At Agincourt

ith the army. In Paris there existed a general sense of uneasiness and alarm. The butchers, feeling that their doings had excited a strong reaction against them, and that se

nine o'clock from a supper at Count Charles's lodgings, it being the first time he had been out after dark since his first adventure, he

that knocks

he lad of

oice and ran down a

s it, s

r the pretext that there are English spies here, but really to slay the provost of the silversmiths, and to gratify their followers by the sack of his house.

hat D'Estournel had given him, "and carry it at once to the lodgings of Count Charles d'Estournel? They are in the house on this side of the Hotel of St. Pol. He is still up, and has some o

istant crowd could now be distinctly heard. Guy put up the strong bars of the

e his men slept. Long Tom, who had met him at D'Estournel's door and accompanied him home, sprang to his feet from his pallet as Guy entered. "Th

he hastily buckled on his armour. Guy rushed to the door and awoke the inmates of the rooms, telling them to arm and hasten d

t you say, Maste

e casement window which was at the front of the house he threw it open. Some four hund

rsmith said. "It is my life the

to our assistance before long. Your life will not satisfy them; it is the plunder of your shop and house that they long for, and you may

nstairs, followed by the four men-at-arms and the servants-for in those days

ind below against these doors, so that when they yield we can still ma

N

ything that you can lay hands on, logs from the wood-store, sacks of charcoal, cases, everything heavy that you can find, and pile them up against the door. Tom, do you come with us; an arr

the apartment. Having been aroused by the noise she had ha

dy; we are going to defend it. I have sent to D

The silversmith went to the casement and opened it, and he and Guy looked out. A shout of fury a

man on horseback, one of several who were evidently leaders of the mob, pressed his way through the crowd to the door and evidently gave some orders, and a din of heavy sledge-ham

d from the window; "one of the great leaders of the butchers

standing behind him. "Begin by picking

er the shaft flew and struck the butcher between the eyes, and he fell d

few arrows among those fel

of them had steel caps with projecting rims which sheltered the neck, but as they raised their weapons with both hands over their heads they exposed their chests to the marksman above, and not an arrow that was shot failed to bring down a man. When six had fallen no

llow?" Guy aske

ad of the flayers, one of the mos

om, and when you see a c

ff, Master Guy; as soon as I get a ch

as not to expose his face to the aim of the terrible marksman at the window. He halted a short distance away and was evidently haranguing the crowd round him, and in his vehemence raised his arm. The moment he did so Tom's bow twanged. The arrow struck him at the unprotected part under the arm-p

W TWANGED, AND THE ARROW

ARM-

down and see how the men are getting on below;

cks, and other materials was piled against the door, and a short distance behind

will make a better barricade than the furni

short time a strong barricade was form

the cases ou

uy. If they are all full of silver there m

ere so heavy that it required the eff

me Margaret asked quietly as

behind it which it will take them some time to force, and another on the landing here that we ought to be

arlie up with me, and then, with the women, I will move o

eed, I doubt whether they will be able to carry it at all; it is as solid and almost as strong as a stone wall, and as there are thirt

t to be able to help while you are all fighting for us. I wis

your courage for a moment, but if you were placing yourself in danger we should all be anx

eroux had been directing his servant

g at it. I have been distributing my arrows among the crowd, and in faith there will be a good many vacancies among the butchers

longer: I could see that it was yielding when I was down there just now. I don't think that we shall be able to

servants

wn, sir. It is only kept in p

but as it was built on the edge of the top stair it was nine inches higher o

to use our arms, and when we retire we shall have to do so quickly. Will you please fasten a chair on the top step in such a way that we can use it to climb over the barri

a strong rope being attached to it so that it could be pulled up over the barricade when the last of the defenders had entered. By the time this was finished the battle below began in earnest. The infuriated assailants had pulled the doors outwards and were making desperate efforts to climb the pile of logs. This they

