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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Reign of Terror, by G. A. Henty
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: In the Reign of Terror
+       The Adventures of a Westminster Boy
+
+Author: G. A. Henty
+
+Posting Date: May 19, 2009 [EBook #3785]
+Release Date: January, 2003
+First Posted: September 5, 2001
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE REIGN OF TERROR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Ted Robb and Martin Robb.  HTML version by Al Haines.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+IN THE REIGN OF TERROR
+
+The Adventures of a Westminster Boy.
+
+
+by
+
+G. A. Henty
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+MY DEAR LADS,
+
+This time only a few words are needed, for the story speaks for
+itself. My object has been rather to tell you a tale of interest
+than to impart historical knowledge, for the facts of the dreadful
+time when "the terror" reigned supreme in France are well known to
+all educated lads. I need only say that such historical allusions as
+are necessary for the sequence of the story will be found correct,
+except that the Noyades at Nantes did not take place until a somewhat
+later period than is here assigned to them.
+
+Yours sincerely,
+
+G.A. HENTY.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+       I  A Journey to France
+      II  A Mad Dog
+     III  The Demon Wolf
+      IV  The Clouds Gather
+       V  The Outburst
+      VI  An Anxious Time
+     VII  The 2d of September
+    VIII  Marie Arrested
+      IX  Robespierre
+       X  Free
+      XI  Marie and Victor
+     XII  Nantes
+    XIII  In the Hands of the Reds
+     XIV  The Noyades
+      XV  England
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A Journey to France
+
+
+"I don't know what to say, my dear."
+
+"Why, surely, James, you are not thinking for a moment of letting
+him go?"
+
+"Well, I don't know. Yes, I am certainly thinking of it, though I
+haven't at all made up my mind. There are advantages and disadvantages."
+
+"Oh, but it is such a long way, and to live among those French people,
+who have been doing such dreadful things, attacking the Bastille,
+and, as I have heard you say, passing all sorts of revolutionary
+laws, and holding their king and queen almost as prisoners in
+Paris!"
+
+"Well, they won't eat him, my dear. The French Assembly, or the
+National Assembly, or whatever it ought to be called, has certainly
+been passing laws limiting the power of the king and abolishing
+many of the rights and privileges of the nobility and clergy; but
+you must remember that the condition of the vast body of the French
+nation has been terrible. We have long conquered our liberties,
+and, indeed, never even in the height of the feudal system were the
+mass of the English people more enslaved as have been the peasants
+of France.
+
+"We must not be surprised, therefore, if in their newly-recovered
+freedom they push matters to an excess at first; but all this will
+right itself, and no doubt a constitutional form of government,
+somewhat similar to our own, will be established. But all this is
+no reason against Harry's going out there. You don't suppose that
+the French people are going to fly at the throats of the nobility.
+Why, even in the heat of the civil war here there was no instance
+of any personal wrong being done to the families of  those engaged
+in the struggle, and in only two or three cases, after repeated
+risings, were any even of the leaders executed.
+
+"No; Harry will be just as safe there as he would be here. As to
+the distance, it's nothing like so far as if he went to India, for
+example.  I don't see any great chance of his setting the Thames
+on fire at home.  His school report is always the same--'Conduct
+fair; progress in study moderate'--which means, as I take it, that
+he just scrapes along. That's it, isn't it, Harry?"
+
+"Yes, father, I think so. You see every one cannot be at the top
+of the form."
+
+"That's a very true observation, my boy. It is clear that if there
+are twenty boys in a class, nineteen fathers have to be disappointed.
+Still, of course, one would like to be the father who is not
+disappointed."
+
+"I stick to my work," the boy said; "but there are always fellows
+who seem to know just the right words without taking any trouble
+about it. It comes to them, I suppose."
+
+"What do you say to this idea yourself, Harry?"
+
+"I don't know, sir," the boy said doubtfully.
+
+"And I don't know," his father agreed. "At anyrate we will sleep
+upon it. I am clear that the offer is not to be lightly rejected."
+
+Dr. Sandwith was a doctor in Chelsea. Chelsea in the year 1790
+was a very different place to Chelsea of the present day. It was a
+pretty suburban hamlet, and was indeed a very fashionable quarter.
+Here many of the nobility and personages connected with the court
+had their houses, and broad country fields and lanes separated it
+from the stir and din of London. Dr. Sandwith had a good practice,
+but he had also a large family. Harry was at Westminster, going
+backwards and forwards across the fields to school. So far he had
+evinced no predilection for any special career. He was a sturdy,
+well-built lad of some sixteen years old. He was, as his father
+said, not likely to set the Thames on fire in any way. He was as
+undistinguished in the various sports popular among boys in those
+days as he was in his lessons. He was as good as the average, but
+no better; had fought some tough fights with boys of his own age,
+and had shown endurance rather than brilliancy.
+
+In the ordinary course of things he would probably in three or four
+years' time have chosen some profession; and, indeed, his father
+had already settled in his mind that as Harry was not likely to
+make any great figure in life in the way of intellectual capacity,
+the best thing would be to obtain for him a commission in his
+Majesty's service, as to which, with the doctor's connection among
+people of influence, there would not be any difficulty. He had,
+however, said nothing as yet to the boy on the subject.
+
+The fact that Harry had three younger brothers and four sisters,
+and that Dr. Sandwith, who was obliged to keep up a good position,
+sometimes found it difficult to meet his various expenses, made
+him perhaps more inclined to view favourably the offer he had
+that morning received than would otherwise have been the case. Two
+years before he had attended professionally a young French nobleman
+attached to the embassy. It was from him that the letter which
+had been the subject of conversation had been received. It ran as
+follows:
+
+
+"Dear Doctor Sandwith,--Since my return from Paris
+I have frequently spoken to my brother, the Marquis of St. Caux,
+respecting the difference of education between your English boys
+and our own.  Nothing struck me more when I was in London than your
+great schools. With us the children of good families are almost
+always brought up at home. They learn to dance and to fence, but
+have no other exercise for their limbs, and they lack the air of
+manly independence which struck me in English boys. They are more
+gentil--I do not know the word in your language which expresses
+it--they carry themselves better; they are not so rough; they are
+more polite. There are advantages in both systems, but for myself I
+like yours much the best. My brother is, to some extent, a convert
+to my view. There are no such schools to which he could send his sons
+in France, for what large schools we have are under the management
+of the fathers, and the boys have none of that freedom which is
+the distinguishing point of the English system of education. Even
+if there were such schools, I am sure that madame my sister-in-law
+would never hear of her sons being sent there.
+
+"Since this is so, the marquis has concluded that the best thing
+would be to have an English boy of good family as their companion.
+He would, of course, study with them under their masters. He would
+play and ride with them, and would be treated as one of themselves.
+They would learn something of English from him, which would
+be useful if they adopt the diplomatic profession. He would learn
+French, which might also be useful to him; but of course the great
+point which my brother desires is that his sons should acquire
+something of the manly independence of thought and action which
+distinguishes English boys.
+
+"Having arranged this much, I thought of you. I know that you have
+several sons. If you have one of from fourteen to sixteen years,
+and you would like him to take such a position for two or three
+years, I should be glad indeed to secure such a companion for my
+nephews. If not, would you do me the favour of looking round among
+your acquaintances and find us a lad such as we need. He must be
+a gentleman and a fair type of the boy we are speaking of. I may
+say that my brother authorizes me to offer in his name, in addition
+to all expenses, two thousand francs a year to the young gentleman
+who will thus benefit his sons. I do not think that the political
+excitement which is agitating Paris need be taken into consideration.
+Now that great concessions have been made to the representatives
+of the nation, it is not at all probable that there will be any
+recurrence of such popular tumults as that which brought about the
+capture of the Bastille. But in any case this need not weigh in
+the decision, as my brother resides for the greater part of the
+year in his chateau near Dijon in Burgundy, far removed from the
+troubles in the capital."
+
+
+The more Dr. Sandwith thought over the matter the more he liked it.
+There were comparatively few Englishmen in those days who spoke the
+French language. It was, indeed, considered part of the education
+of a young man of good family to make what was called the grand
+tour of Europe under the charge of a tutor, after leaving the
+university. But these formed a very small proportion of society,
+and, indeed, the frequent wars which had, since the Stuarts lost the
+throne of England, occurred between the two countries had greatly
+interfered with continental travel.
+
+Even now the subjects of France and England were engaged in a
+desperate struggle in India, although there was peace between the
+courts of Versailles and St. James's. A knowledge of the French
+language then would be likely to be of great utility to Harry if
+he entered the army; his expenses at Westminster would be saved,
+and the two hundred and forty pounds which he would acquire during
+his three years' stay in France would be  very useful to him on
+his first start in life. After breakfast next morning Dr. Sandwith
+asked Harry to take a turn in the garden with him, for the holidays
+had just begun.
+
+"What do you think of this, Harry?"
+
+"I have not thought much about it one way or the other, sir,"
+Harry said, looking up with a smile. "It seemed to me better that
+you should do the thinking for both of us."
+
+"I might perhaps be better able to judge whether it would
+be advantageous or otherwise for you to accept the offer, but you
+must be the best judge as to whether you would like to accept it
+or not."
+
+"I can't quite make up my mind as to that, sir. I like school very
+much and I like being at home. I don't want to learn Frenchified
+ways, nor to eat frogs and snails and all sorts of nastiness;
+still, it would be fun going to a place so different to England,
+and hearing no English spoken, and learning all their rum ways,
+and getting to jabber French."
+
+"It might be very useful to you in the army, Harry;" and then the
+doctor stopped suddenly.
+
+"The army!" Harry exclaimed in a tone of astonished delight.  "Oh,
+sir, do you really think of my going into the army? You never said
+a word about that before. I should like that immensely."
+
+"That slipped out, Harry, for I did not mean to say anything about
+it until you had left school; still, if you go to France I do not
+know why you should not keep that before you. I don't think the army
+is a very good profession, but you do not seem to have any marked
+talent for anything else. You don't like the idea of medicine or
+the church, and you were almost heart-broken when I wanted you to
+accept the offer of your uncle John of a seat in his counting-house.
+It seems to me that the army would suit you better than anything
+else, and I have no doubt that I could get you a commission. Now,
+whenever we fight France is sure to be on the other side, and I
+think that it would be of great advantage to you to have a thorough
+knowledge of French--a thing which very few officers in our army
+possess. If you accept this offer you will have the opportunity of
+attaining this, and at the same time of earning a nice little sum
+which would pay for your outfit and supply you with pocket-money
+for some time."
+
+"Yes, sir, it would be first rate!" Harry exclaimed excitedly. "Oh,
+please, accept the offer; I should like it of all things; and even
+if I do get ever so skinny on frogs and thin soup, I can get fat
+on roast beef again when I get back."
+
+"That is all nonsense, Harry, about frogs and starving. The French
+style of cookery differs from ours, but they eat just as much, and
+although they may not, as a rule, be as broad and heavy as Englishmen,
+that is simply a characteristic of race; the Latin peoples are of
+slighter build than the Teutonic. As to their food, you know that
+the Romans, who were certainly judges of good living, considered
+the snail a great luxury, and I dare say ate frogs too. A gentleman
+who had made the grand tour told me that he had tasted them in Paris
+and found them very delicate eating. You may not like the living
+quite at first, but you will soon get over that, and once accustomed
+to it you will like it quite as well as our solid joints. My
+principal objection to your going lies quite in another direction.
+Public opinion in France is much disturbed. In the National Assembly,
+which is the same as our Parliament, there is a great spirit
+of resistance to the royal authority, something like a revolution
+has already been accomplished, and the king is little more than a
+prisoner."
+
+"But that would surely make no difference to me, sir!"
+
+"No, I don't see that it should, Harry. Still, it would cause your
+mother a good deal of anxiety."
+
+"I don't see it could make any difference," Harry repeated; "and
+you see, sir, when I go into the army and there is war, mother
+would be a great deal more anxious."
+
+"You mean, Harry," the doctor said with a smile, "that whether her
+anxiety begins a little sooner or later does not make much difference."
+
+"I don't think I quite meant that, sir," Harry said; "but yes,"
+he added frankly, after a moment's thought, "I suppose I did; but
+I really don't see that supposing there were any troubles in France
+it could possibly make any difference to me; even if there were a
+civil war, such as we had in England, they would not interfere with
+boys."
+
+"No, I don't see that it would make any difference, and the chance
+is so remote that it need not influence our decision. Of course if
+war broke out between the two countries the marquis would see that
+you were sent back safely. Well, then, Harry, I am to consider that
+your decision is in favour of your accepting this appointment."
+
+"If you please, sir. I am sure it will be a capital thing for me,
+and I have no doubt it will be great fun. Of course at first it
+will be strange to hear them all jabbering in French, but I suppose
+I shall soon pick it up."
+
+And so Mrs. Sandwith was informed by her husband that after talking
+it over with Harry he had concluded that the proposed arrangement
+would really be an excellent one, and that it would be a great pity
+to let such an opportunity slip.
+
+The good lady was for a time tearful in her forebodings that Harry
+would be starved, for in those days it was a matter of national
+opinion that our neighbours across the Channel fed on the most meagre
+of diet; but she was not in the habit of disputing her husband's
+will, and when the letter of acceptance had been sent off, she
+busied herself in preparing Harry's clothes for his long absence.
+
+"He ought to be measured for several suits, my dear," she said to
+her husband, "made bigger and bigger to allow for his growing."
+
+"Nonsense, my dear! You do not suppose that clothes cannot be
+purchased in France! Give him plenty of under-linen, but the fewer
+jackets and trousers he takes over the better; it will be much
+better for him to get clothes out there of the same fashion as
+other people; the boy will not want to be stared at wherever he
+goes. The best rule is always to dress like people around you. I
+shall give him money, and directly he gets there he can get a suit
+or two made by the tailor who makes for the lads he is going to be
+with. The English are no more loved in France than the French are
+here, and though Harry has no reason to be ashamed of his nationality
+there is no occasion for him to draw the attention of everyone
+he meets to it by going about in a dress which would seem to them
+peculiar."
+
+In due time a letter was received from Count Auguste de St.  Caux,
+stating that the marquis had requested him to write and say that
+he was much gratified to hear that one of the doctor's own sons
+was coming over to be a companion and friend to his boys, and that
+he was sending off in the course of two days a gentleman of his
+household to Calais to meet him and  conduct him to Paris. On young
+Mr. Sandwith's arrival at Calais he was to go at once to the Hotel
+Lion door and ask for M. du Tillet.
+
+During the intervening time Harry had been very busy, he had to
+say good-bye to all his friends, who looked, some with envy, some
+with pity, upon him, for the idea of a three years' residence in
+France was a novel one to all. He was petted and made much of at
+home, especially by his sisters, who regarded him in the light of
+a hero about to undertake a strange and hazardous adventure.
+
+Three days after the arrival of the letter of the marquis, Dr.
+Sandwith and Harry started by stage for Dover, and the doctor put
+his son on board the packet sailing for Calais. The evening before,
+he gave him much good advice as to his behaviour.
+
+"You will see much that is new, and perhaps a good deal that you
+don't like, Harry, but it is better for you never to criticize or
+give a hostile opinion about things; you would not like it if a
+French boy came over here and made unpleasant remarks about English
+ways and manners. Take things as they come and do as others do;
+avoid all comparisons between French and English customs; fall in
+with the ways of those around you; and adopt as far as you can the
+polite and courteous manner which is general among the French, and
+in which, I must say, they are far ahead of us. If questioned, you
+will, of course, give your opinion frankly and modestly; it is the
+independence of thought among English boys which has attracted the
+attention and approval of Auguste de St. Caux.
+
+"Be natural and simple, giving yourself no airs, and permitting
+none on the part of the lads you are with; their father says you
+are to be treated as their equal. But, upon the other hand, do not
+be ever on the lookout for small slights, and bear with perfect
+good temper any little ridicule your, to them foreign, ways and
+manners may excite.  I need not tell you to be always straightforward,
+honest, and true, for of those qualities I think you possess a fair
+share. Above all things restrain any tendency to use your fists;
+fighting comes naturally to English boys, but in France it is
+considered as brutal and degrading--a blow is a deadly insult,
+and would  never be forgiven.
+
+"So, whatever the provocation, abstain from striking anyone.  Should
+you find that in any way your position is made intolerable, you
+will of course appeal to the marquis, and unless you obtain redress
+you will come home--you will find  no difficulty in travelling
+when you once understand the language--but avoid anything like
+petty complaints. I trust there will be no reason for complaints at
+all, and that you will find your position an exceedingly pleasant
+one as soon as you become accustomed to it; but should occasion
+arise bear my words in mind."
+
+Harry promised to follow his father's advice implicitly, but in
+his own mind he wondered what fellows did when they quarrelled if
+they were not allowed to fight; however, he supposed that he should,
+under the circumstances, do the same as French boys, whatever that
+might be.
+
+As soon as the packet was once fairly beyond the harbour Harry's
+thoughts were effectually diverted from all other matters by the
+motion of the sailing boat, and he was soon in a state of prostration,
+in which he remained until, seven hours later, the packet entered
+Calais harbour.
+
+Dr. Sandwith had requested the captain to allow one of his men
+to show Harry the way to the Lion door. Harry had pulled himself
+together a little as the vessel entered the still water in the
+harbour, and was staring at the men in their blue blouses and wooden
+shoes, at the women in their quaint and picturesque attire, when
+a sailor touched him on the shoulder:
+
+"Now, young sir, the captain tells me I am to show you the way to
+your hotel. Which is your box?"
+
+Harry pointed out his trunk; the sailor threw it on his shoulder,
+and Harry, with a feeling of bewilderment, followed him along the
+gangway to the shore. Here he was accosted by an officer.
+
+"What does he say?" he asked the sailor.
+
+"He asks for your passport."
+
+Harry fumbled in his breast pocket for the document which his father
+had obtained for him from the foreign office, duly viseed by the
+French ambassador, notifying  that Henry Sandwith, age sixteen,
+height five feet eight, hair brown, eyes gray, nose short, mouth
+large, was about to reside in France in the family of the Marquis
+de St.  Caux. The officer glanced it over, and then returned it to
+Harry with a polite bow, which Harry in some confusion endeavoured
+to imitate.
+
+"What does the fellow want to bow and scrape like that for?" he
+muttered to himself as he followed his guide. "An Englishman would
+just have nodded and said 'All right!' What can a fellow want more,
+I should like to know? Well I suppose I shall get accustomed to
+it, and shall take to bowing and scraping as a matter of course."
+
+The Lion door was close at hand. In reply to the sailor's question
+the landlord said that M. du Tillet was within. The sailor put
+down the trunk, pocketed the coin Harry gave him, and with a "Good
+luck, young master!" went out, taking with him, as Harry felt,
+the last link to England. He turned and followed the landlord. The
+latter mounted a flight of stairs, knocked at a door, and opened
+it.
+
+"A young gentleman desires to see M. du Tillet," he said, and Harry
+entered.
+
+A tall, big man, whose proportions at once disappointed Harry's
+preconceived notions as to the smallness and leanness of Frenchmen,
+rose from the table at which he was writing.
+
+"Monsieur--Sandwith?" he said interrogatively. "I am glad to see
+you."
+
+Harry did not understand the latter portion of the remark, but he
+caught the sound of his name.
+
+"That's all right," he said nodding. "How do you do, M. du Tillet?"
+
+The French gentleman bowed; Harry bowed; and then they looked
+at each other. There was nothing more to say. A smile stole over
+Harry's face, and broke into a frank laugh. The Frenchman smiled,
+put his hand on Harry's shoulder, and said:
+
+"Brave garcon!" and Harry felt they were friends.
+
+M. du Tillet's face bore an expression of easy good temper. He wore
+a wig with long curls; he had a soldier's bearing, and a scar on
+his left cheek; his complexion was dark and red, his eyebrows black
+and bushy. After a pause he said:
+
+"Are you hungry?" and then put imaginary food to his mouth.
+
+"You mean will I eat anything?" Harry translated. "Yes, that I
+will if there's anything fit to eat. I begin to feel as hungry as
+a hunter, and no wonder, for I am as hollow as a drum!"
+
+His nod was a sufficient answer. M. du Tillet took his hat, opened
+the door, and bowed for Harry to precede him.
+
+Harry hesitated, but believing it would be the polite way to do as
+he was told, returned the bow and went out. The Frenchman put his
+hand on his shoulder, and they went down stairs together and took
+their seats in the salon, where his companion gave an order, and
+in two or three minutes a bowl of broth was placed before each of
+them.
+
+It fully answered Harry's ideas as to the thinness of French soup,
+for it looked like dirty water with a few pieces of bread and some
+scraps of vegetables floating in it. He was astonished at the piece
+of bread, nearly a yard long, placed on the table. M. du Tillet
+cut a piece off and handed it to him. He broke a portion of it into
+his broth, and found, when he tasted it, that it was much nicer
+than it looked.
+
+"It's not so bad after all," he thought to himself.  "Anyhow bread
+seems plentiful, so there's no fear of my starving."  He followed
+his companion's example and made his way steadily through a number
+of dishes all new and strange to him; neither his sight nor his taste
+gave him the slightest indication as to what meat he was eating.
+
+"I suppose it's all right," he concluded; "but what people can want
+to make such messes of their food for I can't make out. A slice of
+good roast beef is worth the lot of it; but really it isn't nasty;
+some of the dishes are not bad at all if one only knew what they
+were made of." M. du Tillet offered him some wine, which he tasted
+but shook his head, for it seemed rough and sour; but he poured
+himself out some water. Presently a happy idea seized him; he
+touched the bread and said interrogatively, "Bread?" M. du Tillet
+at once replied "Pain," which Harry repeated after him.
+
+The ice thus broken, conversation began, and Harry soon learned the
+French for knife, fork, spoon, plate, and various other articles,
+and felt that he was fairly on the way towards talking French.
+After the meal was over M. du Tillet rose and put on his hat, and
+signed to Harry to accompany him. They strolled through the town,
+went down to the quays and looked at the fishing-boats; Harry was
+feeling more at home now, and asked the French name for everything
+he saw, repeating the word over and over again to himself until he
+felt sure that he should remember it, and then asking the name of
+some fresh object.
+
+The next morning they started in the post-waggon for Paris, and
+arrived there after thirty-six hours' travel. Harry was struck
+with the roads, which were far better tended and kept than those in
+England. The extreme flatness of the country surprised him, and,
+except in the quaintness of the villages and the variety of the
+church towers, he saw little to admire during the journey.
+
+"If it is all like this," he thought to himself, "I don't see that
+they have any reason for calling it La belle France."
+
+Of Paris he saw little. A blue-bloused porter carried his trunk what
+seemed to Harry a long distance from the place where the conveyance
+stopped. The streets here were quiet and almost deserted after the
+busy thoroughfares of the central city. The houses stood, for the
+most part, back from the street, with high walls and heavy gates.
+
+"Here we are at last," his guide said, as he halted before a large
+and massive gateway, surmounted by a coat of arms with supporters
+carved in stone work. He rang at the bell, which was opened by a
+porter in livery, who bowed profoundly upon seeing M. du Tillet.
+Passing through the doorway, Harry found himself in a spacious
+hall, decorated with armour and arms. As he crossed the threshold
+M. du Tillet took his hand and shook it heartily, saying, "Welcome!"
+Harry understood the action, though not the words, and nodded,
+saying:
+
+"I think I shall get on capitally if they are all as jolly as you
+are."
+
+Then they both laughed, and Harry looked round wondering what was
+coming next.
+
+"The marquis and his family are all away at their chateau near
+Dijon," his companion said, waving his hand. "We shall stay a day
+or two to rest ourselves after our journey, and then start to join
+them."
+
+He led Harry into a great salon magnificently furnished, pointed
+to the chairs and looking-glasses and other articles of furniture,
+all swathed up in coverings; and the lad understood at once that
+the family were away. This was a relief to him; he was getting on
+capitally with M. du Tillet, but shrank from the prospect of meeting
+so many strange faces.
+
+A meal was speedily served in a small and comfortably-furnished
+apartment; and Harry concluded that although he might not be able
+to decide on the nature of his food, it was really nice, and that
+there was no fear whatever of his falling  away in flesh. M. du
+Tillet pressed him to try the wine again, and this he found to be
+a vast improvement upon the vintage he had tasted at Calais.
+
+After breakfast next morning they started for a walk, and Harry
+was delighted with the Louvre, the Tuileries, the Palais Royal, and
+other public buildings, which he could not but acknowledge were
+vastly superior to anything he had seen in London. Then he was
+taken to a tailor's, the marquis having commissioned his guide to
+carry out Dr. Sandwith's request in this matter. M. du Tillet looked
+interrogatively at Harry as he entered the shop, as if to ask if
+he understood why he was taken there.
+
+Harry nodded, for indeed he was glad to see that no time was
+to be lost, for he was already conscious that his dress differed
+considerably from that of French boys. Several street gamins had
+pointed at him and made jeering remarks, which, without understanding
+the words, Harry felt to be insulting, and would, had he heard them
+in the purlieus of Westminster, have considered as a challenge to
+battle. He had not, however, suffered altogether unavenged, for
+upon one occasion M. du Tillet turned sharply round and caught one
+offender so smartly with his cane that he ran howling away.
+
+"They are awful guys!" Harry thought as he looked at the French boys
+he met. "But it's better to be a guy than to be chaffed by every
+boy one meets, especially if one is not to be allowed to fight."
+It was, therefore, with a feeling of satisfaction that he turned
+into the tailor's shop. The proprietor came up bowing, as Harry
+thought, in a most cringing sort of way to his companion. M. du
+Tillet gave some orders, and the tailor unrolled a variety of pieces
+of cloth and other materials for Harry's inspection.
+
+The lad shook his head and turned to his guide, and, pointing to
+the goods, asked him to choose the things which were most suitable
+for him; M. du Tillet understood the appeal and ordered four suits.
+Two of these were for ordinary wear; another was, Harry concluded,
+for the evening; and the fourth for ceremonial occasions.
+
+The coats were cut long, but very open in front, and were far too
+scanty to button; the waistcoats were long and embroidered; a white
+and ample handkerchief went round the throat and was tied loosely,
+with long ends edged with lace falling in front; knee-breeches,
+with white stockings, and shoes with buckles, completed the costume.
+
+Harry looked on with a smile of amusement, and burst into a hearty
+laugh when the garments were fixed upon, for the idea of himself
+dressed out in these seemed to him ludicrous in the extreme.
+
+"How they would laugh at home," he thought to himself, "if they
+could see me in these things! The girls would give me no peace.
+And wouldn't there be an uproar if I were to turn up in them in
+Dean's Yard and march up school!"
+
+Harry was then measured. When this was done he took out his purse,
+which contained fifty guineas; for his father had thought it probable
+that the clothes he would require would cost more than they would
+in London, and he wished him to have a good store of pocket-money
+until he received the first instalment of his pay. M.  du Tillet,
+however, shook his head and motioned to him to put up his purse;
+and Harry supposed that it was not customary to pay for things in
+France until they were delivered. Then his companion took him into
+another shop, and pointing to his own ruffles intimated that Harry
+would require some linen of this kind to be worn when in full dress.
+Harry signified that his friend should order what was necessary;
+and half a dozen shirts, with deep ruffles at the wrist and breast,
+were ordered. This brought their shopping to an end.
+
+They remained three days in Paris, at the end of which time Harry's
+clothes were delivered. The following morning a carriage with the
+arms of the marquis emblazoned upon it came up to the door, and
+they started. The horses were fat and lazy; and Harry, who had no
+idea how far they were going, thought that the journey was likely
+to be a long one if this was the pace at which they were to travel.
+
+Twelve miles out they changed horses at a post-station, their own
+returning to Paris, and after this had relays at each station, and
+travelled at a pace which seemed to Harry to be extraordinarily
+rapid.  They slept twice upon the road.
+
+The third day the appearance of the country altogether changed, and,
+instead of the flat plains which Harry had begun to think extended
+all over France, they were now among hills higher than anything he
+had ever seen before. Towards the afternoon they crossed the range
+and began to descend, and as evening approached M. du Tillet pointed
+to a building standing on rising ground some miles away and said:
+
+"That is the chateau."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A Mad Dog
+
+
+It was dark before the carriage drove up to the chateau. Their
+approach had been seen, for two lackeys appeared with torches at
+the head of the broad steps. M. du Tillet put his hand encouragingly
+on Harry's shoulder and led him up the steps. A servant preceded
+them across a great hall, when a door opened and a gentleman came
+forward.
+
+"Monsieur le Marquis," M. du Tillet said, bowing, "this is the
+young gentleman you charged me to bring to you.
+
+"I am glad to see you," the marquis said; "and I hope you will make
+yourself happy and comfortable here."
+
+Harry did not understand the words, but he felt the tone of kindness
+and courtesy with which they were spoken. He could, however, only
+bow; for although in the eight days he had spent with M. du Tillet
+he had picked up a great many nouns and a few phrases, his stock
+of words was of no use to him at present.
+
+"And you, M. du Tillet," the marquis said. "You have made a good
+journey, I hope? I thank you much for the trouble you have taken.
+I like the boy's looks; what do you think of him?"
+
+"I like him very much," M. du Tillet said; "he is a new type to
+me, and a pleasant one. I think he will make a good companion for
+the young count."
+
+The marquis now turned and led the way into a great drawing-room,
+and taking Harry's hand led him up to  a lady seated on a couch.
+
+"This is our young English friend, Julie. Of course he is strange
+at present, but M. du Tillet reports well of him, and I already
+like his face."
+
+The lady held out her hand, which Harry, instead of bending over
+and kissing, as she had expected, shook heartily. For an instant
+only a look of intense surprise passed across her face; then she
+said courteously:
+
+"We are glad to see you. It is very good of you to come so far to
+us. I trust that you will be happy here."
+
+"These are my sons Ernest and Jules, who will, I am sure, do all
+in their power to make you comfortable," the marquis said.
+
+The last words were spoken sharply and significantly, and their
+tone was not lost upon the two boys; they had a moment before been
+struggling to prevent themselves bursting into a laugh at Harry's
+reception of their mother's greeting, but they now instantly composed
+their faces and advanced.
+
+"Shake hands with him," the marquis said sharply; "it is the custom
+of his country."
+
+Each in turn held out his hand to Harry, who, as he shook hands
+with them, took a mental stock of his future companions.
+
+"Good looking," he said to himself, "but more like girls than boys.
+A year in the fifth form would do them a world of good. I could
+polish the two off together with one hand."
+
+"My daughters," the marquis said, "Mesdemoiselles Marie, Jeanne,
+and Virginie."
+
+Three young ladies had risen from their seats as their father
+entered, each made a deep curtsy as her name was mentioned, and
+Harry bowed deeply in return. Mademoiselle Marie was two years at
+least older than himself, and was already a young lady of fashion.
+Jeanne struck him as being about the same age as his sister Fanny,
+who was between fourteen and fifteen. Virginie was a child of ten.
+Ernest was about his own age, while Jules came between the two
+younger girls.
+
+"Take M. Sandwith to the abbe," the marquis said to Ernest, "and do
+all in your power to set him at his ease. Remember what you would
+feel if you were placed, as he is, among strange people in a strange
+country."
+
+The lad motioned to Harry to accompany him, and the three boys left
+the room together.
+
+"You can go to your gouvernante," the marquise said to the two
+younger girls; and with a profound curtsy to her and another to the
+marquis, they left the room. Unrestrained now by their presence,
+the marquise turned to her husband with a merry laugh.
+
+"But it is a bear you have brought home, Edouard, a veritable
+bear--my fingers ache still--and he is to teach manners to my sons!
+I always protested against the plan, but I did not think it would
+be as bad as this. These islanders are savages."
+
+The marquis smiled.
+
+"He is a little gauche, but that will soon rub off. I like him,
+Julie. Remember it was a difficult position for a boy. We did not
+have him here to give polish to our sons. It may be that they have
+even a little too much of this at present. The English are not
+polished, everyone knows that, but they are manly and independent.
+That boy bore himself well. He probably had never been in a room
+like this in his life, he was ignorant of our language, alone among
+strangers, but he was calm and self-possessed. I like the honest
+straightforward look in his face. And look at the width of the
+shoulders and the strength of his arms; why, he would break Ernest
+across his knee, and the two boys must be about the same age."
+
+"Oh, he has brute strength, I grant," the marquise said; "so have
+the sons of our peasants; however, I do not want to find fault with
+him, it is your hobby, or rather that of Auguste, who is, I think,
+mad about these English; I will say nothing to prevent its having
+a fair trial, only I hope it will not be necessary for me to give
+him my hand again."
+
+"I do not suppose it will until he leaves, Julie, and by that time,
+no doubt, he will know what to do with it; but here is M. du Tillet
+waiting all this time for you to speak to him."
+
+"Pardon me, my good M. du Tillet," the marquise said. "In truth
+that squeeze of my hand has driven all other matters from my mind.
+How have you fared? This long journey with this English bear must
+have been very tedious for you."
+
+"Indeed, Madame la Marquise," M. du Tillet replied, "it has been no
+hardship, the boy has amused me greatly; nay, more, he has pleased
+me. We have been able to say little to each other, though, indeed,
+he is quick and eager to learn, and will soon speak our language;
+but his face has been a study. When he is pleased you can see that
+he is pleased, and that is a  pleasure, for few people are pleased
+in our days. Again, when he does not like a thing you can also
+see it.  I can see that he says to himself, I can expect nothing
+better, these poor people are only French. When the gamins in Paris
+jeered him as to his dress, he closed his hands and would have flown
+at them with his fists after the manner of his countrymen had he
+not put strong restraint on himself. From the look of his honest
+eyes I shall, when he can speak our language, believe implicitly
+what he says.  That boy would not tell a lie whatever were the
+consequences.  Altogether I like him much. I think that in a very
+little while he will adapt himself to what goes on around him, and
+that you will have no reason ere long to complain of his gaucheries."
+
+"And you really think, M. du Tillet, that he will be a useful
+companion for my boys?"
+
+"If you will pardon me for saying so, madam, I think that he will--at
+any rate I am sure he can be trusted to teach them no wrong."
+
+"You are all against me," the marquise laughed. "And you, Marie?"
+
+"I did not think of him one way or the other," the girl said coldly.
+"He is very awkward; but as he is not to be my companion that does
+not concern me. It is like one of papa's dogs, one more or less
+makes no difference in the house so long as they do not tread upon
+one's skirt."
+
+"That is the true spirit of the French nobility, Marie," her father
+said sarcastically. "Outside our own circle the whole human race is
+nothing to us; they are animals who supply our wants, voila tour.
+I tell you, my dear, that the time is coming when this will not
+suffice.  The nation is stirring; that France which we have so long
+ignored is lifting its head and muttering; the news from Paris is
+more and more grave. The Assembly has assumed the supreme authority,
+and the king is a puppet in its power. The air is dark as with a
+thunder-cloud, and there may be such a storm sweep over France as
+there has not been since the days of the Jacquerie."
+
+"But the people should be contented," M. du Tillet said; "they have
+had all the privileges they ever possessed given back to them."
+
+"Yes," the marquis assented, "and there lies the danger. It is one
+thing or the other. If as soon as the temper of the third estate
+had been seen the king's guards had entered and cleared the place
+and closed the door, as Cromwell did  when the parliament was
+troublesome to him in England, that would have been one way. Paris
+would have been troublesome, we might have had again the days of
+the Fronde, but in the end the king's party would have won.
+
+"However, that was not the way tried. They began by concessions,
+they go on with concessions, and each concession is made the ground
+for more. It is like sliding down a hill; when you have once begun
+you cannot stop yourself, and you go on until there is a crash;
+then it may be you pick yourself up sorely wounded and bruised,
+and begin to reclimb the hill slowly and painfully; it may be that
+you are dashed to pieces. I am not a politician. I do not care much
+for the life of Paris, and am well content to live quietly here on
+our estates; but even I can see that a storm is gathering; and as
+for my brother Auguste, he goes about shaking his head and wringing
+his hands, his anticipations are of the darkest. What can one
+expect when fellows like Voltaire and Rousseau were permitted by
+their poisonous preaching to corrupt and inflame the imagination
+of the people? Both those men's heads should have been cut off the
+instant they began to write.
+
+"The scribblers are at the root of all the trouble with their
+pestilent doctrines; but it is too late now, the mischief is done.
+If we had a king strong and determined all might yet be well; but
+Louis is weak in decision, he listens one moment to Mirabeau and the
+next to the queen, who is more firm and courageous. And so things
+drift on from bad to worse, and the Assembly, backed by the turbulent
+scum of Paris, are masters of the situation."
+
+For some time Harry lived a quiet life at the chateau. He found
+his position a very pleasant one. The orders of the marquis that
+he should be treated as one of the family were obeyed, and there
+was no distinction made between himself and Ernest. In the morning
+the two boys and himself worked with the abbe, a quiet and gentle
+old man; in the afternoon they rode and fenced, under the instructions
+of M. du Tillet or one or other of the gentlemen of the marquis
+establishment; and on holidays shot or fished as they chose on
+the preserves or streams of the estate. For an hour each morning
+the two younger girls shared in their studies, learning Latin and
+history with their brothers. Harry got on very well with Ernest,
+but there was no real cordiality between them. The  hauteur and
+insolence with which the young count treated his inferiors were a
+constant source of exasperation to Harry.
+
+"He thinks himself a little god," he would often mutter to himself.
+"I would give a good deal to have him for three months at Westminster.
+Wouldn't he get his conceit and nonsense knocked out of him!"
+
+At the same time he was always scrupulously polite and courteous to
+his English companion--much too polite, indeed, to please Harry.
+He had good qualities too: he was generous with his money, and
+if during their rides a woman came up with a tale of distress he
+was always ready to assist her. He was clever, and Harry, to his
+surprise, found that his knowledge of Latin was far beyond his own,
+and that Ernest could construct passages with the greatest ease
+which altogether puzzled him. He was a splendid rider, and could
+keep his seat with ease and grace on the most fiery animals in his
+father's stables.
+
+When they went out with their guns Harry felt his inferiority
+keenly.  Not only was Ernest an excellent shot, but at the end of
+a long day's sport he would come in apparently fresh and untired,
+while Harry, although bodily far the most powerful, would be
+completely done up; and at gymnastic exercises he could do with
+ease feats which Harry could at first not even attempt. In this
+respect, however, the English lad in three months' time was able
+to rival him. His disgust at finding himself so easily beaten by a
+French boy nerved him to the greatest exertions, and his muscles,
+practised in all sorts of games, soon adapted themselves to the
+new exercises.
+
+Harry picked up French very rapidly. The absolute necessity there was
+to express himself in that language caused him to make a progress
+which surprised himself, and at the end of three months he was able
+to converse with little difficulty, and having learned it entirely
+by ear he spoke with a fair accent and pronunciation. M. du Tillet,
+who was the principal instructor of the boys in their outdoor
+exercises, took much pains to assist him in his French, and helped
+him on in every way in his power.
+
+In the evening there were dancing lessons, and although very far
+from exhibiting the stately grace with which Ernest could perform
+the minuet or other courtly dances  then in fashion, Harry came
+in time to perform his part fairly. Two hours were spent in the
+evening in the salon. This part of the day Harry at first found the
+most tedious; but as soon as he began to speak fluently the marquis
+addressed most of his conversation to him, asking him questions
+about the life of English boys at school and about English manners
+and customs, and Harry soon found himself chatting at his ease.
+
+"The distinction of classes is clearly very much less with you in
+England than it is here," the marquis said one day when Harry had
+been describing a great fight which had taken place between a party
+of Westminster boys and those of the neighbourhood. "It seems
+extraordinary to me that sons of gentlemen should engage in a
+personal fight with boys of the lowest class. Such a thing could
+not happen here. If you were insulted by such a boy, what would
+you do, Ernest?"
+
+"I should run him through the body," Ernest said quietly.
+
+"Just so," his father replied, "and I don't say you would be wrong
+according to our notions; but I do not say that the English plan is
+not the best. The English gentleman--for  Monsieur Sandwith says
+that even among grown-up people the same habits prevail--does not
+disdain to show the canaille that even with their own rough weapons
+he is their superior, and he thus holds their respect. It is a
+coarse way and altogether at variance with our notions, but there
+is much to be said for it."
+
+"But it altogether does away with the reverence that the lower
+class should feel for the upper," Ernest objected.
+
+"That is true, Ernest. So long as that feeling generally exists, so
+long as there is, as it were, a wide chasm between the two classes,
+as there has always existed in France, it would be unwise perhaps
+for one of the upper to admit that in any respect there could be
+any equality between them; but this is not so in England, where a
+certain equality has always been allowed to exist. The Englishman
+of all ranks has a certain feeling of self-respect and independence,
+and the result is shown in the history of the wars which have been
+fought between the two nations.
+
+"France in early days always relied upon her chivalry. The horde of
+footmen she placed in the field counted for little. England, upon
+the other hand, relied principally upon her archers and her pikemen,
+and it must be admitted that they beat us handsomely. Then again in
+the wars in Flanders, under the English general Marlborough their
+infantry always proved themselves  superior to ours. It is galling
+to admit it, but there is no blinking the facts of history. It seems
+to me that the feeling of independence and self-respect which this
+English system gives rise to, even among the lowest class, must
+render them man for man better soldiers than those drawn from a
+peasantry whose very lives are at the mercy of their lords."
+
+"I think, du Tillet," the marquis said later on on the same evening,
+when the young people had retired, "I have done very well in taking
+my brother Auguste's advice as to having an English companion
+for Ernest. If things were as they were under the Grand Monarque,
+I do not say that it would have been wise to allow a young French
+nobleman to get these English ideas into his head, but it is
+different now.
+
+"We are on the eve of great changes. What will come of it no one
+can say; but there will certainly be changes, and it is a good thing
+that my children should get broader ideas than those in which we
+were brought up. This lad is quiet and modest, but he ventures to
+think for himself. It scarce entered the head of a French nobleman
+a generation back that the mass of the people had any feelings or
+wishes, much less rights. They were useful in their way, just as
+the animals are, but needed no more consideration. They have never
+counted for anything.
