Generally, children's chatter ends in laughter; on this occasion the laughter led to jokes of which they did not know the cruelty.

Seven or eight of the first-comers stood at a little distance, and examined the strange old faces with smothered laughter and remarks which attracted Lemulquinier's attention.
"Hi! do you see that one with a head as smooth as my knee ?" "Yes." "Well, he was born a Wise Man." "My papa says he makes gold," said another.
The youngest of the troop, who had his basket full of provisions and was devouring a slice of bread and butter, advanced to the bench and said boldly to Lemulquinier,-- "Monsieur, is it true you make pearls and diamonds ?" "Yes, my little man," replied the valet, smiling and tapping him on the cheek; "we will give you some of you study well." "Ah! monsieur, give me some, too," was the general exclamation.
The boys all rushed together like a flock of birds, and surrounded the old men.

Balthazar, absorbed in meditation from which he was drawn by these sudden cries, made a gesture of amazement which caused a general shout of laughter.
"Come, come, boys; be respectful to a great man," said Lemulquinier.
"Hi, the old harlequin!" cried the lads; "the old sorcerer! you are sorcerers! sorcerers! sorcerers!" Lemulquinier sprang to his feet and threatened the crowd with his cane; they all ran to a little distance, picking up stones and mud.

A workman who was eating his breakfast near by, seeing Lemulquinier brandish his cane to drive the boys away, thought he had struck them, and took their part, crying out,-- "Down with the sorcerers!" The boys, feeling themselves encouraged, flung their missiles at the old men, just as the Comte de Solis, accompanied by Pierquin's servants, appeared at the farther end of the square.

The latter were too late, however, to save the old man and his valet from being pelted with mud.
The shock was given.