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It was half…past nine o'clock and the coadjutor required
half an hour to go from the archbishop's palace to the tower
of St。 Jacques de la Boucherie。 He remarked that a light was
burning in one of the highest windows of the tower。 〃Good；〃
said he； 〃our syndic is at his post。〃
He knocked and the door was opened。 The vicar himself
awaited him； conducted him to the top of the tower； and when
there pointed to a little door； placed the light which he
had brought with him in a corner of the wall； that the
coadjutor might be able to find it on his return； and went
down again。 Although the key was in the door the coadjutor
knocked。
〃Come in；〃 said a voice which he recognized as that of the
mendicant； whom he found lying on a kind of truckle bed。 He
rose on the entrance of the coadjutor； and at that moment
ten o'clock struck。
〃Well；〃 said Gondy； 〃have you kept your word with me？〃
〃Not exactly；〃 replied the mendicant。
〃How is that？〃
〃You asked me for five hundred men； did you not？ Well； I
have ten thousand for you。〃
〃You are not boasting？〃
〃Do you wish for a proof？〃
〃Yes。〃
There were three candles alight； each of which burnt before
a window； one looking upon the city； the other upon the
Palais Royal； and a third upon the Rue Saint Denis。
The man went silently to each of the candles and blew them
out one after the other。
〃What are you doing？〃 asked the coadjutor。
〃I have given the signal。〃
〃For what？〃
〃For the barricades。 When you leave this you will behold my
men at work。 Only take care you do not break your legs in
stumbling over some chain or your neck by falling in a
hole。〃
〃Good！ there is your money； the same sum as that you have
received already。 Now remember that you are a general and do
not go and drink。〃
〃For twenty years I have tasted nothing but water。〃
The man took the bag from the hands of the coadjutor； who
heard the sound of his fingers counting and handling the
gold pieces。
〃Ah！ ah！〃 said the coadjutor； 〃you are avaricious； my good
fellow。〃
The mendicant sighed and threw down the bag。
〃Must I always be the same？〃 said he； 〃and shall I never
succeed in overcoming the old leaven？ Oh； misery； oh；
vanity！〃
〃You take it； however。〃
〃Yes； but I make hereby a vow in your presence； to employ
all that remains to me in pious works。〃
His face was pale and drawn； like that of a man who had just
undergone some inward struggle。
〃Singular man！〃 muttered Gondy； taking his hat to go away；
but on turning around he saw the beggar between him and the
door。 His first idea was that this man intended to do him
some harm； but on the contrary he saw him fall on his knees
before him with his hands clasped。
〃Your blessing； your holiness； before you go； I beseech
you！〃 he cried。
〃Your holiness！〃 said Gondy； 〃my friend； you take me for
some one else。〃
〃No； your holiness； I take you for what you are； that is to
say； the coadjutor； I recognized you at the first glance。〃
Gondy smiled。 〃And you want my blessing？〃 he said。
〃Yes； I have need of it。〃
The mendicant uttered these words in a tone of such
humility； such earnest repentance； that Gondy placed his
hand upon him and gave him his benediction with all the
unction of which he was capable。
〃Now；〃 said Gondy； 〃there is a communion between us。 I have
blessed you and you are sacred to me。 Come； have you
committed some crime； pursued by human justice； from which I
can protect you？〃
The beggar shook his head。 〃The crime which I have
committed； my lord； has no call upon human justice； and you
can only deliver me from it by blessing me frequently； as
you have just done。〃
〃Come； be candid；〃 said the coadjutor； 〃you have not all
your life followed the trade which you do now？〃
〃No； my lord。 I have pursued it for six years only。〃
〃And previously； where were you？〃
〃In the Bastile。〃
〃And before you went to the Bastile？〃
〃I will tell you； my lord； on the day when you are willing
to hear my confession。〃
〃Good！ At whatsoever hour of the day or night you may
present yourself； remember that I shall be ready to give you
absolution。〃
〃Thank you； my lord；〃 said the mendicant in a hoarse voice。
〃But I am not yet ready to receive it。〃
〃Very well。 Adieu。〃
〃Adieu； your holiness；〃 said the mendicant； opening the door
and bending low before the prelate。
47
The Riot。
It was about eleven o'clock at night。 Gondy had not walked a
hundred steps ere he perceived the strange change which had
been made in the streets of Paris。
The whole city seemed peopled with fantastic beings； silent
shadows were seen unpaving the streets and others dragging
and upsetting great wagons； whilst others again dug ditches
large enough to ingulf whole regiments of horsemen。 These
active beings flitted here and there like so many demons
completing some unknown labor； these were the beggars of the
Court of Miracles the agents of the giver of holy water
in the Square of Saint Eustache； preparing barricades for
the morrow。
Gondy gazed on these deeds of darkness； on these nocturnal
laborers； with a kind of fear； he asked himself； if； after
having called forth these foul creatures from their dens； he
should have the power of making them retire again。 He felt
almost inclined to cross himself when one of these beings
happened to approach him。 He reached the Rue Saint Honore
and went up it toward the Rue de la Ferronnerie； there the
aspect changed； here it was the tradesmen who were running
from shop to shop； their doors seemed closed like their
shutters； but they were only pushed to in such a manner as
to open and allow the men； who seemed fearful of showing
what they carried； to enter； closing immediately。 These men
were shopkeepers； who had arms to lend to those who had
none。
One individual went from door to door； bending under the
weight of swords； guns； muskets and every kind of weapon；
which he deposited as fast as he could。 By the light of a
lantern the coadjutor recognized Planchet。
The coadjutor proceeded onward to the quay by way of the Rue
de la Monnaie； there he found groups of bourgeois clad in
black cloaks or gray； according as they belonged to the
upper or lower bourgeoisie。 They were standing motionless；
while single men passed from one group to another。 All these
cloaks； gray or black； were raised behind by the point of a
sword； or before by the barrel of an arquebuse or a musket。
On reaching the Pont Neuf the coadjutor found it strictly
guarded and a man approached him。
〃Who are you？〃 asked the man。 〃I do not know you for one of
us。〃
〃Then it is because you do not know your friends； my dear
Monsieur Louvieres；〃 said the coadjutor； raising his hat。
Louvieres recognized him and bowed。
Gondy continued his way and went as far as the Tour de
Nesle。 There he saw a lengthy chain of people gliding under
the walls。 They might be said to be a procession of ghosts；
for they were all wrapped in white cloaks。 When they reached
a certain spot these men appeared to be annihilated； one
after the other； as if the earth had opened under their
feet。 Gondy； edged into a corner； saw them vanish from the
first until the last but one。 The last raised his eyes； to
ascertain； doubtless； that neither his companions nor
himself