+
+"In England the people have rights and liberties; they won them
+years ago. It would be well for us in the present day had they
+done so in France. I fancy the next generation will have to adapt
+themselves to changed circumstances, and the ideas that Ernest and
+Jules will learn from this English lad will be a great advantage
+to them, and will fit them for the new state of things."
+
+It was only during lessons, when their gouvernante was always
+present, at meal times, and in the salon in the evening, that
+Harry had any communication with the young ladies of the family. If
+they met in the grounds they were saluted by the boys with as much
+formal courtesy as if they had been the most distant acquaintances,
+returning the bows with deep curtsies.
+
+These meetings were a source of great amusement to Harry, who could
+scarcely preserve his gravity at these formal and distant greetings.
+On one occasion, however, the even course of these meetings was
+broken. The boys had just left  the tennis-court where they had
+been playing, and had laid aside the swords which they carried when
+walking or riding.
+
+The tennis-court was at some little distance from the house, and
+they were walking across the garden when they heard a scream.  At
+a short distance was the governess with her two young charges.  She
+had thrown her arms round them, and stood the picture of terror,
+uttering loud screams.
+
+Looking round in astonishment to discover the cause of her terror,
+Harry saw a large wolf-hound running towards them at a trot.  Its
+tongue was hanging out, and there was a white foam on its jaws.  He
+had heard M. du Tillet tell the marquis on the previous day that
+this dog, which was a great favourite, seemed strange and unquiet,
+and he had ordered it to be chained up. It had evidently broken
+its fastening, for it was dragging a piece of chain some six feet
+long behind it.
+
+
+It flashed across him at once that the animal was mad, but without
+an instant's hesitation he dashed off at full speed and threw himself
+in front of the ladies before the dog reached them. Snatching off
+his coat, and then kneeling on one knee, he awaited the animal's
+attack. Without deviating from its course the hound sprang at him
+with a short snarling howl. Harry threw his coat over its head and
+then grasped it round the neck.
+
+The impetus of the spring knocked him over, and they rolled together
+on the ground. The animal struggled furiously, but Harry retained
+his grasp round its neck. In vain the hound tried to free itself
+from its blinding encumbrance, or to bite his assailant through
+it, and struggled to shake off his hold with its legs and claws.
+Harry maintained his grasp tightly round its neck, with his head
+pressed closely against one of its ears. Several times they rolled
+over and over.  At last Harry made a great effort when he was
+uppermost, and managed to get his knees upon the animal's belly, and
+then, digging his toes in the ground, pressed with all his weight
+upon it.
+
+There was a sound as of cracking of bones, then the dog's struggles
+suddenly ceased, and his head fell over, and Harry rose to his
+feet by the side of the dead hound just as a number of men, with
+pitch-forks and other weapons, ran up to the spot from the stables,
+while the marquis, sword in hand, arrived from the house.
+
+The gouvernante, too, paralysed by fear, had stood close by with
+her charges while the struggle was going on. Ernest had come up, and
+was standing in front of his sisters, ready to be the next victim
+if the dog had overpowered Harry. Less accustomed to running than
+the English boy, and for a moment rooted to the ground with horror
+at his sisters' danger, he had not arrived at the spot until the
+struggle between Harry and the dog was half over, and had then seen
+no way of rendering assistance; but believing that the dog was sure
+to be the conqueror, he had placed himself before his sisters to
+bear the brunt of the next assault.
+
+Seeing at a glance that his daughters were untouched, the marquis
+ran on to Harry, who was standing panting and breathless, and threw
+his arms round him.
+
+"My brave boy," he exclaimed, "you have saved my daughters from a
+dreadful death by your courage and devotion. How can I and their
+mother ever thank you? I saw it all from the terrace--the speed
+with which you sprang to their assistance--the quickness of thought
+with which you stripped off your coat and threw it over its head.
+After that I could see nothing except your rolling over and over
+in a confused mass. You are not hurt, I trust?"
+
+"Not a bit, sir," Harry said.
+
+"And you have killed it--wonderful!"
+
+"There was nothing in that, sir. I have heard my father, who is a
+doctor, say that a man could kill the biggest dog if he could get
+it down on its back and kneel on it. So when I once managed to get
+my knees on it I felt it was all right."
+
+"Ah, it is all very well for you to speak as if it were nothing!"
+the marquis said. "There are few men, indeed, who would throw
+themselves in the way of a mad dog, especially of such a formidable
+brute as that. You too have behaved with courage, my son, and I
+saw you were ready to give your life for your sisters; but you had
+not the quickness and readiness of your friend, and would have been
+too late."
+
+"It is true, father," Ernest said in a tone of humility. "I should
+have been too late, and, moreover, I should have been useless, for
+he would have torn me down in a moment, and then fallen upon my
+sisters.  M. Sandwith," he said frankly, "I own I have been wrong.
+I have thought the games of which you spoke, and your fighting, rough
+and barbarous; but I see their use now. You have put me to shame.
+When I saw that dog I felt powerless, for I had not my sword with
+me; but you--you rushed to the fight without a moment's hesitation,
+trusting in your strength and your head. Yes, your customs have
+made a man of you, while I am a boy still."
+
+"You are very good to say so," Harry said; "but I am quite sure that
+you would be just as quick and ready as me in most circumstances,
+and if it had been a matter of swords, very much more useful; but I
+am glad you see there is some advantage in our rough English ways."
+
+The marquis had put his hand approvingly upon Ernest's shoulder
+when he addressed Harry, and then turned to his daughters.  The
+governess had sunk fainting to the ground when she saw that the
+danger was over. Virginie had thrown herself down and was crying
+loudly; while Jeanne stood pale, but quiet, beside them.
+
+The marquis directed one of the men to run up to the chateau and
+bid a female servant bring down water and smelling-salts for the
+governess, and then lifted Virginie up and tried to soothe her,
+while he stretched out his other hand to Jeanne.
+
+"You are shaken, my Jeanne," he said tenderly, "but you have borne
+the trial well. I did not hear you cry out, though madame, and the
+little one screamed loudly enough."
+
+"I was frightened enough, father," she said simply, "but of course
+I wasn't going to cry out; but it was very terrible; and oh, how
+noble and brave he was! And you know, papa, I feel ashamed to think
+how often I have been nearly laughing because he was awkward in
+the minuet. I feel so little now beside him."
+
+"You see, my dear, one must not judge too much by externals," her
+father said soothingly as she hid her face against his coat, and he
+could feel that she was trembling from head to foot. "Older people
+than you often do so, and are sorry for it afterwards; but as I am
+sure that you would never allow him to see that you were amused no
+harm has been done."
+
+"Shall I thank him, papa?"
+
+"Yes, presently, my dear; he has just gone off with Ernest to see
+them bury the dog."
+
+This incident caused a considerable change in Harry's position in
+the family. Previously he had been accepted in consequence of the
+orders of the marquis. Although compelled to treat him as an equal
+the two boys had in their hearts looked upon him as an inferior,
+while the girls had regarded him as a sort of tutor of their
+brothers, and thus as a creature altogether indifferent to them.
+But henceforth he appeared in a different light. Ernest acted up to
+the spirit of the words he had spoken at the time, and henceforth
+treated him as a comrade to be respected as well as liked. He tried
+to learn some of the English games, but as most of these required
+more than two players he was forced to abandon them. He even asked
+him to teach him to box, but Harry had the good sense to make
+excuses for not doing so.  He felt that Ernest was by no means his
+match in strength, and that, with all his good-will, he would find
+it difficult to put up good-naturedly with being knocked about. He
+therefore said that it could not be done without boxing-gloves, and
+these it would be impossible to obtain in France; and that in the
+next place he should hardly advise him to learn even if he procured
+the gloves, for that in such contests severe bruises often were
+given.
+
+"We think nothing of a black eye," he said laughing, "but I am
+sure madame your mother would not be pleased to see you so marked;
+besides, your people would not understand your motive in undertaking
+so rough an exercise, and you might lose somewhat of their respect.
+Be content, Count Ernest; you are an excellent swordsman, and
+although I am improving under M. du Tillet's tuition I shall never
+be your match. If you like; sometime when we are out and away
+from observation we can take off our coats, and I can give you a
+lesson in wrestling; it is a splendid exercise, and it has not the
+disadvantages of boxing."
+
+Little Jules looked up to Harry as a hero, and henceforth, when
+they were together, gave him the same sort of implicit obedience
+he paid to his elder brother. The ceremonious habits of the age
+prevented anything like familiarity on the part of the younger
+girls; but Jeanne and Virginie now always greeted him with a smile
+when they met, and joined in conversation with him as with their
+brothers in the evening.
+
+The marquise, who had formerly protested, if playfully, against
+her husband's whim in introducing an English boy into their family
+circle, now regarded him with real affection, only refraining from
+constant allusions to the debt she considered she owed him because
+she saw that he really shrank from the subject.
+
+The marquis shortly after this incident went to Paris for a fortnight
+to ascertain from his friends there the exact position of things.
+He returned depressed and angry.
+
+The violence of the Assembly had increased from day to day.  The
+property of all the convents had been confiscated, and this measure
+had been followed by the seizure of the vast estates of the church.
+All the privileges of the nobility had been declared at an end,
+and in August a decree had been passed abolishing all titles of
+nobility. This decree had taken effect in Paris and in the great
+towns, and also in some parts of the country where the passions of
+the people were most aroused against the nobility; but in Burgundy
+it had remained a dead letter. The Marquis de St. Caux was popular
+upon his estates, and no one had ever neglected to concede to
+him and to the marquise their titles. He himself had regarded the
+decree with disdain. "They may take away my estates by force," he
+said, "but no law can deprive me of my title, any more than of the
+name which I inherited from my fathers. Such laws as these are mere
+outbursts of folly."
+
+But the Assembly continued to pass laws of the most sweeping
+description, assuming the sovereign power, and using it as no
+monarch of France had ever ventured to do. Moderate men were shocked
+at the headlong course of events, and numbers of those who at the
+commencement of the movement had thrown themselves heart and soul
+into it now shrank back in dismay at the strange tyranny which was
+called liberty.
+
+"It seems to me that a general madness has seized all Paris," the
+marquis said to his wife on his return, "but at present nothing can
+be done to arrest it. I have seen the king and queen. His majesty is
+resolved to do nothing; that is, to let events take their course,
+and what that will be Heaven only knows. The Assembly has taken
+all power into its hands, the king is already a mere cipher, the
+violence of the leaders of these men is beyond all bounds; the
+queen is by turns hot and cold, at one moment she agrees with her
+husband that the only hope lies in conceding  everything; at another
+she would go to the army, place herself in its hands, and call on
+it to march upon Paris.
+
+"At anyrate there is nothing to be done at present but to wait.
+Already numbers of the deputies, terrified at the aspect of affairs,
+have left France, and I am sorry to say many of the nobles have
+also gone. This is cowardice and treachery to the king. We cannot
+help him if he will not be helped, but it is our duty to remain
+here ready to rally round him when he calls us to his side. I am
+glad that the Assembly has passed a law confiscating the estates
+of all who have emigrated."
+
+Although the marquise was much alarmed at the news brought by her
+husband she did not think of questioning his decision. It did not
+seem to her possible that there could be danger for her and hers
+in their quiet country chateau. There might be disturbance and
+bloodshed, and even revolution, in Paris; but surely a mere echo
+of this would reach them so far away.
+
+"Whenever you think it is right to go up and take your place by
+the king I will go and take mine by the queen," she said quietly.
+"The children will be safe here; but of course we must do our duty."
+
+The winter passed quietly at the chateau; there was none of the
+usual gaiety, for a deep gloom hung over all the noble families
+of the province; still at times great hunting parties were got up
+for the chase of the wolves among the forests, for, when the snow
+was on the ground, these often came down into the villages and
+committed great depredations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+The Demon Wolf
+
+
+Upon the first of these occasions Harry and Ernest were in high
+spirits, for they were to take part in the chase. It was the first
+time that Ernest had done so, for during the previous winter the
+marquis had been in attendance on the court. At an early hour the
+guests invited to take part in the chase began to assemble at the
+chateau.  Many who lived at a distance had come overnight, and
+the great court-yard presented a lively aspect with the horses
+and attendants of the guests. A collation was spread in the great
+hall, and the marquise and her eldest daughter moved about among
+the guests saying a few words of welcome to each.
+
+"Who is that young man who is talking to mademoiselle your sister,
+Ernest?" Harry asked, for since the adventure with the mad dog the
+ceremonious title had been dropped, and the boys addressed each
+other by their Christian names.
+
+"That is Monsieur Lebat; he is the son of the Mayor of Dijon.  I
+have not see him here before, but I suppose my father thinks it is
+well in these times to do the civil thing to the people of Dijon.
+He is a good-looking fellow too, but it is easy to see he is not
+a man of good family."
+
+"I don't like his looks at all," Harry said shortly. "Look what a
+cringing air he puts on as he speaks to madame la marquise. And yet
+I fancy he could be insolent when he likes. He may be good-looking,
+but it is not a style I admire, with his thick lips and his
+half-closed eyes. If I met him at home I should say the fellow was
+something between a butcher and a Jew pedlar."
+
+"Well done, monsieur the aristocrat!" Ernest said laughing.  "This
+is your English equality! Here is a poor fellow who is allowed to
+take a place our of his station, thanks to the circumstances of
+the time, and you run him down mercilessly!"
+
+"I don't run him down because he is not a gentleman," Harry said.
+"I run him down because I don't like his face; and if he were the
+son of a duke instead of the son of a mayor I should dislike it
+just as much. You take my word for it, Ernest, that's a bad fellow."
+
+"Poor Monsieur Lebat!" Ernest laughed. "I daresay he is a very
+decent fellow in his way.
+
+"I am sure he is not, Ernest; he has a cruel bad look. I would not
+have been that fellow's fag at school for any money.
+
+"Well, it's fortunate, Harry, that you are not likely to see much
+of him, else I should expect to see you flying at his neck and
+strangling him as you did the hound."
+
+Harry joined in the laugh.
+
+"I will restrain myself, Ernest; and besides, he would be an awkward
+customer; there's plenty of strength in those shoulders of his, and
+he looks active and sinewy in spite of that indolent air he puts
+on; but there is the horn, it is time for us to mount."
+
+In a few minutes some thirty gentlemen were in the saddle, the
+marquis, who was grand louvetier of the province, blew his horn,
+and the whole cavalcade got into motion, raising their hunting
+caps, as they rode off, to the marquise and her daughters, who were
+standing on the step of the chateau to see them depart. The dogs
+had already been sent forward to the forest, which was some miles
+distant.
+
+On arriving there the marquis found several woodmen, who had been
+for the last two days marking the places most frequented by the
+wolves. They had given their reports and the party were just starting
+when a young forester rode up.
+
+"Monsieur le marquis," he said, "I have good news for you; the demon
+wolf is in the forest. I saw him making his way along a glade an
+hour since as I was on my way thither. I turned back to follow him,
+and tracked him to a ravine in the hills choked with undergrowth."
+
+The news created great excitement.
+
+"The demon wolf!" the marquis repeated. "Are you sure?"
+
+"Quite sure, monsieur. How could I mistake it! I saw him once four
+years ago, and no one who had once done so could mistake any other
+wolf for him."
+
+"We are in luck indeed, gentlemen," the marquis said. "We will see
+if we can't bring this fellow's career to an end at last. I have
+hunted him a score of times myself since my first chase of him,
+well-nigh fifteen years ago, but he has  always given us the slip."
+
+"And will again," an old forester, who was standing close to Harry,
+muttered. "I do not believe the bullet is cast which will bring
+that wolf to earth."
+
+"What is this demon wolf?" Harry asked Ernest.
+
+"It is a wolf of extraordinary size and fierceness. For many years
+he has been the terror of the mothers of this part of France. He
+has been known to go into a village and boldly carry off an infant
+in mid-day. Every child who has been killed by wolves for years is
+always supposed to have been slain by this wolf. Sometimes he is
+seen in one part of the province, and sometimes in another.
+
+"For months he is not heard of. Then there is slaughter among the
+young lambs. A child going to school, or an old woman carrying
+home a faggot from the forest is found torn and partly devoured,
+and the news spreads that the demon wolf has returned to the
+neighbourhood. Great hunts have over and over again been got up
+specially to slay him, but he seems to lead a charmed life. He has
+been shot at over and over again, but he seems to be bullet-proof.
+
+"The peasants regard him not as an ordinary wolf but as a demon,
+and mothers quiet their children when they cry by saying that if
+they are not good the demon wolf will carry them off.  Ah, if we
+could kill him to-day it would be a grand occasion!"
+
+"Is there anything particular about his appearance?"
+
+"Nothing except his size. Some of those who have seen him declare
+that he is as big as three ordinary wolves; but my father, who has
+caught sight of him several times, says that this is an exaggeration,
+though he is by far the largest wolf he ever saw. He is lighter in
+colour than other wolves, but those who saw him years ago say that
+this was not the case then, and that his light colour must be due
+to his great age."
+
+The party now started, under the guidance of the forester, to the
+spot where he had seen the wolf enter the underwood.
+
+It was the head of a narrow valley. The sides which inclosed it
+sloped steeply, but not too much so for the wolf to climb. During
+the last halt the marquis had arranged the plan of action. He
+himself, with three of the most experienced huntsmen, took their
+stations across the valley, which was but seventy or eighty yards
+wide. Eight of the others were to dismount and take post on either
+side of the ravine.
+
+"I am sorry, gentlemen, that I cannot find posts for the rest of
+you, but you may have your share of the work. Over and over again
+this wolf has slipped away when we thought we had him surrounded,
+and what he has done before he may do again. Therefore, let each of
+you take up such a position as he thinks best outside our circle,
+but keeping well behind trees or other shelter, so as to cover
+himself from any random shot that may be fired after the wolf. Do
+you, on your part, fire only when the wolf has passed your line,
+or you may hit some of us."
+
+The two lads were naturally among those left out from the inner
+circle.
+
+"What do you think, Ernest; shall we remain on our horses here in
+the valley or climb the hills?"
+
+"I should say wait here, Harry; in the first place, because it
+is the least trouble, and in the second, because I think he is as
+likely to come this way as any other. At any rate we may as well
+dismount here, and let horses crop that piece of fresh grass until
+we hear the horn that will tell us when the dogs have been turned
+into the thicket to drive him out."
+
+It was half an hour before they heard the distant note of the horn.
+
+"They have begun," Ernest exclaimed; "we had better mount at once.
+If the brute is still there he is just as likely, being such an
+old hand at the sport, to make a bolt at once, instead of waiting
+until the dogs are close to him."
+
+"What are we to do if we see him?" Harry asked.
+
+"We are to shoot him if we can. If we miss him, or he glides past
+before we can get a shot, we must follow shouting, so as to guide
+the rest as to the direction he is taking."
+
+"My chance of hitting him is not great," Harry said. "I am not a
+very good shot even on my feet; but sitting in my saddle I do not
+think it likely I should get anywhere near him."
+
+A quarter of an hour passed. The occasional note of a dog and the
+shouts of the men encouraging them to work their way through the
+dense thicket could be heard, but no sound of a shot met their
+ears.
+
+"Either he is not there at all, or he is lying very close," Ernest
+said.
+
+"Look, look!" Harry said suddenly, pointing through the trees to
+the right.
+
+"That is the wolf, sure enough," Ernest exclaimed. "Come along."
+
+The two lads spurred their horses and rode recklessly through the
+trees towards the great gray beast, who seemed to flit like a shadow
+past them.
+
+"Mind the boughs, Ernest, or you will be swept from your saddle.
+Hurrah! The trees are more open in front."
+
+But although the horses were going at the top of their speed they
+scarcely seemed to gain on the wolf, who, as it seemed to them,
+kept his distance ahead without any great exertion.
+
+"We shall never catch him," Harry exclaimed after they had ridden
+for nearly half an hour, and the laboured panting of the horses
+showed that they could not long maintain the pace.
+
+Suddenly, ten yards ahead of the wolf, a man, armed with
+a hatchet, stepped out from behind a tree directly in its way. He
+was a wood-cutter whose attention being called by the sound of the
+galloping feet of the horses, had left his half-hewn tree and stepped
+out to see who was coming. He gave an exclamation of surprise and
+alarm as he saw the wolf, and raised his hatchet to defend himself.
+Without a moment's hesitation the animal sprang upon him and
+carried him to the ground, fixing its fangs into his throat. There
+was a struggle for a few moments, and then the wolf left its lifeless
+foe and was about to continue its flight.
+
+"Get ready to fire, Harry," Ernest exclaimed as the wolf sprang
+upon the man, "it is our last chance. If he gets away now we shall
+never catch him."
+
+They reined in their horses just as the wolf rose to fly. Harry
+fired first, but the movement of his panting horse deranged his aim
+and the bullet flew wide. More accustomed to firing on horseback,
+Ernest's aim was truer, he struck the wolf on the shoulder, and
+it rolled over and over. With a shout of triumph the boys dashed
+forward, but when they were within a few paces the wolf leapt
+to its feet and endeavoured to spring towards them. Harry's horse
+wheeled aside so sharply that he was hurled from the saddle.
+
+The shock was a severe one, and before he could rise to his
+feet the wolf was close upon him. He tried as he rose to draw his
+hunting-sword, but before he could do so,  Ernest, who had, when he
+saw him fall, at once leaped from his horse, threw himself before
+him, and dealt the wolf a severe blow on the head with his weapon.
+
+Furious with rage and pain the wolf sprang upon him and seized
+him by the shoulder. Ernest dropped his sword, and drawing his
+hunting-knife struck at it, while at the same moment Harry ran it
+through the body.
+
+So strong and tenacious of life was the animal that the blows
+were repeated several times before it loosed its hold of Ernest's
+shoulder and fell dead.
+
+"Are you hurt, my dear Ernest?" was Harry's first exclamation.
+
+"Oh, never mind that, that's nothing," Ernest replied. "Only think,
+Harry, you and I have killed the demon wolf, and no else had a hand
+in it. There is a triumph for us."
+
+"The triumph is yours, Ernest," Harry said. "He would have got away
+had you not stopped him with your bullet, and he would have made
+short work of me had you not come to my rescue, for I was half
+stunned with the fall, and he would have done for me as quickly as
+he did for that poor fellow there."
+
+"That is true, Harry, but it was you who gave him his mortal wound.
+He would have mastered me otherwise. He was too strong for me, and
+would have borne me to the ground. No, it's a joint business, and
+we have both a right to be proud of it. Now let us fasten him on my
+horse; but before we do that, you must bind up my shoulder somehow.
+In spite of my thick doublet he has bit me very sharply. But first
+let us see to this poor fellow. I fear he is dead."
+
+It was soon seen that nothing could be done for the woodman, who
+had been killed almost instantly. Harry, therefore, proceeded to
+cut off Ernest's coat-sleeve and bathed the wound. The flesh was
+badly torn, and the arm was so useless that he thought that some
+bones were broken. Having done his best to bandage the wound,
+he strapped the arm firmly across the body, so as to prevent its
+being shaken by the motion of the riding. It was with the greatest
+difficulty that they were able to lift the body of the wolf, but
+could not lay it across the horse, as the animal plunged and kicked
+and refused to allow it to be brought near. Ernest was able to
+assist but little, for now that the excitement was over he felt
+faint and sick with the pain of his wound.
+
+"I think you had better ride off, Harry, and bring some one to our
+assistance. I will wait here till you come back."
+
+"I don't like to do that," Harry said. "They must be seven or eight
+miles away, and I may not be able to find them. They may have moved
+away to some other part of the forest. Ah! I have an idea!  Suppose
+I cut a pole, tie the wolf's legs together and put the pole through
+them; then we can hoist the pole up and lash its ends behind the
+two saddles. The horses may not mind so much if it's not put upon
+their backs."
+
+
+"That might do," Ernest agreed; "but you mustn't make the pole more
+than six or seven feet long, or we shall have difficulty in riding
+between the trees."
+
+The pole was soon cut and the wolf in readiness to be lifted, but
+the horses still refused to stand steady.
+
+"Blindfold them, Harry," Ernest said suddenly, "and tie them up to
+two trees a few feet apart."
+
+This was soon done, and the boys then patted and soothed them until
+they became quiet. The pole was now lifted, and this time they
+managed to lay it across the saddles and to lash it securely to
+the cantles. Then they mounted, and taking the bandages off the
+horses' eyes set out on their way. The horses were fidgety at first,
+but presently fell into a quiet walk.
+
+For upwards of an hour they heard nothing of the huntsmen.  Not a
+sound broke the stillness of the forest; the sun was shining through
+the leafless trees, and they were therefore enabled to shape their
+course in the direction in which  they had come. Presently they
+heard the sound of a shot, followed by several others, and then
+the bay of hounds. The sound came from their left.
+
+"They have been trying a fresh place," Ernest said, "and I expect
+they have come upon two wolves; one they have shot, the hounds are
+after the other."
+
+They turned their horses' heads in the direction of the sounds,
+and presently Harry said:
+
+"They are coming this way."
+
+Louder and louder grew the sounds of the chase; then the deep tones
+of the hounds were exchanged for a fierce angry barking.
+
+"The wolf is at bay!" Ernest exclaimed.
+
+A minute later some notes were sounded on the horn.
+
+"That is the mort, Harry. We shall arrive before they move on
+again."
+
+Five minutes later they rode into a glade where a number of horsemen
+were assembled. There was a shout as they were seen.
+
+"Why, Ernest," the marquis called as they approached, "we thought
+you had lost us. You have missed some rare sport; but what's the
+matter with your arm, and what have you got there?"
+
+"We have got the demon wolf," Ernest replied; "so you haven't had
+all the sport to yourselves."
+
+There was a general exclamation of surprise and almost incredulity,
+and then every one rode over to meet them, and when it was seen
+that the object slung between the two horses was really the demon
+wolf there was a shout of satisfaction and pleasure. Again the
+notes of the mort rang out through the woods, and every one crowded
+round the lads to congratulate them and to examine the dead monster.
+Ernest was lifted from his horse, for he was now reeling in
+the saddle, and could not have kept his seat many minutes longer.
+His wound was carefully examined, and the marquis pronounced
+the shoulder-bone to be broken. A litter was made  and four of
+the foresters hoisted him upon their shoulders, while four others
+carried the wolf, still slung on its pole, behind the litter. While
+the preparations were being made Harry had given the history of the
+slaying of the wolf, saying that he owed his life to the quickness
+and courage of Ernest.
+
+"And I owe mine to him," Ernest protested from the bank where he
+was lying. "The wolf would have killed me had he not slain it. I
+was lucky in stopping it with a ball, but the rest was entirely a
+joint affair."
+
+The slaying of the demon wolf was so important an event that no
+one thought of pursuing the hunt further that day. The other two
+wolves were added to the procession, but they looked small and
+insignificant beside the body of that killed by the boys. Harry
+learned that no one had suspected that they had gone in pursuit of
+the wolf.  A vigilant look-out had been kept all round the thicket,
+while the dogs hunted it from end to end, but no signs had been seen
+of it, and none were able to understand how it could have slipped
+between the watchers unseen.
+
+After the ravine had been thoroughly beaten the party had moved
+off to another cover. On their way there the marquis had missed
+the two boys. No one had seen them, and it was supposed that they
+had loitered behind in the forest. Two or three notes of recall had
+been blown, and then no one had thought more of the matter until
+they rode into the glade when the second wolf had just been pulled
+down by the pack.
+
+It was afternoon when the hunting party arrived at the chateau.
+Before they started homewards the marquis had sent off two horsemen;
+one to Dijon to bring a surgeon with all speed to the chateau,
+the other to tell the marquise that Ernest had been hurt, and that
+everything was to be got in readiness for him; but that she was not
+to make herself uneasy, as the injury was not a serious one.  The
+messengers were charged strictly to say nothing about the death of
+the demon wolf.
+
+The marquise and her daughters were at the entrance as the party
+arrived. The sight of the litter added to the anxiety which Ernest's
+mother was feeling; but the marquis rode on a short distance ahead
+to her.
+
+"Do not be alarmed, Julie," he said; "the lad is not very seriously
+hurt. He has been torn a bit by a wolf, and has behaved splendidly."
+
+"The messenger said he had been hurt by a wolf, Edouard; but how
+came he to put himself in such peril?"
+
+"He will tell you all about it, my dear. Here he is to speak for
+himself."
+
+"Do not look so alarmed, mother," Ernest said as she ran down to
+the side of the litter. "It is no great harm, and I should not have
+minded if it had been ten times as bad."
+
+"Bring up the wolf," the marquis said, "and Harry, do you come
+here and stand by Ernest's side. Madam la marquise," he went on,
+"do you see that great gray wolf? That is the demon wolf which has
+for years been the terror of the district, and these are its slayers.
+Your son and M. Sandwith, they, and they alone, have reaped the
+glory which every sportsman in Burgundy has been so long striving
+to attain; they alone in the forest, miles away from the hunt,
+pursued and slew this scourge of the province."
+
+He put his horn to his lips. The others who carried similar
+instruments followed his example. A triumphant traralira was blown.
+All present took off their hunting-caps and cheered, and the hounds
+added their barking to the chorus.
+
+"Is it possible, Edward," the marquise said, terrified at the
+thought of the danger her son must have run in an encounter with
+the dreaded beast, "is it possible that these two alone have slain
+this dreadful wolf?"
+
+"It is quite possible, my dear, since it has been done, though,
+had you asked me yesterday, I should almost have said that it could
+not be; however, there it is. Ernest and his brave young friend
+have covered themselves with glory; they will be the heroes of the
+department. But we must not stay talking here. We must get Ernest
+into bed as soon as possible. A surgeon will be here very shortly.
+I sent a messenger on to Dijon for one at the same time I sent to
+you."
+
+The marquis stayed outside for a few minutes while the domestics
+handed round great silver cups full of spiced wine, and then bidding
+good-bye to his guests entered the chateau just as the surgeon rode
+up to the entrance.
+
+"Please tell us all about it," his daughters asked him when,
+having seen the surgeon set the broken bone and bandage the wound,
+operations which Ernest bore with stoical firmness, he went down
+to the salon where his daughters were anxiously expecting him. "All
+about it, please. We have heard nothing, for Harry went upstairs
+with Ernest, and has not come down again."
+
+The marquis told the whole story, how the wolf had made his escape
+unseen through the cordon round his lair, and had passed within the
+sight of the two boys some distance away, and how they had hunted
+it down and slain it. The girls shuddered at the story of the death
+of the wood-cutter and the short but desperate conflict with the
+wolf.
+
+"Then Ernest has the principal honour this time," the eldest girl
+said.
+
+"It is pretty evenly divided," the marquis said. "You see Ernest
+brought the wolf to bay by breaking its shoulder, and struck the
+first blow as it was flying upon Harry, who had been thrown from
+his horse. Then, again, Ernest would almost certainly have been
+killed had not Harry in his turn come to his assistance and dealt
+it its mortal blows. There is not much difference, but perhaps the
+chief honours rest with Ernest."
+
+"I am glad of that, papa," Mademoiselle de St. Caux said; "it is
+only right the chief honour should be with your son and not with
+this English boy. He has had more than his share already, I think."
+
+"You would not think so if he had saved your life, sister," Jeanne
+broke in impetuously. "It was very brave of them both to kill the
+wolf; but I think it was ever, ever so much braver to attack a
+great mad dog without weapons. Don't you think so, papa?"
+
+"I don't think you should speak so warmly to your elder sister,
+Jeanne," the marquis said; "she is a grown-up young lady, and you
+are in the school-room. Still, in answer to your question, I admit
+that the first was very much the braver deed. I myself should have
+liked nothing better than to stand before that great wolf with my
+hunting sword in my hand; but although if I had been near you when
+the hound attacked you, I should doubtless have thrown myself before
+you, I should have been horribly frightened and should certainly
+have been killed; for I should never have thought of or carried so
+promptly out the plan which Harry adopted of muzzling the animal.
+But there is no need to make comparisons. On the present occasion
+both the lads have behaved with great bravery, and I am proud that
+Ernest is one of the conquerors of the demon wolf. It will start
+him in life with a reputation already established for courage.
+Now, come with me and have a look at the wolf. I don't think such
+a beast was ever before seen in France. I am going to have him
+stuffed and set up as a trophy. He shall stand over the  fireplace
+in the hall, and long after we have all mouldered to dust our
+descendants will point to it proudly, telling how a lad of their
+race, with another his own age, slew the demon wolf of Burgundy."
+
+Ernest was confined to his bed for nearly a month, and during
+this time Harry often went long rides and walks by himself. In the
+evening the marquis frequently talked with him over the situation
+of the country and compared the events which had taken place with
+the struggle of the English parliament with the king.
+
+"There was one point of difference between the two cases," he said
+one evening. "In England the people had already great power in
+the state. The parliament had always been a check upon the royal
+authority; and it was because the king tried to overrule parliament
+that the trouble came about. Here our kings, or at least the ministers
+they appointed, have always governed; often unwisely I admit, but
+is it likely that the mob would govern better? That is the question.
+At present they seem bent on showing their incapacity to govern
+even themselves."
+
+The Marquis de St. Caux had, in some respects, the thoughts and
+opinions of the old school. He was a royalist pure and simple.  As
+to politics, he troubled his head little about them. These were a
+matter for ministers. It was their business to find a remedy for
+the general ills. As to the National Assembly which represented
+only the middle class and people, he regarded it with contempt.
+
+"Why, it was from the middle class," he said, "that the oppressors
+of the people were drawn. It is they who were farmers-general,
+collectors, and officials of all kinds. It is  they who ground
+down the nation and enriched themselves with the spoil. It is not
+the nobles who dirtied their hands with money wrung from the poor.
+By all means let the middle class have a share in the government;
+but it is not a share they desire. The clergy are to have no voice;
+the nobility are to have no voice; the king himself is to be a
+cipher. All power is to be placed in the hands of these men, the
+chosen of the scum of the great towns, the mere mouthpieces of the
+ignorant mob. It is not order that these gentry are organizing, it
+is disorder."
+
+Such were the opinions of the marquis, but he was tolerant of other
+views, and at the gatherings at the chateau Harry heard opinions
+of all kinds expressed.
+
+During his rambles alone he entered as much as he could into
+conversation with the peasants, with woodcutters, foresters, and
+villagers. He found that the distress which prevailed everywhere
+was terrible. The people scarcely kept life together, and many
+had died of absolute starvation. He found a feeling of despair
+everywhere, and a dull hatred of all who were above them in the
+world. Harry had difficulty in making them talk, and at first could
+obtain only sullen monosyllables. His dress and appearance showed
+him to belong to the hated classes, and set them against him at
+once; but when he said that he was English, and that in England
+people were watching with great interest what was passing in France,
+they had no hesitation in speaking.
+
+Harry's motives in endeavouring to find out what were the feelings
+of the people at large, were not those of mere curiosity. He was
+now much attached to the marquis and his family; and the reports
+which came from all parts of France, as well as from Paris, together
+with the talk among the visitors at the chateau, convinced him that
+the state of affairs was more serious than the marquis was inclined
+to admit. The capture of the Bastille and the slaughter of its
+defenders--the massacres of persons obnoxious to the mob, not only
+in the streets of Paris but in those of other great towns, proved
+that the lower class, if they once obtained the upper hand, were
+ready to go all lengths; while the number of the nobility who were
+flocking across the frontier showed that among this body there
+existed grievous apprehensions as to the future.
+
+Harry had read in a book in the library of the chateau an account
+of the frightful excesses perpetrated by the Jacquerie. That dreadful
+insurrection had been crushed out by the armour-clad knights of
+France; but who was to undertake the task should such a flame again
+burst out? The nobles no longer wore armour, they had no armed
+retainers; they would be a mere handful among a multitude. The
+army had already shown its sympathy with the popular movement, and
+could not be relied upon. That the marquis himself should face out
+any danger which might come seemed to Harry right and natural; but
+he thought that he was wrong not to send his wife and daughters, and
+at any rate Jules, across the Rhine until the dangers were passed.
+
+But the marquis had no fears. Some one had mentioned the Jacquerie
+in one of their conversations, but the marquis had put it aside as
+being altogether apart from the question.
+
+"The Jacquerie took place," he said, "hundreds of years ago.  The
+people then were serfs and little more than savages. Can we imagine
+it possible that at this day the people would be capable of such
+excesses?"
+
+The answer of the gentleman he addressed had weighed little with
+the marquis, but Harry thought over it seriously.
+
+"Civilization has increased, marquis, since the days of the Jacquerie,
+but the condition of the people has improved but little.  Even now
+the feudal usages are scarce extinct. The lower class have been
+regarded as animals rather than men; and the increase of civilization
+which you speak of, and from which they have received no benefit,
+makes them hate even more bitterly than of old those in position
+above them.
+
+"I am a reformer; I desire to see sweeping changes; I want a good,
+wise, and honest government; and I desire these things because
+I fear that, if they do not come peacefully they will come in a
+tempest of lawlessness and vengeance."
+
+"Well, they are getting all they want," the marquis said peevishly.
+"They are passing every law, however absurd, that comes into their
+hands. No one is opposing them. They have got the reins in their
+own hands. What on earth can they want more? There might have been
+an excuse for rebellion and riot two years since--there can be
+none now. What say you, abbe?"
+
+The abbe seldom took part in conversations on politics, but, being
+now appealed to, he said mildly:
+
+"We must allow for human nature, monsieur. The slave who finds
+himself free, with arms in his hands, is not likely to settle down
+at once into a peaceful citizen. Men's heads are turned with the
+changes the last two years have brought about. They are drunk with
+their own success, and who can say where they will stop? So far
+they find no benefit from the changes. Bread is as dear as ever,
+men's pockets are as empty. They thought to gain everything--they
+find they have got nothing; and so they will cry for more and more
+change, their fury will run higher and higher with each  disappointment,
+and who can say to what lengths they will go? They have already
+confiscated the property of the church, next will come that of the
+laity."
+
+"I had no idea you were such a prophet of evil, abbe," the marquis
+said with an uneasy laugh, while feelings of gloom and anxiety fell
+over the others who heard the abbe's words.
+
+"God forbid that I should be a prophet!" the old man said gravely.
+"I hope and trust that I am mistaken, and that He has not reserved
+this terrible punishment for France. But you asked me for my opinion,
+marquis, and I have given it to you."
+
+Despite these forebodings the winter of 1790 passed without
+disturbance at the chateau.
+
+In the spring came news of disorder, pillage, and acts of ruffianism
+in various parts. Chateaux and convents were burned and destroyed,
+and people refused to pay either their taxes or rents to their
+landlords. In the south the popular excitement was greater than in
+other parts. In Burgundy there was for the most part tranquility;
+and the marquis, who had always been regarded as an indulgent
+seigneur by the people of his estate, still maintained that these
+troubles only occurred where the proprietors had abused their
+privileges and ground down the people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+The Clouds Gather
+
+
+Occasionally and at considerable intervals Harry received letters
+from his father. The latter said that there was great excitement
+in England over the events which had taken place in France, and
+that his mother was rendered extremely anxious by the news of the
+attacks upon chateaux, and the state of tumult and lawlessness
+which prevailed. They thought he had better resign his situation
+and return home.
+
+Harry in his replies made light of the danger, and said that after
+having been treated so kindly it would be most ungrateful of him
+to break the engagement he had made for three years, and leave his
+friends at the present moment. Indeed, he, like all around him,
+was filled with the excitement of the time. In spite of the almost
+universal confusion and disorder, life went on quietly and calmly
+at the chateau.  The establishment was greatly reduced, for few of
+the tenants paid their rents; but the absence of ceremonial brought
+the family closer together, and the marquis and his wife agreed that
+they had never spent a happier time than the spring and summer of
+1791.
+
+The news of the failure of the king's attempt at flight on the
+20th of June was a great shock to the marquis. "A king should never
+fly," he said; "above all, he should never make an abortive attempt
+at flight. It is lamentable that he should be so ill-advised."
+
+At the end of September the elections to the Legislative Assembly as
+it was now to be called, resulted in the return of men even more
+extreme and violent than those whom they succeeded.
+
+"We must go to Paris," the marquis said one day towards the end of
+October. "The place for a French nobleman now is beside the king."
+
+"And that of his wife beside the queen," the marquise said quietly.
+
+"I cannot say no," the marquis replied. "I wish you could have stayed
+with the children, but they need fear no trouble here.  Ernest is
+nearly seventeen, and may well begin, in my absence, to represent
+me. I think we can leave the chateau without anxiety, but even were
+it not so it would still be our duty to go."
+
+"There is another thing I want to speak to you about before we
+start," the marquise said. "Jeanne is no longer a child, although
+we still regard her as one; she is fifteen, and she is graver
+and more earnest than most girls of her age. It seems ridiculous
+to think of such a thing, but it is clear that she has made this
+English lad her hero. Do you not think it better that he should
+go? It would be unfortunate in the extreme that she should get to
+have any serious feelings for him."
+
+"I have noticed it too, Julie," the marquis said, "and have smiled
+to myself to see how the girl listens gravely to all he says, but
+I am not disposed to send him away. In the first place, he has done
+a great deal of good to the boys, more even than I had hoped for.
+Ernest now thinks and speaks for himself, his ideas are broader, his
+views wider. He was fitted before for the regime that has passed;
+he is rapidly becoming fit to take his part in that which is to
+come.
+
+"In the next place, my dear, you must remember the times have
+changed. Mademoiselle Jeanne de St. Caux, daughter of a peer and
+noble of France, was infinitely removed from the son of an English
+doctor; but we seem to be approaching the end of all things;
+and although so far the law for the abolition of titles has been
+disregarded here, you must prepare yourself to find that in Paris
+you will be no longer addressed by your title, and I shall be
+Monsieur de St. Caux; or may be they will object both to the de
+and the St., and I shall find myself plain Monsieur Caux."
+
+"Oh, Edouard!" the marquise exclaimed aghast.
