While Gosson was making a tremendous speech in favor of conscience and fatherland at the Hotel de Ville, practical John Sarrasin, purse in hand, had challenged the rebel general, Ambrose to private combat.

In half an hour, that warrior was routed, and fled from the field at the head of his scarecrows, for there was no resisting the power before which the Montignys and the La Mottes had succumbed.

Eloquent Gosson was left to his fate.

Having the Catholic magistracy in durance, and with nobody to guard them, he felt, as was well observed by an ill-natured contemporary, like a man holding a wolf by the ears, equally afraid to let go or to retain his grasp.
His dilemma was soon terminated.

While he was deliberating with his colleagues--Mordacq, an old campaigner, Crugeot, Bertoul, and others--whether to stand or, fly, the drums and trumpets of the advancing royalists were heard.