"Such signatures beside ours!" murmured the princess; "go to!"
"The mortise holds the timber in place, madame," rejoined Bouillon, whom the conspiracy of Cinq-Mars had rendered prudent for the rest of his life.
"Is that your opinion, messieurs?"
"Yes," said the Duc de La Rochefoucauld.
"And you, Lenet?"
"Fortunately, madame," replied Lenet, "I am neither prince nor duke, nor municipal official, nor sheriff. I am entitled to hold aloof, therefore, and I will do so."
Thereupon the princess rose, and called upon the assemblage to reply in energetic and unmistakable fashion to the royal challenge. Hardly had she finished what she had to say when the window was thrown open again, and again the voices of the people without invaded the hall, crying:—
"Vive Madame la Princesse! Vengeance for Richon! Death to the Épernonists and Mazarinists!"
Madame de Cambes seized Lenet's arm.
"Monsieur Lenet," said she, "I am dying!"