+
+"I am quite in earnest, my dear, I can assure you. You will say
+she is still the heiress of a portion of our estates, but who can
+say how long the estates will remain after the title is gone? Just
+as the gentlemen of the pave object to titles because they have
+none themselves, so being penniless they will object to property,
+and for aught I know may decree a general division of lands and
+goods."
+
+"Impossible, Edouard!"
+
+"Not at all impossible, Julie. The beggars are on horseback, and
+they intend to ride. Last week I called in from my bankers, all
+the cash at my disposal, about five thousand louis, and to-morrow
+du Tillet is going to start for Holland. He will hand it over to
+a banker there to forward to Dr. Sandwith, to whom I have written
+asking him to undertake the charge. If you will take my advice you
+will forward at the same time all your jewelry. If things go wrong
+it will keep us in our old age and furnish a dot for our daughters.
+
+"The jewels of the St. Caux have always been considered as equal
+to those of any family in France, and are certainly worth half a
+million francs even to sell. Keep a few small trinkets, and send
+all the others away.  But I have wandered from my subject. Under
+these circumstances I think it as well that we should not interfere
+in the matter you speak of. Personally one could not wish for a
+better husband for one of our daughters than this young Englishman
+would make.
+
+"His father is a gentleman, and so is he, and in such times as
+are coming I should be glad to know that one of my girls had such
+a protector as he would make her; but this is, as you said at first,
+almost ridiculous. He is two years older than she is, but in some
+respects she is the elder; he regards her as a pretty child, and
+all his thoughts are given to his studies and his sports.
+
+"He has something of the English barbarian left in him, and is
+absolutely indifferent to Jeanne's preference. A French lad at his
+age would be flattered. This English boy does not notice it, or if
+he notices it regards it as an exhibition of gratitude, which he
+could well dispense with, for having saved her life.
+
+"You can leave them with a tranquil heart, my dear. I will answer
+for it that never in his inmost heart has the idea of his ever
+making love to Jeanne occurred to this English lad. Lastly I should
+be sorry for him to leave, because his good spirits and cheerfulness
+are invaluable at present. Ernest is apt to be gloomy and depressed,
+and cheerfulness is at a premium in France at present. Moreover,
+should there be any difficulty or danger while we are absent I trust
+very much to that lad's good sense and courage. That incident of
+the dog showed how quick he is to plan and how prompt to carry his
+plans into effect. It may seem absurd when there are several of
+our staunch and tried friends here to rely in  any way on a lad,
+but I do so.  Not, of course, as before our faithful friends, but
+as one whose aid is not to be despised."
+
+Thus it happened that on the same day that the marquis started for
+Paris, M. du Tillet set out from the chateau taking with him some
+trunks and packages which appeared but of little value and were
+not likely to attract attention, but which contained a considerable
+sum of money and the famous St. Caux jewels.
+
+Life at the chateau was dull after the departure of its heads.  They
+had few visitors now; the most frequent among them being Victor
+de Gisons. The estates of the duke, his father, adjoined those of
+the marquis, and between him and Marie a marriage had long before
+been arranged by their parents. For once the inclination of the
+young people agreed with the wishes of the elders, and they were
+warmly attached to each other. No formal betrothal, however, had
+as yet taken place, the troubles of the times having caused its
+postponement, although formerly it had been understood that in the
+present autumn the marriage should be celebrated.
+
+The young count had at the assembly of the States General been
+a prominent liberal, and had been one of those who had taken his
+seat with the third estate and had voted for the abolition of the
+special privileges of the nobility, but the violence of the Assembly
+had alarmed and disgusted him, and in the winter he had left Paris
+and returned to his father's estates.
+
+Ernest and Harry studied with the abbe, and fenced and rode as usual
+with M. du Tillet after his return from Holland. The ever-darkening
+cloud weighed upon their  spirits, and yet life at the chateau was
+pleasant. The absence of their parents and the general feeling of
+anxiety knit the rest of the family closer together. Much of the
+ceremonial observance which had, on his first arrival, surprised
+and amused Harry was now laid aside. Marie, happy in the visits
+of her lover and at the prospect of her approaching marriage, did
+her best to make the house cheerful. Harry, who had not much liked
+her at first, now found her most pleasant and agreeable, and the
+younger girls walked in the grounds with their brothers and chatted
+when they were gathered in the evening just as Harry's sisters had
+done at home. Jeanne was, if the group broke up, generally Harry's
+companion. Ever since the affair of the mad dog she had treated
+him as her special friend, adopting all his  opinions and falling
+in with any suggestion he might make with a readiness which caused
+Ernest one day to say laughingly to Harry:
+
+"One would think, Harry that you were Jeanne's elder brother, not
+I. She listens to you with a good deal more deference than she does
+to me."
+
+The winter came and went. From time to time letters arrived from
+Paris, but the news was always in the same strain. Things were going
+worse and worse, the king was little more than a prisoner in the
+hands of the people of Paris. The violence of the Assembly was
+ever on the increase, the mob of Paris were the real masters of
+the situation, the greater part of the nobility had fled, and any
+who appeared in the streets were liable to insult.
+
+The feeling in the provinces kept pace with that in Paris.  Committees
+were formed in every town and village and virtually superseded the
+constituted authorities. Numbers of chateaux were burned, and the
+peasants almost universally refused any longer to pay the dues to
+their seigneurs. But at present none dreamt of personal danger.
+The nobles who emigrated did so because they found the situation
+intolerable, and hoped that an army would be shortly raised and
+set in motion by foreign powers to put down the movement which
+constituted a danger to kings, nobles, and property all over Europe.
+But as yet there was nothing to foreshadow the terrible events
+which were to take place, or to indicate that a movement, which
+began in the just demand of an oppressed people for justice and
+fair treatment, would end in that people becoming a bloodthirsty
+rabble, eager to destroy all who were above them in birth, education,
+or intellect.
+
+Therefore, although the Marquis de St. Caux foresaw the possibility
+of confiscation of the property and abolition of all the privileges
+of the nobility, he was under no uneasiness whatever as to the
+safety of his children.  His instructions were precise: that if a
+small party of peasants attacked the chateau, and it was evident
+that a successful resistance could be made, M. du Tillet should
+send word down to the mayor of Dijon and ask for help, and should,
+with the servants of the chateau, defend it; if it was attacked by
+a large mob, no resistance was to be offered, but he was to abandon
+it at once and journey to Paris with the children. But the time
+went on without disturbance. In Dijon as elsewhere a  committee
+had been formed and had taken into its hands the entire control of
+the management of the town. At its head was the son of the mayor,
+Monsieur Lebat.
+
+"I do not understand that young fellow," M. du Tillet said one day
+on his return from Dijon. "I do not like him; he is ambitious and
+pushing, he is the leader of the advanced party in Dijon, and is
+in communication with the most violent spirits in Paris, but I am
+bound to say that he appears most anxious to be of service to the
+family. Whenever I see him he assures me of his devotion to the
+marquis. To-day, Mademoiselle Marie, he prayed me to assure you
+that you need feel no uneasiness, for that he held the mob in his
+hand, and would answer for it that no hostile movement should be
+made against the chateau, and in fact I know, for I have taken the
+precaution of buying the services of a man who is upon the committee,
+that Lebat has actually exerted himself to benefit us.
+
+"It has several times been urged by the most violent section that
+the mob should be incited to attack the chateau, but he has each
+time successfully opposed the proposition. He has declared that while
+no one is more hostile than himself to the privileges of seigneury,
+and while he would not only abolish the nobles as a class but
+confiscate their possessions, he considers that in the case of the
+marquis nothing should be done until a decree to that effect is
+passed by the Assembly.
+
+"Until that time, he argues, the people should discriminate.  The
+chateaux of tyrants should be everywhere levelled to the ground,
+but it would be unworthy of the people to take measures of vengeance
+against those who have not notably ground down those dependent upon
+them, and that, as the marquis has not pushed the privilege of his
+class to the utmost, his chateau and property should be respected
+until the Assembly pass a decree upon the subject."
+
+"I am sure we are much indebted to this Monsieur Lebat," Marie
+said. "He was here at the hunting party and seemed a worthy young
+man of his class. Of course he was out of place among us, but for
+a man in his position he seemed tolerable."
+
+"Yes," Monsieur du Tillet agreed, but in a somewhat doubtful tone
+of voice. "So far as assurances go there is nothing to be desired,
+and he has, as I said, so far acted loyally up to them, and
+yet somehow I do not like him. It strikes me that he is playing a
+game, although what that game is I cannot say.  At  anyrate I do
+not trust him; he speaks smoothly but I think he has a double face,
+and that he is cruel and treacherous."
+
+"That is not like you, Monsieur du Tillet," Marie laughed, "you
+who generally have a good word for everyone. It seems to me that
+you are hard upon the young man, who appears to be animated by
+excellent sentiments towards us."
+
+Spring came again. M. du Tillet learned that the mob of Dijon were
+becoming more and more violent, and that spies and watchmen had
+been told off to see that none of the family attempted to fly for
+the frontier. He therefore wrote to the marquis urging that it
+would be better that the family should move to Paris, where they
+would be in no danger. In reply he received a letter begging him
+to start as soon as the roads were fit for travel.
+
+About the same time Victor de Gisons received a summons from his
+father to join him in Paris.
+
+The messenger who brought the letter to M. du Tillet brought one
+also for Marie from the marquise, saying that the heads of both
+families were of opinion that the marriage must be still further
+postponed, as in the present state of affairs all private plans and
+interests must be put aside in view of the dangers that surrounded
+the king. Marie acquiesced in the decision, and bade her lover
+adieu calmly and bravely.
+
+"They are quite right, Victor; I have felt for some time that when
+France was on the verge of a precipice it was not the time for her
+nobles to be marrying. Noblesse oblige. If we were two peasants
+we might marry and be happy. As it is we must wait, even though we
+know that waiting may never come to an end. I have a conviction,
+Victor, that our days of happiness are over, and that terrible
+things are about to happen."
+
+"But nothing that can happen can separate us, Marie."
+
+"Nothing but death, Victor," she said quietly.
+
+"But surely, Marie, you take too gloomy a view. Death, of course,
+may separate all lovers; but there seems no reason that we should
+fear him now more than at other times. A few farmers-general and
+others who have made themselves obnoxious to the mob have been
+killed, but what is that! There should at least be no hostility
+to our order. Many of the nobles have  been foremost in demanding
+reforms. All have cheerfully resigned their privileges. There is
+no longer the slightest reason for hostility against us."
+
+"My dear Victor," Marie said quietly, "you do not ask a wild beast
+about to rend his prey, what is the reason for his actions. I hope
+I may be wrong; but at least, dear, we shall see each other again
+before long, and, whatever troubles may come, will share them. My
+mother in her letter yesterday said that she and the marquis had
+determined that we should join them in Paris; for that although the
+disorders have abated somewhat they are anxious at the thought of
+our being alone here, and in the present position of things they
+have no hope of being able to leave the king. She says my father
+is very indignant at the great emigration of the nobility that
+is going on. In the first place, he holds that they are deserting
+their post in the face of the enemy; and in the second place, by
+their assemblage across the frontier and their intrigues at foreign
+courts against France they are causing the people to look with
+suspicion upon the whole class."
+
+"You have kept your good news till the last, Marie," Victor said.
+"Here have we been saying good-bye, and it seems that we are going
+to meet again very shortly."
+
+"I have been bidding farewell," Marie said, "not to you, but to
+our dream of happiness. We shall meet soon, but I fear that will
+never return."
+
+"You are a veritable prophet of ill to-day, Marie," Victor said
+with an attempt at gaiety. "Some day, I hope, dear, that we shall
+smile together over your gloomy prognostication."
+
+"I hope so, Victor--I pray God it may be so!"
+
+A week later three carriages arrived from Paris to convey the
+family there; and upon the following day the whole party started;
+the girls, the gouvernante, the abbe, and some of the female servants
+occupying the carriages, Monsieur du Tillet, the boys, and several
+of the men riding beside them as an escort.
+
+They met with no interruption on the road, and arrived in Paris
+on the last day of April, 1792. Harry was glad at the change. The
+doings at Paris had been the subject of conversation and thought for
+nearly two years, and he had caught the excitement which pervaded
+France. He was tired of the somewhat monotonous life in the country,
+and had for some time been secretly  longing to be at the centre
+of interest, and to see for himself the stirring events, of which
+little more than a feeble echo had reached them at the chateau.
+
+The change of life was great indeed; the marquis had thrown himself
+into the thick of all that was going on, and his salon was crowded
+every evening with those of the nobility who still remained In
+Paris. But he was regarded as by no means a man of extreme views,
+and many of the leaders of the party of the Gironde with whose names
+Harry was familiar were also frequent visitors--Roland, Vergniaud,
+Lanjuinais, Brissot, Guader, Lebrun, and Condorcer.
+
+Harry was struck with the variety of conversation that went on at
+these meetings. Many of the young nobles laughed and chatted with
+the ladies with as much gaiety as if the former state of things
+were continuing undisturbed; and an equal indifference to the public
+state of things was shown by many of the elders, who sat down and
+devoted themselves to cards. Others gathered apart in little groups
+and discussed gloomily and in low tones the events of the day;
+while others who were more liberal in their views gathered round the
+deputies of the Gironde and joined in their talk upon the meetings
+of the Assembly and the measures which were necessary to consolidate
+the work of reform, and to restore peace and happiness to France.
+
+The marquis moved from group to group, equally at home with all,
+chatting lightly with the courtiers, whispering gravely with the
+elders, or discussing with the tone of the man of the world the
+views and opinions of the deputies. Victor de Gisons was constantly
+at the house, and strove by his cheerfulness and gaiety to dissipate
+the shade of melancholy which still hung over Marie.
+
+Towards the end of July the Marquis de St. Caux and the little
+body of royalists who still remained faithful to the king became
+more and more anxious; the position of the royal family was now
+most precarious; most of the troops in Paris had been sent to the
+frontier, and those left behind were disorganized and ready to join
+the mob.  Two out of the three Swiss battalions had been sent away
+and but one remained at the Tuileries. Of the National Guard only
+the battalion of Filles St. Thomas and part of the battalion of
+the Saints Pares could be trusted to defend the king. The rest were
+opposed to him, and would certainly join the populace.
+
+On the 14th of July a large number of National Guards from the
+provinces had arrived in Paris; and the battalion from Marseilles,
+the most violent of all, had, immediately that it arrived in the
+city, come into collision with one of the loyal battalions.
+
+The royalists were wholly without organization, their sole aim
+being to defend the king should he be in danger, and if necessary
+to die by his side.
+
+On the evening before the 10th of August the tocsin was heard to
+sound and the drums to beat to arms. All day there had been sinister
+rumours circulating, but the king had sent privately to his friends
+that the danger was not imminent and that he had no need of them;
+however, as soon as the alarm sounded the marquis snatched up a
+sword and prepared to start for the palace. He embraced his wife,
+who was calm but very pale, and his children. Ernest asked to be
+allowed to go with him, but the marquis said:
+
+"No, my son, my life is the king's; but yours at present is due
+to your mother and sisters."
+
+It was twenty-four hours before he returned. His clothes were torn,
+his head was bound up, and one of his arms disabled. The marquise
+gave a cry of delight as he entered. No one had slept since he
+left, for every hour fresh rumours of fighting had arrived, and
+the sound of cannon and musketry had been heard in the early part
+of the day.
+
+"It is all over, wife!" he said. "We have done our best, but the
+king will do nothing. We cannot say we have lost the battle, for
+we have never tried to win it; but it would be the same thing in
+the long run."
+
+Before hearing what had passed the marquise insisted upon her husband
+taking refreshment and having his wounds bound up and attended to.
+When he had finished his meal the marquis began:
+
+"We had a good deal of difficulty in getting into the Tuileries,
+for the National Guard tried to prevent our passing. However, we
+most of us got through; and we found that there were about a hundred
+assembled, almost all men of family. The Marshal de Mailly led us
+into the king's apartment.
+
+"'Sire,' he said, 'here are your faithful nobles, eager to replace
+your majesty on the throne of your ancestors.' The National Guard
+in the palace withdrew at once, leaving us alone with the Swiss.
+
+"We formed in the courtyard; and the king, with his hat in his hand,
+walked down our ranks and those of the Swiss. He seemed without
+fear, but he did not speak a word, and did nothing to encourage us.
+Several of our party, in trying to make their way to the palace,
+had been murdered, and the mob cut off their heads and put them on
+pikes; and these were paraded in the streets within sight of the
+windows. Roederer, the procureur-general of the department of Paris,
+came to the king and pressed him to leave the Tuileries.
+
+"'There are not five minutes to lose, sire,' he said. 'There is no
+safety for your majesty but in the National Assembly.'
+
+"The queen resisted; but upon Roederer saying that an enormous
+crowd with cannon were coming, and that delay would endanger the
+lives of the whole of the royal family, he went. But he thought of
+us, and asked what was to become of us. Roederer said that, as we
+were not in uniform, by leaving our swords behind us we could pass
+through the crowd without being recognized. The king moved on,
+followed by the queen, Madam Elizabeth, and the children.  The crowd,
+close and menacing, lined the passage, and the little procession
+made their way with difficulty to the Assembly.
+
+"We remained in the palace, and every moment the throng around
+became more and more numerous. The cannon they brought were turned
+against us. The first door was burst open, the Swiss did not fire,
+the populace poured in and mixed with us and the soldiers.  Some
+one fired a gun. Whether it was one of the Swiss or one of the mob
+I know not, but the fight began. The Swiss in good order marched
+down the staircase, drove out the mob, seized the cannon the
+Marseillais had brought, and turning them upon their assailants
+opened fire. The mob fled in terror, and I believe that one battalion
+would have conquered all the scum of Paris, had not the king, at
+the sound of the first shot, sent word to the Swiss to cease firing.
+They obeyed, and although the mob kept firing upon them from the
+windows, the great part of them marched calm, and without returning
+a shot, to the Assembly, where, at the order of the king, they laid
+down their arms and were shut up in the church of the Feuillants.
+
+"A portion of the Swiss had remained on guard in the Tuileries when
+the main body marched away. The instant the palace was undefended
+the mob burst in. Every Swiss was murdered, as well as many of
+the servants of the queen. The mob sacked the palace and set it on
+fire. When the Swiss left we  had one by one made our way out by a
+back entrance, but most of us were recognized by the mob and were
+literally cut to pieces. I rushed into a house when assaulted,
+and, slamming the door behind me, made my way out by the back and
+so escaped them, getting off with only these two wounds; then I
+hurried to a house of a friend, whom I had seen murdered before my
+eyes, but his servants did not know of it, and they allowed me to
+remain there till dark, and you see here I am."
+
+"But what has happened at the Assembly and where is the king?" the
+marquise asked, after the first exclamation of horror at the tale
+they had heard.
+
+"The king and his family are prisoners in the Temple," the marquis
+said. "The Commune has triumphed over the Assembly and a National
+Convention is to be the supreme power. The king's functions are
+suspended, but as he has not ruled for the last three years that
+will make little difference.  A new ministry has been formed with
+Danton, Lebrun, and some of the Girondists. He and his family are
+handed over to the care of the Commune, and their correspondence is
+to be intercepted. A revolutionary tribunal has been constituted,
+when, I suppose, the farce of trying men whose only crime is loyalty
+to the king is to be carried out.
+
+"We must be prepared, my love, to face the worst. Escape is now
+impossible, and, indeed, so long as the king and queen are alive I
+would not quit Paris; but we must prepare for sending the children
+away if possible."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+The Outburst
+
+
+"Monsieur le Marquis," M. du Tillet exclaimed, hurrying into the
+salon, in which the marquis with his family were sitting, on the
+evening of the 21st of August, "I hear that it is rumoured in the
+street that all the members of noble families are to be arrested."
+
+The room was lit up as if to receive company, but the crowd which
+had thronged it a fortnight before were gone. The Girondists had
+first withdrawn, then the nobles had begun to fall off, for it had
+become dangerous for them to show themselves in the streets, where
+they were liable to be insulted and attacked by the mob. Moreover,
+any meeting of known Royalists was regarded with suspicion by the
+authorities, and so gradually the gatherings had become smaller
+and smaller.
+
+The only constant visitor now was the Count de Gisons, but he
+to-night was absent. The news was not unexpected. The violence of
+the extremists of the Mountain had been increasing daily. At the
+Cordeliers and Jacobin Clubs, Danton, Robespierre, and Marat had
+thundered nightly their denunciations against the aristocrats, and
+it was certain that at any moment the order for their arrest might
+be given. Such bad news had been received of the state of feeling
+in the provinces, that it was felt that it would be more dangerous
+to send the young ones away than to retain them in Paris, and the
+marquise had been a prey to the liveliest anxiety respecting her
+children. It seemed impossible that there could be any animosity
+against them, but the blind rage of the mob had risen to such a
+height that it was impossible to say what might happen. Now that
+she heard the blow was about to fall she drew her younger girls
+instinctively to her, as if to protect them, but no word passed
+her lips.
+
+"It might still be possible to fly," M. du Tillet went on. "We have
+all the disguises in readiness."
+
+"A Marquis de St. Caux does not fly from the canaille of Paris,"
+the marquis said quietly. "No, Du Tillet; the king and queen are
+in prison, and it is not for their friends to leave their post here
+in Paris because danger threatens them; come when they may, these
+wretches will find us here ready for them."
+
+"But the children, Edouard!" the marquise murmured.
+
+"I shall stand by my father's side," Ernest said firmly.
+
+"I do not doubt your courage, my son. I wish now that I had long
+ago sent you all across the frontier; but who could have foreseen
+that the people of France were about to become a horde of wild
+beasts, animated by hate against all, old and young, in whose veins
+ran noble blood. However, although it is the duty of your mother
+and I to stay at our posts, it is our duty also to try and save
+our house from destruction; therefore, Du Tillet, I commit my two
+sons to your charge. Save them if you can, disguise them as you will,
+and make for the frontier. Once there you know all the arrangements
+we have already made."
+
+"But, father," Ernest remonstrated.
+
+"I can listen to no argument, Ernest," the marquis said firmly.
+"In this respect my will is law. I know what your feelings are,
+but you must set them aside, they must give way to the necessity
+of saving one of the oldest families of France from perishing."
+
+"And the girls?" the marquise asked, as Ernest bent his head in
+sign of obedience to his father's orders.
+
+"I cannot think," the marquis said, "that they will be included in
+the order for our arrest. They must go, as arranged, in the morning
+to the house of our old servant and remain quietly there awaiting
+the course of events. They will pass very well as three of her
+nieces who have arrived from the country. You had better send a
+trusty servant to prepare her for their coming. You, Harry, will,
+of course, accompany my sons.
+
+"Pardon, marquis," Harry said quietly, "I am firmly resolved to
+stay in Paris. I may be of assistance to your daughters, and there
+will be no danger to me in remaining, for I have no noble blood in
+my veins. Besides, my travelling with M. du  Tillet would add to
+his danger. He will have difficulty enough in traversing the country
+with two boys; a third would add to that difficulty."
+
+"I cannot help that," the marquis said. "I ought long ago to have
+sent you home, and feel that I have acted wrongly in allowing you
+to remain so long. I must insist upon your accompanying my sons."
+
+"I am sorry to disobey you, monsieur le marquis," Harry said quietly
+but firmly; "but from the moment of your arrest I shall be my own
+master and can dispose of my actions. I am deeply sensible of all
+your goodness to me, but I cannot yield, for I feel that I may be
+of some slight use here. There are so many strangers in Paris that
+there is little fear of my attracting any notice. A mouse may help
+a lion, monsieur, and it may be that though but a boy I may be able
+to be of service to mesdemoiselles."
+
+"Do not urge him further, Edouard," the marquise said, laying a
+hand on her husband's arm as he was again about to speak. "Harry
+is brave and thoughtful beyond his years, and it will be somewhat
+of a comfort to me to think that there is some one watching over
+our girls. I thank you, Harry, for your offer, and feel sure that
+you will do all that can possibly be done to protect my girls. You
+will be freer to do so than any of our friends, for they are likely
+to become involved in our fate, whatever that may be. Marie, you
+will view our English friend as joint guardian with yourself over
+your sisters. Consult him should difficulty or danger arise as if
+he were your brother, and be guided by his advice. And now, girls,
+come with me to my room, I have much to say to you.
+
+"I am glad my wife decided as she did, Harry," the marquis said,
+putting his hand on his shoulder when his wife and daughters left
+the room, "for I too shall feel comfort in knowing that you are
+watching over the girls. Now leave us, for I have much to arrange
+with Monsieur du Tillet."
+
+After a prolonged talk with M. du Tillet the marquis sent for
+Ernest. As soon as he entered the lad said:
+
+"Of course, sir, I shall obey your commands; but it seems to me an
+unworthy part for your son to play, to be flying the country and
+leaving a stranger here to look after your daughters."
+
+
+"He is hardly a stranger, Ernest," the marquis replied. "He has been
+with us as one of the family for two years, and he risked his life
+for your sisters. You could not stay here without extreme risk, for
+if your name is not already included in the warrant for arrest it
+speedily will be so, and when they once taste blood these wolves
+will hunt down every one of us. He, on the other hand, might proceed
+openly through the streets without danger; nevertheless, I would
+not have kept him if he would have gone; but I have no power
+of controlling him, and as he chooses to devote himself to us I
+thankfully accept his devotion.
+
+"And now, my son, it may be that after our parting to-morrow we
+shall not meet again, for God alone knows what fate is in store for
+us. I have, therefore, some serious advice to give you. If anything
+happens to me, you will, I know, never forget that you are the
+head of the family, and that the honour of a great name is in your
+keeping; but do not try to strive against the inevitable. Adapt
+yourself to the new circumstances under which you will be placed,
+and lay aside that pride which has had much to do with the misfortunes
+which are now befalling us.
+
+"As to your sisters, Marie is already provided for, that is if
+De Gisons is not included in the order for arrest. I have already
+sent off a message to him to warn him; and as it has already been
+arranged between us that while his father will stay and face whatever
+will come, it is his duty, like yours, to escape the danger which
+threatens our class, I trust that he will at once endeavour to
+leave the country; but I imagine that he will stop in Paris until
+some means are devised for getting your sisters away.
+
+"As to the others, if you all reach England and settle down there
+do not keep up the class distinctions which have prevailed here.
+Marry your sisters to men who will protect and make them happy.
+That these must be gentlemen goes without saying; but that is
+sufficient.  For example, if in future time a gentleman of the rank
+of our English friend here, of whose character you can entirely
+approve, asks for the hand of either of your younger sisters, do
+not refuse it. Remember that such a suit would have the cordial
+approval of your mother and myself."
+
+A look of great surprise passed over Ernest's face. It had seemed
+to him so much a matter of course that the ladies of his house should
+marry into noble families that the idea of one of them being given
+to a gentleman belonging to the professional class was surprising
+indeed.
+
+"Do you really mean, sir, that if my friend Harry were some day to
+ask for Jeanne's hand you would approve of the match?"
+
+"That is exactly what I do mean, Ernest. In the stormy times in
+which we are living I could wish no better protector for her. Were
+he a Frenchman, in the same position of life, I own that I might
+view the matter in a different light; but, as I have said, in
+England the distinction of classes is much less marked than here;
+and, moreover, in England there is little fear of such an outbreak
+of democracy as that which is destroying France."
+
+A few minutes later Monsieur du Tillet entered with the clothes which
+had been prepared for the boys. They were such as would be worn by
+the sons of workmen; he himself was attired in a blue blouse and
+trousers. Jules was aroused from the couch on which he had for the
+last hour been asleep, and he and Ernest retired to dress themselves
+in their new costume, M. du Tillet accompanying them to assist in
+their toilet. Both boys had the greatest repugnance to the change,
+and objected still further when M. du Tillet insisted it was
+absolutely necessary that they should cut their hair and smear
+their faces and hands with dirt.
+
+"My dear Monsieur Ernest," he said, "it would be worse than useless
+for you to assume that attire unless at the same time you assumed
+the bearing and manners appropriate to it. In your own dress we
+might for a short time walk the street without observation; but if
+you sallied out in that blouse with your white hands and your head
+thrown back, and a look of disdain and disgust on your face, the
+first gamin who met you would cry out, 'There is an aristocrat in
+disguise!'
+
+"You must behave as if you were acting in a comedy. You are
+representing a lad of the lower orders. You must try to imitate
+his walk and manner. Shove your hands deep in your pockets, shuffle
+your feet along carelessly; let your head roll about as if it were
+uneasy on your neck, round your shoulders, and slouch your head
+forward.  As to you Jules, your role should be impertinence. Put
+your cap on the wrong way; hold your nose in the air; pull your
+short hair down over your forehead, and let some of it  spurt
+out through that hole in your cap. To be quite correct, you ought
+to address jeering remarks to every respectable man and woman you
+meet in the streets; but as you know nothing of Parisian slang,
+you must hold your tongue. See how thoroughly I have got myself
+up. You would take me for an idle out-of-elbows workman wherever
+you met me. I do not like it; but, as I have to disguise myself,
+I try to do it thoroughly."
+
+It was, however, with a feeling of humiliation that the boys presented
+themselves before the marquis. He looked at them scrutinizingly.
+
+"You will do, my boys," he said gravely. "I should have passed
+you in the street without knowing you. Now come in with me and say
+good-bye to your mother and sisters. The sooner you are out of this
+house the better, for there is no saying at what hour the agents
+of the canaille may present themselves."
+
+The parting was a sad one indeed, but it was over at last, and
+Monsieur du Tillet hurried the two boys away as soon as their father
+returned with them.
+
+"God bless you, du Tillet!" the marquis said as he embraced his
+friend. "Should aught happen to us, you will, I know, be a father
+to them."
+
+"Now, Harry," the marquis said when he had mastered the emotion
+caused by the parting, which he felt might be a final one, "since
+you have chosen to throw in your lot with ours, I will give you a
+few instructions. In the first place, I have hidden under a plank
+beneath my bed a bag containing a thousand crowns. It is the middle
+plank. Count an even number from each leg and the centre one covers
+the bag.
+
+"You will find the plank is loose and that you can raise it easily
+with a knife; but wax has been run in, and dust swept over it, so
+that there is no fear of its being noticed by any who may pillage
+the house, which they will doubtless do after we are arrested. I
+have already sent an equal sum to Louise Moulin. Here is her address;
+but it is possible that you may need money, and may be unable to
+communicate with my daughters at her house; at any rate do you keep
+the bag of money in your charge.
+
+"You had best attire yourself at once in the oldest suit of clothes
+you have got. My daughters will be ready in a few minutes. They are
+already dressed, so that they can slip out at the back entrance.
+Should we be disturbed before morning I shall place them under your
+escort; for although I hope that all the servants are faithful, one
+can answer for no one in these times. I would send them off now,
+but that the sight of females moving through the streets at this
+time of night would be likely to attract attention on the part of
+drunken men, or of fellows returning from these rascally clubs,
+which are the centre and focus of all the mischief that is going
+on.
+
+"I can give you no further advice. You must be guided by
+circumstances. If, as I trust, the girls can live undisturbed and
+unsuspected with their mother's old nurse, it were best that they
+should remain there until the troubles are finally over, and France
+comes to her senses again. If not, I must leave it to you to act for
+the best. It is a great trust to place in the hands of a youth of
+your age; but it is your own choosing, and we have every confidence
+in you.
+
+"I will do my best to deserve it, sir," Harry said quietly; "but I
+trust that you and madame la marquise will soon be able to resume
+your guardianship. I cannot believe that although just at present
+the populace are excited to fury by agitators, they can in cold
+blood intend to wreak their vengeance upon all the classes above
+them."
+
+"I hope you may be right," the marquis said; "but I fear that it
+is not so. The people are mad so far. All that has been done has
+in no way mitigated their sufferings, and they gladly follow the
+preachings of the arch scoundrels of the Jacobin Club. I fear that
+before all this is over France will be deluged with blood. And
+now, when you have changed your clothes, lie down, ready to rise
+at a moment's notice.  Should you hear a tumult, run at once to
+the long gallery. There my daughters will join you prepared for
+flight. Lead them instantly to the back entrance, avoiding, if
+possible, any observation from the domestics. As these sleep on
+the floor above, and know nothing of the dangers which threaten us,
+they will not awake so quickly, and I trust that you will be able
+to get out without being seen by any of them. In that case, however
+closely questioned no one will be able to afford a clue by which
+you can be traced."
+
+When he had changed his clothes Harry extinguished all the lights in
+the salon, for the marquis had long before ordered all the servants
+to retire to rest. Then he opened the window looking into the street
+and took his place close to it. Sleep under the circumstances was
+impossible.
+
+As the hours passed he thought over the events of the last few
+days. He was fully aware that the task he had undertaken might be
+full of danger; but to a healthy and active English lad a spice of
+danger is by no means a deterrent. He could, of course, have left
+his employment before the family left their chateau; but after
+his arrival in Paris it would have been difficult for him to have
+traversed the country and crossed the frontier, and he thought that
+the danger which he now ran was not much greater than would have
+been entailed by such a step.
+
+In the next place he was greatly attached to the family of the
+marquis; and the orgies of the mob had filled him with such horror
+and disgust that he would have risked much to save any unfortunate, even
+a stranger, from their hands; and lastly, he felt the fascination
+of the wild excitement of the times, and congratulated himself
+that he should see and perhaps be an actor in the astonishing drama
+which was occupying the attention of the whole civilized world.
+
+As he sat there he arranged his own plans. After seeing his charge
+in safety he would take a room in some quiet locality, alleging
+that he was the clerk of a notary, and would, in the dress of one
+of that class, or the attire of one of the lower orders, pass his
+days in the streets, gathering every rumour and watching the course
+of events.
+
+Morning was just breaking when he heard the sound of many feet
+coming along the street, and looking out saw a crowd of men with
+torches, headed by two whose red scarfs showed them to be officials.
+As they reached the entrance gate the men at the head of the
+procession stopped. Harry at once darted away to the long gallery,
+and as he did so, heard a loud knocking at the door.
+
+Scarcely had he reached the gallery when a door at the further end
+opened, and three figures, the tallest carrying a lamp, appeared.
+The girls, too, had been keeping watch with their father and
+mother.  They were dressed in the attire of respectable peasant
+girls. Virginie was weeping loudly, but the elder girls, although
+their cheeks bore traces of many tears they had shed during the
+night, restrained them now. When they reached Harry, the  lad,
+without a word, took the lamp from Marie's hand, and led the way
+along the corridor and down the stairs towards the back of the
+house.
+
+Everything was quiet. The knocking, loud as it was, had not yet
+aroused the servants, and, drawing the bolt quietly, and blowing
+out the lamp, Harry led the way into the garden behind the house.
+Then for a moment he paused. There was a sound of axes hewing down
+the gate which led from the garden into the street behind.
+
+"Quick, mesdemoiselles!" he said. "There is no time to lose."
+
+He took they key out of the door, and closed and locked it after
+him. Then throwing the key among the shrubs he took Virginie's hand,
+and led the way rapidly towards the gate, which was fortunately a
+strong one.
+
+"In here, mesdemoiselles," he said to Marie, pointing to some shrubs
+close to the gate. "They will rush straight to the house when the
+gate gives way, and we will slip out quietly."
+
+For nearly five minutes the gate, which was strongly bound with iron,
+resisted the attack upon it. Then there was a crash, and a number
+of men with torches, and armed with muskets and pikes, poured in.
+Virginie was clinging to Marie, who, whispering to her to be calm
+and brave, pressed the child closely to her, while Jeanne stood
+quiet and still by the side of Harry, looking through the bushes.
+
+Some twenty men entered, and a minute later there was the sound of
+battering at the door through which the fugitives had sallied out.
+
+"Now," Harry said, "let us be going." Emerging from the shelter, a
+few steps took them to the gate, and stepping over the door, which
+lay prostrate on the ground, they turned into the lane.
+
+"Let us run," Harry said; "we must get out of this lane as soon as
+possible. We are sure to have the mob here before long, and should
+certainly be questioned."
+
+They hurried down the lane, took the first turning away from the
+house, and then slackened their pace. Presently they heard a number
+of footsteps clattering on the pavement; but fortunately they
+reached another turning before the party came up. They turned down
+and stood up in a doorway till the footsteps had passed, and then
+resumed their way.
+
+"It is still too early for us to walk through the streets without
+exciting attention," Harry said. "We had better make down to the
+river and wait there till the town is quite astir."
+
+In ten minutes they reached the river, and Harry found a seat for
+them at the foot of a pile of timber, where they were partially
+screened from observation. Hitherto the girls had not spoken a
+word since they had issued from the house. Virginie was dazed and
+frightened by the events of the night, and had hurried along almost
+mechanically holding Marie's hand. Marie's brain was too full to
+talk; her thoughts were with her father and mother and with her
+absent lover. She wondered that he had not come to her in spite of
+everything. Perhaps he was already a captive; perhaps, in obedience
+to his father's orders, he was in hiding, waiting events. That
+he could, even had his father commanded him, have left Paris as a
+fugitive without coming to see her, did not even occur to her as
+possible.
+
+With these thoughts there was mingled a vague wonder at her own
+position. A few weeks since petted and cared for as the eldest
+daughter of one of the noblest families of France, now a fugitive
+in the streets under the sole care of this English boy. She had,
+the evening before, silently sided with Ernest. It had seemed to
+her wrong that he should be sent away, and the assertion of Harry
+that he intended to stay and watch over her and her sisters seemed
+at once absurd and presumptuous; but she already felt that she had
+been wrong in that opinion.
+
+The decision and coolness with which he had at once taken the
+command from the moment he met them in the gallery, and the quickness
+with which he had seized the only mode of escape, had surprised
+and dominated her. Her own impulse, when on opening the door she
+heard the attack that was being made on the gate, was to draw back
+instantly and return to the side of her parents, and it was due to
+Harry only that she and her sisters had got safely away.
+
+Hitherto, although after the incident of the mad dog she had exchanged
+her former attitude of absolute indifference to one of cordiality
+and friendliness, she had regarded him as a boy. Indeed she had
+treated and considered him as being very much younger than Ernest,
+and in some respects she had been justified in doing so, for in
+his light-hearted fun, his love of active exercise, and his entire
+absence of any assumption of age, he was far more boyish than
+Ernest. But although her thoughts were too busy  now to permit her
+to analyse her feelings, she knew that she had been mistaken, and
+felt a strange confidence in this lad who had so promptly and coolly
+assumed the entire command of the party, and had piloted them with
+such steady nerve through the danger.
+
+As for Jeanne, she felt no surprise and but little alarm. Her
+confidence in her protector was unbounded. Prompt and cool as he
+was himself, she was ready on the instant to obey his orders, and
+felt a certain sensation of pride at the manner in which her previous
+confidence in him was being justified.
+
+After placing the girls in their shelter Harry had left them and
+stood leaning against the parapet of the quay as if carelessly
+watching the water, but maintaining a vigilant look-out against
+the approach of danger. The number of passers-by increased rapidly.
+The washerwomen came down to the boats moored in the stream and
+began their operation of banging the linen with wooden beaters.
+Market-women came along with baskets, the hum and stir of life
+everywhere commenced, and Paris was fairly awake.
+
+Seeing that it was safe now to proceed, Harry returned to his
+companions. He had scarcely glanced at them before, and now looked
+approvingly at their disguises, to which the marquise had, during
+the long hours of the night, devoted the most zealous attention.
+Marie had been made to look much older than she was. A few dark
+lines carefully traced on her forehead, at the corners of her eyes
+and mouth, had added many years to her appearance, and she could
+have passed, except to the closest observer, as the mother of
+Virginie, whose dress was calculated to make her look even younger
+than she was. The hands and faces of all three had been slightly
+tinged with brown to give them a sun-burnt aspect in accordance
+with their peasant dresses, and so complete was the transformation
+that Harry could scarcely suppress a start of surprise as he looked
+at the group.
+
+"It would be safe now, mademoiselle," he said to Marie, "for us to
+proceed. There are plenty of people about in the streets; but as
+the news has, no doubt, already been spread that the daughters of
+the Marquis de St. Caux had left the house before those charged
+with their father's arrest arrived, it will be better for you not
+to keep together. I would suggest that you should walk on with
+Virginie.  I will follow with Jeanne a hundred yards behind, so
+that I can keep you in sight, and will come up if anyone should
+accost you."
+
+Marie at once rose, and taking the child's hand set out. They had
+to traverse the greater part of Paris to reach their destination.
+It was a trial for Marie, who had never before been in the streets
+of Paris except with her mother and closely followed by two domestics,
+and even then only through the quiet streets of a fashionable
+quarter.  However, she went steadily forward, tightly holding
+Virginie's hand and trying to walk as if accustomed to them in the
+thick heavy shoes which felt so strangely different to those which
+she was in the habit of wearing.
+
+From time to time she addressed an encouraging word to Virginie
+as she felt her shrink as they approached groups of men lounging
+outside the wine-shops, for there was but little work done in Paris,
+and the men of the lower class spent their time in idleness, in
+discussions of the events of the day, or in joining the mobs which,
+under one pretext or another, kept the streets in an uproar.
+
+Fortunately Marie knew the way perfectly and there was no occasion
+for her to ask for directions, for she had frequently driven with
+her mother to visit Louise Moulin. The latter occupied the upper
+floor of a house in a quiet quarter near the fortifications in the
+north-western part of the town. A message had been sent to her the
+night before, and she was on the look-out for her visitors, but
+she did not recognize them, and she uttered a cry of surprise as
+Marie and Virginie entered the room.
+
+"Is it you, mademoiselle?" she exclaimed in great surprise. "And
+you, my little angel? My eyes must be getting old, indeed, that I
+did not recognize you; but you are finely disguised. But where is
+Mademoiselle Jeanne?"
+
+"She will be here in a moment, Louise; she is just behind. But you
+must not call me mademoiselle; you must remember that we are your
+nieces Marie and Jeanne, and that you are our aunt Louise Moulin,
+whom we have come to stay with."
