We continued our painful and tedious course, “lurking in the thievish corners of the streets,” like evil-doers, if we saw any one coming.  The moon was dangerously bright, but the shadows were proportionately dark, and at length we reached Les Arenes, with their depths of mysterious shadow, and solemn pillars and arches silvered by the white beams.  Though the amphitheatre is in the heart of the city, the neighborhood seemed unusually deserted.  People had fled, or were cowering in hiding-places, or were flocking to see what was going on elsewhere.  I cannot otherwise account for it.  Only that as we passed near the house of good old Monsieur de Laccassagne, we could hear the abominable uproar of drums within it, and it would seem as if all the drummers in Nismes must have been congregated to drive the poor old gentleman to distraction.  We had also seen in the distance, floods of light streaming from the windows of the cathedral, and heard a strange murmur of cries, and we afterwards learnt that multitudes of poor people of the baser sort had been driven like oxen or silly sheep into the church, pricked on by the dragoons’ swords and shouts of “Kill! kill!” to be present at mass.

But now, as we gained a spot where, at the end of a street, we could gain a distant glimpse of our factory, we perceived the sky red with flurid flames bursting from it.

“The factory is on fire!” I exclaimed.

Then my mother wrung her hands, crying, “Oh, my husband! you are ruined, perhaps sacrificed!  I must go in quest of thee, and leave my son with a faithful friend.”

Then she hastened off towards the factory, and I could not blame her nor wonder at her, though my heart misgave me that she might fall into mischief.

Madeleine’s support was insufficient for me now; but I set my teeth like a flint, and commanded the pain I was in every time I set foot to the ground.  Was it not alleviation enough to have her dear arm for my stay, and her tender hand wiping from my brow the drops forced forth by my suffering?

Then we came to some steps.  These gave me much trouble to descend, especially as we were so nearly in the dark, but Madeleine seemed to know them pretty well.

“I have often been here already,” whispered she, “only not after dark, and have laid in stores of many things necessary for our subsistence.”

We were now groping along a chill stone passage, and were presently brought up by a wall right in front, against which we violently hit our heads.

“I fear I have missed the way,” said Madeleine, in alarm.  “Hark!  I hear the children laughing.  Nothing damps the spirits at their age.”

The next turn brought us to the entrance of a chamber, or rather den, for it had probably been built for wild beasts, and formerly tenanted by them.  A ruddy fire burned in the middle, and circles of smoke escaped through crannies and fissures, for of course there was no chimney.  A savory steam arose from a large black pot suspended over this fire, and round it was gathered a motley and unruly group, not Gabrielle and the children, but of tramps, gipsies, peddlers, and very likely thieves.  Swarthy Morescoes, Basques, I know not how many nations, were there represented.  They were singing, carousing, and making much noise.