Germain…l'Auxerrois； they had immediately taken
flight。 Some of them had concealed themselves in the organ…loft and
oth