+
+"I shall remember in time," the old woman said. "I have been
+talking about you to my neighbours for the last week, of how your
+good father and mother have died, and how you were going to journey
+to Paris under the charge of a neighbour, who was bringing a waggon
+load of wine from Burgundy, and  how you were going to look after
+me and help me in the house since I am getting old and infirm, and
+the young ones were to stop with me till they were old enough to
+go out to service. Ah, here is Mademoiselle Jeanne!"
+
+"Here is Jeanne," Marie corrected; "thank God we have all got here
+safely. This, Louise, is a young English gentleman who is going to
+remain in Paris at present, and to whom we are indebted for having
+got us safely here."
+
+"And your mother," Louise Moulin exclaimed, "the darling lamb
+I nursed, what of her and your father? I fear, from the message I
+got last night, that some danger threatens them."
+
+"They have, I fear, been arrested by the sans culottes," Marie said
+mournfully as she burst into tears, feeling, now that the strain
+was over, the natural reaction after her efforts to be calm. For
+her mother's sake she had held up to the last, and had tried to
+make the parting as easy as possible.
+
+"The wretches!" the old woman said, stamping her foot. "Old as I am
+I feel that I could tear them to pieces. But there I am chattering
+away, and you must be faint with hunger. I have a nice soup ready
+on the fire, a plate of that will do good to you all. And you too,
+monsieur, you will join us, I hope?"
+
+Harry was nothing loth, for his appetite was always a healthy one.
+When he had finished he said:
+
+"Madame Moulin, I have been thinking that it would be an advantage
+if you would take a lodging for me. If you would say that a youth
+whose friends are known to you has arrived from Dijon, to make his
+way in Paris, and they have asked you to seek a lodging for him;
+it will seem less strange than if I went by myself. I should like
+it to be near, so that you can come to me quickly should anything
+out of the way occur. I should like to look in sometimes to see that
+all is well. You could mention to your neighbours that I travelled
+up with the same waggon with your nieces.
+
+"I will do that willingly," the old woman said; "but first, my dears,
+you must have some rest; come in here." And she led the way to the
+next room. "There is a bed for you, Mademoiselle Marie, and one for
+the two young ones. The room is not like what you are accustomed
+to, but I dared not buy finer things, though I had plenty of money
+from your mother to have  furnished the rooms like a palace; but you
+see it would have seemed strange to my neighbours; but, at least,
+everything is clean and sweet."
+
+Leaving the girls, who were worn out with weariness and anxiety,
+to sleep, she rejoined Harry.
+
+"Now, monsieur, I will do your business. It is a comfort to me to
+feel that some one will be near of whom I can ask advice, for it is
+a terrible responsibility for an old woman in such dreadful times
+as these, when it seems to me that everyone has gone mad at once.
+What sort of a chamber do you want?"
+
+"Quite a small one," Harry answered, "just such a chamber as a
+young clerk on the look-out for employment and with his pocket very
+slenderly lined, would desire."
+
+"I know just such a one," the old woman said. "It is a house a
+few doors away and has been tenanted by a friend of mine, a young
+workwoman, who was married four days ago--it is a quiet place,
+and the people keep to themselves, and do not trouble about their
+neighbours' affairs."
+
+"That will just suit me," Harry said. "I suppose there is no porter
+below, so that I can go in or out without being noticed."
+
+"Oh, we have no porters in this quarter, and you can go in and out
+as you like."
+
+Half an hour later the matter was settled, and Harry was installed
+in his apartment, which was a little room scantily furnished, at
+the top of the house, the window looking into the street in front.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+An Anxious Time
+
+
+Harry and the girls had brought bundles of clothes with them
+in their flight, as it would have looked strange had they arrived
+without any clothes save those they wore. Harry had brought with him
+only underlinen, as he had nothing else which would be of service
+to him now.  No sooner had Louise Moulin left him than he went out
+and purchased, at a second-hand shop, a workman's suit. This he
+carried home, and dressing himself in it descended the stairs again
+and set out to retrace his steps across Paris.
+
+When he reached the mansion of the marquis he found a crowd of
+people going in and out. Those leaving the house were laden with
+articles of furniture, clocks, pictures, bedding, and other things.
+A complete sack of the mansion was indeed taking place. The servants
+had all fled after the arrest of the marquis and his wife, and
+the mob had taken possession of the house. The lofty mirrors were
+smashed into fragments, the costly hangings torn down, and after
+they had destroyed much of the elaborate furniture, every man and
+woman began to lay hands upon whatever they fancied and the mansion
+was already stripped of the greater part of its belongings.
+
+With his hands in his pockets, whistling carelessly, Harry wandered
+from room to room watching the proceedings. Several barrels of wine
+had been brought up into the salon, and round these were gathered
+a number of already drunken men, singing, shouting, and dancing.
+
+"Drink, drink, my garcon," a woman said, holding a silver goblet
+full of wine towards him, "drink confusion to the tyrants and
+liberty and freedom to the people."
+
+Harry drank the toast without hesitation, and then, heartsick
+at the destruction and ruin, wandered out again into the streets.
+Knowing the anxiety which Marie would be suffering as to the safety
+of her lover he next took his way to the mansion of the Duke de
+Gisons. The house was shut up, but groups of men were standing in
+the road opposite talking.
+
+Sauntering along Harry stopped near enough to one of these to hear
+what they were saying. He learned that the duke had been arrested
+only that morning. It had been effected quietly, the doors had
+again been locked before those in the neighbourhood knew what was
+going on, and a guard had been left inside, partly, it was said, in
+order that the mansion might be preserved from pillage and be used
+for public purposes, partly that the young count, who was absent,
+might be arrested when he returned.
+
+As Harry knew that the duke had estates in the neighbourhood of
+Fontainebleau he thought it probable that Victor might have gone
+thither, and he at once proceeded towards the gate by which he would
+enter on his return thence. He sat down a short distance outside
+the gate and watched patiently for some hours until he perceived a
+horseman approaching at a gallop and at once recognized Victor de
+Gisons. Harry went forward on to the road and held out his arms.
+The young count, not recognizing him, did not check his horse and
+would have ridden him down had he not jumped aside, at the same
+time shouting to him by name to stop.
+
+"What do you want, fellow?" Victor exclaimed, reining in his horse.
+
+"You do not recognize me!" Harry said. "I am Harry Sandwith, count,
+and I am here to warn you of the danger of proceeding."
+
+"Why, what has happened?" Victor exclaimed anxiously; "and why are
+you in disguise, Monsieur Sandwith?"
+
+"A great number of arrests have taken place in the night, among them
+that of the Marquis de St. Caux and your father. Men are waiting
+inside your house to arrest you as you enter."
+
+Victor uttered an exclamation of anger.
+
+"That is why I have been sent away," he said. "My father had no
+doubt received a warning of what was about to happen, and yesterday
+at noon he requested me to ride to his estate and have an interview
+with the steward as to the rents. I wondered at his sending me
+so suddenly, and, feeling uneasy,  rode there post-haste, saw the
+steward last night, and started again on a fresh horse this morning.
+This accounts for it. He knew that if I were there nothing would
+have induced me to separate myself from him, while by sending me
+away he left it to me to do as I thought fit afterwards, trusting
+that when I found that he was already imprisoned I might follow the
+counsel he had urged upon me, to make my escape from the country.
+And how about the ladies, how about Marie?"
+
+"The marquise was conveyed to prison with the marquis. The three
+young ladies are all safe with their mother's old servant, Louise
+Moulin; this is her address. They are in disguise as peasants, and
+no suspicion will, I hope, arise as to their real position. Not
+that the marquis thought it probable they would be included in
+the order of arrest, but he said there was no knowing now to what
+lengths the mob might go and he thought it better that they should
+disappear altogether for the present. Ernest and Jules went away
+in disguise with Monsieur du Tillet. After seeing the young ladies
+in safety this morning I went down to see what had happened at your
+father's mansion, in order to assuage Mademoiselle de St. Caux's
+anxiety respecting your safety, and found, as I expected, that
+the duke had been arrested, and learned that a party were inside
+waiting to arrest you on your return.
+
+"I thank you indeed," Victor said, "and most warmly. I do not
+know what to do. My father is most anxious that I should cross the
+frontier, but I cannot go so long as he and Marie are in danger."
+
+"If you enter Paris as you are," Harry said, "you are certain to
+be arrested. Your only chance would be to do as I have done, namely
+to disguise yourself and take a small lodging, where you might live
+unsuspected."
+
+"And in that way I can see Marie sometimes," Victor said.
+
+"You could do so," Harry agreed, in a somewhat hesitating way, "but
+it would greatly add to her danger, and, were you detected, might
+lead to the discovery of her disguise. Besides, the thought that
+you were liable to arrest at any time would naturally heighten the
+anxiety from which she is suffering as to the fate of her father
+and mother."
+
+"But I cannot and will not run away and leave them all here in
+danger," Victor said passionately.
+
+"I would not advise you to do so," Harry replied. "I would only
+suggest, that after seeing Mademoiselle de St. Caux once, you
+should lead her to believe that you have decided upon making for
+the frontier, and she will therefore have the happiness of believing
+that you are safe, while you are still near and watching over her."
+
+"That is all very well," Victor said; "but what opinion would she
+have of me if she thought me capable of deserting her in that way?"
+
+"You would represent that you were obeying the duke's orders; and
+besides, if you did suffer in her opinion it would be but temporarily,
+for when she learned the truth, that you had only pretended to
+leave in order that her position might be the safer and that her
+mind might be relieved, she could only think more highly of you.
+Besides, if necessary, you could at any time again present yourself
+before her."
+
+"Your counsel is good, Monsieur Sandwith, and I will, at anyrate
+for a time, follow it. As you say, I can at anytime reappear.
+Where are you lodging? I will take a room near, and we can meet
+and compare notes and act together."
+
+Harry gave him his address.
+
+"You have only to walk upstairs to the top story. My room is the
+one directly opposite the top of the stairs."
+
+"I will call on you to-morrow morning," Victor said. "I will ride
+my horse a few miles back and turn him loose in some quiet place,
+and buy at the first village a blouse and workman's pantaloons."
+
+"I think," Harry said, "that would be unwise, count; it would look
+strange in the extreme for a gentleman dressed as you are to make
+such a purchase. You might be at once arrested, or a report of the
+circumstance might be sent into Paris and lead to your discovery.
+If you will wait here for half an hour I will go back and buy you
+the things you want at the first shop I come to and bring them out
+to you. Then you can ride back and loose the horse as you propose;
+but I should advise you to hide the saddle and bridle, as well as
+the clothes you are now wearing, most carefully. Whoever finds your
+horse will probably appropriate it and will say nothing about it,
+so that all clue to your movements will be lost, and it will be
+supposed that you have ridden to the frontier."
+
+"Peste, Monsieur Sandwith! You seem to have a head ready for all
+emergencies. I know what a high opinion the marquis had of you,
+and I perceive that it is fully justified, and consider myself as
+fortunate indeed in having you for a friend in such a time as the
+present."
+
+"We have need of all our wits," Harry said quietly. "The marquis
+was good enough to accept my offer to do all that I could to look
+after the safety of mesdemoiselles, and if I fail in my trust it
+will not, I hope, be from any lack of care or courage."
+
+The meeting had taken place at a point where it could not be observed
+from the gate, and the count withdrew a few hundred yards farther
+away while Harry went back into Paris. The latter had no difficulty
+in purchasing the clothes required by the count and returned with
+them in little over a quarter of an hour, and then, having seen
+De Gisons ride off, he sauntered back into Paris and made his way
+towards the heart of the city.
+
+Crossing the river he found a vast crowd gathered in front of the
+Hotel de Ville. The news of the wholesale arrests which had been
+made during the night had filled the populace with joy, and the air
+was full of shouts of "Down with the Aristocrats!" "Vive Danton!
+Vive Marat! Vive Robespierre!" Hawkers were selling, in the crowd,
+newspapers and broadsheets filled with the foulest attacks, couched
+in the most horrible language, upon the king, the queen, and the
+aristocracy.
+
+At various points men, mounted upon steps or the pedestals of
+statues, harangued the mob while from time to time the crowd opened
+and made way for members of the city council, who were cheered or
+hooted according to their supposed sentiments for or against the
+cause of the people. After remaining there for some time Harry
+made his way to the entrance to the Assembly. A crowd was gathered
+here, and a tremendous rush was made when the doors were opened.
+Harry managed to force his way in and sat for some hours listening to
+the debate, which was constantly interrupted by the people in the
+galleries, who applauded with frenzy the speeches of their favourite
+orators, the deputies of the Mountain, as the bank of seats occupied
+by the Jacobin members was named, and howled and yelled when the
+Girondists ventured to advocate moderation or conciliation.
+
+It was late in the evening before the sitting was over, and Harry
+was unable to leave his place earlier. Then he went and had supper
+at a wineshop, and after sauntering on the Boulevards until the
+streets began to be deserted he again crossed the river and made
+his way to the mansion. Not a light was to be seen in the windows
+and all was still and quiet. The great door stood open. The work
+of destruction was complete; the house was stripped of everything
+that could be carried away.
+
+Harry made his way up to the bedroom of the marquis. The massive
+bedstead still stood in its place, having defied the efforts
+of destruction which had proved successful with the cabinets and
+other furniture. Sitting down on the floor Harry counted the boards
+beneath the bed, and then taking out a strong knife which he had
+purchased during the day he inserted it by the side of the middle
+board and tried to raise it. It yielded without difficulty to his
+effort.
+
+As soon as it was lifted he groped in the cavity below it, and his
+hand soon came in contact with the heavy bag. Taking this out and
+putting it beneath his blouse he replaced the board and made his
+way downstairs. He felt too fatigued to walk across Paris again,
+and therefore made his way down to the river and curled himself
+up for the night at the foot of the wood pile where the girls had
+found shelter in the morning, and, in spite of the novelty of his
+situation, fell instantly asleep.
+
+It was broad daylight when he woke, and an hour later he regained
+his lodgings, stopping by the way to breakfast at a quiet estaminet
+frequented by the better class of workmen. As when he had sallied
+out the day before, he was fortunate in meeting no one as he made
+his way up the stairs to his room. His first step was to get up
+a board and to deposit beneath it the bag of money. Then, having
+changed his clothes, he went out and made a variety of purchases
+for housekeeping, as he did not wish to be obliged to take his
+meals at places where anyone sitting at the table with him might
+enter into conversation.
+
+His French was quite good enough to pass in the salon of the
+marquis, but his ignorance of the Parisian slang spoken among the
+working-classes would have rendered it difficult for him to keep
+up his assumed character among them, and would have needed the
+fabrication of all sorts of stories as to his birthplace and past
+history.
+
+Although in the position in which he was placed Harry felt that it
+would be impossible always to adhere to the truth, he shrank from
+any falsehoods that could possibly be avoided.
+
+His first duty in order to carry out the task he had undertaken was
+to keep up his disguise, and this must be done even at the cost of
+telling lies as to his antecedents; but he was determined that he
+would avoid this unpleasant necessity as far as lay in his power.
+
+At nine o'clock he made his way to the apartments of Louise Moulin.
+His entry was received with a cry of satisfaction from the girls.
+
+"What is the news, Harry?" Jeanne exclaimed. "We expected you here
+yesterday evening, and sat up till ten o'clock."
+
+"I was over the other side of the river discharging a mission your
+father had confided to me, and did not get back till this morning."
+
+"I knew he was prevented by something," Jeanne said triumphantly.
+"I told you so, Marie--didn't I?"
+
+"Yes, dear, I was wrong to be impatient; but you will forgive me,
+Harry? You can guess how I suffered yesterday."
+
+"It was natural you should expect me, mademoiselle. I was sorry
+afterwards that I did not tell you when I left you that I should
+not be able to come in the evening, but indeed I did not think of
+it at the time."
+
+"And now for your news, Harry," Jeanne asked impatiently; "have
+you learned anything about our father and mother?"
+
+"I am sorry to say I have not, except that they, with many others,
+were taken to the prison of Bicetre. But I have good news for you,
+Mademoiselle Marie. After going first to the house and finding it in
+the possession of a hideous mob, who were plundering and drinking,
+I went to see what had taken place at the hotel of the Duc de
+Gisons.  I found that he had, like your father, been arrested in
+the night. I learned that the count was absent, and that a party
+were inside in readiness to arrest him on his return. Thinking
+it probable that he might have gone down to their estate near
+Fontainebleau, I went out beyond the gate on that road and waited
+for him. I had the good fortune to meet him, to warn him of his
+danger, and to prevent his returning to town. He rode away with a
+suit of workman's clothes I had procured for him, and was to enter
+Paris in that disguise in the evening. He is to call on me at ten
+o'clock, and I will then conduct him hither. I thought it best to
+come in before to let you know that he was coming."
+
+Marie burst into tears of happiness at hearing that her lover had
+escaped from the danger which threatened. Worn out by the fatigue
+and anxiety of the previous night, she had slept for some hours
+after reaching the shelter of the old nurse's roof, but she had
+lain awake all night thinking over the danger of all those dear to
+her.  She was now completely overcome with the revulsion of feeling.
+
+"You are a dear boy, Harry!" Jeanne said with frank admiration,
+while Marie sobbed out exclamations of gratitude. "You do seem to
+think about everything; and now Marie knows that Victor is safe, I
+do hope she is going to be more like herself. As I tell her, they
+cannot hurt father or mother. They have done no wrong, and they
+must let them out of prison after a time. Mamma said we were to
+be brave; and at anyrate I try to be, and so does Virginie, though
+she does cry sometimes. And now I hope Marie will be cheerful too,
+and not go about the rooms looking so downcast and wretched. It
+seems to me a miserable thing being in love. I should have thought
+Marie would have been the last person to be downcast, for no one
+is prouder of being a St. Caux than she is."
+
+"I shall be better now, Jeanne," Marie said smiling, as she wiped
+away her tears. "You shall not have any reason to complain of me
+in future.
+
+"But do you not think, Harry," she went on with a return of her
+anxiety, "that it is very dangerous for Victor to come back into
+Paris? I know that his father has long been praying him to make
+for the frontier."
+
+"I do not think it is very dangerous at present, mademoiselle,
+although it may be later, if this rage against the aristocrats
+increases; but I hope that when he has once seen you, which is
+his principal object in returning to Paris, he will carry our his
+father's wishes and make for the frontier, for his presence here
+can be of no possible utility."
+
+"Oh, I hope so," Marie said, "for I am sure Victor would soon
+be found out, he could never make himself look like one of these
+canaille."
+
+"Why shouldn't he?" Jeanne said indignantly. "Harry does, and he
+is just as good-looking as Victor."
+
+Marie burst into a fit of laughter.
+
+"What a champion you are, child, to be sure! But you are quite
+right. Clothes, after all, do go a long way towards making a man.
+Still, although I think that it is dangerous for Harry, I think it
+will be more dangerous for Victor; because, you see, he is a man
+and he has the manner of his race, and would find it more difficult
+to pass himself off as a workman than Harry, who has got something
+of English"--and she hesitated.
+
+"Roughness," Harry put in laughing. "You are quite right, mademoiselle.
+I can assure you that with these thick shoes on I find it quite
+natural for me to slouch along as the workmen do; and it will be
+much more difficult for the count, who always walks with his head
+thrown back, and a sort of air of looking down upon mankind in
+general."
+
+Marie laughed this time.
+
+"That is a fair retort. Victor certainly has the grand manner.
+However, I shall order him to go; and if he won't obey his father's
+wishes, he will have to give way to mine."
+
+"I think, mademoiselle, that it would be wiser for Monsieur de Gisons
+to meet you elsewhere than here. The arrival of three relations to
+stop with Madame Moulin is sure to attract some little attention
+among her neighbours just at first. You will be the subject of talk
+and gossip. My visit will no doubt be noticed, and it will be as
+well that there should not be more material for talk. The less we
+attract attention the better. No doubt many have escaped arrest,
+and there will be a sharp look-out, for, as they will call us,
+suspicious persons. I should propose, if you have no objection to
+such a course, that you should stroll out with your sisters and
+Louise through the fields to St.  Denis. The count will be in my
+room in a few minutes. We can keep a look-out from my window and
+follow you at a distance until we get clear from observation beyond
+the gates."
+
+Marie looked at Madame Moulin, who nodded.
+
+"That would be the best plan, my dear.  What Monsieur Sandwith
+says is very true. The less we give the neighbours to gossip about
+the better; for though your disguises are good, if sharp eyes are
+watching you they may note something in your walk or air that may
+excite suspicion."
+
+"That being arranged then you must excuse me, for it is just the
+time when the count was to arrive, and I fancy that he will be
+before rather than behind time."
+
+Indeed, upon reaching the door of his room Harry found the young
+count standing there.
+
+"Oh, it is you, friend Harry! I have been here ten minutes, and I
+began to be afraid that something might have happened to you and
+to imagine all sorts of things."
+
+"It is still three or four minutes before the time we agreed upon,
+Victor," Harry said in a loud voice, for at this moment one of the
+other doors opened, and a woman came out with a basket in her arms.
+
+"I have been looking about as usual, but without luck so far. I
+suppose you have had no better fortune in your search for work?"
+He had by this time unlocked his door, and the two entered together.
+
+"I must call you by your Christian name, count, and will do so, if
+you don't mind, when alone as at other times, otherwise the title
+might slip out accidentally. Will you, on your part, call me Henri?
+As you know the marquis and his family called me Harry, which is
+the ordinary way in England of calling anyone whose name is Henry,
+that is unless he is a soft sort of fellow; but I must ask them to
+call me Henri now, Harry would never do here."
+
+"Have you seen them?" was the count's first question.
+
+"I have just left them, Victor, and if you look out from that window
+into the street you will in a few minutes see them also; they are
+just going for a ramble towards St. Denis, and we will follow them.
+I thought it safer not to attract attention by going to the house,
+and I also thought that it would be more pleasant for you to talk
+to Mademoiselle de St. Caux out there in the fields, than in a
+little room with us present.
+
+"Much more pleasant; indeed, I was wondering whether I should get
+an opportunity for a few minutes' talk alone with her."
+
+They both took their places at the open window and leaned out
+apparently chatting and carelessly watching what was passing in
+the street.
+
+A quarter of an hour later they saw Louise Moulin and the girls
+come out of their house.
+
+"We had better come away from the window now," Harry said; "Virginie
+might look up and nod, we can't be too careful."
+
+They waited three or four minutes to allow the others to get well
+ahead and then started out after them; they walked fast until they
+caught sight of the others, and then kept some distance behind
+until the party had left the town and were out among the fields
+which lay between Paris and St. Denis. They then quickened their
+pace and were soon up with them.
+
+The greeting between the lovers was a silent one, few words were
+spoken, but their faces expressed their joy at meeting again after
+the perils through which they had passed; there was a little pause,
+and then Harry, as usual, took the lead.
+
+"I will stroll on to St. Denis and back with Jeanne and Virginie;
+Madame Moulin can sit down on that log over there, and go on with
+her knitting; you, Victor, can ramble on with mademoiselle by that
+path through the field; we will agree to meet here again in an
+hour."
+
+This arrangement was carried out; Jeanne and Virginie really enjoyed
+their walk; the latter thought their disguise was great fun, and,
+being naturally a little mimic, imitated so well the walk and
+manner of the country children she had seen in her walks near the
+chateau that her sister and Harry were greatly amused.
+
+"I like this too, Harry," Jeanne said. "It would not be nice to be
+a peasant girl for many things; but it must be joyful to be able
+to walk, and run, and do just as you please, without having a
+gouvernante always with you to say, Hold up your head, Mademoiselle
+Jeanne; Do not swing your arms, Mademoiselle Jeanne; Please walk
+more sedately, Mademoiselle Jeanne. Oh, it was hateful! Now we
+might run, mightn't we, Harry?"
+
+"Oh, by the way, Jeanne, please call me Henri now; Harry is English,
+and people would notice directly if you happened to say it while
+anyone is near."
+
+"I like Harry best," Jeanne said; "but, of course, I should not
+say it before the people; but may we run just for once?"
+
+"Certainly you may," Harry laughed; "you and Virginie can have a
+race to the corner of that wall."
+
+"Come on, Virginie," Jeanne cried as she started, and the two
+girls ran at full speed to the wall; Jeanne, however, completely
+distancing her younger sister. They were both laughing when Harry
+came up.
+
+"That is the first time I have run a race," Jeanne said. "I have
+often wanted to try how fast I could run, but I have never ventured
+to ask mademoiselle; she would have been horrified; but I don't
+know how it is Virginie does not run faster."
+
+"Virginie has more flesh," Harry said smiling. "She carries weight,
+as we should say in England, while you have nothing to spare.
+
+"And she is three years older," Virginie put in. "Jeanne is just
+sixteen, and I am not thirteen yet; it makes a difference."
+
+"A great deal of difference," Harry agreed; "but I don't think you
+will ever run as fast as she does. That will not matter, you know,"
+he went on, as Virginie looked a little disappointed, "because it
+is not likely that you will ever race again; but Jeanne looks cut
+out for a runner--just the build, you see--tall, and slim, and
+active."
+
+"Yes," Virginie agreed frankly, "Jeanne has walked ever so far and
+never gets tired, while I get dreadfully tired; mamma says sometimes
+I am quite a baby for my age."
+
+"Here are some people coming," Harry said; "as we pass them please
+talk with a little patois. Your good French would be suspicious."
+
+All the children of the marquis, from their visits among the peasants'
+cottages, had picked up a good deal of the Burgundian patois, and
+when talking among themselves often used the expressions current
+among the peasantry, and they now dropped into this talk, which
+Harry had also acquired, as they passed a group of people coming
+in from St. Denis.
+
+They walked nearly as far as that town, and then turned and reached
+the point where the party had separated, a few minutes before the
+expiration of the appointed hour.
+
+The two girls ran away to Louise Moulin, and chatted to her gaily,
+while Harry walked up and down until, a quarter of an hour later,
+the count and Marie made their appearance. The party stood talking
+together for a few minutes; then adieus were said with a very pale
+face, but with firmness on  Marie's part, and then the girls, with
+Louise, turned their faces to Paris, while Harry and Victor remained
+behind until they had got well on their way.
+
+"It was hard to deceive her," Victor said; "but you were right.
+She insisted that I should go. I seemed to resist, and urged that
+it was cowardly for me to run away and to leave her here alone,
+but she would not listen to it. She said it was a duty I owed to my
+father and family to save myself, and that she should be wretched
+if she thought I was in Paris in constant danger of arrest. Finally,
+I had to give way to her, but it went against the grain, for even
+while she was urging me she must have felt in her heart it would be
+cowardly of me to go.  However, she will know some day that Victor
+de Gisons is no coward."
+
+"I am sure it is better so," Harry said. "She will have anxiety
+enough to bear as to her father and mother; it is well that her
+mind should be at ease concerning you."
+
+"In reality," Victor said, "I shall be safer here than I should be
+journeying towards the frontier. The papers this morning say that
+in consequence of the escape of suspected persons, and of the
+emigration of the nobles to join the enemies of France, orders
+have been sent that the strictest scrutiny is to be exercised on
+the roads leading to the frontier, over all strangers who may pass
+through. All who cannot give a perfectly satisfactory account of
+themselves and produce their papers en regle, are to be arrested
+and sent to Paris. Therefore, my chance of getting through would be
+small indeed, whereas while remaining in Paris there can be little
+fear of detection."
+
+"Not much risk, I hope," Harry agreed; "but there is no saying what
+stringent steps they may take as time goes on."
+
+Victor had taken a lodging a few houses from that of Harry.  Every
+day the excitement in Paris increased, every day there were fresh
+arrests until all the prisons became crowded to overflowing. It
+was late in August; the Prussians were advancing and had laid siege
+to Verdun, and terror was added to the emotions which excited to
+madness the population of Paris. Black flags were hung from the
+steeples, and Danton and his allies skilfully used the fear inspired
+by the foreign enemy to add to the general hatred of the Royalists.
+
+"We Republicans," he said in the rostrum of the Assembly, "are
+exposed to two parties, that of the enemy without, that of the
+Royalists within. There is a Royalist directory which sits secretly
+at Paris and corresponds with the Prussian army. To frustrate it
+we must terrify the Royalists."
+
+The Assembly decreed death against all who directly or indirectly
+refused to execute or hindered the orders given by the executive
+power.  Rumours of conspiracy agitated Paris and struck alarm into
+people's minds, while those who had friends within the prison walls
+became more and more alarmed for their safety.
+
+On the 28th of August orders were issued that all the inhabitants
+of Paris were to stay in their houses in order that a visit might
+be made by the delegates of the Commune to search for arms, of which
+Danton had declared there were eighty thousand hidden in Paris, and
+to search for suspected persons. As soon as the order was issued,
+Harry and Victor went to their lodgings, and telling their landlords
+that they had obtained work at the other end of town, paid their
+rent and left the city, and for the next two days slept in the
+woods.
+
+They passed most of their time discussing projects for enabling
+their friends to escape, for from the stringency of the steps taken,
+and the violence of the Commune, they could no longer indulge in
+the hopes that in a short time the prisoners against whom no serious
+charge could be brought, would be released. At the same time they
+could hardly persuade themselves that even such men as those who
+now held the supreme power in their hands, could intend to take
+extreme measures against so vast a number of prisoners as were now
+in custody.
+
+Victor and Harry knew that their friends had at first been taken to
+the prison of Bicetre, but whether they were still confined there
+they were of course ignorant. Still there was no reason to suppose
+that they had been transferred to any of the other jails.
+
+The Bicetre was, they had discovered, so strongly guarded that
+neither force nor stratagem seemed available. The jailers were the
+creatures of Danton and Robespierre, and any attempt to bribe them
+would have been dangerous in the extreme. Victor proposed that,
+as he as well as Harry was well provided with funds, for he had
+brought to Paris all the money which the steward of the estates
+had collected, they should recruit a band among the ruffians of the
+city, and make a sudden attack upon the prison. But  Harry pointed
+out that a numerous band would be required for such an enterprise,
+and that among so many men one would be sure to turn traitor before
+the time came.
+
+"I am ready to run all risks, Victor, but I see no chance of success
+in it. The very first man we spoke to might denounce us, and if
+we were seized there would be no one to look after the safety of
+Mademoiselle de St. Caux and her sisters. My first duty is towards
+them. I gave my promise to their father, and although it is not
+probable that I can be of any use to them, I will at any rate, if
+possible, be at hand should occasion arise."
+
+On the evening of the 30th they returned to Paris, and took two
+fresh apartments at a distance from their former quarters.
+
+They were greatly anxious as to the safety of the girls, and Harry
+at once hastened there, but found that all was well. The deputies,
+learning from the landlord that only an old woman and her nieces
+inhabited the upper story, and having a heavy task before them,
+had only paid a short visit to the room, and had left after asking
+Louise one or two questions.
+
+The girls, however, were in a state of terrible anxiety as to
+their parents, although Louise had avoided repeating to them the
+sinister rumours which came to her ears when she was abroad doing
+her marketing, for she now went out alone, thinking it better that
+the girls should appear as little as possible in the streets.
+
+"It is terrible," Marie said. "I think night and day of our father
+and mother. Can nothing be done? Surely we might devise some means
+for their escape."
+
+"I can think of nothing," Harry said. "The prison is too strong to
+be taken without a considerable force, and it would be impossible
+to get that together."
+
+"Could we not bribe these wretches?"
+
+"I have thought over that too," Harry replied; "but, you see, it
+would be necessary to get several men to work together. One might,
+perhaps, bribe the man who has charge of the cell, but there would
+be other warders, and the guard at the gate, and the latter are
+changed every day. I do not see how that could possibly be done."
+
+"Would it be any use, do you think, were I to go to Danton or
+Robespierre and plead with them for their lives? I would do that
+willingly if you think there would be the slightest chance of
+success."
+
+"It would be like a lamb going to plead with a wolf. You would only
+attract attention to them."
+
+"Could you not get hold of one of these wretches and force him to
+sign an order for their release?" Jeanne suggested.
+
+"Eh!" Harry exclaimed in surprise. "Jeanne, you have the best
+head of us all. That idea never occurred to me. Yes, that might be
+possible. How stupid of me not to think of it!"
+
+"Do not run into any danger, Harry," Marie said earnestly.  "Such
+a scheme could hardly succeed."
+
+"I don't know, mademoiselle. I think it might. I will think it over.
+Of course there are difficulties, but I do not see why it should
+not succeed."
+
+"Certainly it will succeed if Harry undertakes it," Jeanne said,
+with implicit trust in his powers.
+
+Harry laughed, and even Marie, anxious as she was, could not help
+smiling.
+
+"I will try and deserve your confidence, Jeanne; but I am not a
+magician. But I will talk it over with"--and he hesitated--"with
+a young fellow who is, like myself, a Royalist, and in disguise.
+Luckily, we ran against each other the other day, and after a
+little conversation discovered each other. He, too, has relatives
+in prison, and will, I am sure, join me in any scheme I may undertake.
+Two heads are better than one, and four are much better than two
+when it comes to acting.  And now I must say good-night. I hope
+when I see you again I shall be able to tell you that I have formed
+some sort of plan for their release."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+The 2d of September
+
+
+Victor de Gisons was, as usual, waiting near the door when Harry
+left Louise Moulin's.
+
+"What is the news, Henri? Nothing suspicious, I hope? You are out
+sooner than usual."
+
+"Yes, for I have something to think of. Here have we been planning
+in vain for the last fortnight to hit upon some scheme for getting
+our friends out of prison, and Jeanne has pointed out a way which
+you and I never thought of."
+
+"What is that, Henri?"
+
+"The simplest thing in the world, namely, that we should seize one
+of the leaders of these villains and compel him to sign an order
+for their release."
+
+"That certainly seems possible," Victor said. "I wonder it never
+occurred to either of us. But how is it to be done?"
+
+"Ah, that is for us to think out! Jeanne has given us the idea, and
+we should be stupid if we cannot invent the details. In the first
+place we have got to settle which of them it had better be, and
+in the next how it is to be managed. It must be some one whose
+signature the people at the prison would be sure to obey."
+
+"Then," Victor said, "it must be either Danton or Robespierre."
+
+"Or Marat," Harry added; "I think he is as powerful as either of
+the others."
+
+"He is the worst of them, anyhow," Victor said. "There is something
+straightforward about Danton. No doubt he is ambitious, but I think
+his hatred of us all is real. He is a terrible enemy, and will
+certainly stick at nothing. He is ruthless and pitiless, but I do
+not think he is double-faced. Robespierre is  ambitious too, but
+I think he is really acting according to his principles, such as
+they are. He would be pitiless too, but he would murder on principle.
+
+"He would sign unmoved the order for a hundred heads to fall if he
+thought their falling necessary or even useful for the course of
+the Revolution, but I do not think he would shed a drop of blood
+to satisfy private enmity. They call him the 'incorruptible.' He is
+more dangerous than Danton, for he has no vices. He lives simply,
+and they say is fond of birds and pets. I do not think we should
+make much of either Danton or him, even if we got them in our power.
+
+"Danton would be like a wild beast in a snare. He would rage with
+fury, but I do not think that he would be intimidated into signing
+what we require, not do I think would Robespierre. Marat is a
+different creature altogether. He is simply venomous. He hates the
+world, and would absolutely rejoice in slaughter. So loathsome is
+he in appearance that even his colleagues shrink from him. He is a
+venomous reptile whom it would be a pleasure to slay, as it would
+be to put one's heel upon a rattlesnake. Whether he is a coward
+or not I do not know, but I should think so. Men of his type are
+seldom brave. I think if we had him in our hands we might frighten
+him into doing what we want."
+
+"Then Marat it shall be," Harry said; "that much is settled. Tomorrow
+we will find out something about his  habits. Till we know about
+that we cannot form any plan whatever. Let us meet at dinner-time
+at our usual place. Then we will  go outside the Assembly and wait
+till he comes out. Fortunately we both know him well by sight.  He
+will be sure to go, surrounded, as usual, by a mob of his admirers,
+to the Jacobin Club. From there we can trace him to his home. No
+doubt anyone could tell us where he lives, but it would be dangerous
+to ask. When we have found that out we can decide upon our next
+step."
+
+They were, however, saved the trouble they contemplated, for they
+learned from the conversation of two men among the mob, who cheered
+Marat as he entered the Assembly, what they wanted to know.
+
+"Marat is the man for me," one of them said. "He hates the aristocracy;
+he would bathe in their blood. I never miss reading his articles
+in the Friend of the People. His cry is always 'Blood! Blood!' He
+does not ape the manner of the bourgeois. He does not wash his face
+and put on clean linen. He is a  great man, but he is as dirty as
+the best of us. He still lives in his old lodgings, though he could
+move if he liked into any of the fine houses whose owners are in
+the prisons. He wants no servants, but lives just as we do. Vive
+Marat!"
+
+"Where does the great citizen live?" Victor asked the men in a
+tone of earnest entreaty. On learning the address they took their
+way to the dirty and disreputable street where Marat lodged.
+
+"The citizen Marat lives in this street, does he not?" Victor asked
+a man lounging at the door of a cabaret.
+
+"Yes, in that house opposite. Do you want him?"
+
+"No; only I was curious to see the house where the friend of the
+people lives, and as I was passing the end of the street turned
+down.  Will you drink a glass?"
+
+"I am always ready for that," the man said, "but in these hard
+times one cannot do it as often as one would like."
+
+"That is true enough," Victor said as they took their seats at
+a table. "And so Marat lives over there; it's not much of a place
+for a great man."
+
+"It is all he wants," the other said carelessly; "and he is safer
+here than he would be in the richer quarters. There would be a plot
+against him, and those cursed Royalists would kill him if they had
+the chance; but he is always escorted home from the club by a band
+of patriots."
+
+In the evening Harry and Victor returned to the street and watched
+until Marat returned from the Jacobin Club. His escort of men with
+torches and bludgeons left him at the door, but two or three went
+upstairs with him, and until far in the night visitors came and
+went. Then the light in the upper room was extinguished.
+
+"It is not such an easy affair," Victor said as they moved away;
+"and you see, as that man in the wine-shop told us, there is an
+old woman who cooks for him, and it is much more difficult to seize
+two people without an alarm being given than one."
+
+"That is so," Harry agreed; "but it must be done somehow.  Every
+day matters grow more threatening, and those bands of scoundrels
+from Marseilles have not been brought all this way for nothing.
+The worst of it is, we have such a short time to act. Marat does
+not seem to be ever alone from early morning until late at night.
+Supposing we did somehow get the order of release from him at night
+we could not present it till the  morning, and before we could
+present it some one might arrive and discover him fastened up, and
+might take the news to the prison before we could get them out."
+
+"Yes, that is very serious," Victor agreed. "I begin to despair,
+Henri."
+
+"We must not do that," Harry rejoined. "You see we thought it
+impossible before till Jeanne gave us the idea. There must be some
+way out of it if we could only hit upon it. Perhaps by to-morrow
+morning an idea will occur to one of us. And there is another thing
+to be thought of; we must procure disguises for them. It would be
+of no use whatever getting them out unless we could conceal them
+after they are freed. It would not do for them to go to Louise
+Moulin's.  She has three visitors already, and the arrival of more
+to stay with her would be sure to excite talk among the neighbours.
+The last orders are so strict about the punishment of anyone giving
+shelter to enemies of the republic, that people who let rooms will
+all be suspicious. The only plan will be to get them out of the city
+at once. It will be difficult for them to make their way through
+France on foot, for in every town and village there is the strictest
+look-out kept for suspected persons. Still, that must be risked;
+there is no other way."
+
+"Yes, we must see about that to-morrow, Henri; but I do not think
+the marquise could support a journey, for they would have to sleep
+in the fields. Moreover, she will probably elect to stay near her
+children until all can go together. Therefore I think that it will
+be best for her to come either to you or me. We can take an additional
+room, saying that our mother is coming up from the country to keep
+house for us."
+
+"Yes, that would be much the best plan, Victor. And now here we
+are close home. I hope by the time we meet in the morning one of
+us may have hit upon some plan or other for getting hold of this
+scoundrel."
+
+"I have hit upon an idea, Victor," Harry said when they met the
+next morning.
+
+"I am glad to hear it, for though I have lain awake all night I
+could think of nothing. Well, what is your idea?"
+
+"Well, you see, Marat often goes out in the morning alone. He is
+so well known and he is so much regarded by the lower class that
+he has no fear of any assault being made upon him during the day.
+
+"My plan is that we should follow him till he gets into some street
+with few people about. Then I would rush upon him, seize him, and
+draw a knife to strike, shouting, 'Die, villain!' You should be
+a few paces behind, and should run up and strike the knife out of
+my hand, managing at the same moment to tumble over Marat and fall
+with him to the ground. That would give me time to bolt. I would
+have a beard on, and would have my other clothes under the blouse.
+I would rush into the first doorway and run up stairs, pull off
+my beard, blouse, and blue pantaloons, and then walk quietly down.
+You would, of course, rush up stairs and meet me on the way. I
+should say I had just met a fellow running up stairs, and should
+slip quietly off."
+
+"It would be a frightful risk, Henri, frightful!"
+
+"No, I think it could be managed easily enough. Then, of course,
+Marat would be very grateful to you, and you could either get him
+to visit your lodgings or could go up to his, and once you had
+been there you could manage to outsit his last visitor at night,
+and then we could do as we agreed."
+
+"But, you know, we thought we should hardly have time in the morning,
+Henri!"
+
+"No, I have been thinking of that, and I have come to the conclusion
+that our best plan would be to seize him and hold a dagger to his
+heart, and threaten to kill him instantly if he did not accompany
+us. Then we would go down with him into the street and walk arm in
+arm with him to your lodging. We could thrust a ball of wood into
+his mouth so that he could not call out even if he had the courage
+to do so, which I don't think he would have if he were assured that
+if he made the slightest sound we would kill him. Then we could
+make him sign the order and leave him fastened up there. It would
+be better to take him to your lodgings than mine, in case my visits
+to Louise Moulin should have been noticed, and when he is released
+there will be a hue and cry after his captors."
+
+"The best plan will be to put a knife into his heart at once the
+minute you have got the order signed," Victor said savagely; "I
+should have no more hesitation in killing him than stamping on a
+snake."
