"Go help! And quickly!" he added, his face growing a shade darker as a second bell began to toll from a neighbouring tower, and the confused babel in the Place Ste.-Croix settled into a dull roar of "_Sacrilege_! _sacrilege_."-- "Hasten!" Fortunately it had been his first intention to go to the Council attended by the whole of his troop; and eight horses stood saddled in the stalls.
Others were hastily pulled out and bridled, and the women were mounted.
La Tribe, at a look from Tavannes, took behind him the Provost's daughter, who was helpless with terror.

Between the suddenness of the alarm, the uproar without, and the panic within, none but a man whose people served him at a nod and dreaded his very gesture could have got his party mounted in time.

Javette would fain have swooned, but she dared not.

Tignonville would fain have questioned, but he shrank from the venture.

The Countess would fain have said something, but she forced herself to obey and no more.