“Down with them!”
“Let us do as we did at the archbishop’s!”
“Or at Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois!”
“What do our likes care for a church?”
“If the priests defend the poisoners, we’ll pitch them into the water too!”
“Yes, yes!”
“I’ll show you the lead!” cried the quarryman; and followed by Ciboule, and a good number of determined men, he rushed towards Gabriel.
The missionary, who for some moments had watched the increasing fury of the crowd, had foreseen this movement; hastily retreating into the church, he succeeded, in spite of the efforts of the assailants, in nearly closing the door, and in barricading it by the help of a wooden bar, which he held in such a manner as would enable the door to resist for a few minutes.
Whilst he thus defended the entrance, Gabriel shouted to Father d’Aigrigny: “Fly, father! fly through the vestry! the other doors are fastened.”
The Jesuit, overpowered by fatigue, covered with contusions, bathed in cold sweat, feeling his strength altogether fail, and too soon fancying himself in safety, had sunk, half fainting, into a chair. At the voice of Gabriel, he rose with difficulty, and, with a trembling step, endeavored to reach the choir, separated from the rest of the church by an iron railing.