"What particularly moves you to this singular request, Dame
Rochelle?" asked he.
"A potent reason, master, but it would not weigh a grain with you as
with me. There is this morning a wild spirit afloat,--people's
minds have been excited by a sermon from one of the college fathers.
The friends of the Intendant are gathered in force, they say, to
clear the market of the Honnetes Gens. A disturbance is impending.
That, master, is one reason. My other is a presentiment that some
harm will befall you if you go to the market in the midst of such
excitement."
"Thanks, good dame," replied the Bourgeois calmly, "both for your
information and your presentiment; but they only furnish an
additional reason why I should go to try to prevent any disturbance
among my fellow-citizens."
"Still, master, you see not what I see, and hear not what I hear,
and would not believe it did I tell you! I beseech you, go not to-
day!" exclaimed she imploringly, clasping her hands in the eagerness
of her appeal.
"Good dame," replied he, "I deeply respect your solicitude, but I
could not, without losing all respect for myself as a gentleman,
stay away out of any consideration of impending danger.
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