"The jeweller, too, asked many questions. I think he was suspicious
at my coming twice in a few hours. But the sardonyx was a finer
stone than the amethyst, and he ended by giving me three hundred and
fifty livres. Two of the men were loitering for me outside the shop.
I gave them a false address and walked home quickly, longing to run
but not daring. To mislead the men, in case they were following, I
made first for the house by the archway, and there on the stairs I
met the woman coming down with a bundle of stuff.
"I bargained with her, then and there. There was a horrible man
belonging to the house, and at night-fall he fetched you, a little
before the carts arrived; and this was not a minute too soon.
For a crowd came with the carts. While the loading went on they
stood around the door, calling out vile jokes, and afterwards they
followed through the streets, waving torches and beating upon old
pans. I sat in the second cart, among half a dozen women.
My face was painted, and I smiled when they smiled. But you lay
under the straw at my feet; and when the gate was passed, while the
women were calling back insults to the soldiers there, I gave thanks
to Our Lady.
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