"He does not know me nor anybody now."
"Foi d'honneur, but you are a brave fellow!"
"Thanks; but make haste."
At last they were in the long Rue de Varennes, where they saw a great crowd filling the street, and were soon in the midst of a mass of excited people.
François cried out: "Room, citizens, room!"
An old woman shook her fist at him, yelling furiously: "Cursed Jacobin!"
The people were wild; and presently a man hustled the supposed officer. Others cried fiercely: "Hang him!" Another screamed out: "Robespierre is dead!" and the crowd took up the cry. A dozen hands seized on François.
"What the deuce is all this?" he shouted. "Take care, or the law will have you."
"Robespierre is dead! À la lanterne!"
Upon this, the duke exclaimed: "Let him go; it is a good fellow, and not an officer"; and then, amid a maddening tumult, succeeded in hastily explaining enough to secure the release of the officer.