+
+"No, Victor; the man is a monster, but we cannot kill him in cold
+blood; besides, we should do more harm than good to the cause, for
+the people would consider he had died a martyr to his championship
+of their rights, and would be more furious than ever against the
+aristocracy."
+
+"But his account of what he has gone through will have just the
+same effect, Henri."
+
+"I should think it probable he would keep the story to himself.
+What has happened once may happen again; and besides, his cowardice
+in signing the release of three enemies of the people in order to
+save his life would tell against him. No, I think he would keep
+silence. After we have got them safe away we can return and so
+far loosen his bonds that he would be able, after a time, to free
+himself.  Five minutes' start would be all that we should want."
+
+But the plan was not destined to be carried out. It was the morning of
+the 2d of September, 1792, and as they went down into the quarter
+where the magazines of old clothes were situated, in order to
+purchase the necessary disguises, they soon became sensible that
+something unusual was in the air. Separating, they joined the groups
+of men at the corners of the streets and tried to learn what was
+going on, but none seemed to know for certain. All sorts of sinister
+rumours were about. Word had been passed that the Jacobin bands
+were to be in readiness that evening. Money had been distributed.
+The Marseillais had dropped hints that a blow was to be struck at
+the tyrants. Everywhere there was a suppressed excitement among
+the working-classes; an air of gloom and terror among the bourgeois.
+
+After some time Harry and Victor came together again and compared
+their observations. Neither had learned anything definite, but both
+were sure that something unusual was about to take place.
+
+"It may be that a large number of fresh arrests are about to be
+made," Harry said. "There are still many deputies who withstand
+the violence of the Mountain. It may be that a blow is going to be
+struck against them."
+
+"We must hope that that is it," Victor said, "but I am terribly
+uneasy."
+
+Harry had the same feeling, but he did his best to reassure his
+friend, and proposed that they should at once set about buying
+the disguises, and that on the following morning they should carry
+into effect their plan with reference to  Marat. The dresses were
+bought.  Two suits, such as a respectable mechanic would wear on
+Sundays or holidays, were first purchased. There was then a debate
+as to the disguise for the marquise; it struck them at once that it
+was strange for two young workmen to be purchasing female attire,
+but, after some consultation, they decided upon a bonnet and long
+cloak, and these Victor went in and bought, gaily telling the
+shopkeeper that he was buying a birthday present for his old mother.
+
+They took the clothes up to Harry's room, agreeing that Louise could
+easily buy the rest of the garments required for the marquise as
+soon as she was free, but they decided to say nothing about the
+attempt that was about to be made until it was over, as it would
+cause an anxiety which the old woman would probably be unable to
+conceal from the girls.
+
+Victor did not accompany Harry to his room; they had never, indeed,
+visited each other in their apartments, meeting always some little
+distance away in order that their connection should be unobserved,
+and that, should one be arrested, no suspicion would follow the
+other. As soon as he had deposited the clothes Harry sallied out
+again, and on rejoining Victor they made their way down to the
+Hotel de Ville, being too anxious to remain quiet. They could learn
+nothing from the crowd which was, as usual, assembled before the
+Hotel.
+
+There was a general impression that something was about to happen,
+but none could give any definite reason for their belief. All day
+they wandered about restless and anxious. They fought their way
+into the galleries of the Assembly when the doors opened, but for
+a time nothing new took place.
+
+The Assembly, in which the moderates had still a powerful voice,
+had protested against the assumption of authority by the council of
+the Commune sitting at the Hotel de Ville. But the Assembly lacked
+firmness, the Commune every day gained in power. Already warrants
+of arrest were prepared against the Girondists, the early leaders
+of the movement.
+
+Too restless to remain in the Assembly, Victor and Harry again
+took their steps to the Hotel de Ville. Just as they arrived there
+twenty-four persons, of whom twenty-two  were priests, were brought
+out from the prison of the Maine by a party of Marseillais, who
+shouted, "To the Abbaye!" These ruffians pushed the prisoners into coaches
+standing at the door, shouting: "You will not arrive at the prison;
+the people are waiting to tear you in pieces." But the people looked
+on silently in sullen apathy.
+
+"You see them," the Marseillais shouted. "There they are. You are
+about to march to Verdun. They only wait for your departure to
+butcher your wives and children."
+
+Still the crowd did not move. The great mass of the people had no
+share in the bloody deeds of the Revolution; these were the work of
+a few score of violent men, backed by the refuse of the population.
+A few shouts were raised here and there of, "Down with the priests!"
+But more of the crowd joined in the shouts which Victor and Harry
+lustily raised of, "Shame, down with the Marseillais!" Victor would
+have pressed forward to attack the Marseillais had not Harry held
+his arm tightly, exclaiming in his ear:
+
+"Restrain yourself, Victor. Think of the lives that depend upon
+ours. The mob will not follow you. You can do nothing yourself.
+Come, get out of the crowd."
+
+So saying he dragged Victor away. It was well that they could not
+see what was taking place in the coaches, or Victor's fury would
+have been ungovernable, for several of the ruffians had drawn their
+swords and were hacking furiously at their prisoners.
+
+"We will follow them," Harry said, when he and Victor had made
+their way out of the crowd; "but you must remember, Victor, that,
+come what may, you must keep cool. You would only throw away your
+life uselessly; for Marie's sake you must keep calm. Your life
+belongs to her, and you have no right to throw it away."
+
+"You are right, Henri," Victor said gloomily; "but how can one look
+on and see men inciting others to massacre? What is going to take
+place? We must follow them."
+
+"I am ready to follow them," Harry said; "but you must not go
+unless you are firmly resolved to restrain your feelings whatever
+may happen. You can do no possible good, and will only involve
+yourself in the destruction of others."
+
+"You may trust me," the young count said; "I will be calm for
+Marie's sake."
+
+Harry had his doubts as to his friend's power of self-control, but
+he was anxious to see what was taking place, and they joined the
+throng that followed the coaches. But they were now in the rear,
+and could see nothing that was taking place before them. When the
+carriages reached the Abbaye the prisoners alighted. Some of them
+were at once cut down by the Marseillais, the rest fled into the
+hall, where one of the committees was sitting. Its members, however,
+did nothing to protect them, and looked on while all save two were
+massacred unresistingly. Then the Marseillais came out brandishing
+their bloody weapons and shouting, "The good work has begun; down
+with the priests! Down with the enemies of the people!"
+
+The better class of people in the crowd assembled at the Hotel de
+Ville had not followed the procession to the Abbaye. They had been
+horror-struck at the words and actions of the Marseillais, and
+felt that this was the beginning of the fulfilment of the rumours
+of the last few days.
+
+The murder of the first prisoner was indeed the signal for every
+man of thought or feeling and of heart to draw back from the
+Revolution. Thousands of earnest men who had at first thought that
+the hour of life and liberty commenced with the meeting of the
+States-General, and who had gone heart and  soul with that body in
+its early struggles for power, had long since shrunk back appalled
+at the new tyranny which had sprung into existence.
+
+Each act of usurpation of power by the Jacobins had alienated a
+section. The nobles and the clergy, many of whom had at first gone
+heartily with the early reformers, had shrunk back appalled when
+they saw that religion and monarchy were menaced. The bourgeoisie,
+who had made the Revolution, were already to a man against it; the
+Girondists, the leaders of the third estate, had fallen away, and
+over their heads the axe was already hanging. The Revolution had
+no longer a friend in France, save among the lowest, the basest,
+and the most ignorant. And now, by the massacres of the 2d of
+September, the republic of France was to stand forth in the eyes
+of Europe as a blood-stained monster, the enemy, not of kings
+only, but of humanity in general.  Thus the crowd following the
+Marseillais was composed almost entirely of the scum of Paris,
+wretches who had long been at war with society, who hated the rich,
+hated the priests, hated all above them--men who had suffered
+so much that  they had become wild beasts, who were the products
+of that evil system of society which had now been overthrown. The
+greater proportion of them were in the pay of the Commune, for,
+two days before, all the unemployed had been enrolled as the army
+of the Commune. Thus there was no repetition before the Abbaye of
+the cries of shame which had been heard in front of the Maine. The
+shouts of the Marseillais were taken up and re-echoed by the mob.
+Savage cries, curses, and shouts for vengeance filled the air;
+many were armed, and knives and bludgeons, swords and pikes, were
+brandished or shaken. Blood had been tasted, and all the savage
+instincts were on fire.
+
+"This is horrible, Henri!" Victor de Gisons exclaimed. "I feel as
+if I were in a nightmare, not that any nightmare could compare in
+terror to this. Look at those hideous faces--faces of men debased
+by crime, sodden with drink, degraded below the level of brutes,
+exulting in the thought of blood, lusting for murder; and to think
+that these creatures are the masters of France. Great Heavens! What
+can come of it in the future? What is going to take place now?"
+
+"Organized massacre, I fear, Victor. What seemed incredible,
+impossible, is going to take place; there is to be a massacre of
+the prisoners."
+
+They had by this time reached the monastery of the Carmelites, now
+converted into a prison. Here a large number of priests had been
+collected. The Marseillais entered, and the prisoners were called
+by name to assemble in the garden.
+
+First the Archbishop of Arles was murdered; then they fell upon the
+others and hewed them down. The Bishops of Saintes and Beauvais
+were among the slain, and the assassins did not desist until the
+last prisoner in the Carmelites had been hacked to pieces. Graves
+had already been dug near the Barrier Saint Jacques and carts were
+waiting to convey the corpses there, showing how carefully the
+preparations for the massacre had been made.
+
+Then the Marseillais returned to the Abbaye, and, with a crowd
+of followers, entered the great hall. Here the bailiff Maillard
+organized a sort of tribunal of men taken at random from the
+crowd. Some of these were paid hirelings of the Commune, some were
+terrified workmen or small tradesmen who had, merely from curiosity,
+joined the mob. The Swiss officers and soldiers, who were, with the
+priests, special objects of hatred to the mob,  were first brought
+out. They were spared the farce of a trial, they were ordered to
+march out through the doors, outside which the Marseillais were
+awaiting them. Some hesitated to go out, and cried for mercy.
+
+A young man with head erect was the first to pass through the fatal
+doors. He fell in a moment, pierced with pikes. The rest followed
+him, and all save two, who were, by some caprice of the mob,
+spared, shared his fate. The mob had crowded into the galleries
+which surrounded the hall and applauded with ferocious yells the
+murder of the soldiers. In the body of the hall a space was kept
+clear by the armed followers of the Commune round the judges' table,
+and a pathway to the door from the interior of the prison to that
+opening into the street.
+
+When the Swiss had been massacred the trial of the other prisoners
+commenced. One after another the prisoners were brought out. They
+were asked their names and occupations, a few questions followed,
+and then the verdict of "Guilty." One after another they were
+conducted to the door and there slain. Two or three by the wittiness
+of their answers amused the mob and were thereupon acquitted,
+the acquittals being greeted by the spectators as heartily as the
+sentences of death.
+
+Victor and Harry were in the lowest gallery. They stood back from
+the front, but between the heads of those before them they could see
+what was going on below. Victor stood immovable, his face as pale
+as death. His cap had fallen off, his hair was dank with perspiration,
+his eyes had a look of concentrated horror, his body shook with
+a spasmodic shuddering. In vain Harry, when he once saw what was
+going to take place, urged him in a low whisper to leave. He did
+not appear to hear, and even when Harry pulled him by the sleeve
+of his blouse he seemed equally unconscious. Harry was greatly
+alarmed, and feared that every moment his companion would betray
+himself by some terrible out-burst.
+
+After the three or four first prisoners had been disposed of,
+a tall and stately man was brought into the hall. A terrible cry,
+which sounded loud even above the tumult which reigned, burst from
+Victor's lips. He threw himself with the fury of a madman upon those
+in front of him, and in a moment would have bounded into the hall
+had not Harry brought the heavy stick he carried with all his force
+down upon his head. Victor fell like a log under the blow.
+
+"What is it?  What is it?" shouted those around.
+
+"My comrade has gone out of his mind," Harry said quietly; "he
+has been drinking for some days, and his hatred for the enemies
+of France has turned his head. I have been watching him, and had
+I not knocked him down he would have thrown himself head-foremost
+off the gallery and broken his neck."
+
+The explanation seemed natural, and all were too interested in
+what was passing in the hall below to pay further attention to so
+trivial an incident. It was well that Harry had caught sight of the
+prisoner before Victor did so and was prepared for the out-break,
+for it was the Duc de Gisons who had thus been led in to murder.
+Harry dragged Victor back against the wall behind and then tried
+to lift him.
+
+"I will lend you a hand," a tall man in the dress of a mechanic,
+who had been standing next to him, said, and, lifting Victor's body
+on to his shoulder, made his way to the top of the stairs, Harry
+preceding him and opening a way through the crowd. In another minute
+they were in the open air.
+
+"Thank you greatly," Harry said. "I do not know how I should have
+managed without your aid. If you put him down here I will try and
+bring him round."
+
+"I live not far from here," the man said. "I will take him to my
+room. You need not be afraid," he added as Harry hesitated, "I have
+got my eyes open, you can trust me."
+
+So saying he made his way through the crowd gathered outside.  He
+was frequently asked who he was carrying, for the crowd feared lest
+any of their prey should escape; but the man's reply, given with
+a rough laugh--"It is a lad whose stomach is not strong enough to
+bear the sight of blood, and I tell you it is pretty hot in
+there,"--satisfied them.
+
+Passing through several streets the man entered a small house and
+carried Victor to the attic and laid him on a bed, then he carefully
+closed the door and struck a light.
+
+"You struck hard, my friend," he said as he examined Victor's head.
+"Ma foi, I should not have liked such a blow myself, but I don't
+blame you. You were but just in time to prevent his betraying
+himself, and better a hundred times a knock on the head than those
+pikes outside the door. I had my eye on him, and felt sure he would
+do something rash, and I had intended to choke him, but he was too
+quick for me. How came you to be so foolish as to be there?"
+
+"We had friends in the prison, and we thought we might do something
+to save them," Harry answered, for he saw that it would be his best
+policy to be frank. "It was his father whom they brought out."
+
+"It was rash of you, young sir. A kid might as well try to save his
+mother from the tiger who has laid its paw upon her as for you to
+try to rescue any one from the clutches of the mob. Mon Dieu! To
+think that in the early days I was fool enough to go down to the
+Assembly and cheer the deputies; but I have seen my mistake. What
+has it brought us? A ruined trade, an empty cupboard, and to be
+ruled by the ruffians of the slums instead of the king, the clergy,
+and the upper classes. I was a brass-worker, and a good one, though
+I say it myself, and earned good wages. Now for the last month
+I haven't done a stroke of work. Who wants to buy brass-work when
+there are mansions and shops to pillage? And now, what are you
+going to do?  My wife is out, but she will probably be back soon.
+We will attend to this young fellow. She is a good nurse, and I
+tell you I think he will need all we can do for him."
+
+"You don't think I have seriously injured him?" Harry said in a
+tone of dismay.
+
+"No, no; don't make yourself uneasy. You have stunned him, and
+that's all; he will soon get over that. I have seen men get worse
+knocks in a drunken row and be at work again in the morning; but
+it is different here. I saw his face, and he was pretty nearly mad
+when you struck him. I doubt whether he will be in his right senses
+when he comes round; but never fear, we will look after him well.
+You can stay if you like; but if you want to go you can trust him
+to us. I see you can keep your head, and will not run into danger
+as he did."
+
+"I do want to go terribly," Harry said, "terribly; and I feel
+that I can trust you completely. You have saved his life and mine
+already.  Now you will not be hurt at what I am going to say. He
+is the son of the Duc de Gisons, the last man we  saw brought out
+to be murdered.  We have plenty of money. In a belt round his waist
+you will find a hundred louis. Please do not spare them. If you
+think he wants a surgeon call him in, and get everything necessary
+for your household.  While you are nursing him you cannot go out
+to work. I do not talk of reward; one cannot reward kindness like
+yours; but while you are looking after him you and your wife must
+live."
+
+"Agreed!" the man said, shaking Harry by the hand. "You speak
+like a man of heart. I will look after him. You need be under no
+uneasiness. Should any of my comrades come in I shall say: 'this
+is a young workman who got knocked down and hurt in the crowd, and
+whom, having nothing better to do, I have brought in here."'
+
+"If he should recover his senses before I come back," Harry said,
+"please do not let him know it was I who struck him. He will
+be well-nigh heart-broken that he could not share the fate of his
+father.  Let him think that he was knocked down by some one in the
+crowd."
+
+"All right! That is easily managed," the man said. "Jacques Medart
+is no fool. Now you had best be off, for I see you are on thorns,
+and leave me to bathe his head. If you shouldn't come back you can
+depend upon it I will look after him till he is able to go about
+again."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+Marie Arrested
+
+
+On leaving Victor in the care of the man who had so providentially
+came to his aid, Harry hurried down the street towards the Abbaye,
+then he stopped to think--should he return there or make his way
+to the Bicetre.  He could not tell whether his friends had, like
+the Duc de Gisons, been removed to the Abbaye. If they had been
+so, it was clearly impossible for him to aid them in any way.  They
+might already have fallen. The crowd was too great for him to regain
+the gallery, and even there could only witness, without power to
+avert, their murder. Were they still at the Bicetre he might do
+something. Perhaps the assassins had not yet arrived there.
+
+It was now nine o'clock in the evening. The streets were almost
+deserted. The respectable inhabitants all remained within their
+houses, trembling at the horrors, of which reports had circulated
+during the afternoon. At first there had been hopes that the Assembly
+would take steps to put a stop to the massacre, but the Assembly
+did nothing.  Danton and the ministers were absent. The cannon's
+roar and the tocsin sounded perpetually. There was no secret as to
+what was going on. The Commune had the insolence to send commissioners
+to the bar of the Assembly to state that the people wished to break
+open the doors of the prisons, and this when two hundred priests
+had already been butchered at the Carmelites.
+
+A deputation indeed went to the Abbaye to try to persuade the murderers
+to desist; but their voices were drowned in the tumultuous cries.
+The Commune of Paris openly directed the massacre. Billaud-Varennes
+went backwards and  forwards to superintend the execution of his
+orders, and promised the executioners twenty-four francs a day.
+The receipt for the payment of this blood-money still exists.
+
+On arriving in front of the Bicetre Harry found all was silent
+there, and with a faint feeling of hope that the massacre would not
+extend beyond the Abbaye, he again turned his steps in that direction.
+
+The bloody work was still going on, and Harry wandered away into
+the quiet streets to avoid hearing the shrieks of the victims and
+the yells of the crowd. A sudden thought struck him, and he went
+along until he saw a woman come out of a house. He ran up to her.
+
+"Madam," he said, "I have the most urgent need of a bonnet and
+shawl. Will you sell me those you have on? The shops are all shut,
+or I would not trouble you. You have only to name your price, and
+I will pay you."
+
+The woman was surprised at this proposition, but seeing that a good
+bargain was to be made she asked twice the cost of the articles
+when new, and this Harry paid her without question.
+
+Wrapping the shawl and bonnet into a bundle, he retraced his steps,
+and sat down on some doorsteps within a distance of the Abbaye
+which would enable him to observe any general movement of the crowd
+in front of the prison. At one o'clock in the morning there was a
+stir, and the body of men with pikes moved down the street.
+
+"They are going to La Force," he said, after following them for some
+distance. "Oh, if I had but two or three hundred English soldiers
+here we would make mincemeat of these murderers!"
+
+Harry did not enter La Force, where the scenes that were taking
+place at the Abbaye--for, in spite of the speed with which the mock
+trials were hurried through, these massacres were not yet finished
+there, so great was the number of prisoners--were repeated.
+
+At La Force many ladies were imprisoned, among them the Princess de
+Lamballe. They shared the fate of the male prisoners, being hewn
+to pieces by sabres. The head of the princess was cut off and stuck
+upon a pike, and was carried in triumph under the windows of the
+Temple, where the king and queen were confined, and was held up to
+the bars of the room they occupied for them to see. Marie Antoinette,
+fearless for herself, fainted at the terrible sight of the pale
+head of her friend.
+
+Harry remained at a little distance from La Force, tramping
+restlessly up and down, half-mad with rage and horror, and at his
+powerlessness to interfere in any way with the proceedings of the
+wretches who were carrying on the work of murder. At last, about
+eight o'clock in the morning, a boy ran by.
+
+"They have finished with them at the Abbaye," he said with fiendish
+glee. "They are going from there to the Bicetre."
+
+Harry with difficulty repressed his desire to slay the urchin, and
+hurried away to reach the prison of Bicetre before the band from the
+Abbaye arrived there. Unfortunately he came down by a side street
+upon them when they were within a few hundred yards of the prison.
+His great hope was that he might succeed in penetrating with the
+Marseillais and find the marquise, and aid her in making her way
+through the mob in the disguise he had purchased.
+
+But here, as at the other prisons, there was a method in the work
+of murder. The agents of the Commune took possession of the hall
+at the entrance and permitted none to pass farther into the prison,
+the warders and officials bringing down the prisoners in batches,
+and so handing them over for slaughter. In vain Harry tried to
+penetrate into the inner part of the prison. He was roughly repulsed
+by the men guarding the door; and at last, finding that nothing
+could be done, he forced his way out again into the open air, and
+hurrying away for some distance, threw himself on the ground and
+burst into a passion of tears.
+
+After a time he rose and made his way back to the house where he
+had left Victor de Gisons. He found him in a state of delirium,
+acting over and over again the scene in the Abbaye, cursing the
+judge and executioners, and crying out he would die with his father.
+
+"What does the doctor think of him?" he asked the woman who was
+sitting by Victor's bed.
+
+"He did not say much," the woman replied. "He shook his head, and
+said there had been a terrible mental shock, and that he could not
+answer either for his life or reason. There was nothing to do but
+to be patient, to keep his head bandaged with wet cloths, and to
+give him water from time to time. Do not be afraid, sir; we will
+watch over him carefully."
+
+"I would stay here if I could," Harry said; "but I have others
+I must see about. I have the terrible news to break to some young
+ladies of the murder of their father and mother."
+
+"Poor things! Poor things!" the woman said, shaking her head.  "It
+is terrible! My husband was telling me what he saw; and a neighbour
+came in just now and said it was the same thing at all the other
+prisons. The priest, too--our priest at the little church at the
+corner of the street, where I used to go in every morning to pray
+on my way to market--he was dragged away ten days ago to the
+Carmelites, and now he is a saint in heaven. How is it, sir, that
+God allows such things to be?"
+
+"We cannot tell," Harry said sadly. "As for myself, I can hardly
+believe it, though I saw it. They say there are over four thousand
+people in the prisons, and they will all be murdered. Such a thing
+was never heard of. I can hardly believe that I am not in a dream
+now."
+
+"You look almost like one dead yourself," the woman said pityingly.
+"I have made a bouillon for Jacques' breakfast and mine.  It is
+just ready. Do take a mouthful before you go out. That and a piece
+of bread and a cup of red wine will do you good."
+
+Harry was on the point of refusing; but he felt that he was utterly
+worn and exhausted, and that he must keep up his strength.  Her
+husband, therefore, took her place by Victor's bedside in readiness
+to hold him down should he try to get up in his ravings, while
+the good woman ladled out a basin of the broth and placed it with
+a piece of bread and some wine on the table. Harry forced himself
+to drink it, and when he rose from the table he already felt the
+benefit of the meal.
+
+"Thank you very much," he said. "I feel stronger now; but how I
+am to tell the story I do not know. But I must make quite certain
+before I go to these poor girls that their parents were killed.
+Three or four were spared at the Abbaye. Possibly it may have been
+the same thing at the Bicetre."
+
+So Harry went back and waited outside the prison until the bloody
+work was over; but found on questioning those who came out when
+all was done that the thirst for blood had increased with killing,
+and that all the prisoners found in the Bicetre had been put to
+death.
+
+"Ma foi!" the man whom he was speaking to said; "but these accursed
+aristocrats have courage. Men and women were alike; there was not
+one of them but faced the judges bravely and went to their death
+as calmly as if to dinner. There was a marquis and his wife--the
+Marquis de St. Caux they called him.  They brought them out together.
+They were asked whether they had anything to say why they should
+not be punished for their crimes against France. The marquis laughed
+aloud.
+
+"'Crimes!' he said. 'Do you think a Marquis de St. Caux is going
+to plead for his life to a band of murderers and assassins? Come,
+my love.'
+
+"He just gave her one kiss, and then took her hand as if they were
+going to walk a minuet together, and then led her down between the
+lines of guards with his head erect and a smile of scorn on his
+face. She did not smile, but her step never faltered. I watched
+her closely. She was very pale, and she did not look proud, but
+she walked as calmly and steadily as her husband till they reached
+the door where the pikemen were awaiting them, and then it was
+over in a minute, and they died without a cry or a groan. They are
+wretches, the aristocrats. They have fattened on the life-blood of
+the people; but they know how to die, these people."
+
+Without a word Harry turned away. He had told himself there was no
+hope; but he knew by the bitter pang he felt now that he had hoped
+to the last. Then he walked slowly away to tell the news.
+
+There were comparatively few people about the streets, and these
+all of the lower order. Every shop was closed. Men with scared faces
+stood at some of the doors to gather the news from passers-by, and
+pale women looked timidly from the upper windows. When he reached
+the house he could not summon courage to enter it, but stood for a
+long time outside, until at last he saw Louise Moulin put her head
+from the window. He succeeded in catching her eye, and placing his
+finger on his lips signed to her to come down. A minute later she
+appeared at the door.
+
+"Is it all true, Monsieur Sandwith? They say they are murdering
+the prisoners. Surely it must be false! They could never do such
+a thing!"
+
+"It is true, Louise. I have seen it myself. I went with a disguise
+to try and rescue our dear lady, even if I could not save the
+marquis; but I could not get to her--the wretches have murdered
+them both."
+
+"Oh, my dear lady!" the old woman cried, bursting into tears.  "The
+pretty babe I nursed. To think of her murdered; and the poor young
+things upstairs--what shall I do!--what shall I do, Monsieur
+Sandwith!"
+
+"You must break it to them, Louise. Do they know how great the
+danger is?"
+
+"No. I have kept it from them. They can see from the window that
+something unusual is going on; everyone can see that. But I told
+them it was only that the Prussians were advancing. They are
+anxious--very anxious--but they are quite unprepared for this."
+
+"Break it gradually, Louise. Tell them first that there are rumours
+that the prisons have been attacked. Come down again presently as
+if to get more news, and then tell them that there are reports that
+the prisoners have been massacred, and then at last tell them all
+the truth."
+
+"But will you not come up, Monsieur Sandwith--they trust you so
+much? Your presence will be a support to them."
+
+"I could do nothing now," Harry said sadly. "God only can console
+them. They had best be by themselves for awhile. I will come in this
+evening. The first burst of grief will be over then, and my talk
+may aid them to rouse themselves. Oh, if we had but tried to get
+them out of prison sooner. And yet who could have foreseen that here
+in Paris thousands of innocent prisoners, men and women, would be
+murdered in cold blood!"
+
+Finding that she could not persuade Harry to enter, Louise turned
+to perform her painful duty; while Harry, thoroughly exhausted with
+the night of horrors, made his way home, and throwing himself on
+the bed, fell asleep, and did not wake until evening. His first step
+was to plunge his head into water, and then, after a good wash, to
+prepare a meal. His sleep had restored his energy, and with brisk
+steps he made his way through the streets to Louise Moulin. He
+knocked with his knuckles at the outer door of her apartments. The
+old nurse opened it quietly.
+
+"Come in," she said, "and sit down. They are in their room, and
+I think they have cried themselves to sleep. My heart has been
+breaking all day to see them. It has been dreadful. Poor little
+Virginie cried terribly, and sobbed for hours;  but it was a long
+time before the others cried. Marie fainted, and when I got her
+round lay still and quiet without speaking. Jeanne was worst of
+all. She sat on that chair with her eyes staring open and her face
+as white as if she were dead. She did not seem to hear anything I
+said; but at last, when Virginie's sobs were stopping, I began to
+talk to her about her mother and her pretty ways when she was a
+child, and then at last Jeanne broke down, and she cried so wildly
+that I was frightened, and then Marie cried too; and after a while
+I persuaded them all to lie down; and as I have not heard a sound
+for the last hour I hope the good God has sent them all to sleep."
+
+"I trust so indeed, Louise. I will stay here quietly for an hour,
+and then if we hear nothing I will go home, and be back again in
+the morning. Sleep will do more for them than anything I can say."
+
+At the end of an hour all was still quiet, and Harry with a somewhat
+lightened heart took his departure.
+
+At nine o'clock next morning he was again at the house. When he
+entered Virginie ran to him, and throwing her arms round his neck
+again burst into a passion of tears. Harry felt that this was the
+best thing that could have happened, for the others were occupied
+for some time in trying to soothe her, crying quietly to themselves
+while they did so. At last her sobs became less violent.
+
+"And now, Harry," Marie said, turning to him, "will you tell us
+all about it?"
+
+"I will tell you only that your dear father and mother died, as
+you might be sure they would, calmly and fearlessly, and that they
+suffered but little. More than that I cannot tell you now. Some day
+farther on, when you can bear it, I will tell you of the events of
+the last forty-eight hours. At present I myself dare not think of
+it, and it would harm you to know it.
+
+"Do not, I pray you, ask me any questions now. We must think of
+the future. Fortunately you passed unsuspected the last time they
+searched the house; but it may not be so another time. You may be
+sure that these human tigers will not be satisfied with the blood
+they have shed, but that they will long for fresh victims. The
+prisons are empty now, but they will soon be filled again. We must
+therefore turn our thoughts to your making your escape from the
+city. I fear that there is peril everywhere; but it must be faced.
+I think it will be useless for us to try and reach the  frontier
+by land. At every town and village they will be on the look-out
+for fugitives, and whatever disguise you might adopt you could not
+escape observation. I think, then, that we must make for the sea
+and hire a fishing-boat to take us across to England.
+
+"But we must not hurry. In the first place, we must settle all
+our plans carefully and prepare our disguises; in the next place,
+there will be such tremendous excitement when the news of what has
+happened here is known that it would be unsafe to travel. I think
+myself it will be best to wait a little until there is a lull. That
+is what I want you to think over and decide.
+
+"I do not think there is any very great danger here for the next
+few days. For a little time they will be tired of slaying; and,
+from what I hear, the Girondists are marked out as the next victims.
+They say Danton has denounced them at the Jacobin Club. At any
+rate it will be better to get everything in readiness for flight,
+so that we can leave at once if we hear of any fresh measures for
+a search after suspects."
+
+Harry was pleased to find that his suggestion answered the purpose
+for which he made it. The girls began to discuss the disguises
+which would be required and the best route to be taken, and their
+thoughts were for a time turned from the loss they had sustained.
+After an hour's talk he left them greatly benefited by his visit.
+
+For the next few days Harry spent his time for the most part by
+the bedside of Victor de Gisons. The fever was still at its height,
+and the doctor gave but small hopes of his recovery. Harry determined
+that he would not leave Paris until the issue was decided one way
+or the other, and when with the girls he discouraged any idea of
+an immediate flight. This was the more easy, for the news from the
+provinces showed that the situation was everywhere as bad as it
+was at the capital.
+
+The Commune had sent to all the committees acting in connection with
+them in the towns throughout the country the news of the execution
+of the enemies of France confined in the prisons, and had urged
+that a similar step should at once be taken with reference to all
+the prisoners in their hands. The order was promptly obeyed, and
+throughout France massacres similar to those in Paris were at once
+carried out. A carnival of murder and horror had commenced, and the
+madness for blood  raged throughout the whole country. Such being
+the case, Harry found it by no means difficult to dissuade the
+girls from taking instant steps towards making their escape.
+
+He was, however, in a state of great uneasiness. Many of the moderate
+deputies had been seized, others had sought safety in flight, and
+the search for suspected persons was carried on vigorously.  Difficult
+and dangerous as it would be to endeavour to travel through France
+with three girls, he would have attempted it without hesitation
+rather than remain in Paris had it not been for Victor de Gisons.
+
+One day a week after the massacres at the prisons he received
+another terrible shock. He had bought a paper from one of the men
+shouting them for sale in the street, and sat down in the garden of
+the Tuileries to read it. A great portion of the space was filled
+with lists of the enemies of the people who had been, as it was
+called, executed. As these lists had formed the staple of news for
+several days Harry scarce glanced at the names, his eye travelling
+rapidly down the list until he gave a start and a low cry. Under
+the heading of persons executed at Lille were the names of Ernest
+de St. Caux, Jules de St. Caux, Pierre du Tillet--"aristocrats
+arrested, August 15th, in the act of endeavouring to leave
+France in disguise."
+
+For some time Harry sat as if stunned. He had scarce given a thought
+to his friends since that night they had left, the affairs of the
+marquis and his wife, of their daughters, and of Victor de Gisons,
+almost excluding everything else. When he thought of the boys it
+had been as already in England, under the charge of du Tillet.
+
+He had thought, that if they had been arrested on the way he
+should have been sure to hear of it; and he had such confidence in
+the sagacity of Monsieur du Tillet that he had looked upon it as
+almost certain he would be able to lead his two charges through
+any difficulty and danger which might beset them. And now he knew
+that his hopes had been ill founded--that his friends had been
+arrested when almost within sight of the frontier, and had been
+murdered as soon as the news of the massacres in Paris had reached
+Lille.
+
+He felt crushed with the blow. A warm affection had sprung up between
+him and Ernest, while from the first the younger boy had attached
+himself to him; and now they were dead, and the girls were alone
+in the world, save for himself and the poor young fellow tossing
+with fever! It was true that if  his friends had reached England
+in safety they could not have aided him in the task he had before
+him of getting the girls away; still their deaths somehow seemed
+to add to his responsibilities.
+
+Upon one thing he determined at once, and that was, that until his
+charges were safely in England they should not hear a whisper of
+this new and terrible misfortune which had befallen them.
+
+In order to afford the girls some slight change, and anxious at their
+pale faces, the result of grief and of their unwonted confinement,
+Louise Moulin had persuaded them to go out with her in the early
+mornings when she went to the markets. The fear of detection was
+small, for the girls had now become accustomed to their thick shoes
+and rough dress; and indeed she thought that it would be safer to
+go out, for the suspicions of her neighbours might be excited if
+the girls remained secluded in the house. Harry generally met them
+soon after they started, and accompanied them in their walk.
+
+One morning he was walking with the two younger girls, while Marie
+and the old nurse were together a short distance in front of them.
+They had just reached the flower-market, which was generally the
+main object of their walks--for the girls, having passed most
+of their time in the country, were passionately fond of flowers--when
+a man on horseback wearing a red sash, which showed him to be
+an official of the republic, came along at a foot-pace. His eyes
+fell upon Marie's face and rested there, at first with the look of
+recognition, followed by a start of surprise and satisfaction. He
+reined in his horse instantly, with the exclamation:
+
+"Mademoiselle de St. Caux!"
+
+For a moment she shrank back, her cheek paler even than before;
+then recovering herself she said calmly:
+
+"It is myself, Monsieur Lebat."
+
+"Citizen Lebat," he corrected. "You forget, there are no titles
+now--we have changed all that. It goes to my heart," he went on with
+a sneer, "to be obliged to do my duty; but however unpleasant it
+is, it must be done. Citizens," he said, raising his voice, "I want
+two men well disposed to the state."
+
+As to be ill disposed meant danger if not death, several men within
+hearing at once came forward.
+
+"This female citizen is an aristocrat in disguise," he went on,
+pointing to Marie; "in virtue of my office as deputy of Dijon and
+member of the Committee of Public Safety, I arrest her and give
+her into your charge. Where is the person who was with her? Seize
+her also on a charge of harbouring an enemy of the state!"
+
+But Louise was gone. The moment Lebat had looked round in search
+of assistance Marie had whispered in Louise's ear: "Fly, Louise,
+for the sake of the children; if you are arrested they are lost!"
+
+Had she herself been alone concerned, the old woman would have stood
+by Marie and shared her fate; but the words "for the sake of the
+children" decided her, and she had instantly slipped away among
+the crowd, whose attention had been called by Lebat's first words,
+and dived into a small shop, where she at once began to bargain
+for some eggs.
+
+"Where is the woman?" Lebat repeated angrily.
+
+"What is she like?" one of the bystanders asked.
+
+But Lebat could give no description whatever of her. He had noticed
+that Marie was speaking to some one when he first caught sight of
+her face; but he had noticed nothing more, and did not know whether
+the woman was young or old.
+
+"I can't tell you," he said in a tone of vexation. "Never mind; we
+shall find her later on. This capture is the most important."
+
+So saying he set out, with Marie walking beside him, with a guard
+on either hand. In the next street he came on a party of four of
+the armed soldiers of the Commune, and ordered them to take the
+place of those he had first charged with the duty, and directed
+them to proceed with him to the Maine.
+
+Marie was taken at once before the committee sitting en permanence
+for the discovery and arrest of suspects.
+
+"I charge this young woman with being an aristocrat in disguise.
+She is the daughter of the ci-devant Marquis de St. Caux, who was
+executed on the 2d of September at Bicetre."
+
+"Murdered, you mean, sir," Marie said in a clear haughty voice.
+"Why not call things by their proper name?"
+
+"I am sorry," Lebat went on, not heeding the interruption, "that
+it should fall to my lot to denounce her, for I acknowledge that
+in the days before our glorious Revolution commenced I have visited
+at her father's chateau. But I feel that my duty to the republic
+stands before any private considerations."
+
+"You have done perfectly right," the president of the committee
+said. "As I understand that the accused does not deny that she
+is the daughter of the ci-devant marquis, I will at once sign the
+order for her committal to La Force. There is room there still,
+though the prisons are filling up again fast."
+
+"We must have another jail delivery," one of the committee laughed
+brutally; and a murmur of assent passed through the chamber.
+
+The order was made out, and Marie was handed over to the armed
+guard, to be taken with the next batch of prisoners to La Force.
+
+Harry was some twenty yards behind Marie and her companion when
+Lebat checked his horse before her. He recognized the man instantly,
+and saw that Marie's disguise was discovered. His first impulse
+was to rush forward to her assistance, but the hopelessness of any
+attempt at interference instantly struck him, and to the surprise
+of the two girls, who were looking into a shop, and had not noticed
+what was occurring, he turned suddenly with them down a side street.
+
+"What are you doing, Harry? We shall lose the others in the crowd
+if we do not keep them in sight," Jeanne said.
+
+"I know what I am doing, Jeanne; I will tell you presently." He walked
+along several streets until he came to an unfrequented thoroughfare.
+
+"There is something wrong, Harry. I see it in your face!" Jeanne
+exclaimed. "Tell us at once.
+
+"It is bad news," Harry said quietly. "Try and nerve yourselves,
+my dear girls, for you will need all your courage. Marie is captured."
+
+"Oh, Harry!" Virginie exclaimed, bursting into tears, while Jeanne
+stood still and motionless.
+
+"Why are you taking us away?" she said in a hard sharp voice which
+Harry would not have recognized as hers. "Our place is with her,
+and where she goes we will go. You have no right to lead us away.
+We will go back to her at once."
+
+"You can do her no good, Jeanne, dear," Harry said gently. "You
+could not help her, and it would only add to her misery if Virginie
+and you were also in their hands. Besides, we can be of more use
+outside. Trust to me, Jeanne; I will do all in my power to save
+her, whatever the risk."
+
+"You could not save our father and mother," Jeanne said with a
+quivering lip.
+
+"No, dear; but I would have saved them had there been but a little
+time to do so. This time I hope to be more successful. Courage,
+Jeanne! Do not give way; I depend on your clear head to help me.
+Besides, till we can get her back, you have to fill Marie's place
+and look after Virginie."
+
+The appeal was successful, and Jeanne burst into a passion of
+tears. Harry did not try to check them, and in a short time the
+sobs ceased and Jeanne raised her head again.
+
+"I feel better now," she said. "Come, Virginie, and dry your eyes,
+darling; we shall have plenty of time to cry afterwards. Are we to
+go home, Harry? Have they taken Louise?"
+
+"I do not know, Jeanne; that is the first thing to find out, for
+if they have, it will not be safe for you to return. Let us push on
+now, so that if she has not been taken we shall reach home before
+her. We will place ourselves at the corner of your street and wait
+for an hour; she may spend some time in looking for us, but if she
+does not come by the end of that time I shall feel sure that it
+is because she cannot come, and in that case I must look out for
+another place for you."
+
+They hurried on until they were nearly home, the brisk walk having,
+as Harry had calculated it would do, had the effect of preventing
+their thoughts from dwelling upon Marie's capture. They had not
+been more than a quarter of an hour at their post when Harry gave
+an exclamation of satisfaction as he saw Louise Moulin approaching.
+The two girls hurried to meet her.
+
+"Thank God you are both safe, dears!" she exclaimed with tears
+streaming down her cheeks. "I thought of you in the middle of it
+all; but I was sure that Monsieur Sandwith would see what was being
+done and would get you away."
+
+"And you, Louise," said Harry, who had now come up, "how did you
+get away? I have been terribly anxious, thinking that they might
+seize you too, and that would have been dreadful."
+
+"So they would have done," the old woman said; "but when that evil
+man looked away for a moment, mademoiselle whispered, 'Fly, Louise,
+for the children's sake!' and I slipped away into the crowd without
+even stopping to think, and ran into a shop; and it was well I did,
+for he shouted to them to seize me too, but I was gone, and as I
+don't think he noticed me before, they could not find me; and as
+soon as they had all moved away I came out. I looked for you for
+some time, and then made up my mind that Monsieur Sandwith had come
+on home with you."
+
+"So I did, you see," Harry said; "but I did not dare to go in until
+we knew whether you had been taken too. If you had not come after
+a time we should have looked for another lodging, though I knew
+well enough that you would not tell them where you lived."
