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by this miserable mistake in identity。 If my companion's fears were well
founded； Louis would fall in the general massacre of the Huguenots；
probably before we could reach him。 If ill…founded； still we had small
reason to hope。 Bezers' vengeance would not wait。 I knew him too
well to think it。 A Guise might spare his foe； but the Vidamethe
Vidame never！ We had warned Madame de Pavannes it was true； but
that abnormal exercise of benevolence could only； I cynically thought；
have the more exasperated the devil within him； which now would be
ravening like a dog disappointed of its victuals。
I glanced up at the line of sky visible between the tall houses； and lo！
the dawn was coming。 It wanted scarcely half…an…hour of daylight；
though down in the dark streets about us the night still reigned。 Yes； the
morning was coming； bright and hopeful； and the city was quiet。 There
were no signs； no sounds of riot or disorder。 Surely； I thought； surely
Pavannes must be mistaken。 Either the plot had never existed； that was
most likely； or it had been abandoned； or perhapsCrack！
A pistol shot！ Short； sharp； ominous it rang out on the instant； a
solitary sound in the night！ It was somewhere near us； and I stopped。 I
had been speaking to my companion at the moment。 〃Where was it？〃 I
cried； looking behind me。
〃Close to us。 Near the Louvre；〃 he answered； listening intently。 〃See！
See！ Ah； heavens！〃 he continued in a voice of despair； 〃it was a
signal！〃
It was。 One； two； three！ Before I could count so far； lights sprang
into brightness in the windows of nine out of ten houses in the short street
where we stood； as if lighted by a single hand。 Before too I could count
as many more； or ask him what this meant； before indeed； we could speak
or stir from the spot； or think what we should do； with a hurried clang and
clash； as if brought into motion by furious frenzied hands； a great bell just
above our heads began to boom and whirr！ It hurled its notes into space；
it suddenly filled all the silence。 It dashed its harsh sounds down upon
the trembling city； till the air heaved； and the houses about us rocked。 It
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made in an instant a pandemonium of the quiet night。
We turned and hurried instinctively from the place； crouching and
amazed； looking upwards with bent shoulders and scared faces。 〃What is it？
What is it？〃 I cried； half in resentment； half in terror。 It deafened me。
〃The bell of St。 Germain l'Auxerrois！〃 he shouted in answer。 〃The
Church of the Louvre。 It is as I said。 We are doomed！〃
〃Doomed？ No！〃 I replied fiercely； for my courage seemed to rise
again on the wave of sound and excitement as if rebounding from the
momentary shock。 〃Never！ We wear the devil's livery； and he will look
after his own。 Draw； man； and let him that stops us look to himself。
You know the way。 Lead on！〃 I cried savagely。
He caught the infection and drew his sword。 So we started boldly；
and the result justified my confidence。 We looked； no doubt； as like
murderers as any who were abroad that night。 Moving in this desperate
guise we hastened up that street and into anotherstill pursued by the din
and clangour of the bell and then a short distance along a third。 We
were not stopped or addressed by anyone； though numbers； increasing
each moment as door after door opened； and we drew nearer to the heart
of the commotion； were hurrying in the same direction； side by side with
us； and though in front； where now and again lights gleamed on a mass of
weapons； or on white eager faces； filling some alley from wall to wall； we
heard the roar of voices rising and falling like the murmur of an angry sea。
All was blurr； hurry； confusion； tumult。 Yet I remember； as we
pressed onwards with the stream and part of it； certain sharp outlines。 I
caught here and there a glimpse of a pale scared face at a window； a half…
clad form at a door； of the big； wondering eyes of a child held up to see us
pass； of a Christ at a corner ruddy in the smoky glare of a link； of a woman
armed； and in man's clothes； who walked some distance side by side with
us； and led off a ribald song。 I retain a memory of these things： of brief
bursts of light and long intervals of darkness； and always； as we tramped
forwards； my hand on Pavannes' sleeve； of an ever…growing tumult in
frontan ever…rising flood of noise。
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At last we came to a standstill where a side street ran out of ours。
Into this the hurrying throng tried to wheel； and； unable to do so； halted；
and pressed about the head of the street； which was already full to
overflowing； and so sought with hungry eyes for places whence they
might look down it。 Pavannes and I struggled only to get through the
crowdto get on； but the efforts of those behind partly aiding and partly
thwarting our own； presently forced us to a position whence we could not
avoid seeing what was afoot。
The streetthis side street was ablaze with light。 From end to end
every gable； every hatchment was glowing； every window was flickering
in the glare of torches。 It was paved too with faces human faces； yet
scarcely humanall looking one way； all looking upward； and the noise； as
from time to time this immense crowd groaned or howled in unison； like a
wild beast in its fury； was so appalling； that I clutched Pavannes' arm and
clung to him in momentary terror。 I do not wonder now that I quailed；
though sometimes I have heard that sound since。 For there is nothing in
the world so dreadful as that brute beast we call the CANAILLE； when the
chain is off a