I am doing almost as much harm as good, for I am aiding them mightily in

d now slung his bow behind him and had betaken himself to his heavy axe, which crashed through the iron caps of the assailants as t

u, Tom, take your place on the top. Jean Bart and I will come up last, and you can cover us with your arrows. Tell Ma?tre Leroux to remove the light into the room, so that they wil

stairs, Guy and Jean Bart followed more sl

hose who had first climbed the barricade had, instead of pressing hotly in pursuit, run along the hall and through the door into the shop, in their eagerness to be the first to seize upon

has wasted the time we have given him? You may be su

ion in obeying their leader, and the men poured up the stairs in a mass. Suddenly some torches appeared above, and those in front saw with consternation the obstacle that stood between them and their prey. Th

ho had fallen, the front rank of the assailants at last reached the barricade, but here their progress was arrested. A line of men stood behind the smooth wall of massive cases, and those who strove to climb it were smitten with axe or sword, while they themselves could not reach the defenders above them. They could but thrust blindly with pike or hal

before starting, still pressed forward, each fearing that the silversmith's treasures would be appropriated before he could obtain his share. For half an hour the fight continued, then

she cried, "the k

ose within, they too rushed down, until the stairs were untenanted save by the dead. Bidding the others hold their places lest the assailants should ret

d been peering timidly out, were now crowded; women waving their handkerchiefs to the knights, and men loudly shouting greetings and encouragements. The whole of the traders of Paris were bitterly opposed to the domination of the market guilds, and while they cared but little for the quarrel between the rival dukes, the alliance between

the side streets and chased until the trading quarter was cleared of them. As the knights returned Guy wen

r you have rendered me. I would pray you to enter and to allow me to thank you in

me to say that she also desires

messenger came, Guy, but it took some time to rouse the men-at-arms and to saddle our horses. Yo

eld out for another hour yet if it had been needed. Indeed, the only thing

s no slight thing that an unfortified house should for over an hour defend itself against a mob full a couple of thousand strong. I doubt not, too, that Master Leroux will serve us with a flagon of wine; and, m

lversmith's servants brought torches, and after ordering two of them to broach

beginning. I see that the knaves lying here and many of those in the road are pierced by arro

He comes from her English estate, and when she chose him as one of the four men-at-arms to accompany

I told you, Walter, did me such good s

ould that I had a dozen

round dozen lying

ey not brought up that great gate and used it a

hind it?" Count Walter said as h

portion of slope on the outside is composed of their bodies. The archer's arrows did good execution as they worked at it, and when they made the assault we-tha

way among the bodies th

t said to D'Estournel, as they reached the top; "no wonder the kn

hem carried here while the archer was defending the door, and by so doing not o

m with their hooks, and as fast as they strove to do so the provost's men and ours struck off the heads of the halberts with ax

the barricade below?" D'Estournel asked; "it was not an e

he took his stand on the top of the chests in readiness to cover the retreat of the fourth man-at-arms and myself. But happily many of the knaves wanted to sack

s, which were similar to, although larger than, Dame Margaret's. A number of candles had already been lighted, and in a minute Mistress Leroux entered, followed by two of her maids car

l be beforehand with them, and send off a messenger to him laying complaints against these fellows for attacking, plundering, and burning at their will the houses of those of better repute than themselves. We have come to your help not as officers of the duke, but as knights and gentlemen who feel it

Dame Margaret and her two children. Count Charles d'Estournel, after saluting her, presented his c

ave spared no effort to avenge themselves, and might indeed, as a last resource, have fired the house. This they would no doubt have done long before had it not been that by so doing they would have lost all the plunder that they counted on. This stout defence will no doubt teach these fellows some moderation, for they will see that citizens' houses are not to be plundered without hard

onversation the knig

your lodgings to-morrow the cups that you have used, as a small testimony

after drinking the wine that had been sent out to them, aided in clearing the passage; buckets of water had been thrown down on the stairs, and the servitors by a vigorous use of brooms had remo

n, and I can see that you are even more doughty with the bow than with that long sta

ruth, save for the stand on that pile of logs below, when things were

men, you have all done your duty to your lady right well this night, and there is not one of us he

ot in the fray below. These slaughterers can doubtless strike a good blow with a pole-axe, but they are but clumsy

-arms to remain in the house until morning, after which ten were to stay there until the doors had been repaired and refixed. As soon as the knights had ridden off the silversmi

after such an attack I should close my shop. Those who have dealings with me will know that they can do their business with me in private. And now methinks we will retire to bed; 'tis past midnight, and there is no fear of our being disturbed again. If they send anyone to s