+
+"No, indeed," the old woman said. "They might have cut me in pieces
+without getting a single word from me as to where I lived.  Still
+they might have found out somehow, for they would have been sure to
+have published the fact that I had been taken, with a description
+of me. Then the neighbours would have said, 'This description is
+like Louise Moulin, and she is missing;' and then they would have
+talked, and the end of it would have been you would have been
+discovered. Will you come home with us, Monsieur Sandwith?"
+
+"I will come after it's dark, Louise. The less my visits are noticed
+the better."
+
+"This is awful!" Harry said to himself as he turned away. "The
+marquis and his wife massacred, Ernest and Jules murdered, Marie
+in prison, Victor mad with fever, Jeanne and Virginie with no one
+to trust to but me, my people at home in a frightful state of mind
+about me. It is awful to think of. It's enough to drive a fellow
+out of his senses. Well, I will go and see how Victor is going on.
+The doctor thought there was a change yesterday. Poor fellow! If
+he comes to his senses I shall have hard work to keep the truth
+about Marie from him. It would send him off again worse than ever
+if he had an idea of it."
+
+"And how is your patient to-day, madame?" he asked, as Victor's
+nurse opened the door to him.
+
+"He is quieter, much quieter," she replied. "I think he is too weak
+to rave any longer; but otherwise he's just the same. He lies with
+his eyes open, talking sometimes to himself, but I cannot make out
+any sense in what he says. The  doctor has been here this morning,
+and he says that he thinks another two days will decide. If he does
+not take a turn then he will die. If he does, he may live, but even
+then he may not get his reason again. Poor young fellow! I feel
+for him almost as if he were my son, and so does Jacques."
+
+"You are both very good, madame," Harry said, "and my friend is
+fortunate indeed to have fallen into such good hands. I will sit
+with him for three or four hours now, and you had better go and
+get a little fresh air."
+
+"That I will, monsieur. Jacques is asleep. He was up with him all
+last night, and I had a good night. He would have it so."
+
+"Quite right!" Harry said. "You must not knock yourself up, madame.
+You are too useful to others for us to let you do that. Tomorrow
+night I will take my turn."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+Robespierre
+
+
+After dark Harry presented himself at Louise Moulin's.
+
+"Have you thought of anything, Harry?" was Jeanne's first question.
+She was alone, for Louise was cooking, and Virginie had lain down
+and cried herself to sleep.
+
+"I have thought of a number of things," he replied, for while he
+had been sitting by Victor's bedside he had turned over in his mind
+every scheme by which he could get Marie out of prison, "but at
+present I have fixed upon nothing. I cannot carry out our original
+plan of seizing Marat. It would require more than one to carry
+out such a scheme, and the friend whom I relied upon before can no
+longer aid me."
+
+"Who is it?" Jeanne asked quietly. "Is it Victor de Gisons?"
+
+"What! Bless me, Jeanne!" Harry exclaimed in surprise. "How did
+you guess that?"
+
+"I felt sure it was Victor all along," the girl said. "In the first
+place, I never believed that he had gone away. Marie told me she
+had begged and prayed him to go, and that he had only gone to please
+her. She seemed to think it was right he should go, but I didn't
+think so. A gentleman would not run away and leave anyone he liked
+behind, even if she told him. It was not likely. Why, here are
+you staying here and risking your life for us, though we are not
+related to you and have no claim upon you. And how could Victor
+run away?  But as Marie seemed pleased to think he was safe, I said
+nothing; but I know, if he had gone, and some day they had been
+married, I should never have looked upon him as a brother. But I
+felt sure he wouldn't do it, and that he was in Paris still. Then,
+again, you did not tell us the name of the friend who was working
+with you, and I felt sure you must have some reason for your
+silence. So, putting the two things together, I was sure that it
+was Victor. What has happened to him?  Is he in prison too?"
+
+"No, he is not in prison, Jeanne," Harry said, "but he is very
+ill." And he related the whole circumstances of Victor's fever.
+"I blamed myself awfully at first for having hit him so hard, as
+you may suppose, Jeanne; but the doctor says he thinks it made no
+difference, and that Victor's delirium is due to the mental shock
+and not in any way to the blow on the head. Still I should not like
+your sister to know it. I am very glad you have guessed the truth,
+for it is a comfort to talk things over with you."
+
+"Poor Marie!" Jeanne said softly. "It is well she never knew about
+it. The thought he had got safely away kept her up. And now, tell
+me about your plans. Could I not take Victor's place and help you to
+seize Marat? I am not strong, you know; but I could hold a knife,
+and tell him I would kill him if he cried out. I don't think I
+could, you know, but he wouldn't know that."
+
+"I am afraid that wouldn't do, Jeanne," Harry said with a slight
+smile, shaking his head. "It was a desperate enterprise for two of
+us.  Besides, it would never do for you to run the risk of being
+separated from Virginie. Remember you are father and mother and
+elder sister to her now. The next plan I thought of was to try and
+get appointed as a warder in the prison, but that seems full of
+difficulties, for I know no one who could get me such a berth, and
+certainly they would not appoint a fellow at my age unless by some
+extraordinary influence. Then I thought if I let out I was English
+I might get arrested and lodged in the same prison, and might
+help her to get out then. From what I hear, the prisoners are not
+separated, but all live together."
+
+"No, no, Harry," Jeanne exclaimed in a tone of sharp pain, "you
+must not do that of all things. We have only you, and if you are
+once in prison you might never get out again; besides, there are
+lots of other prisons, and there is no reason why they should send
+you to La Force rather than anywhere else. No, I will never consent
+to that plan."
+
+"I thought it seemed too doubtful myself," Harry said. "Of course,
+if I knew that they would send me to La Force, I might risk it.  I
+could hide a file and a steel saw about me, and might cut through
+the bars; but, as you say, there is no  reason why they should send
+me there rather than anywhere else. I would kill that villain who
+arrested her--the scoundrel, after being a guest at the chateau!--but
+I don't see that would do your sister any good, and would
+probably end in my being shut up. The most hopeful plan seems to
+me to try and bribe some of the warders. Some of them, no doubt,
+would be glad enough to take money if they could see their way to
+letting her out without fear of detection."
+
+"But you know we thought of that before, Harry, and agreed it would
+be a terrible risk to try it, for the very first man you spoke to
+might turn round on you."
+
+"Of course there is a certain risk, Jeanne, anyway. There is no
+getting a prisoner out of La Force without running some sort of
+risk; the thing is to fix on as safe a plan as we can. However, we
+must think it out well before we do try. A failure would be fatal,
+and I do not think there is any pressing danger just at present.
+It is hardly likely there will be any repetition of the wholesale
+work of the 2nd of September; and if they have anything like a trial
+of the prisoners, there are such numbers of them, so many arrested
+every day, that it may be a long time before they come to your
+sister. I do not mean that we should trust to that, only that
+there is time for us to make our plans properly. Have you thought
+of anything?"
+
+"I have thought of all sort of things since you left us this morning,
+Harry, but they are like yours, just vague sort of schemes that
+do not seem possible when you try to work them out. I do not know
+whether they let you inside the prisons to sell everything to the
+prisoners, because if they did I might go in with something and
+see Marie, and find out how she could be got out."
+
+Harry shook his head.
+
+"I do not think anyone would be allowed in like that, but if they
+did it would only be a few to whom the privilege would be granted."
+
+"Yes, I thought of that, Harry; but one of them might be bribed
+perhaps to let me take her place."
+
+"It might be possible," Harry said, "but there would be a terrible
+risk, and I don't think any advantage to compensate for it. Even if
+you did get to her and spoke to her, we should still be no nearer
+to getting her out. Still we mustn't be disheartened. We can hardly
+expect to hit upon a scheme at once, and I  don't think either of
+our heads is very clear to-day; let us think it over quietly, and
+perhaps some other idea may occur to one of us, I expect it will be
+to you.  Now, good-night; keep your courage up. I rely very much
+upon you, Jeanne, and you don't know what a comfort it is to me that
+you are calm and brave, and that I can talk things over to you. I
+don't know what I should do if I had it all on my own shoulders."
+
+Jeanne made no answer, but her eyes were full of tears as she put
+her hands into Harry's, and no sound came from her lips in answer
+to his good-night.
+
+"That girl's a trump, and no mistake," Harry said to himself as
+he descended the stairs. "She has got more pluck than most women,
+and is as cool and calm as if she were twice her age. Most girls
+would be quite knocked over if they were in her place. Her father
+and mother murdered, her sister in the hands of these wretches,
+and danger hanging over herself and Virginie! It isn't that she
+doesn't feel it. I can see she does, quite as much, if not more,
+than people who would sit down and howl and wring their hands. She
+is a trump, Jeanne is, and no mistake. And now about Marie. She
+must be got out somehow, but how? That is the question. I really
+don't see any possible way except by bribing her guards, and
+I haven't the least idea how to set about that. I think to-morrow
+I will tell Jacques and his wife all about it; they may know some
+of these men, though it isn't likely that they do; anyhow, three
+heads are better than one."
+
+Accordingly, next morning he took the kind-hearted couple into his
+counsel. When they heard that the young lady who had been arrested
+was the fiance of their sick lodger they were greatly interested,
+but they shook their heads when he told them that he was determined
+at all hazards to get her out of prison.
+
+"It isn't the risk so much," Jacques said, "that I look at. Life
+doesn't seem of much account in these days; but how could it be
+done? Even if you made up your mind to be killed, I don't see that
+would put her a bit nearer to getting out of prison; the place is
+too strong to break into or to break out of."
+
+"No, I don't think it is possible to succeed in that sort of way;
+but if the men who have the keys of the corridors could be bribed,
+and the guard at the gate put soundly to sleep by drugging their
+drink, it might be managed."
+
+Jacques looked sharply at Harry to see if he was in earnest, and
+seeing that he was so, said drily:
+
+"Yes, if we could do those things we should, no doubt, see our way;
+but how could it be managed?"
+
+"That is just the point, Jacques. In the first place it will be
+necessary to find out in which corridor Mademoiselle de St. Caux
+is confined; in the second, to let her know that we are working
+for her, and to learn, if possible, from her whether, among those
+in charge of her, there is one man who shows some sort of feeling
+of pity and kindness; when that is done we should, of course, try
+to get hold of him. Of course he doesn't remain in the prison all
+day. However, we can see about that after we have found out the
+first points."
+
+"I know a woman who is sister to one of the warders," Elise Medart
+said. "I don't know whether he is there now or whether he has been
+turned out. Martha is a good soul, and I know that sometimes she
+has been inside the prison, I suppose to see her brother, for before
+the troubles the warders used to get out only once a month.  What
+her brother is like I don't know, but if he is like her he would,
+I think, be just the man to help you."
+
+"Yes," Jacques assented, "I didn't think of Martha. She is a good
+soul and would do her best, I am sure."
+
+"Thank you both," Harry said; "but I do not wish you to run any
+risks. You have already incurred the greatest danger by sheltering
+my friend; I cannot let you hazard your lives farther. This woman
+may, as you say, be ready to help us, but her brother might betray
+the whole of us, and screen his sister by saying she had only
+pretended to enter into the plot in order to betray it."
+
+"We all risk our lives every day," Jacques said quietly. "I am
+sure we can trust Martha, and she will know whether she can rely
+completely upon her brother. If she can, we will set her to sound
+him. Elise will go and see her to-day, and you shall know what she
+thinks of it when you come this evening for your night's watching."
+
+Greatly pleased with this unexpected stroke of luck, Harry went off
+at once to tell Jeanne that the outline of a plan to rescue Marie
+had been fixed upon.
+
+The girl's pale face brightened up at the news.
+
+"Perhaps," she said, "we may be able to send a letter to her. I
+should like to send her just a line to say that Virginie and I are
+well.  Do you think it can be done?"
+
+"I do not know, Jeanne. At any rate you can rely that, if it is
+possible and all goes well, she shall have it; but be sure and give
+no clue by which they might find you out, if the letter falls into
+wrong hands. Tell her we are working to get her free, and ask if
+she can suggest any way of escape; knowing the place she may see
+opportunities of which we know nothing. Write it very small, only
+on a tiny piece of paper, so that a man can hide it anywhere, slip
+it into her hand, or put it in her ration of bread."
+
+Jeanne wrote the little note--a few loving words, and the message
+Harry had given her.
+
+"Do not sign your name to it," Harry said; "she will know well
+enough who it comes from, and it is better in case it should fall
+into anyone else's hands."
+
+That evening Harry learned that the woman had consented to sound
+her brother, who was still employed in the prison. She had said she
+was sure that he would not betray her even if he refused to aid in
+the plan.
+
+"I am to see her to-morrow morning," Elise said. "She will go
+straight from me to the prison. She says discipline is not nearly
+so strict as it used to be. There is a very close watch kept over
+the prisoners, but friends of the guards can go in and out without
+trouble, except that on leaving they have to be accompanied by
+the guard at the door, so as to be sure that no one is passing out
+in disguise. She says her brother is good-natured but very fond
+of money. He is always talking of retiring and settling down in a
+farm in Brittany, where he comes from, and she thinks that if he
+thought he could gain enough to do this he would be ready to run
+some risk, for he hates the terrible things that are being done
+now."
+
+"He seems just the man for us," Harry said. "Will you tell your
+friend, when you see her in the morning, that I will give her twenty
+louis and her brother a hundred if he can succeed in getting Marie
+out?"
+
+"I will tell them, sir. That offer will set his wits to work, I
+have no doubt."
+
+Harry then gave her the note Jeanne had written, for the woman
+to hand to her brother for delivery if he proved willing to enter
+into their plan. Harry had a quiet night of watching, for Victor
+lay so still that his friend several times leant over him to see
+if he breathed. The doctor had looked in late and said that the
+crisis was at hand.
+
+"To-morrow your friend will either sink or he will turn the corner.
+He is asleep now and will probably sleep for many hours. He may
+never wake again; he may wake, recognize you for a few minutes,
+and then go off in a last stupor; he may wake stronger and with a
+chance of life. Here is a draught that you will give him as soon
+as he opens his eyes; pour besides three or four spoonfuls of soup
+down his throat, and if he keeps awake do the same every half hour."
+
+It was not until ten o'clock in the morning that Victor opened his
+eyes. He looked vaguely round the room and there was no recognition
+in his eyes as they fell upon Harry's face, but they had lost the
+wild expression they had worn while he had lain there, and Harry
+felt renewed hope as he lifted his head and poured the draught
+between his lips. Then he gave him a few spoonfuls of soup and had
+the satisfaction of seeing his eyes close again and his breathing
+become more and more regular.
+
+The doctor, when he came in and felt Victor's pulse, nodded approval.
+
+"The fever has quite left him," he said; "I think he will do now.
+It will be slow, very slow, but I think he will regain his strength;
+as to his mind, of that I can say nothing at present."
+
+About mid-day Elise returned.
+
+"I have good news, monsieur," she said at once. "I waited outside
+the prison till Martha came out. Her brother has agreed to help if
+he can, but he said that he did not think that it would be at all
+possible to get mademoiselle out. There are many of the men of the
+faubourgs mixed up with the old warders, and there is the greatest
+vigilance to ensure that none escape. There would be many doors to
+be opened, and the keys are all held by different persons. He says
+he will think it over, and if it is any way possible he will risk
+it. But he wishes first of all to declare that he does not think
+that any way of getting her out can be discovered. He will give
+her the note on the first opportunity, and get an answer from her,
+which he will send to his sister as soon as he gets a chance."
+
+"That is all we can expect," Harry said joyfully. "I did not expect
+that it would be an easy business, or that the man would be able
+to hit upon a scheme at once; but now that he has gone so far as
+to agree to carry notes, the thought that he may, if he succeeds,
+soon have his little farm in Brittany, will sharpen his wits up
+wonderfully."
+
+It was three days before an answer came from Marie. Jacques handed
+it to Harry when he came to take his turn by Victor's bedside.
+Victor was better; he was no longer unconscious, but followed with
+his eyes the movements of those in the room. Once he had said, "Where
+am I?" but the answer "You are with friends; you have been ill;
+you shall hear all about it when you get stronger," had apparently
+satisfied him. At Harry he looked with doubtful recognition. He
+seemed to remember the face, but to have no further idea about it,
+and even when Harry said cheerfully:
+
+"Don't you remember your friend Harry, Victor?" he had shaken his
+head in feeble negative.
+
+"I expect it will all come back to him," Jacques said, "as he gets
+stronger; and after all it is much better that he should remember
+nothing at present. It will be quite time enough for that when he
+is better able to stand it."
+
+"I agree with you there," Harry said, "and I am really glad that he
+did not remember me, for had he done so the past might have come
+back at once and, feeble as he is, that would have completely
+knocked him over."
+
+Upon the receipt of Marie's note Harry at once started off at full
+speed and soon had the satisfaction of handing it to Jeanne.
+
+She tore it open.
+
+"Do you not know what it is, Harry?"
+
+"How could I?" Harry replied. "As you see the letter is addressed
+to you. Of course I should not think of looking at it."
+
+"Why not? You are as much interested in it as I am. Sit down between
+me and Virginie and let us read it together. Why, it is quite a
+long epistle."
+
+It was written in pencil upon what was evidently a fly-leaf of a
+book, and ran as follows:
+
+"My darling Jeanne and Virginie, you can imagine what joy I felt
+when I received your little note to-day and heard that you were
+still safe. I could hardly believe my senses when, on opening the
+little ball of paper which one of our guards  thrust into my hand, I
+found that it was from you, and that you were both safe and well.
+I am writing this crouched down on the ground behind Madame de
+Vigny, and so hidden from the sight of our guards, but I can only
+write a few lines at a time, lest I should be detected. Tell our
+good friend that I fear there is little chance of escape. We are
+watched night and day. We are locked up at night, three or four
+together, in little cells, but in the day we are in a common hall.
+
+"It is a strange mixture. Here are many of the best blood in France,
+together with deputies, advocates, and writers. We may talk together
+as much as we like, and sometimes even a joke and a laugh are heard.
+Every day some names are called out, and these go and we never see
+them again. Do not fret about me, my dear sisters, we are all in
+God's hands. If it is his will, we shall be saved; if not, we must
+face bravely whatever comes.
+
+"It is a day since I wrote last. A strange thing has happened which
+will make your blood boil, Jeanne, as it has made mine. I was called
+out this morning to a little room where questions are sometimes
+asked us, and who do you think was there? M. Lebat, the son of the
+Maire of Dijon--the man who denounced and arrested me. What do
+you think the wretch had the insolence to say? That he loved me,
+and that if I would consent to marry him he could save me. He said
+that his influence would suffice, not only to get me free, but to
+obtain for me some of our estates, and he told me he would give me
+time to consider his offer, but that I must remember that nothing
+could save me if I refused. What do you think I did, Jeanne?
+Something very unladylike, I am afraid. I made a step closer to
+him, and then I gave him a slap on the face which made my fingers
+tingle, then I made him a deep curtsy and said, 'That is my answer,
+Monsieur Lebat,' and walked into the great hall again.
+
+"But do not let me waste a line of this last precious letter that
+I may be able to write to you by saying more about this wretch. I
+can see no possible way of escape, dears, so do not buoy yourselves
+up with hope. I have none. Strange as it may seem to you we are
+not very unhappy here. There are many of our old friends and some
+of the deputies of the Gironde, who used to attend our salon. We
+keep up each other's courage. We talk of  other things just as if
+we were in a drawing-room, and when the list is called out of a
+morning, those who are named say good-bye bravely; there is seldom
+a tear shed.
+
+"So do not think of me as wretched or unhappy in these last days.
+And now, my sisters, I must say adieu. You must trust yourselves
+entirely to our brave English friend, as you would trust a brother.
+He will do all that is possible to take you out of this unhappy land
+and conduct you to England, where you will find Victor, Monsieur
+du Tillet, and your brothers, who have, I trust, weeks ago arrived
+there in safety. Thank our friend from me and from our dead parents
+for his goodness and devotion. That your lives may be happy, my
+dear sisters, will be the last prayer of your loving Marie."
+
+Inside the letter was another tiny note addressed for Jeanne,
+"Private." Having read the other Jeanne took the little note and
+walking to the window opened it. As she did so a burning flush
+of colour swept across her face to her very brow. She folded it
+carefully again and stood looking through the window silently for
+another quarter of an hour before she came back to the table.
+
+"What is it, Jeanne?" Virginie asked; "have you been crying, Jeanne
+dear? You look so flushed. You must not fret. Harry says we must
+not give up hope, for that he believes he may hit upon some plan
+for saving Marie yet. He says it's only natural that she should
+think there was no means of getting away, but it was only what he
+expected. It is we who must invent something."
+
+"Yes, dear, we will try," Jeanne said with a quiver in her lip,
+and then she suddenly burst into tears.
+
+"You mustn't give way, Jeanne," Harry said, when she recovered
+herself a little. "You know how much I trust to your advice; if
+you were to break down I should lose heart. Do not think of Marie's
+letter as a good-bye. I have not lost hope yet, by a long way. Why,
+we have done wonders already in managing to get a letter in to her
+and to have her reply. I consider half the difficulty is over now
+we have a friend in there."
+
+"I will try not to break down again," Jeanne said; "it is not often
+I give way, but to-day I do not feel quite myself, and this letter
+finished me. You will see I shall be all right to-morrow."
+
+"I hope so," Harry said as he rose to leave; "but I think you had
+better ask Louise to give you something--your hands are hot and
+your cheeks are quite flushed, and you look to me as if you were
+feverish. Good night, dears!"
+
+"I do hope Jeanne is not going to break down," Harry said as he
+walked towards his lodging. "If she were to get laid up now that
+would be the finishing touch to the whole affair; but perhaps, as
+she says, she will be all right in the morning. No doubt in that
+note Marie wrote as if she were sure of dying, and such a letter
+as that would be enough to upset any girl, even such a plucky one
+as Jeanne.
+
+"However, it is of Marie I must think now. It was a brave letter of
+hers; it is clear she has given up all hope. This is a bad business
+about the scoundrel Lebat. I used to wonder why he came so often
+to the chateau on business that could have been done just as well
+by a messenger. He saw how things were going, and thought that when
+the division of the estates came he might get a big slice. However,
+it's most unfortunate that he should have had this interview with
+Marie in the prison. If it had not been for that it might have been
+months before her turn came for trial. As it is, no doubt Lebat will
+have her name put down at once in the list of those for trial, if
+such a farce can be called a trial, and will see that no time is
+lost before it appears on that fatal list for execution.
+
+"He will flatter himself, of course, that when the last moment
+comes, and she sees that there is no hope whatever, she will change
+her mind. There is one thing, if she is murdered I will kill him
+as I would a dog, for he will be her murderer just as much as if
+he had himself cut her throat. I would do it at once if it were not
+for the girls. I must not run any unnecessary risks, at any rate
+I need not think of him now; the one thing at present is to get
+Marie out."
+
+Turning this over in his mind, he walked about for some hours,
+scarce noticing where he was going. It seemed to him that there
+must be some way of getting Marie out if he could only hit upon
+it.  He turned over in his mind every escape he had ever read of,
+but in most of these the prisoner had been a man, capable of using
+tools passed in to him to saw through iron bars, pierce walls, or
+overcome jailers; some had been saved by female relatives, wives
+or daughters, who went in and exchanged clothes and places with
+them, but this was not feasible here. This was not a prison where
+relatives could call upon friends, for to be a relative or  friend
+of a prisoner was quite sufficient in the eyes of the terrorists
+to mark anyone as being an enemy of the republic.
+
+He was suddenly roused from his reverie by a cry, and beneath the
+dim light of a lantern, suspended over the narrow street, he saw a
+man feebly defending himself against two others. He sprang forward
+just as the man fell, and with his stick struck a sharp blow on
+the uplifted wrist of one of the assailants, sending the knife he
+was holding flying through the air. The other turned upon him, but
+he drew the pistol which he always carried beneath his clothes, and
+the two men at once took to their heels. Harry replaced his pistol
+and stooped over the fallen man.
+
+"Are you badly hurt?" he asked.
+
+"No, I think not, but I do not know. I think I slipped down; but
+they would have killed me had you not arrived."
+
+"Well, let me get you to your feet," Harry said, holding out
+his hands, but with a feeling of some disgust at the abject fear
+expressed in the tones of the man's voice. He was indeed trembling
+so that even when Harry hauled him to his feet he could scarcely
+stand.
+
+"You had better lean against the wall for a minute or two to
+recover yourself," Harry said. "I see you have your coat cut on the
+shoulder, and are bleeding pretty freely, but it is nothing to be
+frightened about. If you will give me your handkerchief I will bind
+it up for you."
+
+Harry unbuttoned the man's coat, for his hands shook so much that
+he was unable to do so, pulled the arm out of the sleeve, and tied
+the bandage tightly round the shoulder. The man seemed to belong
+to the bourgeois class, and evidently was careful as to his attire,
+which was neat and precise. His linen and the ruffles of his shirt
+were spotlessly white and of fine material. The short-waisted coat
+was of olive-green cloth, with bright metal buttons; the waistcoat,
+extending far below the coat, was a light-buff colour, brocaded
+with a small pattern of flowers. When he had bound the wound Harry
+helped him on with his coat again. He was by this time recovering
+himself.
+
+"Oh these aristocrats," he murmured, "how they hate me!"
+
+The words startled Harry. What was this? He had not interfered, as
+he had supposed, to prevent the robbery of some quiet citizen by
+the ruffians of the streets. It was a political assassination that
+had been attempted--a vengeance  by Royalists upon one of the men
+of the Revolution. He looked more closely at the person whose life
+he had saved. He had a thin and insignificant figure--his face was
+pale and looked like that of a student. It seemed to Harry that he
+had seen it before, but where he could not say. His first thought
+was one of regret that he had interfered to save one of the men
+of the 2d of September; then the thought flashed through his mind
+that there might be some benefit to be derived from it.
+
+"Young man," the stranger said, "will you give me your arm and
+escort me home?  You have saved my life; it is a humble one, but
+perhaps it is of some value to France. I live but two streets away.
+It is not often I am out alone, for I have many enemies, but I was
+called suddenly out on business, though I have no doubt now the
+message was a fraudulent one, designed simply to put me into the
+hands of my foes."
+
+The man spoke in a thin hard voice, which inspired Harry, he knew
+not why, with a feeling of repulsion; he had certainly heard it
+before. He offered him his arm and walked with him to his door.
+
+"Come up, I beg you," the stranger said.
+
+He ascended to the second floor and rang at the bell. A woman with
+a light opened it.
+
+"Why, my brother," she exclaimed on seeing his face, "you are ill!
+Has anything happened?"
+
+"I have been attacked in the street," he said, "but I am not hurt,
+though, had it not been for this citizen it would have gone hardly
+with me. You have to thank him for saving your brother's life."
+
+They had entered a sitting-room now. It was plainly but very neatly
+furnished. There were some birds in cages, which, late though the
+hour was, hopped on their perches and twittered when they heard
+the master's voice, and he responded with two or three words of
+greeting to them.
+
+"Set the supper," he said to his sister; "the citizen will take a
+meal with us. You know who I am, I suppose?" he said to Harry.
+
+"No," Harry replied. "I have a recollection of your face and voice,
+but I cannot recall where I have met you."
+
+"I am Robespierre," he said.
+
+Harry gave a start of surprise. This man whom he had saved was he
+whom he had so often execrated--one of the leaders of those who
+had deluged France with blood--the man who, next only to Marat
+was hated and feared by the Royalists of France. His first feeling
+was one of loathing and hatred, but at the same moment there flashed
+through his mind the thought that chance had favoured him beyond
+his hopes, and that the comedy which he had planned with Victor
+to carry out upon the person  of Marat had come to pass without
+premeditation, but with Robespierre as the chief actor.
+
+But so surprised and so delighted was he that for a minute he sat
+unable to say a word. Robespierre was gratified at the effect which
+his name had produced. His was a strangely-mixed character--at
+once timid and bold, shrinking from personal danger, yet ready to
+urge the extremest measures. Simple in his tastes, and yet very vain
+and greedy of applause. Domestic and affectionate in his private
+character, but ready to shed a river of blood in his public capacity.
+Pure in morals; passionless in his resolves; incorruptible and
+inflexible; the more dangerous because he had neither passion nor
+hate; because he had not, like Danton and Marat, a lust for blood,
+but because human life to him was as nothing, because had he
+considered it necessary that half France should die for the benefit
+of the other half he would have signed their death-warrant without
+emotion or hesitation.
+
+"You are surprised, young man," he said, "but the ways of fate are
+inscrutable. The interposition of a youth has thwarted the schemes
+of the enemies of France. Had you been but ten seconds later I should
+have ceased to be, and one of the humble instruments by which fate
+is working for the regeneration of the people would have perished."
+
+While Robespierre was speaking Harry had rapidly thought over the
+role which it would be best for him to adopt. Should he avow his
+real character and ask for an order for the liberation of Marie as
+a recompense for the service he had rendered Robespierre, or should
+he retain his present character and obtain Robespierre's confidence?
+There was danger in an open appeal, for, above all things, Robespierre
+prided himself upon his incorruptibility, and he might consider
+that to free a prisoner for service rendered  to himself would be
+a breach of his duty to France. He resolved, therefore, to keep
+silence at present, reserving an appeal to Robespierre's gratitude
+for the last extremity.
+
+"Pardon me, monsieur," he said, after he had rapidly arrived at
+this conclusion; "my emotion was naturally great at finding that
+I had unwittingly been the means of saving the life of one on whom
+the eyes of France are fixed. I rejoice indeed that I should have
+been the means of preserving such a life."
+
+This statement was strictly true, although not perhaps in the sense
+in which Robespierre regarded it.
+
+"We will talk more after supper," he said. "My sister is, I see,
+ready with it. Indeed it is long past our usual hour, and we were
+just sitting down when I was called out by what purported to be an
+important message from the Club."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+Free
+
+
+Robespierre chatted continuously as the meal went on, and Harry
+asked himself in astonishment whether he was in a dream, and if
+this man before him, talking about his birds, his flowers, and his
+life before he came to Paris, could really be the dreaded Robespierre.
+After the meal was over his host said:
+
+"As yet I am ignorant of the name of my preserver."
+
+"My name is Henry Sandwith," Harry replied.
+
+"It is not a French name," Robespierre said in surprise.
+
+"I am of English parentage," Harry said quietly, "but have been
+resident for some years in France. I was for some time in the service
+of the ci-devant Marquis de St. Caux; but since the break-up of his
+household I have been shifting for myself as best I could, living
+chiefly on the moneys I had earned in his service, and on the
+look-out for any employment that may offer."
+
+"England is our enemy," Robespierre said, raising his voice angrily;
+"the enemy of free institutions and liberty."
+
+"I know nothing about English politics," Harry replied with a smile;
+"nor indeed about any politics. I am but little past eighteen, and
+so that I can earn my living I do not ask whether my employer is a
+patriot or an aristocrat. It is quite trouble enough to earn one's
+living without bothering one's head about politics. If you can put
+me in the way of doing so I shall consider that I am well repaid
+for the little service I rendered you."
+
+"Assuredly I will do so," Robespierre said. "I am a poor man, you
+know. I do not put my hand into the public purse, and I and my
+sister live as frugally as we did when we first came to Paris from
+Arras.  My only gains have been the hatred of the aristocrats and
+the love of the people. But though I have not money, I have influence,
+and I promise to use it on your behalf. Until I  hear of something
+suitable you can, if you will, work here with me, and share what
+I possess.  My correspondence is very heavy. I am overwhelmed with
+letters from the provinces begging me to inquire into grievances
+and redress wrongs. Can you read and write well?" For from Harry's
+words he supposed that he had held some menial post in the household
+of the Marquis de St. Caux.
+
+"Yes, I can read and write fairly," Harry said.
+
+"And are you acquainted with the English tongue?"
+
+"I know enough of it to read it," Harry said. "I spoke it when I
+was a child."
+
+"If you can read it that will do," Robespierre said. "There are
+English papers sent over, and I should like to hear for myself
+what this perfidious people say of us, and there are few here who
+can translate the language. Do you accept my proposal?"
+
+"Willingly," Harry said.
+
+"Very well, then, come here at nine o'clock in the morning.  But
+mind you are only filling the post of my secretary until I can find
+something better for you to do."
+
+"The post will be a better one some day, Monsieur Robespierre.
+Ere long you will be the greatest man in France, and the post of
+secretary will be one which may well be envied."
+
+"Ah, I see you know how to flatter," Robespierre said with a smile,
+much gratified nevertheless with Harry's words. "You must remember
+that I crave no dignities, that I care only for the welfare of
+France."
+
+"I know, monsieur, that you are called 'Robespierre the Incorruptible,"'
+Harry said; "but, nevertheless, you belong to France, and France
+will assuredly see that some day you have such a reward as you
+richly merit."
+
+"There was no untruth in that," Harry said to himself as he made
+his way down stairs. "These human tigers will meet their doom when
+France comes to her senses. He is a strange contrast, this man;
+but I suppose that even the tiger is a domestic animal in his own
+family. His food almost choked me, and had I not known that Marie's
+fate depends upon my calmness, I should assuredly have broken out
+and told this dapper little demagogue my opinion of him. But this
+is glorious! What news I shall have to give the girls in the morning!
+If I cannot ensure Marie's freedom now I  should be a bungler
+indeed.  Had I had the planning of the events of this evening they
+could not have turned out better for us."
+
+It was the first time that Harry had called at Louise Moulin's as
+early as eight o'clock in the morning, and Jeanne leaped up as he
+entered.
+
+
+"What is it, Harry? You bring us some news, don't you?"
+
+"I do indeed, Jeanne; capital news. Whom do you think I had supper
+with last night?"
+
+"Had supper with, Harry!" Jeanne repeated. "What do you mean? How
+can I guess whom you had supper with?"
+
+"I am sure you cannot guess, Jeanne, so I will not puzzle your
+brain. I had supper with Robespierre."
+
+"With Robespierre!" the two girls repeated in astonishment.  "You
+are not joking, Harry?" Jeanne went on. "But no, you cannot be
+doing that; tell us how you came to have supper with Robespierre."
+
+"My dear Jeanne, I regard it as a special providence, as an answer
+from God to your prayers for Marie. I had the good fortune to save
+his life."
+
+"Oh, Harry," Jeanne exclaimed, "what happiness! Then Marie's life
+will be saved."
+
+"I think I can almost promise you that, Jeanne, though I do not know
+yet exactly how it's to be done. But such a piece of good fortune
+would never have been sent to me had it not been intended that we
+should save Marie. Now, sit down quietly, both of you, and you too,
+Louise, and let me tell you all about it, for I have to be with
+Robespierre again at nine o'clock."
+
+"Oh, that is fortunate indeed!" Jeanne exclaimed when he had
+finished. "Surely he cannot refuse any request you may make now."
+
+"If he does, I must get it out of him somehow," Harry said cheerfully.
+"By fair means or foul I will get the order for her release."
+
+"But you don't think he can refuse, Harry?" Jeanne asked anxiously.
+
+"I think he may refuse, Jeanne. He is proud of his integrity and
+incorruptibility, and I think it quite possible that he may refuse
+to grant Marie's release in return for a benefit done him personally.
+However, do not let that discourage you in the least. As I said,
+I will have the order by fair means or foul."
+
+At nine o'clock Harry presented himself in readiness for work, and
+found that his post would be no sinecure. The correspondence which
+he had to go through was enormous. Requests for favours, letters
+of congratulation on Robespierre's speeches and motions in the
+Assembly, reports of scores of provincial committees, denunciations
+of aristocrats, letters of blame because the work of rooting out
+the suspects did not proceed faster, entreaties from friends of
+prisoners. All these had to be sorted, read, and answered.
+
+Robespierre was, Harry soon found, methodical in the extreme.  He
+read every letter himself, and not only gave directions how they
+were to be answered, but read through the answers when written,
+and was most careful before he affixed his signature to any paper
+whatever. When it was time for him to leave for the Assembly he
+made a note in pencil on each letter how it should be answered,
+and directed Harry when he had finished them to leave them on the
+table for him on his return.
+
+"I foresee that you will be of great value to me, Monsieur Sandwith,"
+he said, "and I shall be able to recommend you for any office that
+may be vacant with a feeling of confidence that you will do justice
+to my recommendation; or if you would rather, as time goes on,
+attach your fortunes to mine, be assured that if I should rise to
+power your fortune will be made. When you have done these letters
+your time will be your own for the rest of the day. You know our
+meal hours, and I can only say that we are punctual to a second."
+
+When Harry had finished he strolled out. He saw that the task of
+getting an order for Marie's release would be more difficult than
+he had anticipated. He had hoped that by placing it with a batch of
+papers before Robespierre he would get him to sign it among others
+without reading it, but he now saw that this would be next to
+impossible. One thing afforded him grounds for satisfaction. Among
+the papers was a list of the prisoners to be brought up on the
+following day for trial. To this Robespierre added two names, and
+then signed it and sent it back to the prison. There was another
+list with the names of the prisoners to be executed on the following
+day, and this, Harry learned, was not sent in to the prison authorities
+until late in the evening, so that even they were ignorant until
+the last moment which of the prisoners were to be called for by
+the tumbrils next morning. Thus he would know when Marie was to go
+through the mockery of a trial, and would also know  when her name
+was put on the fatal list for the guillotine. The first fact he
+might have been able to learn from his ally in the prison, but the
+second and most important he could not have obtained in any other
+way.
+
+The work had been frequently interrupted by callers. Members of the
+Committee of Public Safety, leaders of the Jacobin and Cordeliers
+Clubs, and others, dropped in and asked Robespierre's advice,
+or discussed measures to be taken; and after a day or two Harry
+found that it was very seldom, except when taking his meals, that
+Robespierre was alone while in the house; and as his sister was in
+and out of the room all day, the idea of compelling him by force to
+sign the order, as they had originally intended to do with Marat,
+was clearly impracticable.
+
+Each day after his work was over, and this was generally completed
+by about one o'clock, Harry called to see how Victor was getting
+on. He was gaining strength, but his brain appeared to make far
+less progress than his bodily health. He did not recognize Harry in
+the least, and although he would answer questions that were asked
+him, his mind appeared a blank as to the past, and he often lay for
+hours without speaking a word. After leaving him Harry met Louise
+and the two girls at a spot agreed upon the day before, a fresh
+meeting-place being arranged each day. He  found it difficult to
+satisfy them, for indeed each day he became more and more doubtful
+as to his ability to get the order of release from Robespierre.
+Towards the man himself his feelings were of a mixed kind. He
+shuddered at the calmness with which, in his letters to the provincial
+committees, he advocated wholesale executions of prisoners. He
+wondered at the violence with which, in his shrill, high-pitched
+voice, he declaimed in favour of the most revolutionary measures.
+He admired the simplicity of his life, his affection for his sister
+and his birds, his kindness of heart in all matters in which politics
+were not concerned.
+
+Among Robespierre's visitors during the next three weeks was Lebat,
+who was, Harry found, an important personage, being the representative
+on the Committee of Public Safety of the province of Burgundy, and
+one of the most extreme of the frequenters of the Jacobin Club. He
+did not recognize Harry, whom he had never noticed particularly on
+the occasion of his visits to the chateau, and who, in the somewhat
+threadbare black  suit which he had assumed instead of the workman's
+blouse, wrote steadily at a table apart, taking apparently no notice
+of what was going on in the apartment.
+
+But Harry's time was not altogether thrown away. It was his duty
+the first thing of a morning to open and sort the letters and lay
+them in piles upon the table used by Robespierre himself, and he
+managed every day to slip quietly into his pockets several of the
+letters of denunciation against persons as aristocrats in disguise
+or as being suspected of hostility to the Commune. When Robespierre
+left him to go to the Club or the Assembly Harry would write short
+notes of warning in a disguised hand to the persons named, and
+would, when he went out, leave these at their doors. Thus he had
+the satisfaction of saving a considerable number of persons from
+the clutches of the revolutionists. He would then, two or three
+days later, slip the letters of denunciation, very few of which
+were dated, among the rest of the correspondence, satisfied that
+when search was made the persons named would already have shifted
+their quarters and assumed some other disguise.
+
+February had come and Harry was still working and waiting, busy
+for several hours each day writing and examining reports with
+Robespierre, striving of an evening to keep up the courage and
+spirits of the girls, calling in for a few minutes each day to see
+Victor, who, after passing through a long and terrible fever, now
+lay weak and apparently unconscious alike of the past and present,
+his mind completely gone; but the doctor told Harry that in this
+respect he did not think the case was hopeless.
+
+"His strength seems to have absolutely deserted him," he said,
+"and his mind is a blank like that of a little child, but I by no
+means despair of his gradually recovering; and if he could hear the
+voice of the lady you tell me he is engaged to, it might strike a
+chord now lying dormant and set the brain at work again."
+
+But as to Marie, Harry could do nothing. Do what he would, he
+could hit upon no plan whatever for getting her out of prison; and
+he could only wait until some change in the situation or the appearance
+of her name in the fatal list might afford some opportunity for
+action.  It was evident to him that Lebat was not pushing matters
+forward, but that he preferred to wait and leave  the horror of
+months in prison to work upon Marie's mind, and so break her down
+that she would be willing enough to purchase her life by a marriage
+with him.
+
+There had been some little lull in the work of blood, for in
+December all eyes had been turned to the spectacle of the trial of
+the king.  From the 10th of August he had remained a close prisoner
+in the Temple, watched and insulted by his ruffian guards, and
+passing the time in the midst of his family with a serenity of mind,
+a calmness, and tranquility which went far to redeem the blunders
+he had made during the preceding three years. The following is the
+account written by the princess royal in her journal of the manner
+in which the family passed their days:  "My father rose at seven
+and said prayers till eight; then dressing himself he was with my
+brother till nine, when he came to breakfast with my mother. After
+breakfast my father gave us lessons till eleven o'clock; and then
+my brother played till midday, when we went to walk together,
+whatever the weather was, because at that hour they relieved guard
+and wished to see us to be sure of our presence. Our walk was
+continued till two o'clock, when we dined. After dinner my father
+and mother played at backgammon, or rather pretended to play, in
+order to have an opportunity of talking together for a short time.
