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the stallion's rein. The glance also took in the bright peaks of fire now rising from the roofs across the street. An untimely convulsion of mirth seized Geoffrey. Everything since he had lifted Joanna from the filthy lane was upside down and completely madthe way she had taken his ax; the pleased voice in which she had announced that he was safe; the calm with which she directed him to use a war ax to hew wood; the indignation with which, in the face of almost certain death, she insisted on dragging along a tired horse. His next stroke went awry, but it did not matter. The wood around the lock splintered, and he threw himself against the gate. |
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It seemed that laughter bred miracles. Instead of a narrow gateway through which only a man could pass, a double closure swung open onto a passage that skirted another fence and then turned sharply to the right. Holding his weapon in readiness, Geoffrey plunged forward. There was so much noise, between the sounds of the fire and the shrieks of the mob that he did not know what he would find around the corner. One thing was sure, however, that it was necessary to get out of the trap they were in. The heat was such that, although he could not see the flames yet, Geoffrey was sure the buildings alongside were burning. It was all the more dangerous for not being visible. Geoffrey expected that the whole mass would explode into flames at any moment. |
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The miracle held. Around the corner was another alley that plainly opened into the lane beyond. With Joanna at his heels, Geoffrey ran forward. The situation was so desperate that he did not care what was in the lane. Somehow he would force a passage. That, fortunately, was not necessary because there was no tangled mob. Those people who appeared flashed by, running as fast as they could. In the mouth of the alley, Geoffrey paused, intending to mount Joanna. When he turned, his mouth dried with fear. The houses they had just passed were alight. He threw Joanna into the saddle, seized the rein, and began to run himself, tugging at the horse. Perhaps his panic and that of the others in the lane communicated itself to the animal, or perhaps the |
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