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rising in imposing majesty against a perfectly blue sky； for during the
fast few days； a north…east wind； dry and cold； had driven away the
lightest cloud。 A considerable number of people； as we have already
stated； obstructed the approach to the Hospital； they crowded round the
iron railings that protect the front of the building； behind which was
stationed a detachment of infantry； the cries of 〃Death to the doctors！〃
becoming every moment more threatening。 The people who thus vociferated。
belonged to an idle； vagabond； and depraved populacethe dregs of the
Paris mob； and （terrible spectacle！） the unfortunate beings who were
forcibly carried through the midst of these hideous groups entered the
Hospital； whilst the air resounded with hoarse clamors； and cries of
〃Death。〃 Every moment； fresh victims were brought along in litters； and
on stretchers； the litters were frequently furnished with coarse
curtains； and thus the sick occupants were concealed from the public
gaze； but the stretchers； having no covering； the convulsive movements of
the dying patients often thrust aside the sheet； and exposed to view
their faces； livid as corpses。 Far from inspiring with terror the
wretches assembled round the Hospital； such spectacles became to them the
signal for savage jests； and atrocious predictions upon the fate of these
poor creatures； when once in the power of the doctors。
The big blaster and Ciboule； with a good many of their adherents； were
among the mob。 After the destruction of Hardy's factory； the quarryman
was formally expelled from the union of the Wolves； who would have
nothing more to do with this wretch； since then； he had plunged into the
grossest debauchery； and speculating on his herculean strength； had hired
himself as the officious champion of Ciboule and her compeers。 With the
exception therefore of some chance passengers； the square of Notre…Dame
was filled with a ragged crowd； composed of the refuse of the Parisian
populacewretches who call for pity as well as blame； for misery；
ignorance； and destitution； beget but too fatally vice and crime。 These
savages of civilization felt neither pity； improvement； nor terror； at
the shocking sights with which they were surrounded； careless of a life
which was a daily struggle against hunger； or the allurements of guilt；
they braved the pestilence with infernal audacity； or sank under it with
blasphemy on their lips。
The tall form of the quarryman was conspicuous amongst the rest； with
inflamed eyes and swollen features； he yelled at the top of his voice：
〃Death to the body…snatchers！ they poison the people。〃
〃That is easier than to feed them；〃 added Ciboule。 Then； addressing
herself to an old man； who was being carried with great difficulty
through the dense crowd； upon a chair； by two men； the hag continued：
〃Hey？ don't go in there； old croaker； die here in the open air instead of
dying in that den； where you'll be doctored like an old rat。〃
〃Yes；〃 added the quarryman； 〃and then they'll throw you into the water to
feast the fishes； which you won't swallow any more。〃
At these atrocious cries； the old man looked wildly around； and uttered
faint groans。 Ciboule wished to stop the persons who were carrying him；
and they had much difficulty in getting rid of the hag。 The number of
cholera…patients arriving increased every moment； and soon neither
litters nor stretchers could be obtained； so that they were borne along
in the arms of the attendants。 Several awful episodes bore witness to
the startling rapidity of the infection。 Two men were carrying a
stretcher covered with a blood…stained sheet； one of them suddenly felt
himself attacked with the complaint； he stopped short； his powerless arms
let go the stretcher； he turned pale； staggered； fell upon the patient；
becoming as livid as him； the other man； struck with terror； fled
precipitately； leaving his companion and the dying man in the midst of
the crowd。 Some drew back in horror； others burst into a savage laugh。
〃The horses have taken fright；〃 said the quarryman； 〃and have left the
turn…out in the lurch。〃
〃Help！〃 cried the dying man； with a despairing accent； 〃for pity's sake
take me in。〃
〃There's no more room in the pit；〃 said one； in a jeering tone。
〃And you've no legs left to reach the gallery；〃 added another。
The sick man made an effort to rise； but his strength failed him； he fell
back exhausted on the mattress。 A sudden movement took place among the
crowd； the stretcher was overturned； the old man and his companion were
trodden underfoot； and their groans were drowned in the cries of 〃Death