+
+"At four o'clock my mother went up stairs with us, because the king
+then usually took a nap. At six o'clock my brother went down, and
+my father gave us lessons till supper at nine. After supper my
+mother soon went to bed. We then went up stairs, and the king went
+to bed at eleven. My mother worked much at tapestry and made me
+study, and frequently read alone. My aunt said prayers and read
+the service; she also read many religious books, usually aloud."
+
+But harmless as was the life of the royal family, Danton and the
+Jacobins were determined upon having their lives. The mockery of
+the trial commenced on the 10th of December. Malesherbes, Tronchet,
+and Deseze defended him fearlessly and eloquently, but it was
+useless--the king was condemned beforehand. Robespierre and Marat
+led the assault. The Girondists, themselves menaced and alarmed,
+stood neutral; but on the 15th of January  the question was put to
+the Assembly, "Is Louis Capet, formerly King of the French, guilty
+of conspiracy and attempt against the general safety of the state?"
+
+With scarcely a single exception, the Assembly returned an affirmative
+answer, and on the 17th the final vote was taken. Three hundred
+and sixty-one voted for death, two for imprisonment, two hundred
+and eighty-six for detention, banishment, or conditional death,
+forty-six for death but after a delay, twenty-six for death but
+with a wish that the Assembly should revise the sentence.
+
+Sentence of death was pronounced. After a sitting which lasted for
+thirty-seven hours there was another struggle between the advocates
+of delay and those of instant execution, but the latter won; and
+after parting with noble resignation from his wife and family, the
+king, on the 21st, was executed. His bearing excited the admiration
+even of his bitterest foes.
+
+France looked on amazed and appalled at the act, for Louis had
+undoubtedly striven his best to lessen abuses and to go with the
+people in the path of reform. It was his objection to shed blood,
+his readiness to give way, his affection for the people, which had
+allowed the Revolution to march on its bloody way without a check.
+It was the victims--the nobles, the priests, the delicate women and
+cultured men--who had reason to complain; for it was the king's
+hatred to resistance which left them at the mercy of their foes.
+Louis had been the best friend of the Revolution that slew him.
+
+The trial and execution of the king had at least the good effect of
+diverting the minds of Jeanne and Virginie from their own anxieties.
+Jeanne was passionate and Virginie tearful in their sorrow and
+indignation. Over and over again Jeanne implored Harry to try to
+save the king. There were still many Royalists, and indeed the bulk
+of the people were shocked and alienated by the violence of the
+Convention; and Jeanne urged that Harry might, from his connection
+with Robespierre, obtain some pass or document which would enable
+the king to escape. But Harry refused to make any attempt whatever
+on his behalf.
+
+"In the first place, Jeanne, it would be absolutely impossible for
+the king, watched as he is, to escape; and no pass or permit that
+Robespierre could give would be of the smallest utility. You must
+remember, that although all apparently unite against the king, there
+is a never-ending struggle going on in  the Convention between the
+various parties and the various leaders. Robespierre is but one
+of them, although, perhaps, the most prominent; but could I wring
+a pass from him even if only to see the king, that pass would not
+be respected.
+
+"In the next place, Jeanne, I have nothing to do with these struggles
+in France. I am staying here to do what little I can to watch over
+you and Virginie, for the sake of your dear parents and because I
+love you both; and I have also, if possible, to rescue Marie from
+the hands of these murderers. The responsibility is heavy enough;
+and could I, by merely using Robespierre's name, rescue the king
+and queen and their children and pass them across the frontier, I
+would not do it if the act in the slightest degree interfered with
+my freedom of action towards you and Marie."
+
+"But Virginie and I would die for the king!" Jeanne said passionately.
+
+"Happily, Jeanne," Harry replied coolly, "your dying would in no
+respect benefit him; and as your life is in my eyes of a thousand
+times more consequence than that of the king, and as your chances
+of safety to some extent depend upon mine, I do not mean to risk
+one of those chances for the sake of his majesty. Besides, to tell
+you the truth, I have a good deal of liking for my own life, and
+have a marked objection to losing my head. You see I have people
+at home who are fond of me, and who want to see me back again with
+that head on my shoulders."
+
+"I know, Harry; I know," Jeanne said with her eyes full of tears.
+"Do not think that I am ungrateful because I talk so. I am always
+thinking how wrong it is that you should be staying here risking
+your life for us instead of going home to those who love you. I
+think sometimes Virginie and I ought to give ourselves up, and then
+you could go home." And Jeanne burst into tears.
+
+"My dear Jeanne," Harry said soothingly, "do not worry yourself
+about me. It would have been just as dangerous at the time your
+father was taken prisoner for me to have tried to escape from
+the country as it was to stay here--in fact I should say that it
+was a good deal more dangerous; and at present, as Robespierre's
+secretary, I am in no danger at all. It is a little disagreeable
+certainly serving a man whom one regards in some respects as  being
+a sort of wild beast; but at the same time, in his own house, I
+am bound to say, he is a very decent kind of man and not at all a
+bad fellow to get on with.
+
+"As to what I have done for you, so far as I see I have done nothing
+beyond bringing you here in the first place, and coming to have a
+pleasant chat with you every evening. Nor, with the best will in
+the world, have I been able to be of the slightest assistance to
+Marie. As we say at home, my intentions are good; but so far the
+intentions have borne no useful fruit whatever. Come, Jeanne, dry
+your eyes, for it is not often that I have seen you cry. We have
+thrown in our lot together, and we shall swim or sink in company.
+
+"You keep up my spirits and I keep up yours. Don't let there be any
+talk about gratitude. There will be time enough for that if I ever
+get you safely to England. Then, perhaps, I may send in my bill
+and ask for payment."
+
+Harry spoke lightly, and Jeanne with a great effort recovered her
+composure; and after that, although the trial and danger of the
+king were nightly discussed and lamented, she never said a word as
+to any possibility of the catastrophe being averted.
+
+One day towards the end of February Harry felt a thrill run through
+him as, on glancing over the list of persons to be tried on the
+following day, he saw the name of Marie, daughter of the ci-devant
+Marquis de St. Caux. Although his knowledge of Robespierre's character
+gave him little ground for hope, he determined upon making a direct
+appeal.
+
+"I see, citizen," he said--for such was the mode of address universal
+at that time--"that among the list of persons to be tried is the
+name of Marie de St. Caux."
+
+"Say Marie Caux," Robespierre said reprovingly. "You know de and St.
+are both forbidden prefixes. Yes; what would you say about her?"
+
+"I told you, citizen, upon the first night when I came here, that
+I had been in the service of the father of this female citizen.
+Although I know now that he was one of those who lived upon the
+blood of the people, I am bound to say that he always treated his
+dependants kindly.  His daughter also showed me many marks of kindness,
+and this I would now fain return. Citizen, I did you some service
+on the night when we first met; and I ask you now, as a full
+quittance for that aid, that you will grant me the freedom of  this
+young woman. Whatever were the crimes of her father, she cannot have
+shared in them. She is young, and cannot do harm to any;  therefore
+I implore you to give me her life."
+
+"I am surprised at your request," Robespierre said calmly. "This
+woman belongs to a race who have for centuries oppressed France,
+and it is better that they should perish altogether. If she can
+convince the tribunal that she is innocent of all crime, undoubtedly
+she will be spared; but I cannot, only on account of the obligation
+I am under to you, interfere on her behalf; such an act would be
+treason to the people, and I hope you know me well enough by this
+time to be aware that nothing whatever would induce me to allow my
+private inclinations to interfere with the course of justice. Ask
+of me all I have, it is little enough, but it is yours; but this
+thing I cannot grant you."
+
+For a moment Harry was on the point of bursting out indignantly,
+but he checked himself and without a word went on with his writing,
+although tears of disappointment for a time almost blinded him; but
+he felt it would be hopeless to urge the point further, and that
+did he do so he might forfeit the opportunity he now had of learning
+what was going on.
+
+Another month passed before the name appeared on the fatal list. In
+the meantime Harry had corresponded regularly with Marie by means
+of the warder, and had even once seen her and exchanged a few
+words with her, having been sent by Robespierre with a letter to
+the governor of the prison.
+
+Marie was greatly changed: her colour had faded away, the former
+somewhat haughty air and carriage had disappeared, and there was
+an expression of patient resignation on her face. Harry had only
+the opportunity to whisper to her "Hope always, all is not lost
+yet." He had spent hours each day in his lodging imitating the
+signature of Robespierre, and he had made up his mind that, should
+all other efforts fail, he would boldly present himself at the prison
+with an order for Marie's release, with Robespierre's signature
+forged at the bottom.
+
+He thought he could write it now plainly enough for it to pass; his
+fear was that the prison authorities would not act upon it, unless
+presented by a well-known official personage, without sending to
+Robespierre to have it verified.
+
+Still but little change had taken place in Victor de Gisons' condition.
+He remained in a state almost of lethargy, with an expression of
+dull hopelessness on his face; sometimes he passed his hand wearily
+across his forehead as if he were trying to recollect something he
+had lost; he was still too weak to stand, but Jacques and his wife
+would dress him and place him on a couch which Harry purchased for
+his use. The worthy couple ran no risk now, for the sharpest spy
+would fail to recognize in the bowed-down invalid with vacant face,
+the once brilliant Victor de Gisons.
+
+Harry had many talks with Jeanne concerning him. "What should we
+do, Harry," the girl said over and over again, "if we could get
+Marie away and all get safe together to England, which I begin to
+despair now of our ever doing, but if we should do it what should
+we say to Marie? She thinks Victor is safe there. Only the other
+day, as you know, she sent us out a letter to him. What would she
+say when she learned on her arrival in England that Victor has all
+this time been lying broken down and in suffering in Paris?"
+
+To this question Harry, for a long time, could give no answer.  At
+last he said, "I have been thinking it over, Jeanne, and I feel
+that we have no right to take Marie away without her knowing the
+truth about Victor. His misfortunes have come upon him because he
+would stop in Paris to watch over her. I feel now that she has the
+right, if she chooses, of stopping in Paris to look after him."
+
+"Oh, Harry, you would never think of our going away and leaving
+her!"
+
+"I don't know, Jeanne, if it would not be best. She could stay
+in the disguise of a peasant girl with Jacques and his wife; they
+would give out that she was Victor's sister who had come to nurse
+him. I have great hopes that her voice and presence would do what
+we have to do, namely, awaken him from his  sad state of lethargy.
+They could stay there for months until these evil days are over.
+Jacques' workmen friends are accustomed now to Victor being with
+him, and there is no chance of any suspicion arising that he is
+not what he seems to be, a workman whom Jacques picked up injured
+and insensible on that terrible night. It would seem natural that
+his sister or his fiance--Marie could pass for whichever she
+chose--should come and help take care of him."
+
+"Then if she can stop in Paris with Victor, of course we can stop
+with Louise?"
+
+"I am afraid not," Harry said. "Every day the search for suspects
+becomes stricter; every day people are being seized and called upon
+to produce the papers proving their identity; and I fear, Jeanne,
+there is no hope of permanent safety for you save in flight."
+
+It was just a month from the mock trial, at which Marie had been
+found guilty and sentenced to death, that Harry received a double
+shock. Among the letters of denunciation was the following: "Citizen,
+I know that you watch over the state. I would have you know that
+for more than seven months two girls have been dwelling with one
+Louise Moulin of 15 Rue Michel; there were three of them, but the
+eldest has disappeared. This, in itself, is mysterious; the old
+woman herself was a servant in the family of the ci-devant Marquis
+de St.  Caux. She gives out that the girls are relatives of hers,
+but it is believed in the neighbourhood that they are aristocrats
+in disguise. They receive many visits from a young man of whom no
+one knows anything."
+
+Harry felt the colour leave his cheeks, and his hand shook as
+he hastily abstracted the note, and he could scarcely master the
+meaning of the next few letters he opened.
+
+This was a sudden blow for which he was unprepared. He could not
+even think what was best to be done. However, saying to himself
+that he had at any rate a few days before him, he resolutely put the
+matter aside, to be thought over when he was alone, and proceeded
+with his work. After a time he came to the list of those marked
+out for execution on the following day, and saw with a fresh pang
+the name of Marie de St. Caux.
+
+So the crisis had arrived. That night or never Marie must be rescued,
+and his plan of forging Robespierre's signature must be put into
+effect that day. He opened the next few papers mechanically, but
+steadied himself upon Robespierre asking him a question. For a time
+he worked on; but his brain was swimming, and he was on the point
+of saying that he felt strangely unwell, and must ask to be excused
+his work for that day, when he heard a ring at the bell, and a
+moment later Lebat entered the room.
+
+"I have just come from the tribunal, citizen," he said, "and have
+seen the list for to-morrow. I have come to you, as I know you are
+just, and abhor the shedding of innocent blood. There is among the
+number a young girl, who is wholly innocent. I know her well, for
+she comes from my province, and her father's chateau was within a
+few miles of Dijon. Although her father was a furious aristocrat,
+her heart was always with the people. She was good to the poor, and
+was beloved by all the tenants on the estate. It is not just that
+she should die for the sins of her parents. Moreover, henceforth,
+if pardoned, she will be no longer an aristocrat. I respond for
+her; for she has promised to marry me, the delegate of Burgundy
+to the Commune.  The young woman is the daughter of the man called
+the Marquis de St. Caux, who met his deserved fate on the 2d of
+September."
+
+"You are willing to respond for her, citizen?" Robespierre said.
+
+"I am. The fact that she will be my wife is surely a guarantee?"
+
+"It is," Robespierre said. "What you tell me convinces me that I
+can without damage to the cause of the people grant your request.
+I am the more glad to do so since my secretary has also prayed
+for her life. But though he rendered me the greatest service, and
+I owe to him a debt of gratitude, I was obliged to refuse; for
+to grant his request would have been to allow private feeling to
+interfere with the justice of the people; but now it is different.
+You tell me that, except by birth, she is no aristocrat; that she
+has long been a friend of the people, and that she is going to be
+your wife; on these grounds I can with a good conscience grant her
+release."
+
+Lebat had looked with astonishment at Harry as Robespierre spoke.
+
+"Thank you, citizen," he said to Robespierre. "It is an act of justice
+which I relied upon from your well-known character. I promise you
+that your clemency will not be misplaced, and that she will become a
+worthy citizen. May I ask," he said, "how it is that your secretary,
+whose face seems familiar to me, is interested in this young woman
+also?"
+
+"It is simple enough," Robespierre replied. "He was in the service
+of her father."
+
+"Oh, I remember now," Lebat said. "He is English. I wonder, citizen,
+that you should give your confidence to one of that treacherous
+nation."
+
+"He saved my life," Robespierre replied coldly; "a somewhat good
+ground, you will admit, for placing confidence in him."
+
+"Assuredly," Lebat said hastily, seeing that Robespierre was offended.
+"And now, citizen, there is another matter of importance on which
+I wish to confer with you."
+
+Harry rose.
+
+"Citizen, I will ask you to excuse me from further work to-day.
+My head aches badly, and I can scarce see what I am writing."
+
+"I thought you were making some confusion of my papers," Robespierre
+said kindly. "By all means put aside your work."
+
+On leaving the room Harry ran up to the attic above, which he had
+occupied since he had entered Robespierre's service, rapidly put on
+the blue blouse and pantaloons which he had formerly worn, pulled
+his cap well down over his eyes, and hurried down stairs. He
+stationed himself some distance along the street and waited for
+Lebat to come out. Rapidly thinking the matter over, he concluded
+that the man would not present himself with the order of release until
+after dark, in order that if Marie struggled or tried to make her
+escape it would be unnoticed in the street. Lebat had calculated,
+of course, that on the presentation of the order the prison officials
+would at once lead Marie to the gates whether she wished it or not,
+and would, at his order, force her into a vehicle, when she would
+be completely in his power, and he could confine her in his own
+house or elsewhere until she consented to be his wife.
+
+A quarter of an hour later Lebat came out of the house and walked
+down the street. Harry followed him. After walking for some distance
+Lebat came to a stand of hackney-coaches and spoke to one of the
+drivers. When he had gone on again Harry went up to the man.
+
+"Comrade," he said, "do you wish to do a good action and earn a
+couple of gold pieces at the same time?"
+
+"That will suit me admirably," the coachman replied.
+
+"Let one of your comrades look after your horse, then, and let us
+have a glass of wine together in that cabaret."
+
+As soon as they were seated at a small table with a measure of wine
+before them Harry said:
+
+"That deputy with the red sash who spoke to you just now has engaged
+you for a job this evening?"
+
+"He has," the coachman said. "I am to be at the left corner of the
+Place de Carrousel at eight this evening."
+
+"He is a bad lot," Harry said; "he is going to carry off a poor
+girl to whom he has been promising marriage; but of course we know
+better than that. She is a friend of mine, and so were her parents,
+and I want to save her. Now what I want to do is to take your place
+on the box this evening. I will drive him to the place where he
+is to meet her, and when he gets her to the door of his lodging I
+shall jump off and give my citizen such a thrashing as will put a
+stop to his gallivanting for some time. I will give you ten crowns
+for the use of your coach for an hour."
+
+"Agreed!" the coachman said. "Between ourselves, some of these
+fellows who pretend to be friends of the people are just as great
+scoundrels, ay, and worse, than the aristocrats were. We drivers
+know a good many things that people in general don't; but you must
+mind, citizen, he carries a sword, you know, and the beating may
+turn out the other way."
+
+"Oh, I can get a comrade or two to help," Harry said laughing.
+"There are others besides myself who will not see our pretty Isabel
+wronged."
+
+"And where shall I get my coach again?"
+
+"At the end of the Rue St. Augustin. I expect I shall be there by
+nine o'clock with it; but I am sure not to be many minutes later.
+Here is a louis now. I will give you the other when I change places
+with you. Be at the Place de Carrousel at half-past seven. I shall
+be on the look-out for you.
+
+"I won't fail," the coachman said; "you may rely upon that."
+
+Harry now hurried away to his friend Jacques, and rapidly gave an
+account of what had taken place.
+
+"In the first place, Jacques, I want your wife to see her friend
+and to get her to take a note instantly to the warder, for him
+to give to Mademoiselle de St. Caux. It is to tell her to make
+no resistance when Lebat presents the order for her release, but
+to go with him quietly; because if she appeals to the warders and
+declares that she would rather die than go with him, it is just
+possible that they might refuse to let him take her away, saying
+that the order was for her release, but not for her delivery to him.
+I don't suppose they would do so, because as one of the members of
+the Committee of Public Safety he is all-powerful; still it would
+be  as well to avoid any risk whatever of our scheme failing. I
+will drive to the Rue Montagnard, which, as you know, is close to
+La Force. It is a quiet street, and it is not likely there will be
+anybody about at half-past eight. Will you be there and give me a
+hand to secure the fellow?"
+
+"Certainly I will," Jacques said heartily. "What do you propose to
+do with him?"
+
+"I propose to tie his hands and feet and gag him, and then drive
+to the Rue Bluert, which is close by, and where there are some
+unfinished houses. We can toss him in there, and he will be safe
+till morning.
+
+"It will be the safest plan to run him through at once and have
+done with him," Jacques said. "He will be a dangerous enemy if he
+is left alive; and as he would kill you without mercy if he had a
+chance, I don't see why you need be overnice with him."
+
+"The man is a scoundrel, and one of a band of men whom I regard as
+murderers," Harry said; "but I could not kill him in cold blood."
+
+"You are wrong," Jacques said earnestly, "and you are risking
+everything by letting him live. Such a fellow should be killed like
+a rat when you get him in a trap."
+
+"It may be so," Harry agreed; "but I could not bring myself to do
+it."
+
+Jacques was silent, but not convinced. It seemed to him an act of
+the extremest folly to leave so dangerous an enemy alive.
+
+"He would hunt us all down," he said to himself, "Elise and I,
+this poor lad and the girl, to say nothing of the Englishman and
+the girl's sisters. Well, we shall see. I am risking my head in
+this business, and I mean to have my say."
+
+Having made all his arrangements, Harry returned to his attic and
+lay down there until evening, having before he went in purchased a
+sword. At seven o'clock he placed his pistols in his bosom, girded
+on his sword, which would attract no attention, for half the
+rabble of Paris carried weapons, and then set out for the Place de
+Carrousel.  At half-past seven his friend the coachman drew up.
+
+"Ah, here you are!" he said. "You had better take this big cape of
+mine; you will find it precious cold on the box; besides he would
+notice at once that you are not the coachman he hired if you are
+dressed in that blouse."
+
+Harry took off his sword and placed it on the seat, wrapped himself
+in the great cape, wound a muffler round the lower part of his
+face, and waited. A few minutes after the clock had struck eight
+Lebat came along.
+
+"Here we are, citizen," Harry said in a rough voice, "I am glad you
+have come, for it's no joke waiting about on such nights as this.
+Where am I to drive you to?"
+
+"The prison of La Force," Lebat said, taking his seat in the coach.
+
+Harry's heart beat fast as he drove towards the prison. He felt
+sure that success would attend his plans; but the moment was an
+exciting one. It did not seem that anything could interpose to prevent
+success, and yet something might happen which he had not foreseen
+or guarded against. He drove at a little more than a footpace,
+for the streets a short distance from the centre of town were only
+lighted here and there by a dim oil lamp, and further away they
+were in absolute darkness, save for the lights which gleamed through
+the casements. At last he reached the entrance to the prison. Lebat
+jumped out and rang at the bell.
+
+"What is it, citizen?" the guard said looking through a grille in
+the gate.
+
+"I am Citizen Lebat of the Committee of Public Safety, and I have
+an order here, signed by Citizen Robespierre, for the release of
+the female prisoner known as Marie Caux."
+
+"All right, citizen!" the man said, opening the gate. "It is late
+for a discharge; but I don't suppose the prisoner will grumble at
+that."
+
+Ten minutes later the gate opened again and Lebat came out with
+a cloaked female figure. She hesitated on the top step, and then
+refusing to touch the hand Lebat held out to assist her, stepped
+down and entered the coach.
+
+"Rue Fosseuse No. 18," Lebat said as he followed her.
+
+Harry drove on, and was soon in the Rue Montagnard. It was a dark
+narrow street; no one seemed stirring, and Harry peered anxiously
+through the darkness for the figure of Jacques. Presently he heard
+a low whistle, and a figure appeared from a doorway. Harry at once
+checked the horse.
+
+"What is it?" Lebat asked, putting his head out of the window.
+
+Harry got off the box, and going to the window said in a drunken
+voice:
+
+"I want my fare. There is a cabaret only just ahead, and I want a
+glass before I go further. My feet are pretty well frozen."
+
+"Drive on, you drunken rascal," Lebat said furiously, "or it will
+be worse for you."
+
+"Don't you speak in that way to me, citizen," Harry said hoarsely.
+"One man's as good as another in these days, and if you talk like
+that to me I will break your head in spite of your red sash."
+
+With an exclamation of rage Lebat sprang from the coach, and as his
+foot touched the ground Harry threw his arms round him; but as he
+did so he trod upon some of the filth which so thickly littered
+the thoroughfare, and slipped. Lebat wrenched himself free and drew
+his sword, and before Harry could have regained his feet he would
+have cut him down, when he fell himself in a heap from a tremendous
+blow which Jacques struck him with his sword.
+
+"Jump inside," Jacques said to Harry. "We may have some one out to
+see what the noise is about. He will be no more trouble."
+
+He seized the prostrate body, threw it up on the box, and taking
+his seat drove on.
+
+"Marie," Harry said as he jumped in, "thank God you are safe!"
+
+"Oh, Harry, is it you? Can it be true?" And the spirit which had
+so long sustained the girl gave way, and leaning her head upon his
+shoulder she burst into tears. Harry soothed and pacified her till
+the vehicle again came to a stop.
+
+"What is it, Jacques?" Harry asked, putting his head out of the
+window.
+
+"Just what we agreed upon," the man said. "Here are the empty
+houses. You stop where you are. I will get rid of this trash."
+
+Harry, however, got out.
+
+"Is he dead?" he asked in a low voice.
+
+"Well, considering his head's cut pretty nigh in two, I should think
+he was," Jacques said. "It could not be helped, you know; for if
+I hadn't struck sharp it would have been all over with you. Anyhow
+it's better as it is a hundred times. If you don't value your neck,
+I do mine. Now get in again. I sha'n't be two minutes."
+
+He slipped off the red sash and coat and waistcoat of the dead
+man, emptied his trouser pockets and turned them inside out, then
+lifting the body on his shoulder he carried it to one of the empty
+houses and threw it down.
+
+"They will never know who he is," he said to himself "In this
+neighbourhood the first comer will take his shirt and trousers. They
+will suppose he has been killed and robbed, no uncommon matter in
+these days, and his body will be thrown into the public pit, and
+no one be any the wiser. I will burn the coat and waistcoat as soon
+as I get back."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+Marie and Victor
+
+
+"Are you taking me to the girls, Harry?"
+
+"No," Harry said. "It would not be safe to do so. There are already
+suspicions, and they have been denounced."
+
+Marie gave a cry of alarm.
+
+"I have managed to suppress the document, Marie, and we start with
+them in a day or two. Still it will be better for you not to go
+near them.  I will arrange for you to meet them to-morrow."
+
+"Where am I going, then?"
+
+"You are going to the house of a worthy couple, who have shown
+themselves faithful and trustworthy by nursing a friend of mine,
+who has for nearly six months been lying ill there. You will be
+perfectly safe there till we can arrange matters."
+
+"But if Robespierre has signed my release, as they said, I am safe
+enough, surely, and can go where I like."
+
+"I think you will be safe from re-arrest here in Paris, Marie, because
+you could appeal to him; but outside Paris it might be different.
+However, we can talk about that to-morrow, when you have had a good
+night's rest."
+
+Harry did not think it necessary to say, that when Lebat was missed
+it would probably be ascertained that he was last seen leaving La
+Force with her, and that if inquiries were set on foot about him
+she might be sought for. However, Marie said no more on the subject,
+quite content that Harry should make whatever arrangements he
+thought best, and she now began to ask all sorts of questions about
+her sisters, and so passed the time until they were close to the
+Place de Carrousel; then Harry called Jacques to stop.
+
+"Will you please get out, Marie, and wait with our good friend here
+till I return. I shall be back in five minutes. I have to hand the
+coach over to its owner."
+
+Jacques threw Lebat's clothes over his arm and got down from the
+box. Harry took his seat and drove into the Place, where he found
+the coachman awaiting him.
+
+"Have you managed the job?"
+
+"That we have," Harry said. "He has a lesson, and Isabel has gone
+off to her friends again. Poor little girl, I hope it will cure her
+of her flightiness. Here is your cape and your money, my friend,
+and thank you."
+
+"You are heartily welcome," the driver said, mounting his box.  "I
+wish I could do as well every day; but these are bad times for us,
+and money is precious scarce, I can tell you."
+
+Harry soon rejoined Jacques and Marie. There were but few words said
+as they made their way through the streets, for Marie was weakened
+by her long imprisonment, and shaken by what she had gone through.
+She had not asked a single question as to what had become of Lebat;
+but she had no doubt that he was killed. She had grown, however,
+almost indifferent to death. Day after day she had seen batches
+of her friends taken out to execution, and the retribution which
+had fallen upon this wretch gave her scarcely a thought, except a
+feeling of thankfulness that she was freed from his persecutions.
+Completely as she trusted Harry, it was with the greatest difficulty
+that she had brought herself to obey his instructions and to place
+herself for a moment in the power of her persecutor, and appear to
+go with him willingly.
+
+When Lebat told her triumphantly that he had saved her from death,
+and that she was to have formed one of the party in the tumbril
+on the following morning had he not obtained her release, she had
+difficulty in keeping back the indignant words, that she would have
+preferred death a thousand times. When he said that he had come to
+take her away, she had looked round with a terrified face, as if
+to claim the protection of the guards; but he had said roughly:
+
+"It is no use your objecting, you have got to go with me; and
+if you are a wise woman you had better make the best of it. After
+all I am not very terrible, and you had better marry me than the
+guillotine."
+
+So, trembling with loathing and disgust, she had followed him,
+resolved that if Harry's plan to rescue her failed she would kill
+herself rather than be the wife of this man.
+
+When they reached the house Elise opened the door.
+
+"So you have come, poor lamb!" she said. "Thanks to the good God
+that all has turned out well. You will be safe here, my child. We
+are rough people, but we will take care of you as if you were our
+own."
+
+So saying she led the girl to the little sitting-room which they
+had prepared for her, for they had that afternoon taken the other
+two rooms on the floor they occupied, which were fortunately to
+let, and had fitted them up as a bed-room and sitting-room for her.
+There was already a communication existing between the two sets
+of apartments, and they had only to remove some brickwork between
+the double doors to throw them into one suite. Telling Marie to
+sit down, Elise hurried off and returned with a basin of bouillon.
+
+"Drink this, my dear, and then go straight to bed; your friend will
+be here in good time in the morning, and then you can talk over
+matters with him." She waited to see Marie drink the broth, and
+then helped her to undress.
+
+"She will be asleep in five minutes," she said when she rejoined
+her husband and Harry. "She is worn out with excitement, but a
+night's rest will do wonders for her. Don't come too early in the
+morning, Monsieur Sandwith; she is sure to sleep late, and I would
+not disturb her till she wakes of herself."
+
+"I will be here at nine," Harry said, "and will go round before
+that and tell her sisters. They will be wondering they have seen
+nothing of me to-day, but I was afraid to tell them until it was
+all over. The anxiety would have been too great for them."
+
+It was fortunate that Robespierre went out early on the following
+morning to attend a meeting at the Jacobins, and Harry was therefore
+saved the necessity for asking leave to absent himself again. At
+eight o'clock he was at Louise Moulin's.
+
+"What is it, Harry?" Jeanne exclaimed as he entered. "I can see
+you have news. What is it?"
+
+"I have news," Harry said, "and good news, but you must not excite
+yourselves."
+
+"Have you found a way for getting Marie out?"
+
+"Yes, I have found a way."
+
+"A sure, certain way, Harry?" Virginie asked. "Not only a chance?"
+
+"A sure, certain way," Harry replied. "You need have no more fear;
+Marie will certainly be freed."
+
+The two girls stood speechless with delight. It never occurred to
+them to doubt Harry's words when he spoke so confidently.
+
+"Have you told us all, Harry?" Jeanne asked a minute later, looking
+earnestly in his face. "Can it be? Is she really out already?"
+
+"Yes," Harry said, "thank God, dears, your sister is free."
+
+With a cry of delight Virginie sprang to him, and throwing her
+arms round his neck, kissed him in the exuberance of her happiness.
+Louise threw her apron over her head and burst into tears of
+thankfulness, while Jeanne put her hand on his shoulder and said:
+
+"Oh, Harry, how can we ever thank you enough for all you have done
+for us?"
+
+Six months back Jeanne would probably have acted as Virginie did,
+but those six months had changed her greatly; indeed, ever since
+she received that note from Marie, which she had never shown even
+to Virginie, there had been a shade of difference in her manner to
+Harry, which he had more than once noticed and wondered at.
+
+It was some little time before the girls were sufficiently composed
+to listen to Harry's story.
+
+"But why did you not bring her here, Harry?" Virginie asked.  "Why
+did you take her somewhere else?"
+
+"For several reasons, Virginie. I have not told you before, but there
+is no reason why you should not know now, that Victor is still in
+Paris."
+
+Virginie uttered an exclamation of wonder.
+
+"He stopped here to look after you all, but he has had a very bad
+illness, and is still terribly weak, and does not even know me.
+Marie will nurse him. I have great hopes that he will know her,
+and that she may be able in time to effect a complete cure. In the
+next place I think it would be dangerous to bring her here, for we
+must leave in a very few days."
+
+"What, go without her?"
+
+"Yes, I am afraid so, Virginie. I have learned, Louise, that
+some of your neighbours have their suspicions, and that a letter
+of denunciation has already been sent, so it will be absolutely
+necessary to make a move. I have suppressed the first letter, but
+the writer will probably not let the matter drop, and may write to
+Danton or Marat next time, so we must go without delay. You cannot
+change your lodging, for they would certainly trace you; besides,
+at the present time the regulations about lodgers are so strict that
+no one would dare receive you until the committee of the district
+have examined you and are perfectly satisfied. Therefore, I think
+we must go alone.  Marie is wanted here, and I think she will be
+far safer nursing Victor than she would be with us; besides, now
+she has been freed by Robespierre's orders, I do not think there
+is any fear of her arrest even if her identity were discovered.
+Lastly, it would be safer to travel three than four. Three girls
+travelling with a young fellow like me would be sure to attract
+attention. It will be difficult enough in any case, but it would
+certainly be worse with her with us."
+
+"But we are to see her, Harry?" Jeanne said. "Surely we are not to
+go away without seeing Marie!"
+
+"Certainly not, Jeanne; I am not so cruel as that. This evening,
+after dark, we will meet in the gardens of the Tuileries. Louise,
+will you bring them down and be with them near the main entrance?
+I will bring Marie there at six o'clock. And now I must be off; I
+have to break the news to Marie that Victor is in the same house
+with her and ill. I did not tell her last night. She will be better
+able to bear it after a good night's sleep."
+
+Marie was up and dressed when Harry arrived, and was sitting by
+the fire in the little kitchen.
+
+"I have just left your sisters, Marie," Harry said, "and you may
+imagine their delight at the news I gave them. You are to see them
+this evening in the gardens of the Tuileries."
+
+"Oh, Harry, how good you are! How much you have done for us!"
+
+Harry laughed lightly.
+
+"Not very much yet; besides, it has been a pleasure as well as a
+duty. The girls have both been so brave, and Jeanne has the head
+of a woman."
+
+"She is nearly a woman now, Harry," Marie said gently. "She is some
+months past sixteen, and though you tell me girls of that age in
+England are quite children, it is not so here. Why, it is nothing
+uncommon for a girl to marry at sixteen."
+
+"Well, at anyrate," Harry said, "Jeanne has no time for any thought
+of marrying just at present. But there is another thing I want to
+tell you about.  I have first a confession to make. I have deceived
+you."
+
+"Deceived me!" Marie said with a smile. "It can be nothing very
+dreadful, Harry. Well, what is it?"
+
+"It is more serious than you think, Marie. Now you know that when
+the trouble began I felt it quite out of the question for me to
+run away, and leave you all here in Paris unprotected. Such a thing
+would have been preposterous."
+
+"You think so, Harry, because you have a good heart; but most people
+would have thought of themselves, and would not have run all sorts
+of risks for the sake of three girls with no claim upon them."
+
+"Well, Marie, you allow then that a person with a good heart would
+naturally do as I did."
+
+"Well, supposing I do, Harry, what then?"
+
+"You must still further allow that a person with a good heart, and
+upon whom you had a great claim, would all the more have remained
+to protect you."
+
+"What are you driving at, Harry, with your supposition?" she said,
+her cheek growing a little paler as a suspicion of the truth flashed
+upon her.
+
+"Well, Marie, you mustn't be agitated, and I hope you will not
+be angry; but I ask you how, as he has a good heart, and you have
+claims upon him, could you expect Victor de Gisons to run away like
+a coward and leave you here?"
+
+Marie had risen to her feet and gazed at him with frightened eyes.
+
+"What, is it about him that you deceived me! Is it true that he
+did not go away? Has anything happened to him? Oh, Harry, do not
+say he is dead!"
+
+"He is not dead, Marie, but he has been very, very ill. He was with
+me at La Force on that terrible night, and saw his father brought
+out to be murdered. The shock nearly killed him. He has had brain
+fever, and has been at death's door. At  present he is mending, but
+very, very slowly. He knows no one, not even me, but I trust that
+your voice and your presence will do wonders for him."
+
+"Where is he, Harry?" Marie said as she stood with clasped hands,
+and a face from which every vestige of colour had flown. "Take me
+to him at once."
+
+"He is in the house, Marie; that is why I have brought you here.
+These good people have nursed and concealed him for five months."
+
+Marie made a movement towards the door.
+
+"Wait, Marie, you cannot go to him till you compose yourself.  It
+is all-important that you should speak to him, when you see him,
+in your natural voice, and you must prepare yourself for a shock.
+He is at present a mere wreck, so changed that you will hardly know
+him."
+
+"You are telling me the truth, Harry? You are not hiding from me
+that he is dying?"
+
+"No, dear; I believe, on my honour, that he is out of danger now,
+and that he is progressing. It is his mind more than his body that
+needs curing. It may be a long and difficult task, Marie, before he
+is himself again; but I believe that with your care and companionship
+he will get round in time, but it may be months before that."
+
+"Time is nothing," Marie said. "But what about the girls?"
+
+"They must still be under my charge, Marie. I shall start with
+them in a day or two and try to make for the sea-shore, and then
+across to England. Suspicions have been aroused; they have already
+been denounced, and may be arrested at any time. Therefore it is
+absolutely necessary that they should fly at once; but I thought
+that you would consider it your first duty to stay with Victor,
+seeing that to him your presence is everything, while you could do
+nothing to assist your sisters, and indeed the fewer of us there
+are the better."
+
+"Certainly it is my duty," Marie said firmly.
+
+"You will be perfectly safe here under the care of Jacques and his
+wife. They have already given out to their neighbours that Victor's
+fiance is coming to help nurse him, and even if by any possibility
+a suspicion of your real position arises, you have Robespierre's
+pardon as a protection. This state of things  cannot last for
+ever; a reaction must come; and then if Victor is cured, you will
+be able to escape together to England."
+
+"Leave me a few minutes by myself, Harry. All this has come so
+suddenly upon me that I feel bewildered."
+
+"Certainly," Harry said. "It is best that you should think things
+over a little. No wonder you feel bewildered and shaken with all
+the trials you have gone through."
+
+Marie went to her room and returned in a quarter of an hour.
+
+"I am ready now," she said, and by the calm and tranquil expression
+of her face Harry felt that she could be trusted to see Victor.
+
+"I have a feeling," she went on, "that everything will come right
+in the end. I have been saved almost by a miracle, and I cannot
+but feel that my life has been spared in order that I might take
+my place here. As to the girls, it was a shock at first when you
+told me that fresh danger threatened them, and that I should not
+be able to share their perils upon their journey; but I could not
+have aided them, and God has marked out my place here. No, Harry,
+God has protected me so far, and will aid me still. Now I am ready
+for whatever may betide."
+
+"One moment before you enter, Marie. You are prepared, I know,
+to see a great change in Victor, but nevertheless you cannot but
+be shocked at first. Do not go up to him or attract his attention
+till you have overcome this and are able to speak to him in your
+natural voice. I think a great deal depends upon the first impression
+you make on his brain. Your voice has a good deal changed in the
+last six months; it would be strange if it had not; but I want you
+to try and speak to him in the bright cheerful tone he was accustomed
+to hear."
+
+Marie nodded. "One moment," she said, as she brushed aside the tears
+which filled her eyes, drew herself up with a little gesture that
+reminded Harry of old times, and then with a swift step passed
+through the door into Victor's room. Whatever she felt at the sight
+of the wasted figure lying listlessly with half-closed eyes on the
+couch, it only showed itself by a swift expression of pain which
+passed for a moment across her face and then was gone.
+
+"Victor," she said in her clear ringing voice, "Victor, my well
+beloved, I am come to you." The effect upon Victor was instantaneous.
+He opened his eyes with a start, half rose from his couch and held
+out his arms towards her.
+
+"Marie," he said in a faint voice, "you have come at last. I have
+wanted you so much."
+
+Then, as Marie advanced to him, and kneeling by his side, clasped
+him in her arms, Elise and Harry stole quietly from the room.  It
+was nearly an hour before Marie came out. There was a soft glow of
+happiness on her face, though her cheeks were pale.
+
+"Not yet!" she said, as she swept past them into her own room.
+
+In a few minutes she reappeared.
+
+"Pardon me," she said, holding out her hands to Harry and Elise,
+"but I had to thank the good God first. Victor is quite sensible
+now, but oh, so weak! He remembers nothing of the past, but seems
+to think he is still in Burgundy, and has somehow had an illness.
+Then he spoke of the duke and my dear father and mother as being
+still alive, and that he hoped they would let me come to him
+now. I told him that all should be as he wished as soon as he got
+stronger, but that he must not think of anything now, and that
+I would nurse him, and all would be well. He seemed puzzled about
+my dress"--for Marie had already put on the simple attire which
+had been prepared for her--"but I told him that it was fit for a
+sick-room, and he seemed satisfied. He has just dozed off to sleep,
+and I will go in and sit with him now till he wakes."
+
+"When he does, mademoiselle, I will have some broth and a glass of
+good burgundy ready for him," Elise said.
+
+"Thank you; but please call me Marie in future. There are no
+mesdemoiselles in France now, and I shall call you Elise instead
+of Madame. And Harry, would you mind telling the girls that I will
+meet them to-morrow instead of this evening. I long to see them, oh
+so, so much; but I should not like to leave him for a moment now.
+I fear so that his memory might go again if he were to wake and
+miss me."
+
+"I was going to propose it myself, Marie," Harry said. "It is
+all-important to avoid any agitation now. To-morrow, I hope, it
+will be safer, and the doctor will give him a sleeping-draught, so
+that he shall not wake while you are away. But, Marie, remember it
+will be a farewell visit, for I dare not let them stay  more than
+another day.  They may be denounced again at any hour, for the man
+who wrote to Robespierre, if he finds that nothing comes of it,
+may go to the local committee, and they will not lose an hour, you
+may be sure."
+
+"I must see them this evening, then," Marie said hurriedly. "The doctor
+will be here, you say, soon. Victor must have his sleeping-draught
+this afternoon instead of to-morrow. They must go at once.  I
+should never forgive myself if, by putting off our parting for
+twenty-four hours, I caused them to fall into  the hands of these
+wretches; so please hurry on all the arrangements so that they may
+leave the first thing to-morrow morning."
+
+"It will be best," Harry said, "if you will do it, Marie. I own
+that I am in a fever of apprehension. I will go there at once to
+tell them that all must be in readiness by to-night. They will be
+glad indeed to hear that your presence has done such wonders for
+Victor.  They will be able to leave you with a better heart if
+they feel that your stay here is likely to bring health to him and
+happiness to both of you."
