But while Térèzia congratulated herself that she had happened to be at Bordeaux, the story got about, and the fierce populace were infuriated at the escape of their intended prey. Their first revenge was directed towards the captain, through whose unguarded talk about “a beautiful woman who looked like a grande dame, and had suddenly appeared and paid him the money,” was the cause of the mischief. They made a furious attack upon him, several of them rushing at him to drag him to the guillotine. But if he was avaricious the English captain was brave and strong, so, drawing his sword with shouts and threats he wounded three or four, drove back the rest, regained his ship, and set sail for England.
As Térèzia was walking in the town with her two uncles they were suddenly surrounded by a furious crowd, who, with shouts of “La voilà! La voilà! celle qui a sauvé les aristocrates,” surrounded her, and in a moment she was separated from her uncles, her mantilla torn off, while angry voices, with fierce threats, demanded the list of fugitives.
“What do you want with me?” she asked coolly, “I am not an enemy of the people; you can see by my cockade that I am a patriot.”
“Let her give us the list!” was the cry.
Seeing at once what was the question, she answered: “You are mistaken, citoyens, those who embarked were not contre-revolutionnaires.”
“Well, then, give us the list for you have it in your bosom!” And one brutal fellow tried to tear her corsage to get it.
Thrusting him away she pulled out the list, held it up to the sans-culottes, and exclaimed with defiance—
“I will never give it you! If you want to get it, kill me!” And she swallowed it.
At that moment Tallien, who had been sent to Bordeaux by the Revolutinary authorities, appeared upon the scene.