By that time Count Hannibal had saved himself behind the great gates, by
the skin of his teeth. The gates had opened to him in time. But none
knew better than he that Angers had no gates thick enough, nor walls of a
height, to save him for many hours from the storm he had let loose!
CHAPTER XXXI. THE FLIGHT FROM ANGERS.
But that only the more roused the devil in the man; that, and the
knowledge that he had his own headstrong act to thank for the position.
He looked on the panic-stricken people who, scared by the turmoil
without, had come together in the courtyard, wringing their hands and
chattering; and his face was so dark and forbidding that fear of him took
the place of all other fear, and the nearest shrank from contact with
him. On any other entering as he had entered, they would have hailed
questions; they would have asked what was amiss, and if the city were
rising, and where were Bigot and his men. But Count Hannibal's eye
struck curiosity dumb. When he cried from his saddle, "Bring me the
landlord!" the trembling man was found, and brought, and thrust forward
almost without a word.
"You have a back gate?" Tavannes said, while the crowd leaned forward to
catch his words.
"Yes, my lord," the man faltered.
"Into the street which leads to the ramparts?"
"Ye-yes, my lord.
Pages:
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386