Sanson, his hand on the machinery, was whirled aside, jostled, pushed, cursed. A fat woman, with bare, mottled arms, Heaven knows how she came on the platform, dealt him a resounding smack on the face, and shrieked voluble abuse, which was freely echoed. Dangeau was surrounded, embraced, cheered, lifted off his feet, the cord that bound his arms slashed through, and of a sudden Goyot had him round the neck, and he found voice and clamoured Aline’s name. The little surgeon, after one glance at his wild eyes, pushed with him through the surging press; they had to fight their way, and the place was slippery, but they were through at last, through and down on their knees by the woman who lay bound beneath the knife that Sanson’s hand was freeing when the tumult caught him. A dozen hands snatched her back again now, the cords were cut, and Dangeau’s shaking voice called in her ears, called loudly, and in vain. "Air, give her air and room," he cried, and some pushed forwards and others back. The fat woman took the girl’s head upon her lap, whilst tears rained down her crimson cheeks. "Eh, the poor pretty one," she sobbed hysterically, and pulled off her own ample kerchief to cover Aline’s thin bosom. Dangeau leaned over her calling, calling still, unaware of Goyot at his side, and of Goyot’s voice saying insistently, "Tiens, my friend, that was a near shave, eh?" "My wife," he muttered, "my wife—my wife is dead," and with that he gazed round wildly, cried "No, no!" in a sharp voice, and fell to calling her again. Goyot knelt on the reeking boards, caught the frail wrist in that brown skilful hand of his, shifted his grasp once, twice, a third time, shook his head, and took another grip. "No, she ’s alive," he said at last, and had to say it more than once, for Dangeau took no heed. "Aline! Aline! Aline!" he called in hoarse, trembling tones, and Goyot dropped the girl’s wrist and took him harshly by the shoulder. "Rouse, man, rouse!" he cried. "She’s alive. I tell you. I swear it. For the love of Heaven, wake up, and help me to get her away. It’s touch and go for all of us these next few hours. At any moment Henriot may have the upper hand, and half an hour would do our business, with this pretty toy so handy." He grimaced at the red axe above them, "Come, Dangeau, play the man!" Dangeau stared at him. "What am I to do?" he asked irritably. Goyot pressed his shoulder with a firm hand. "Lift your wife, and bring her along after me. Can you manage? She looks light enough." It was no easy matter to come through the excited crowd, but Dangeau’s height told, and with Aline’s head against his shoulder he pushed doggedly in the wake of Goyot, who made his way through the press with a wonderful agility. Down the steps now, and inch by inch forward through the jostling excited people. Up a by way at last, and then sharp to the left where a carriage waited, and with that Goyot gave a gasp of relief, and mopped a dripping brow.