صفحة 463 من 1118

He was answered by a light murmur, which soon changed to an

unanimous cry in his favour. The officers ordered, requested, and

entreated those nearest them to go off, and leave their passage

free; but the crowd continued to press around. The officers, at

the sight of the danger, left their prisoner, and endeavoured to

lose themselves in the throng, for the purpose of escaping

without being observed; and the notary desired heartily to do the

same, but found it more difficult on account of his black cloak.

Pale as death, he endeavoured, by twisting his body to work his

way through the crowd. He studied to appear a stranger, who,

passing accidentally, had found himself in the crowd like a bit

of straw in the ice; and finding himself face to face with a man

who looked at him more intently and sternly than the rest, he

composed his countenance to a smile, and asked, "What is this

confusion?"