Further on there were two female neighbors at their windows, holding candles, which the fog caused to sputter.

“Has your husband told you about the mishap, Mademoiselle la Boudraque?”

“No. What is it, Mademoiselle Turquant?”

“The horse of M. Gilles Godin, the notary at the Ch�telet, took fright at the Flemings and their procession, and overturned Master Philippe Avrillot, lay monk of the C�lestins.”

“Really?”

“Actually.”

“A bourgeois horse! ‘tis rather too much! If it had been a cavalry horse, well and good!”

And the windows were closed.