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The whole mob now rushed at Monsieur Chambert, who escaped from the room, but was caught before he could find a hiding-place, and hacked to death. In the meanwhile Madeleine Blanchet had recovered consciousness, and going to her mistress, whom she had served for nine years, she hurried her from the room to seek a place of safety.

Madame Chambert was a kind old lady, and generous to the poor; but the Red Republicans, inflamed by wine which they had stolen from various houses, forgot her good deeds, and remembered only that she was wealthy. And because she was wealthy they were determined to kill both her and her son. Madame Chambert and her son were in the drawing-room when the infuriated mob burst into the house.

But in the hall they came face to face with the murderers returning from committing their latest crime. 'Death! death! they shouted, and attempted to strike the old lady, but Madeleine Blanchet, with one arm around her waist, received the blows intended for her. 'Go, go, my poor girl! Madame Chambert murmured. 'I must die here. Go away.

Had they banded themselves together, they could have quelled the riot, but, taken by the surprise, the majority sought safety in hiding. Meeting with no resistance, the Red Republicans pushed through the town, leaving behind them a trail of fire and blood, and came at last to a big house where lived Madame Chambert and her son.