But there were others who thought differently.

The music had ceased abruptly, and a little knot of gentlemen now gathered about the host, and urged him to take some measures of precaution.

In particular they desired to ensure the safety of the ladies who were being thrown into a great state of alarm, so that of some of these were the screams that were heard in that night of terror.

Bellecour's temper was fast gaining, and as he lost control of himself the inherent brutality of his character came uppermost.
"Mesdames," he cried rudely, "this screeching will profit us nothing.
Even if we must die, let us die becomingly, not shrieking like butchered geese." A dozen men raised their voices angrily against him in defence of the women he had slighted.

But he waved them impatiently away.
"Is this an hour in which to fall a-quarrelling among ourselves ?" he exclaimed.