Again Gerard stood with uplifted hand.
"Peace!" he called. "Miladi of Malincourt will speak to you."
At this the cheers came again as Gabrielle, with heightened colour, waited for silence.
"I beg you listen to me. I bring you peace, and in the name of the Governor I promise you an end to your wrongs and sufferings."
The cheers rang out again, and as they died down some voices called: "We are starving. What of the tax on our food?"
"It shall be repealed," said the Governor.
"The Governor pledges his word it shall be repealed," cried Gabrielle. A deafening storm of wild joyous shouts burst out with mighty cries of "God bless Malincourt! Long live Miladi of Malincourt!"
"Will he keep his promise?" cried a stentorian voice.
"I pledge my honour."
Gerard repeated this in his ringing tone.
"The Governor pledges his honour as a noble of France to repeal the tax—a pledge no man dare break."
"You have saved my life, mademoiselle, you and this monk," said the Governor, not recognizing Gerard, who had kept his face carefully averted, and now drew his cowl closer.
"We have saved the people," answered Gabrielle, whose eyes were shining with the excitement of the scene.
"Get me away if you can," said the Governor next. "Oh, thank God, thank God, at last!" he cried with a sudden change of tone, as a volley of musketry was heard, and a large body of mounted troops dashed through the crowd and mustered in force round the statue, on the base of which the three stood.
With the troops round him, the Governor's courage returned, and as his fears vanished his true nature reasserted itself. He scowled at the crowd.
