At length he appeared, and, addressing my father, said: "You had better avoid the precincts of your famous temple, La Calade: it has been completely demolished, and crowds are yet hanging about their beloved place of worship, regardless of danger, but the military will presently disperse them." "Ah, what desecration!" exclaimed my mother.
"Keep your regrets for the sufferings of living people, my good lady," said La Croissette.

"Stones have no feeling, and are not prone to revenge insult.

'Tis said, walls have ears.

The walls of La Calade have, at all events, a tongue; for on the summit of the ruins lies a stone with these words on it, 'Lo, this is the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!'" Then addressing my father, he said.

"The very fact of the public attention being drawn to this point makes other parts of the city comparatively deserted, and therefore favors your escape.