noon
But the bell of St. Germain l'Auxerrois , which had rung through hours of the past day , was silent . The tumult which had leaped like flame from street to street had subsided . Peaceful men breathed again in their houses , and women , if they still cowered by the hearth , no longer laid trembling fingers on their ears . For a time the red fury was over : and in the narrow channels , where at noon the mob had seethed and roared , scarcely a stray wayfarer could now be found . A few however were abroad : and of these some , who chanced to be threading the network of streets between the Châtelet and the Louvre , heard behind them the footsteps of one in great haste . Turning , they saw pass by them a youth , wearing a sword and a student 's short cloak and cap -- apparently he was a member of the University . He was pale of face , and for his part looked neither to right nor left : saw not one of them , and seemed bent only on getting forward .