In a twinkling, the narrow precincts of the church parvis were cleared. The locksmiths, although protected by the deep vaults of the portal, abandoned the door and Clopin himself retired to a respectful distance from the church. "I had a narrow escape!" cried Jehan. "I felt the wind, of it, tete-de-boeuf! but Pierre the Slaughterer is slaughtered!"