But he would have been wide of the mark.

The scum, indeed--and a dangerous scum--frothed and foamed and spat under Tavannes' bridle-hand; and here and there among them, but not of them, the dark-robed figure of a priest moved to and fro; or a Benedictine, or some smooth-faced acolyte egged on to the work he dared not do.

But the decent burghers were not there.
They lay bolted in their houses; while the magistrates, with little heart to do aught except bow to the mob--or other their masters for the time being--shook in their council chamber.
There is not a city of France which has not seen it; which has not known the moment when the mass impended, and it lay with one man to start it or stay its course.

Angers within its houses heard the clamour, and from the child, clinging to its mother's skirt, and wondering why she wept, to the Provost, trembled, believing that the hour had come.

The Countess heard it too, and understood it.