The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-12-21

tnmult of sound, shouts, cries, impreca-
tions, entreaties, as though the walls
of some asylum for the unfortunate
had broken away and allowed its in
mates to escape unrestrained, ire
claimable, impossible to control.
"Down with Jean Las! Down with
Jean L'as!" rose cadenced, rhythmic
shout, the accord of mob of Paris
beating into it's tones. And this steady
burden was broken by the cries Of
ENTER! Enter! Break down the
door! Kill the monster! Assassin!
Thief! Traitor!" No word of the vo-
cabulary of scorn and loathing was
wanting in their cries.
Hearing these cries, the face of this
fighting man now grew hot with anger,
and now it paled with grief and sor-
row. Yet he faltered not, but stepped
on, confidently. The Swiss opened the
door and stood at the head of the
fight of stairs. Tall, calm, pale, fear
less, John Law stood facing the angry
mob, his eyes shining brightly. He
laid his hand for an instant upon his
sword, yet it was but to unbuckle the
belt. The weapon he left leaning
against the wall, and SO stepped on
down toward the crowd.
He was met by rush of excited men
and women, screaming, cursing, Civ
ing vent to inarticulate and indistin-
guishable speech. A man laid his hand
upon his shoulder. Law caught the
hand, and with swift wrench of the
wrist, threw the owner of it to the
ground. At this the others gave back,
and for half a moment silence ensued.
The mob lacked just the touch of rage
to hurl themselves upon him. He
raised his hand and motioned them
aside
Down with Jean Las! Down with
Jean Last" came the recurrent cry.
A rush followed. The carriage, tower
ing above the ring of the surrounding
crowd, showed its coat of arms, and
thus was recognized. A paving-stone
crashed through its heavy window. A
knife ripped up the velvets of the
cushions.
The coachman was pulled from his
box. The horses, plunging with ter
ror, were cut loose from the pole and
led away. With shouts and cries of
rage and busy zeal, one mailman We'd
with another in tearing, cutting and
destroying the vehicle, until it stood
there ruined, without means of locomo-
ton, defaced and useless. And still the
ring of desperate humanity closed
around him who had late been master
Of all France.
What do you want, my friends?"
asked he, calmly, as for an instant
there came lull in the tumult. He
stood looking at them curiously now.
his dulling eyes regarding them as
though they presented some new and
interesting study. what is it that
you desire?" he repeated.
eve want our money" cried score
of voices. 1--WE want back that which
you have stolen"
You are not exact" replied Law
calmly. 81 have not your money, nor
yet have stolen it. If you have suf-
fered by this foolish panic, you do not
mend matters by thus treating me
By heaven, you go the wrong way tc
get anything from me! Out of the
way, you canaille! Do you think tc
brighten ME? l made your city.
made you all. Now, do you think tc
brighten me, John Law?"
ooh! You would go away, you wan,
to escaped" cried the voices of those
near at hand. 1--WE will see as to that!'
Again they fell upon the carriage
and still they hemmed him in tn.
closer.
True, l am going away" said Law
But you cannot say that l tried tt
steal away without your knowing 1t
There, up the stairs, are my papers
You will see in time that have con.
cealed nothing. Now l am going t.
leave Paris, it is true; but not becaus,
am afraid to stay here. IT'S for othel
} reason, and reason of mine own"
Twas you who ruined Paris-this
city which you now seek to leave!'
} shrieked the dame who had spoken be-
fore, still shaking her useless bank
notes in her hand.
ooh, very well, my friend. For the
argument, let us agree upon that salt
, Law.
you ruined our company, our beau
tiful company" cried another.
Certainly. Since l was the orig
!; inator of it, that follows as matter O.
reason replied Law.
"Ah, he admits it! He admits it!'
cried yet another Don't let him es
cape. Kill him! Down with Jea1
Last"
"Oh. very we'll, my friends" re
sumed the object of their fury, fiickins
again with his old, careless gesture a
the deep cuff of his wrist. LAS yo,
like in regard to that. More than on,
man has offered me that happiness il
the past, yet it was many a long yea
since any man could trouble me by
announcing that he was about to xii
me-"
Something in the attitude of tn,
man stayed the hands of the most dan
gerous members of the mob. Yet eve
there came the cry from back of tn EN-
Down with Jean Las! He has ruined
everything!"