“Imustknowwhatisgoingon，“whisperedCampan，andwithcooldecisionsheputthekeyintothedoor，turnedit，enteredtheantechamber，andflewtothewindow，wheretherewasaviewofthewholecourt；andafearfulsightmetherthere。Thecrowdhadbrokenthegate，pressedintothecourt，andwassurgingingreatmassestowardthepalacedoors。Hereandtheretorchesthrewtheirglareoverthesemasses，disclosingmenwithangrygestures，andwomenwithstreaminghair，swingingtheirarmssavagely，andseeminglikeapictureofhell，nottobesurpassedinhorrorevenbythephantasmsofDante。Womenchangedtofuriesandbacchanalians，roaringandshoutingintheirmurderousdesires；men，likeblood-
thirstytigers，preparingtospringupontheirprey，andgiveitthedeath-stroke；swingingpikesandguns，whichgleamedhorriblyintheglareofthetorches；armsandfistsbearingthreateningdaggersandknives!Allthiswaspressingonuponthepalace——alltheseclinchedfistswouldsoonbeengagedinhammeringuponthewallswhichseparatedthekingandqueenfromthepeople——theexecutionerfromhisvictim!
Allatoncethererangoutafearful，thunderingcry，whichmadethewindowsrattle，andcalledforthaterribleechoaboveinthedesertedhall；forthroughalltheseshrieksandhowls，thereresoundednowapiercingcry，suchasonlythegreatestpainorthemostinstantneedcanextortfromhumanlips。
“Thatwasadeath-cry，“whisperedMadamedeCampan，trembling，anddrawingbackfromthewindow。“TheyhavecertainlykilledtheSwissguards，whoarekeepingthedoor；theywillnowpourintothepalace。OGod!whatwillbecomeofVaricourt？Imustknowwhatisgoingon!“
SheflewthroughtheantechamberandopenedthedooroftheSwisshall。Itwasempty，butoutsideofitcouldbeheardaconfused，mixedmassofsounds，cries，andthetrampingasofhundredsandhundredsofmencomingon。Nearerandnearercamethesound，moredistincteverymoment。AllatoncethedoorwasflungopenontheothersideoftheSwisshall，thedoorwhichledout，andVaricourtappearedinit，pushedbackwardbytheraging，howlingmass。Hestillsoughttoresisttheoncomingtrampofthesesavagemen，and，withamovementlikelightning，puttinghisweaponacrossthedoor，hewasableforoneminutetoholdtheplaceagainstthetide——justsolongasthearmswhichheldtheweaponhadinthemthepulseoflife!Varicourtlookedlikeadyingman；hisuniformwastornandcut，hisfacedeathlypale，andononesidedisfiguredbythebloodwhichwasstreamingdownfromabroadwoundinhisforehead。