Prince Eugene and His Times

e. "Whence these discordant yells without, and how comes i

the case is too urgent to admit of formalities

without, and for several moments the countess and her son stood in speechle

"the court is filled with an infuriated mob, who

would have darted to the window, but

ey have torn up the pavement, and with the stone

ess, "and the canaille of Paris hav

I should say that all Paris has joined in the attack. Not only the canaille are here, but, as I was hurrying to the corps de garde to ask f

, setting her teeth, "the anger o

hom I met in the streets, and whose jeers drove me thith

had sent off for guard

eadquarters of the corps de garde, and the o

eturned Olympia. "But ha

palace de Soissons fronted the Poie Deux Ecus, from which it was separated by a tall iron railing. The enclosure was filled with a throng so dense that there

t calm but powerful interest which possesses th

inue to press in much longer, the court will be

one of which fell at Olympia's feet. She touched it with the point of her

aimed Latour, as a second stone flew over the head of

is mother's accusers. His face was very pale and resolute; it expressed nothing beyond stern endurance; but the eye was threate

y now threaten one another, and, unless they force the entra

d and bolted, and they may bombard it for a day before they ever make

nce what it is to face an insurrection, and took her precautions accordingly. We owe her a debt of gratitude fo

window where he stood, one of which struck the

ght her to take refuge

annot force the entrance:

stones, yo

Mazarin, am to be terrified by stones," returned Olympia, app

gnized her, broke forth int

poisoned the king!" "There stands the accomplice of La Voisin!" "And while her tool languishes in prison, she has no right to breat

ured Olympia, her brow r

ilenced by a loud voice, whose words

a method in these manifestations which shows that they a

e seen!" cried Latour, who stood with folded

seen," added Olymp

he saw two men somewhat elevated above the rest, who with their outstretched arms were giving the signal for a fresh onslaught. No demonstra

retaliation. If I had but the means!-Latour." continued he, a

, your h

the street, we might cage up thes

uts the gates must undo the chains

as the

. I have them now

u could gain access to the gat

maddened mob, and another discharge of stones whizzed through the air, crushing the mullions of the windows

aid Latour, reiterating for the t

e, "we must e'en take this matter of defence in our own hands. Hasten, Lato

shall be suffered by that infuriated crow

hat you have undertaken it. Take two other men with you, who, as soon as you release the chains, must fling the ga

my best, yo

sehold to my presence. How man

your hi

with two thousan

other, who, undaunted and defiant, still stood before the window contemp

r permission to absent myse

h inquiring eyes. "Whither wo

the domestics, to arm them, a

you find wea

ms. They are all in good order, and all loaded. I have

hat you are fitter for a soldier than for a churchman. Bu

, we defend ourselves. Unfortunately, we are forced to remain

reak of fury?" asked the coun

tes are locked. The ruffians have discovered the snare, and they howl accordingl

sight of the first exploit of my future cardinal, him who promises to uni

lass, that were flying in the palace windows. They were not a very valiant-looking body of troops, but t

a musket. Let them handle the guns carefully, for they are heavily

y these recommendations, the domestics followed Darmo

he, "but I believe that they were in

ouvois has dared so much, we may infer that he

leader!-that tall man in the brown suit, with bright b

familiar to me: I have surely seen that tall figure and those wide shoulders before. If his hat were not drawn so far

two men are addressing the crowd. I fear

eds of brawny arms, each one of which grasped a stone, were raised into the air: while as many stooping forms were seen

understands strategic warfare. They are ready, and aw

son, a handful of braves who, I hope, are destined to change the fortunes of the day.-Now," continued he, advancing to meet them, "listen to me. There are twelve of you, and the hall has seven openin

stationed himself at the window in the ce

d the prince. "Neither they nor their leader have as

g his features, he loses sight of the danger which threatens from above. So much th

e, with a smile. "I will knock off his ha

ou manage t

raising the pistol that

osed to view. The ball had struck the hat, which had fallen, and now a pair o

addressing the crowd. "If you send another missile a

ing their stones, paused and stare

with rage, gave t

tones: "If the leader of this riot attempt a rep

ey, men!" sho

yell from below. Eugene's ball had pierced the elbow of the leader,

ook at the murderess there, instigating her whelp to new crimes! She exults

ere flung with such frenzy against the p

be seen the sinking forms of twelve of the rioters, while, among the others

eliberately. "You have made a cowardly assault upon a noble lady, and not one of

Inconspicuous as he was, however, the sharp eyes of Olympia had followed him to his retreat. Not for one moment did she lose sight of him; she was determined to solve the enigma of his identity. As the last bellicose words of Prince Eugene rang through the ears of his dismayed followers, the wounded ringleader flung b

caitiff there, and, if I have guessed rightly, it were bet

ulate with the rabble! Who can be this man that has

s the son of Louvo

rbesieur, who would h

s de Ca

And I warn you, Eugene! harm not a hair on his head, for he is the favorite son of the mightiest man in France-mighty and

no other man, for he is responsibl

ave the tenderness of a mother for my children; but you, Eugene, who know how dearly I love you all, you can understand that no revenge would be sw

"Direct your fire toward the left." He then took his station at the central w

eding consternation found utterance

hundred voices. "Do not

defender of the beleaguered palace advanced his he

lf baffled, then? You a

dy response of ev

pon this palace? You swear never more to make use of vituperativ

gates! Let us out! Let us ou

You have presumed to asperse the good name of the Countess de Soissons. Take back your injurious words, and cheer her now, right lusti

nd so unanimous, that you would have sworn the mob had assembl

o hurl their stones at ME, if that beardless manikin up there shoul

plied the companion on whose arm he was leaning. "It is a

d let us try to reach the gates, so as to be th

nce," cried Eugene to the multitude.

reply. And, without waiting for a third suggestion, they sh

you have avenged me effectually. All Paris will be filled with lampoons

hey supposed to be the son of Louvois, and the prince knew perfectl

ion," muttered Eugene, "but I must h

s a cry of alarm which was echoed from man to man, from group to gro