The town seemed lifeless, however; there was scarcely a stifled exclamation to be heard at the windows.

Only five or six shutters opened.

Some old householder then appeared in his night-shirt, candle in hand, and leant out to obtain a better view; but as soon as he distinguished the tall red girl who appeared to be drawing that crowd of black demons behind her, he hastily closed his window again, terrified by such a diabolical apparition.
The silence of the slumbering town reassured the insurgents, who ventured to make their way through the lanes of the old quarter, and thus reached the market-place and the Place de l'Hotel-de-Ville, which was connected by a short but broad street.

These open spaces, planted with slender trees, were brilliantly illumined by the moon.

Against the clear sky the recently restored town-hall appeared like a large patch of crude whiteness, the fine black lines of the wrought-iron arabesques of the first-floor balcony showing in bold relief.