The king leaned over and addressed his prisoner confidentially:
"Master Villon, Master Villon, you see what human friendship means
and the sweet voices of the multitude."
Villon answered boldly:
"Sire, it is no news to me that men love the dear habit of living."
Louis signalled to Montjoye.
"Proclaim again," he said; and once more the pair of pursuivants
blew their trumpets and once again Montjoye made his singular
proposition of pardon to the assemblage.
CHAPTER XVI
"WE SPEAK TO MEN"
It fell this time upon fresh ears, the ears of an old woman who was
patiently pushing her way through the crowd in her effort to reach
her humble lodging. She had succeeded in making her way to the open
space as the last words of the herald's offer were being spoken, and
suddenly her dulled brain caught the full significance of Montjoye's
speech. Looking wildly around her, she saw where Villon stood, an
armoured figure held captive, and without attempting to realize the
meaning of what she beheld, she dropped her stick and tottered
forward to the dais, where she fell on her knees with clasped,
entreating hands.
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