La Grande Mademoiselle, 1627-1652 . hroughthe streets the bourgeois, who had gathered ingroups to give each other countenance, begged herfor passports ; they were ready to leave the city. A half-starved, ragged mob filled the Place deGreve ; the canaille blocked the adjoining palace was like an abandoned barrack. Thesunlight fell upon the polished locks of the oldmuskets of the League, and not a head dared ap-proach the windows. Mademoiselle ran throughthe mob and entered the Hotel de Ville. Let hertell her errand in her own way : They were all there; the provost of the merchants,
La Grande Mademoiselle, 1627-1652 . hroughthe streets the bourgeois, who had gathered ingroups to give each other countenance, begged herfor passports ; they were ready to leave the city. A half-starved, ragged mob filled the Place deGreve ; the canaille blocked the adjoining palace was like an abandoned barrack. Thesunlight fell upon the polished locks of the oldmuskets of the League, and not a head dared ap-proach the windows. Mademoiselle ran throughthe mob and entered the Hotel de Ville. Let hertell her errand in her own way : They were all there; the provost of the merchants, thealdermen, the Marechal de lHopital, the Governor . .and I cried to them: Monsieur le Prince is in peril of deathin our faubourgs! What grief, what eternal shame it would beto us were he to perish for lack of our assistance! You haveit in your power to help him! Do it then, and quickly! They went into the council-room. Mademoi-selle fell upon her knees at the open window, and,in silence, the people watched her; they were on V ,. LA ROCHEFOUCAULD FROM A STEEL ENGRAVING La Grande Mademoiselle 4l7 guard, waiting for her orders. In the church ofSaint Gervais priests were offering the Mass ; shecould hear them and she tried to pray. Minuteshad passed and nothing had been done. She arosefrom her knees and, entering the council-room,urged the men to act; she implored, she threat-ened ; then, hurrying back to the window, she fellupon her knees. Rising for the last time, paleand resolute, she entered the council-room ; shepointed to the Greve where the people stood witheyes fixed upon the windows, then, stretching herarm high above her head, she cried violently : Signthat order ! or—/ swear it by my Exalted Name !I will call in my people and let them teach youwhat to do ! They fell upon the paper like wolves upon alamb, and an instant later Mademoiselle, graspingthe order, hurried up the rue Saint Antoine to openthe citys gates. Not far from the Hotel de Ville a cavalier in ablood-s
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmontpen, bookyear1902
