XXIV

itingforsomethingtodo,notknowingwheretobegin.Theireyeswerebeginningtoflame,andtheirhandstoitchfordestruction.Checcosawtheirfeeling,andatoncepointedtothePalace. 'Therearethefruitsofyourlabours,yourmoney,yourjewels,yourtaxes.Goandtakebackyourown.ThereisthePalace.WegiveyouthePalace.' Theybrokeintoacheer,arushwasmade,andtheystruggledinbythegreatdoors,fightingtheirwayupthestairsinsearchofplunder,dispersingthroughthesplendidrooms.... Checcolookedatthemdisappearingthroughthegateway. 'Now,wehavethematlast.' InafewminutesthestreamatthePalacegatesbecamedouble,foritconsistedofthosecomingoutaswellasofthosegoingin.Theconfusionbecamegreaterandgreater,andtherivalbandselbowedandstruggledandfought.Thewindowswereburstopenandthingsthrownout—coverlets,linen,curtains,gorgeoussilks,Orientalbrocades,satins—andthewomenstoodbelowtocatchthem.Sometimestherewasastruggleforpossession,buttheobjectswerepouredoutsofastthateveryonecouldbesatisfied.Throughthedoorsmencouldbeseencomingwiththeirarmsfull,theirpocketsbulging,andhandingtheirplundertotheirwivestotakehome,whiletheythemselvesrushedinagain.Allthelittlethingsweretakenfirst,andthenitwastheturnofthefurniture.Peoplecameoutwithchairsorcoffersontheirheads,bearingthemawayquicklylesttheirclaimshouldbedisputed.Sometimestheentrancewasstoppedbytwoorthreemencomingoutwithaheavychestorwiththepiecesofabedstead.Thentheshoutingandpushingandconfusionwereworsethanever....Eventhefurnitureg