Billet turned to face him, but with folded arms. He had in truth no need to defend himself, for eight or ten men sprang into the room, and the colonel was threatened by ten different weapons. The King saw that the least word or move would lead to all his supporters being shot or chopped to rags, and he said,
"It is well: let the horses be put to. We are going."
One of the Queen's women who travelled in a cab with her companion after the royal coach, screamed and swooned; this awakened the boy prince and his sister, who wept.
"Fie, sir, you cannot have a child that you are so cruel to a mother," said the Queen to the farmer.
"No, madam," replied he, repressing a start, and with a bitter smile, "I have no child now. There is to be no delay about the horses," he went on, to the King, "the horses are harnessed, and the carriage at the door."
Approaching the window the King saw that all was ready; in the immense din he had not heard the horses brought up. Seeing him through the window the mob burst into a shout which was a threat. He turned pale.
"What does your Majesty order?" inquired Choiseul of the Queen: "we had rather die than witness this outrage."
"Do you believe Lord Charny has got away?" she asked quickly in an undertone.
"I can answer for that."
"Then let us go; but in heaven's name, for your own sake as well as ours, do not quit us."