The Flight from Angers

But that only the more roused the devil in the man; that, and the
knowledge that he had his own headstrong act to thank for the position.
He looked on the panic-stricken people who, scared by the turmoil
without, had come together in the courtyard, wringing their hands and
chattering; and his face was so dark and forbidding that fear of him took
the place of all other fear, and the nearest shrank from contact with
him. On any other entering as he had entered, they would have hailed
questions; they would have asked what was amiss, and if the city were
rising, and where were Bigot and his men. But Count Hannibal's eye
struck curiosity dumb. When he cried from his saddle, "Bring me the
landlord!" the trembling man was found, and brought, and thrust forward
almost without a word.

"You have a back gate?" Tavannes said, while the crowd leaned forward to
catch his words.

"Yes, my lord," the man faltered.

"Into the street which leads to the ramparts?"

"Ye-yes, my lord."

"Then"--to Badelon--"saddle! You have five minutes. Saddle as you never
saddled before," he continued in a low tone, "or--" His tongue did not
finish the threat, but his hand waved the man away. "For you"--he held
Tignonville an instant with his lowering eye--"and the preaching fool
with you, get arms and mount! You have never played aught but the woman
yet; but play me false now, or look aside but a foot from the path I bid
you take, and you thwart me no more, Monsieur! And you, Madame," he
continued, turning to the Countess, who stood bewildered at one of the
doors, the Provost's daughter clinging and weeping about her, "you have
three minutes to get your women to horse! See you, if you please, that
they take no longer!"