'Yes, yes!' cried the crowd, 'Let them disappear under a mountain of stones.'
'Our husbands are exposed to danger, 'tis another reason why we should approach them,' said Jane to Aurelia, redoubling her efforts in order to reach the cavaliers, more and more surrounded.
Suddenly was heard the gentle and penetrating voice of the Nazarene dominating the tumult and pronouncing these words--
'In verity, I say unto you, if these men have sinned, can they not repent between this and the day of judgment? Let them sin no more but go in peace.'
At these words of Mary's son, the popular tempest was appeased as if by enchantment. The crowd was calmed, became silent, and by a spontaneous movement, turned aside to make room for the cavaliers and their escort. Then Jane and Aurelia contrived to reach their husbands. At the sight of his wife, Seigneur Gremion said to Chusa in an angry manner:
'I was sure of it! I had recognized my wife!'
'And mine also accompanies her!' said Chusa, not less enraged.
'And like her, under a disguise. 'Tis the abomination of desolation.'
'Nothing is wanting to the fete,' added Gremion, 'for here is my wife's slave.'
Jane, always gentle and calm, said to her husband:
'Seigneur, give me a place; I will mount on behind on your horse to reach my house.'
'Yes,' replied Chusa, grinding his teeth with rage: 'you shall reach home with me. But, by the columns of the temple! you shall not again quit it without me.'
Jane made no reply, but tendered her hand to her husband for him to assist her to get up behind; with a light bound she seated herself on the horse.
'Mount behind me also,' said Gremion to his wife, in an angry tone.
'Your slave Genevieve; and by Jupiter she shall pay dear for her complicity in this indignity! your slave, Genevieve, shall mount behind one of the cavaliers of the escort.'
It was thus arranged, and they then pursued their way to Jerusalem. The horseman, who carried Genevieve behind, following close upon Gremion and Chusa, the slave heard the latter harshly scolding their wives.
'No, by Hercules!' exclaimed the Roman; 'to find my wife disguised as a man in the midst of this band of ragged beggars and seditious wretches!--'Tis incredible; no, by Hercules! till I came to Judea I never heard of such an enormity.'