former carried in their arms the bruised body of one of
their companions, who, trying to seize the reins of the
horses, had been trodden down by them.

This was the object over which the two brothers had felt
their carriage pass.

The coachman stopped, but, however strongly his master urged
him, he refused to get off and save himself.

In an instant the carriage was hemmed in between those who
followed and those who met it. It rose above the mass of
moving heads like a floating island. But in another instant
it came to a dead stop. A blacksmith had with his hammer
struck down one of the horses, which fell in the traces.

At this moment, the shutter of a window opened, and
disclosed the sallow face and the dark eyes of the young
man, who with intense interest watched the scene which was
preparing. Behind him appeared the head of the officer,
almost as pale as himself.

"Good heavens, Monseigneur, what is going on there?"
whispered the officer.

"Something very terrible, to a certainty," replied the
other.

"Don't you see, Monseigneur, they are dragging the Grand
Pensionary from the carriage, they strike him, they tear him