A violent scuffle ensued; many
habitans were ridden down, and some of the horsemen dismounted. The
Intendant's Gascon blood got furious: he struck heavily, right and
left, and many a bleeding tuque marked his track in the crowd.
The habitans recognized him at last, and a tremendous yell burst
out. "Long live the Golden Dog! Down with the Friponne!" while the
more bold ventured on the cry, "Down with the Intendant and the
thieves of the Grand Company!"
Fortunately for the troop of horsemen the habitans were utterly
unarmed; but stones began to be thrown, and efforts were made by
them, not always unsuccessfully, to pull the riders off of their
horses. Poor Jean La Marche's darling child, his favorite violin,
was crushed at the first charge. Jean rushed at the Intendant's
bridle, and received a blow which levelled him.
The Intendant and all the troop now drew their swords. A bloody
catastrophe seemed impending, when the Bourgeois Philibert, seeing
the state of affairs, despatched a messenger with tidings to the
Castle of St.
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