to the body…snatchers！〃 The yells were renewed with fresh fury； but the
ferocious band； who respected nothing in their savage fury； were soon
after obliged to open their ranks to several workmen； who vigorously
cleared the way for two of their friends carrying in their arms a poor
artisan。 He was still young； but his heavy and already livid head hung
down upon the shoulder of one of them。 A little child followed； sobbing；
and holding by one of the workmen's coats。 The measured and sonorous
sound of several drums was now heard at a distance in the winding streets
of the city： they were beating the call to arms； for sedition was rife in
the Faubourg Saint…Antoine。 The drummers emerged from under the archway；
and were traversing the square； when one of them； a gray…haired veteran；
suddenly slackened the rolling of his drum； and stood still： his
companions turned round in surprisehe had turned green； his legs gave
way； he stammered some unintelligible words； and had fallen upon the
pavement before those in the front rank had time to pause。 The
overwhelming rapidity of this attack startled for a moment the most
hardened among the surrounding spectators； for； wondering at the
interruption； a part of the crowd had rushed towards the soldiers。
At sight of the dying man； supported in the arms of two of his comrades；
one of the individuals； who； concealed under the arch； had watched the
beginning of the popular excitement； said to the drummers： 〃Your comrade
drank； perhaps； at some fountain on the road？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 replied one； 〃he was very thirsty； he drank two mouthfuls of
water on the Place du Chatelet。〃
〃Then he is poisoned；〃 said the man。
〃Poisoned？〃 cried several voices。
〃It is not surprising；〃 replied the man； in a mysterious tone； 〃poison is
thrown into the public fountains； and this very morning a man was
massacred in the Rue Beaubourg who was discovered emptying a paper of
arsenic into a pot of wine at a public…house。〃＇38＇
Having said these words； the man disappeared in the crowd。 This report；
no less absurd than the tales about the poisoning of the Hospital
patients； was received with a general burst of indignation。 Five or six
ragged beings； regular ruffians； seized the body of the expiring drummer；
hoisted it upon their shoulders； in spite of all the efforts of his
comrades to prevent them； and paraded the square exhibiting the dismal
trophy。 Ciboule and the quarryman went before； crying： 〃Wake way for the
corpse！ This is how they poison the people！〃
A fresh incident now attracted the attention of the crowd。 A travelling…
carriage； which had not been able to pass along the Quai…Napoleon； the
pavement of which was up； had ventured among the intricate streets of the
city； and now arrived in the square of Notre…Dame on its way to the other
side of the Seine。 Like many others； its owners were flying from Paris；
to escape the pestilence which decimated it。 A man…servant and a lady's
maid were in the rumble； and they exchanged a glance of alarm as they
passed the Hospital； whilst a young man seated in the front part of the
carriage let down the glass； and called to the postilions to go slowly；
for fear of accident； as the crowd was very dense at that part of the
square。 This young man was Lord Morinval； and on the back seat were Lord
Montbron and his niece； Lady Morinval。 The pale and anxious countenance
of the young lady showed the alarm which she felt； and Montbron；
notwithstanding his firmness of mind； appeared to be very uneasy； he； as
well as his niece； frequently had recourse to a smelling…bottle filled
with camphor。
During the last few minutes； the carriage had advanced very slowly； the
postilions managing their horses with great caution； when a sudden
hubbub； at first distant and undefined； but soon more distinct； arose
among the throng； as it drew near； the ringing sound of chains and metal；
peculiar to the artillery…wagons； was plainly audible； and presently one
of these vehicles came towards the travelling…carriage； from the
direction of the Quai Notre…Dame。 It seemed strange； that though the
crowd was so compact； yet at the rapid approach of this wagon； the close
ranks of human beings opened as if by enchantment； but the following
words which were passed from mouth to mouth soon accounted for the
prodigy： 〃A wagon full of dead！ the wagon of the dead！〃 As we have
already stated； the usual funeral conveyances were no longer sufficient
for the removal of the corpses； a number of artillery wagons had been put
into requisition； and the coffi