+
+"A week since," Marie said, "it did not seem to me that I could
+ever be happy again; but though everything is still very dark, the
+clouds seem lifting."
+
+The girls were greatly rejoiced when they heard the good news that
+Victor had recognized Marie, and that Harry had now hopes that he
+would do well.
+
+"And now we must talk about ourselves," Harry said. "We must not
+lose another hour. Now, Louise, you must take part in our council.
+We have everything to settle, and only a few hours to do it in. I
+should like, if possible, that we should not come back here this
+evening after you have once left the house. The man who denounced
+you will expect that something would be done to-day, and when he
+sees that nothing has come of his letter he may go this evening
+to the local committee, and they would send men at once to arrest
+you. No doubt he only wrote to Robespierre first, thinking he would
+get credit and perhaps a post of some sort for his vigilance in the
+cause. But if Louise thinks that it cannot possibly be managed, I
+will write a letter at once to him in Robespierre's name, saying
+that his letter has been noted and your movements will be closely
+watched, and thanking him for his zeal in the public service."
+
+"No, I think we are ready," Jeanne said. "Of course we have
+been talking it over for weeks, and agreed it was better to be in
+readiness whenever you told us it was time to go. Louise will tell
+you all about it."
+
+"The disguises are all ready, Monsieur Sandwith; and yesterday
+when you said that my dear mademoiselle could not go with them,
+I settled, if you do not see any objection, to go with the dear
+children."
+
+"I should be very glad," Harry said eagerly, for although he had
+seen no other way out of it, the difficulties and inconveniences
+of a journey alone with Jeanne and Virginie had been continually
+on his mind. The idea of taking the old woman with them had never
+occurred to him, but now he hailed it as a most welcome solution
+of the difficulty.
+
+"That will be a thousand times better in every way, for with you
+with us it would excite far less remark than three young people
+travelling alone. But I fear, Louise, that the hardships we may
+have to undergo will be great."
+
+"It matters little," the old woman said. "I nursed their mother,
+and have for years lived on her bounty; and gladly now will I
+give what little remains to me of life in the service of her dear
+children. I know that everything is turned topsy-turvy in our poor
+country at present, but as long as I have life in my body I will
+not let my dear mistress's children be, for weeks perhaps, wandering
+about with only a young gentleman to protect them, and Mademoiselle
+Jeanne almost a woman too."
+
+"Yes, it is better in every way," Harry said. "I felt that it would
+be a strange position, but it seemed that it could not be helped;
+however, your offer gets us out of the embarrassment. So your
+disguises are ready?"
+
+"Yes, monsieur," Louise said; "I have a boy's suit for Mademoiselle
+Virginie. She did not like it at first, but I thought that if
+mademoiselle went with you it would be strange to have three girls
+journeying under the charge of one young man."
+
+"I think it a very good plan, Louise, but you must get out of the
+way of calling me monsieur or else it will slip out before people.
+Now what I propose is, that when we get fairly away we shall buy a
+horse and cart, for with you with us we can go forward more boldly
+than if we were alone.
+
+"You will be grandmother, and we shall be travelling from a farm
+near Etampes to visit your daughter, who is married to a farmer near
+Nantes. That will be a likely story now, and we can always make a
+detour to avoid towns. It will be dark when you go out this evening,
+so you can take three bundles of clothes with you. The only thing
+is about to-night. The weather is bitterly cold, and it is out of
+the question that you should stop out all night, and yet we could
+not ask for a lodging close to Paris.
+
+"Oh, I see now! The best plan will be for you all to sleep to-night
+at Jacques'. The good people will manage  somehow; then we can
+start early in the morning. Yes, and in that way it will not be
+necessary for Marie to go out and leave Victor."
+
+"That will certainly be the best way," Louise said. "I have been
+wondering ever since you said we must start this evening, what
+would become of us to-night. When we once get fairly away from
+Paris it will be easier, for the country people are kind-hearted,
+and I think we shall always be able to get shelter for the night;
+but just outside Paris it would be different. Then where shall we
+meet this evening?"
+
+"I will be at the end of the street," Harry said. "It is quite
+dark by five, so do you start a quarter of an hour later; hide your
+bundles under your cloaks, for if that fellow is on the look-out he
+might follow you if he thought you were leaving. Draw your blinds
+up when you leave, Louise, so that the room will look as usual,
+and then it may be some time before anyone suspects that you have
+left; and if I were you I would mention to some of your neighbours
+this afternoon that you have had a letter from your friends in
+Burgundy, and are going away soon with your nieces to stay with
+them for a while. You had better pay your rent for three months
+in advance, and tell your landlord the same thing; saying that you
+may go suddenly anytime, as a compere who is in Paris, and is also
+going back, is going to take charge of you on the journey, and that
+he may call for you at any time. Thus when he finds that you have
+left, your absence will be accounted for; not that it makes much
+difference, for I hope that when you have seen the girls safely to
+England you will make your home with them there."
+
+"Yes, I shall never come back here," the old woman said, "never,
+even if I could. Paris is hateful to me now, and I have no reason
+for ever wanting to come back."
+
+"In that case," Harry said smiling, "we may as well save the three
+months' rent."
+
+"Oh, how I long to be in England," Virginie exclaimed, "and to see
+dear Ernest and Jules again! How anxious they must be about us, not
+having heard of us all this long time! How shall we know where to
+find them?"
+
+"You forget, Virginie," Jeanne said, "it was arranged they should
+go to Harry's father when they got to England, and he will know
+where they are living; there is sure to be no mistake about that,
+is there, Harry?"
+
+"None at all," Harry said. "You may rely upon it that directly you
+get to my father you will hear where your brothers are. And now I
+will go and tell Marie that there is no occasion for Victor to take
+a sleeping draught."
+
+Marie was delighted when she heard that she was going to have her
+sisters with her for the whole evening and night, and Elise busied
+herself with preparations for the accommodation of her guests.
+Harry then went back to his attic, made his clothes into a bundle,
+and took up the bag of money from its hiding-place under a board
+and placed it in his pocket.
+
+He had, since he had been with Robespierre, gradually changed the
+silver for gold in order to make it more convenient to carry, and
+it was now of comparatively little weight, although he had drawn
+but slightly upon it, except for the payment of the bribe promised
+to the warder. His pistols were also hidden under his blouse.
+
+He went down stairs and waited the return of Robespierre.
+
+"Citizen," he said when he entered, "circumstances have occurred
+which render it necessary for me to travel down to Nantes to escort
+a young girl, a boy, and an old woman to that town; they cannot
+travel alone in such times as these, and they have a claim upon me
+which I cannot ignore."
+
+"Surely, friend Sandwith," Robespierre said, "the affairs of France
+are of more importance than private matters like these."
+
+"Assuredly they are, citizen; but I cannot flatter myself that
+the affairs of France will be in any way injured by my temporary
+absence.  My duty in this matter is clear to me, and I can only
+regret that my temporary absence may put you to some inconvenience.
+But I have a double favour to ask you: the one is to spare me for
+a time; the second, that you will give me papers  recommending
+me, and those travelling with me, to the authorities of the towns
+through which we shall pass. In these times, when the enemies of
+the state are travelling throughout France seeking to corrupt the
+minds of the people, it is necessary to have papers showing that
+one is a good citizen."
+
+"But I have no authority," Robespierre said. "I am neither a minister
+nor a ruler."
+
+"You are not a minister, citizen, but you are assuredly a ruler. It
+is to you men look more than to any other. Danton is too headstrong
+and violent. You alone combine fearlessness in the cause of France
+with that wisdom and moderation which are, above all things,
+necessary in guiding the state through its dangers."
+
+Robespierre's vanity was so inordinate that he accepted the compliment
+as his due, though he waved his hand with an air of deprecation.
+
+"Therefore, citizen," Harry went on, "a letter from you would be
+more powerful than an order from another."
+
+"But these persons who travel with you, citizen--how am I to be
+sure they are not enemies of France?"
+
+"France is not to be shaken," Harry said, smiling, "by the efforts
+of an old woman of seventy and a young boy and girl; but I can
+assure you that they are no enemies of France, but simple inoffensive
+people who have been frightened by the commotion in Paris, and long
+to return to the country life to which they are accustomed. Come,
+citizen, you refused the first boon which I asked you, and, methinks,
+cannot hesitate at granting one who has deserved well of you this
+slight favour."
+
+"You are right," Robespierre said. "I cannot refuse you, even if
+the persons who accompany you belong to the class of suspects, of
+which, mind, I know nothing, though I may have my suspicions. I
+have not forgotten, you know, that you asked for the life of the
+daughter of the ci-devant Marquis de St. Caux; and for aught I know
+these children may be of the same breed. But I will not ask you.
+Did I know it, not even the obligation I am under to you would you
+induce me to do what you ask; for although as children they can
+do no harm, they might do so were they allowed to grow up hating
+France. All children of suspects are, as you know, ordered to be
+placed in the state schools, in order that  they may there learn
+to love the people of France and to grow up worthy citizens. Now,
+how shall I word it?" he said, taking up a pen; and Harry dictated:
+
+"I hereby recommend Citizen Henri Sandwith, age 19, who has been
+acting as my confidential secretary, to all public authorities,
+together with Citoyenne Moulin and her two grandchildren, with whom
+he is travelling."
+
+To this Robespierre signed his name and handed the paper to Harry.
+
+"How long will you be before you return?" he asked.
+
+"I cannot say exactly," Harry replied; "as after I have seen them
+to their destination I may stop with them for a few weeks."
+
+Robespierre nodded and held out his hand.
+
+"I shall be glad to have you with me again, for I have conceived
+a strong friendship for you, and think none the worse of you for
+your showing your gratitude to the family in whom you are interested."
+
+Harry then went into the kitchen, where Robespierre's sister was
+preparing the next meal, and said good-bye to her.
+
+She had taken a fancy to her brother's young secretary, and expressed
+a hope that his absence would be but a short one, telling him that
+Robespierre had said only the day before how much work he had saved
+him, and that he was determined to push his fortunes to the utmost.
+
+Having thus paved the way for an appeal to Robespierre should he
+find himself in difficulties on the road, Harry proceeded to Jacques'
+house and waited there until it was time to go up to meet Louise
+and the girls.
+
+Victor did not wake until the afternoon. The doctor had called
+as usual, but had not roused him. He had been told what had taken
+place, and had held out hope to Marie that Victor's improvement
+would be permanent, and that he would now make steady progress
+towards recovery.
+
+At the appointed hour Harry was at his post to meet the party.  They
+came along within a few minutes of the time named, but instead of
+stopping to greet him they walked straight on, Jeanne saying as
+she passed him:
+
+"I think we are followed."
+
+Harry at once drew back and allowed them to go fifty yards on before
+he moved after them. As there were many people about, it was some
+little time before he could verify Jeanne's suspicions; then he
+noticed that a man, walking a short distance ahead of him, followed
+each turning that the others took.
+
+Harry waited until they were in a quiet street, and then quickened
+his pace until he was close behind the man. Then he drew one of
+his pistols, and, springing forward, struck him a heavy blow on
+the head with its butt. He fell forward on his face without a cry;
+and Harry, satisfied that he had stunned him, ran on and overtook
+the others, and, turning down the first street they came to, was
+assured that they were safe from pursuit.
+
+"We had noticed a man lounging against the house opposite all the
+afternoon," Jeanne said, "and came to the conclusion that he must
+be watching us; so we looked out for him when we came out, and
+noticed that as soon as we went on he began to walk that way too.
+So I told Louise to walk straight on without stopping when we came
+up to you. I was sure you would manage somehow to get rid of him."
+
+Harry laughed.
+
+"I fancy he will spend to-morrow in bed instead of lounging about.
+Perhaps it will teach him to mind his own business in future and to
+leave other people alone. I am very glad that he did follow you;
+for I felt that I owed him one, and was sorry to leave Paris without
+paying my debt. Now I think we are pretty well square."
+
+The meeting between the sisters was indeed a happy one. They fell
+on each other's necks, and for some time scarce a word was spoken;
+then they stood a little apart and had a long look at each other.
+
+"You are changed, Marie dear," Jeanne said; "you look pale, but
+you look, too, softer and prettier than you used to."
+
+"All my airs and graces have been rubbed off," Marie said with a
+slight smile. "I have learned so much, Jeanne, and have been where
+noble blood has been the reverse of a recommendation. You are changed
+too--the six months have altered you. Your gouvernante would not
+call you a wild girl now. You are quite a woman.
+
+"We have suffered too, Marie," Jeanne said as tears came to her eyes
+at the thought of the changes and losses of the last few months.
+"We have thought of you night and day; but Louise has been very good
+to us, and as for Harry, we owe  everything to him. He has always
+been so hopeful and strong, and has cheered us up with promises
+that he would bring you to us some day."
+
+Marie smiled.
+
+"You are right, Jeanne. I used to laugh a little, you know, at your
+belief in your hero, and little thought that the time would come
+when I should trust him as implicitly as you do. You have a right
+to be proud of him, Jeanne. What thought and devotion and courage
+he has shown for us! And do you know, he saved Victor too. Jacques
+has told me all about it--how Victor saw his father brought out
+to be murdered; and how, half-mad, he was springing out to stand
+beside him, when Harry as quick as thought knocked him down before
+he could betray himself; and then Jacques, who was standing by saw
+it, helped him carry him here. Oh, my dear, how much we owe him!
+
+"And now, Virginie," she said, turning to the youngest, "I must
+have a good look at you, little one--but no, I mustn't call you
+little one any longer, for you are already almost as tall as I am.
+My child, how you have been growing, and you look so well! Louise
+must have been feeding you up. Ah, Louise, how much we all owe to
+you too!  And I hear you are going to leave your comfortable home
+and take care of the girls on their journey. It was such a comfort
+to me when Harry told me!"
+
+"I could not let them go alone, mademoiselle," the old woman said
+simply; "it was only my duty. Besides, what should I do in Paris
+with all my children in England?"
+
+"Now, my dears, take your things off," Marie said. "I will just
+run in and see how Victor is getting on. Harry went straight in to
+him, and I want to know whether Victor recognized him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+Nantes
+
+
+Harry was very pleased to see a look of recognition on Victor's
+face as he came up to the side of his couch.
+
+"Well, Victor," he said cheerfully, "I am glad to see you looking
+more yourself again."
+
+Victor nodded assent, and his hand feebly returned the pressure of
+Harry's.
+
+"I can't understand it," he said after a pause. "I seem to be in
+a dream; but it is true Marie is here, isn't it?"
+
+"Oh yes! She is chatting now with her sisters, Jeanne and Virginie,
+you know."
+
+"And why am I here?" Victor asked, looking round the room.  "Marie
+tells me not to ask questions."
+
+"No. There will be plenty of time for that afterwards, Victor.  It
+is all simple enough. You were out with me, and there was an accident,
+and you got hurt. So I and a workman who was passing carried you
+into his house, and he and his wife have been taking care of you.
+You have been very ill, but you are getting on better now.  Marie
+has come to nurse you, and she won't leave you until you are quite
+well. Now, I think that's enough for you, and the doctor would be
+very angry if he knew I had told you so much; because he said you
+were not to bother yourself about things at all, but just to sleep
+as much as you can, and eat as much as you can, and listen to Marie
+talking and reading to you, and not trouble your brain in any way,
+because it's your brain that has gone wrong, and any thinking will
+be very bad for it."
+
+This explanation seemed satisfactory to Victor, who soon after
+dozed off to sleep, and Harry joined the party in Marie's sitting-room.
+
+"Oh, if I could but keep them here with me, Harry, what a comfort
+it would be!"
+
+"I know that it would, Marie; but it is too dangerous. You know they
+were denounced at Louise Moulin's. Already there is risk enough in
+you and Victor being here. The search for Royalists does not relax,
+indeed it seems to become more and more keen every day.  Victor's
+extreme illness is your best safeguard. The neighbours have heard
+that Jacques has had a fellow-workman dangerously ill for some long
+time, and Victor can no longer be looked upon as a stranger to be
+suspected, while your coming here to help nurse him will seem so
+natural a step that it will excite no comment. But any fresh addition
+of numbers would be sure to give rise to talk, and you would have
+a commissary of the Commune here in no time to make inquiries, and
+to ask for your papers of domicile."
+
+"Yes, I know that it would be too dangerous to risk," Marie agreed;
+"but I tremble at the thought of their journey."
+
+"I have every hope that we shall get through safely," Harry said.
+"I have some good news I have not yet told you. I have received a
+paper from Robespierre stating that I have been his secretary, and
+recommending us all to the authorities, so that we can dispense
+with the ordinary papers which they would otherwise ask for."
+
+"That is good news, indeed, Harry," Marie said. "That relieves me
+of half my anxiety. Once on the sea-coast it will be comparatively
+easy to get a passage to England. My dear Harry, you surprise me
+more every day, and I am ashamed to think that when our dear father
+and mother first told me that they had accepted your noble offer
+to look after us, I was inclined in my heart to think that such
+protection would be of little use. You see I confess, Harry; and
+you know that is half-way to forgiveness."
+
+"There is nothing either to confess or forgive," Harry said with
+a smile. "It was perfectly natural for you to think that a lad
+of eighteen was a slender reed to lean on in the time of trouble
+and danger, and that it was only by a lucky accident--for saving
+Robespierre's life was but an accident--that I have been enabled
+to be of use to you; and that I have now a pass which will enable
+me to take your sisters with comparative safety as far as Nantes.
+Had it not been for that I could have done little indeed to aid
+you."
+
+"You must not say so, Harry. You are too modest. Besides, was it
+not your quickness that saved Victor? No, we owe you everything, and
+disclaimers are only thrown away. As for me, I feel quite jealous
+of Jeanne's superior perspicacity, for she trusted you absolutely
+from the first."
+
+"It has nothing to do with perspicacity," Jeanne said. "Harry saved
+my life from that dreadful dog, and after that I knew if there was
+danger he would be able to get us out of it. That is, if it were
+possible for anyone to do so."
+
+"I hope I shall be able to justify your trust, Jeanne, and arrive
+safely with you at my father's house. I can promise you the warmest
+of welcomes from my mother and sisters. I fear they must long since
+have given me up for dead. I shall be like a shipwrecked mariner
+who has been cast upon an island and given up as lost. But my father
+always used to say, that if I was a first-rate hand at getting
+into scrapes, I was equally good at getting out of them again; and
+I don't think they will have quite despaired of seeing me again,
+especially as they know, by the last letters I sent them, that
+you all said I could speak French well enough to pass anywhere as
+a native."
+
+"How surprised they will be at your arriving with two girls and
+Louise!" Virginie said.
+
+"They will be pleased more than surprised," Harry replied. "I have
+written so much about you in my letters that the girls and my mother
+will be delighted to see you."
+
+"Besides," Jeanne added, "the boys will have told them you are
+waiting behind with us, so they will not be so surprised as they
+would otherwise have been. But it will be funny, arriving among
+people who don't speak a word of our language."
+
+"You will soon be at home with them," said Harry reassuringly.
+"Jenny and Kate are just about your ages, and I expect they will
+have grown so I shall hardly know them. It is nearly three years
+now since I left them, and I have to look at you to assure myself
+that Jenny will have grown almost into a young woman. Now I shall
+go out for a bit, and leave you to chat together.
+
+"You need not fidget about Victor, Marie. Elise is with him, and
+will come and let you know if he wakes; but I hope that he has gone
+off fairly to sleep for the night. He knew me, and I think I have
+put his mind at rest a little as to how he came here. I have told
+him it was an accident in the street, and that  we brought him in
+here, and he has been too ill since to be moved. I don't think he
+will ask any more questions. If I were you I would, while nursing,
+resume the dress you came here in. It will be less puzzling to him
+than the one you are wearing now."
+
+The little party started the next morning at day-light, and at the
+very first village they came to, found how strict was the watch upon
+persons leaving Paris, and had reason to congratulate themselves
+upon the possession of Robespierre's safe-conduct. No sooner had
+they sat down in the village cabaret to breakfast than an official
+with a red scarf presented himself, and asked them who they were
+and where they were going. The production of the document at once
+satisfied him; and, indeed, he immediately addressed the young man
+in somewhat shabby garments, who had the honour of being secretary
+to the great man, in tones of the greatest respect.
+
+Virginie at present was shy and awkward in her attire as a boy, and
+indeed had there been time the night before to procure a disguise
+for her as a girl it would have been done, although Harry's opinion
+that it would attract less attention for her to travel as a boy
+was unchanged; but he would have given way had it been possible to
+make the change. As any delay, however, would certainly be dangerous,
+the original plan was adhered to.
+
+Marie had cut her sister's hair short, and no one would have
+suspected from her appearance that Virginie was not what she seemed,
+a good-looking boy of some thirteen years old. With their bundles
+in their hands they trudged along the road, and stopped for the
+night at a village about twelve miles out of Paris. After having
+again satisfied the authorities by the production of the pass,
+Harry made inquiries, and the next morning went two miles away to
+a farm-house, where there was, he heard, a cart and horse to be
+disposed of.
+
+After much haggling over terms--since to give the sum that was
+first asked would have excited surprise, and perhaps suspicion--Harry
+became the possessor of the horse and cart, drove triumphantly
+back to the village, and having stowed Louise and the two girls on
+some straw in the bottom of the cart, proceeded on the journey.
+
+They met with no adventure whatever on the journey to Nantes, which
+was performed in ten days. The weather was bitterly cold.  Although
+it was now well on in March the snow lay deep on the ground; but
+the girls were well wrapped  up, and the cart was filled with straw,
+which helped to keep them warm. Harry walked for the most part by
+the side of the horse's head, for they could only proceed at foot-pace;
+but he sometimes climbed up and took the reins, the better to chat
+with the girls and keep up their spirits. There was no occasion for
+this in the case of Jeanne, but Virginie often gave way and cried
+bitterly, and the old nurse suffered greatly from the cold in spite
+of her warm wraps.
+
+On arriving at Nantes Harry proceeded first to the Maine, and on
+producing Robespierre's document received a permit to lodge in the
+town. He then looked for apartments in the neighbourhood of the
+river, and when he had obtained them disposed of the horse and cart.
+The statement that he was Robespierre's secretary at once secured
+for him much attention from the authorities, and he was invited to
+become a member of the Revolutionary Committee during his stay in
+the town, in order that he might see for himself with what zeal
+the instructions received from Paris for the extermination of the
+Royalists were being carried out.
+
+This offer he accepted, as it would enable him to obtain information
+of all that was going on. Had it not been for this he would gladly
+have declined the honour, for his feelings were daily harrowed by
+arrests and massacres which he was powerless to prevent, for he
+did not venture to raise his voice on the side of mercy, for had he
+done so, it would have been certain to excite suspicion. He found
+that, horrible as were the atrocities committed in Paris, they
+were even surpassed by those which were enacted in the provinces,
+and that in Nantes in particular a terrible persecution was raging
+under the direction of Carrier, who had been sent down from Paris
+as commissioner from the Commune there.
+
+Harry's next object was to make the acquaintance of some of the
+fishermen, and to find out what vessels were engaged in smuggling
+goods across to England; for it was in one of these alone that he
+could hope to cross the Channel. This, however, he found much more
+difficult than he had expected.
+
+The terror was universal. The news of the execution of the king
+had heightened the dismay. Massacres were going on all over France.
+The lowest ruffians in all the great towns were now their masters,
+and under pretended accusations were wreaking their hate upon the
+respectable inhabitants. Private  enmities were wiped out in blood.
+None were too high or too low to be denounced as Royalists, and
+denunciation was followed as a matter of course by a mock trial
+and execution. Every man distrusted his neighbour, and fear caused
+those who most loathed and hated the existing regime to be loudest
+in their advocacy of it. There were spies everywhere--men who
+received blood-money for every victim they denounced.
+
+Thus, then, Harry's efforts to make acquaintances among the
+sailors met with very slight success. He was a stranger, and that
+was sufficient to cause distrust, and ere long it became whispered
+that he had come from Paris with special authority to hasten on the
+work of extirpation of the enemies of the state. Soon, therefore,
+Harry perceived that as he moved along the quay little groups of
+sailors and fishermen talking together broke up at his approach, the
+men sauntering off to the wine-shops, and any he accosted replied
+civilly indeed, but with embarrassment and restraint; and although
+any questions of a general character were answered, a profound
+ignorance was manifested upon the subject upon which he wished to
+gain information. The sailors all seemed to know that occasionally
+cargoes of spirits were run from the river to England, but none
+could name any vessel engaged in the trade. Harry soon perceived
+that he was regarded with absolute hostility, and one day one of
+the sailors said to him quietly:
+
+"Citizen, I am a good sans-culotte, and I warn you, you had best
+not come down the river after dark, for there is a strong feeling
+against you; and unless you would like your body to be fished out
+of the river with half a dozen knife-holes in it, you will take my
+advice."
+
+Harry began to feel almost crushed under his responsibilities.  His
+attendance at the Revolutionary Committee tried him greatly.  He
+made no progress whatever in his efforts to obtain a passage; and
+to add to his trouble the old nurse, who had been much exhausted
+by the change from her usual habits, and the inclemency of the
+weather on her journey, instead of gaining strength appeared to be
+rapidly losing it, and was forced to take to her bed. The terrible
+events in Paris, and the long strain of anxiety as to the safety
+of the girls and the fate of Marie, had completely exhausted her
+strength, and the last six months had aged her as many  years. Harry
+tried hard to keep up his appearance of hopefulness, and to cheer
+the girls; but Jeanne's quick eye speedily perceived the change in
+him.
+
+"You are wearing yourself out, Harry," she said one evening as they
+were sitting by the fire, while Virginie was tending Louise in the
+next room. "I can see it in your face. It is of no use your trying
+to deceive me. You tell us every day that you hope soon to get
+hold of the captain of a boat sailing for England; but I know that
+in reality you are making no progress. All those months when we
+were hoping to get Marie out of prison--though it seemed next to
+impossible--you told us not to despair, and I knew you did not
+despair yourself; but now it is different. I am sure that you do
+in your heart almost give up hope. Why don't you trust me, Harry?
+I may not be able to do much, but I might try to cheer you. You
+have been comforting us all this time. Surely it is time I took my
+turn. I am not a child now."
+
+"I feel like one just at present," Harry said unsteadily with
+quivering lips. "I feel sometimes as if--as we used to say at
+school--I could cry for twopence. I know,  Jeanne, I can trust you, and
+it isn't because I doubted your courage that I have not told you
+exactly how things are going on, but because it is entirely upon
+you now that Louise and Virginie have to depend, and I do not wish
+to put any more weight on your shoulders; but it will be a relief
+to me to tell you exactly how we stand."
+
+Harry then told her how completely he had failed with the sailors,
+and how an actual feeling of hostility against him had arisen.
+
+"I think I could have stood that, Jeanne; but it is that terrible
+committee that tries me. It is so awful hearing these fiends marking
+out their victims and exulting over their murder, that at times I
+feel tempted to throw myself upon some of them and strangle them."
+
+"It must be dreadful, Harry," Jeanne said soothingly. "Will it not
+be possible for you to give out that you are ill, and so absent
+yourself for a time from their meetings? I am sure you look ill--ill
+enough for anything. As to the sailors,  do not let that worry
+you.  Even if you could hear of a ship at present it would be of no
+use. I couldn't leave Louise; she seems to me to be getting worse
+and worse, and the doctor you called in three days ago thinks
+so too. I can see it by his face. I think he is a good man.  The
+woman whose sick child I sat up with last night tells me the poor
+all love him. I am sure he guesses that we are not what we seem.
+He said this morning to me:
+
+"' I cannot do much for your grandmother. It is a general break-up.
+I have many cases like it of old people  and women upon whom the
+anxiety of the times has told. Do not worry yourself with watching,
+child. She will sleep quietly, and will not need attendance.  If
+you don't mind I shall have you on my hands. Anxiety affects the
+young as well as the old.'
+
+"At anyrate, you see, we cannot think of leaving here at present.
+Louise has risked everything for us. It is quite impossible for
+us to leave her now, so do not let that worry you. We are all in
+God's hands, Harry, and we must wait patiently what He may send
+us."
+
+"We will wait patiently," Harry said. "I feel better now, Jeanne,
+and you shall not see me give way again. What has been worrying me
+most is the thought that it would have been wiser to have carried
+out some other plan--to have put you and Virginie, for instance,
+in some farmhouse not far from Paris, and for you to have waited
+there till the storm blew over."
+
+"You must never think that, Harry," Jeanne said earnestly. "You
+know we all talked it over dozens of times, Louise and all of us,
+and we agreed that this was our best chance, and Marie when she
+came out quite thought so too. So, whatever comes, you must not
+blame yourself in the slightest. Wherever we were we were in danger,
+and might have been denounced."
+
+"I arranged it all, Jeanne. I have the responsibility of your being
+here."
+
+"And to an equal extent you would have had the responsibility of
+our being anywhere else. So it is of no use letting that trouble
+you.  Now, as to the sailors, you know I have made the acquaintance
+of some of the women in our street. Some of them are sailors' wives,
+and possibly through them I may be able to hear about ships. At
+anyrate I could try."
+
+"Perhaps you could, Jeanne; but be very, very careful what questions
+you put, or you might be betrayed."
+
+"I don't think there is much fear of that, Harry. The women are
+more outspoken than the men. Some of them are with what they call
+the people; but it is clear that others are quite the other way.
+You see trade has been almost stopped,  and there is great suffering
+among the sailors and their families. Of course I have been very
+careful not to seem to have more money than other people; but
+I have been able to make soups and things--I have learned to be
+quite a cook from seeing Louise at work--and I take them to those
+that are very poor, especially if they have children ill, and I
+think I have won some of their hearts."
+
+"You win everyone's heart who comes near you, Jeanne, I think,"
+Harry said earnestly.
+
+Jeanne flushed a rosy red, but said with a laugh:
+
+"Now, Harry, you are turning flatterer. We are not at the chateau
+now, sir, so your pretty speeches are quite thrown away; and now
+I shall go and take Virginie's place and send her in to you."
+
+And so another month went by, and then the old nurse quietly
+passed away. She was buried, to the girls' great grief, without
+any religious ceremony, for the priests were all in hiding or had
+been murdered, and France had solemnly renounced God and placed
+Reason on His throne.
+
+In the meantime Jeanne had been steadily carrying on her work among
+her poorer neighbours, sitting up at night with sick children, and
+supplying food to starving little ones, saying quietly in reply to
+the words of gratitude of the women:
+
+"My grandmother has laid by savings during her long years of
+service. She will not want it long, and we are old enough to work
+for ourselves; besides, our brother Henri will take care of us. So
+we are glad to be able to help those who need it."
+
+While she worked she kept her ears open, and from the talk of the
+women learned that the husbands of one or two of them were employed in
+vessels engaged in carrying on smuggling operations with England.
+A few days after the death of Louise one of these women, whose
+child Jeanne had helped to nurse through a fever and had brought
+round by keeping it well supplied with good food, exclaimed:
+
+"Oh, how much we owe you, mademoiselle, for your goodness!"
+
+"You must not call me mademoiselle," Jeanne said, shaking her head.
+"It would do you harm and me too if it were heard."
+
+"It comes so natural," the woman said with a sigh. "I was in service
+once in a good family before I married Adolphe. But I know that
+you are not one of those people who say there is no God, because I
+saw you kneel down and pray by Julie's bed when you thought I was
+asleep. I expect Adolphe home in a day or two. The poor fellow
+will be wild with delight when he sees the little one on its feet
+again.  When he went away a fortnight ago he did not expect ever
+to see her alive again, and it almost broke his heart. But what
+was he to do?  There are so many men out of work that if he had
+not sailed in the lugger there would have been scores to take his
+place, and he might not perhaps have been taken on again."
+
+"He has been to England, has he not?" Jeanne asked.
+
+"Yes; the lugger carries silks and brandy. It is a dangerous trade,
+for the Channel is swarming with English cruisers. But what is he
+to do? One must live."
+
+"Is your husband in favour of the new state of things?" Jeanne
+asked.
+
+"Not in his heart, mademoiselle, any more than I am, but he holds
+his tongue. Most of the sailors in the port hate these murdering
+tyrants of ours; but what can we do?"
+
+"Well, Marthe, I am sure I can trust you, and your husband can help
+me if he will."
+
+"Surely you can trust me," the woman said. "I would lay down my
+life for you, and I know Adolphe would do so too when he knows what
+you have done for us."
+
+"Well, then, Marthe, I and my sister and my brother Henri are anxious
+to be taken to England. We are ready to pay well for a passage,
+but we have not known how to set about it."
+
+"I thought it might be that," Marthe said quietly; "for anyone who
+knows the ways of gentlefolk, as I do, could see with half an eye
+that you are not one of us. But they say, mademoiselle, that your
+brother is a friend of Robespierre, and that he is one of the
+committee here."
+
+"He is only pretending, Marthe, in order that no suspicion should
+fall upon us. But he finds that the sailors distrust him, and he
+cannot get to speak to them about taking a passage, so I thought
+I would speak to you, and you can tell me when a boat is sailing
+and who is her captain."
+
+"Adolphe will manage all that for you, never fear," the woman
+said. "I know that many a poor soul has been hidden away on board
+the smuggler's craft and got safely out of the country; but of
+course it's a risk, for it is death to assist any of the suspects.
+Still the sailors are ready to run the risk, and indeed they haven't
+much fear of the consequences if they are caught, for the sailor
+population here are very strong, and they would not stand quietly
+by and see some of their own class treated as if they had done
+some great crime merely because they were earning a few pounds by
+running passengers across to England. Why they have done it from
+father to son as far as they can recollect, for there has never
+been a time yet when there were not people who wanted to pass from
+France to England and from England to France without asking the
+leave of the authorities. I think it can be managed, mademoiselle,
+especially, as you say, you can afford to pay, for if one won't take
+you, another will. Trade is so bad that there are scores of men
+would start in their fishing-boats for a voyage across the Channel
+in the hope of getting food for their wives and families."
+
+"I was sure it was so, Marthe, but it was so difficult to set about
+it. Everyone is afraid of spies, and it needs some one to warrant
+that we are not trying to draw them into a snare, before anyone
+will listen.  If your husband will but take the matter up, I have
+no doubt it can be managed."
+
+"Set your mind at ease; the thing is as good as done. I tell you
+there are scores of men ready to undertake the job when they know
+it is a straightforward one."
+
+"That is good news indeed, Jeanne," Harry said, when the girl
+told him of the conversation. "That does seem a way out of our
+difficulties. I felt sure you would be able to manage it, sooner
+or later, among the poor people you have been so good to. Hurry it
+on as much as you can, Jeanne. I feel that our position is getting
+more and more dangerous. I am afraid I do not play my part sufficiently
+well. I am not forward enough in their violent councils. I cannot
+bring myself to vote for proposals for massacre when there is any
+division among them. I fear that some have suspicions. I have been
+asked questions lately as to why I am staying here, and why I have
+come. I have been thinking for the last few days whether it would
+not be better for us to make our way down to the mouth of the river
+and try and bribe some fishermen in the villages there who would
+not have that feeling against me that the  men here have, to take
+us to sea, or if that could not be managed, to get on board some
+little fishing-boat at night and sail off by ourselves in the hopes
+of being picked up by an English cruiser."
+
+Harry indeed had for some days been feeling that danger was
+thickening round him. He had noticed angry glances cast at him by
+the more violent of the committee, and had caught sentences expressing
+doubt whether he had really been Robespierre's secretary.  That
+evening as he came out from the meeting he heard one man say to
+another:
+
+"I tell you he may have stolen it, and perhaps killed the citizen
+who bore it. I believe he is a cursed aristocrat. I tell you I shall
+watch him. He has got some women with him; the maire, who saw the
+paper, told me so. I shall make it my business to get to the bottom
+of the affair, and we will make short work with him if we find
+things are as I believe."
+
+Harry felt, therefore, that the danger was even more urgent than
+he had expressed it to Jeanne, and he had returned intending to
+propose immediate flight had not Jeanne been beforehand with her
+news. Even now he hesitated whether even a day's delay might not
+ruin them.
+
+"Have you told me all, Harry?" Jeanne asked.
+
+"Not quite all, Jeanne. I was just thinking it over. I fear the
+danger is even more pressing than I have said;" and he repeated
+the sentence he had overheard. "Even now," he said, "that fellow
+may be watching outside or making inquiries about you. He will hear
+nothing but praise; but that very praise may cause him to doubt
+still more that you are not what you seem."
+
+"But why can we not run away at once?" Virginie said. "Why should
+we wait here till they come and take us and carry us away and kill
+us?"
+
+"That is what I was thinking when I came home, Virginie; but the
+risk of trying to escape in a fishing-boat by ourselves would be
+tremendous. You see, although I have gone out sailing sometimes on
+the river in England, I know very little about it, and although we
+might be picked up by an English ship, it would be much more likely
+that we should fall into the hands of one of the French gunboats.
+So I look upon that as a desperate step, to be taken only at the
+last moment. And now that Jeanne seems to  have arranged a safe plan,
+I do not like trying such a wild scheme. A week now, and perhaps
+all might be arranged; but the question is--Have we a week? Have
+we more than twenty-four hours? What do you think, Jeanne?"
+
+"I do not see what is best to do yet," Jeanne said, looking steadily
+in the fire. "It is a terrible thing to have to decide; but I see
+we must decide." She sat for five minutes without speaking, and
+then taking down her cloak from the peg on which it hung she said;
+"I will go round to Marthe Pichon again and tell her we are all
+so anxious for each other, that I don't think we can judge what is
+really the best.  Marthe will see things more clearly and will be
+able to advise us."
+
+"Yes, that will be the best plan."
+
+It was three-quarters of an hour before she returned.
+
+"I can see you have a plan," Harry said as he saw that there was
+a look of brightness and hope on Jeanne's face.
+
+"Yes, I have a plan, and a good one; that is to say, Marthe has. I
+told her all about it, and she said directly that we must be hidden
+somewhere till her husband can arrange for us to sail. I said, of
+course, that was what was wanted, but how could it be managed? So
+she thought it over, and we have quite arranged it. She has a sister
+who lives in a fishing-village four miles down the river. She will
+go over there to-morrow and arrange with them to take us, and will
+get some fisher-girls' dresses for us. She says she is sure her
+sister will take us, for she was over here yesterday and heard
+about the child getting better, and Marthe told her all sorts of
+nonsense about what I had done for it. She thinks we shall be quite
+safe there, for there are only six or seven houses, and no one but
+fishermen live there. She proposes that you shall be dressed up in
+some of her husband's clothes, and shall go out fishing with her
+sister's husband. What do you think of that, Harry?"
+
+"Splendid, Jeanne! Can the husband be trusted too?"
+
+"Oh, yes, she says so. He is an honest man, she says; and besides,
+they are very poor, and a little money will be a great help to them.
+She says she would not propose it unless she was quite, quite sure
+of them, for if anything happened to us she would be a wretched
+woman all her life."
+
+"Thank God," Harry said fervently, "that one sees daylight at last!
+I have felt so helpless lately! Dangers seemed to be thickening
+round you, and I could do nothing; and now, Jeanne, you have found
+a way out for us where I never should have found one for myself."
+
+"It is God who has done it, not me," Jeanne said reverently. "I did
+not begin to go about among the poor people here with any thought
+of making friends, but because they were so poor and miserable; but
+He must have put it into my heart to do it, in order that a way of
+escape might be made for us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+In the Hands of the Reds
+
+
+The next morning Harry went out, as usual, immediately after
+breakfast, for a walk for two or three hours. This he did partly
+to allow the girls to tidy the rooms, an office which had naturally
+fallen to them since the commencement of their old nurse's illness;
+partly because in active exercise he found some relief from the
+burden of his anxieties. To-day he felt more anxious than ever. The
+conversation with Marthe Pichon had afforded good grounds of hope
+that in a day or two a fair prospect of escape would be open to them;
+but this only seemed to make the present anxiety all the sharper.
+The woman had promised to get disguises, and make the arrangements
+with her friends at the village below during the course of the day,
+and by night, if all went well, they might start. He told himself
+that he had no reason for supposing that the vague suspicions which
+were, he knew, afloat would suddenly be converted into action. He
+determined to take his place that afternoon with the committee as
+usual, and endeavour to allay their doubts by assuming a violent
+attitude. He felt, however, that the day would be more trying than
+any he had passed, and that he would give a great deal if the next
+twenty-four hours were over. Scarcely heeding where he walked he
+was out longer than usual, and it was nearly three hours after he
+started before he approached the town again by the road along the
+river bank. Just when he came to the first houses a woman, who was
+standing there knitting, came up to him.
+
+"You are the citizen who lives with his two sisters next door to
+La Mere Pichon, are you not?"
+
+Harry assented hurriedly, with a strange presentiment of evil.
+
+"La Mere Pichon bids me tell you," the woman said, "that half an
+hour after you started this morning six men, with an official with
+the red scarf, came to the house and arrested your sisters and
+carried them off. They are watching there for your return."
+
+Harry staggered as if struck with a blow.
+
+"Poor young man," the woman said compassionately, seeing the ghastly
+pallor of his face, "but I pity you. The street is furious that
+these wretches should have carried off that sweet young creature,
+who was so good to everyone; but what could we do? We hissed the men,
+and we would have pelted them had we not been afraid of striking
+your sisters. When they had gone La Mere Pichon said to some of
+us, 'The best thing we can do for that angel is to save her brother
+from being caught also. So do one of you post yourself on each
+road leading to the house, and warn him in time. He generally walks
+beyond the town. I heard one of his sisters say so.' So some of
+us came out on all the roads, and two remained, one at each end of
+the street, in case we should miss you. La Mere said, whoever met
+you was to tell you to be on this road, by the river, just outside
+the town, after dark, and she would bring you some clothes, and
+take you where you would be safe; but till then you were to go away
+again, and keep far from the town. Do you understand?" she asked,
+laying her hand on his arm, for he seemed dazed and stupid with
+the shock he had received.
+
+"I understand," he said in a low voice. "Thank you all for your
+warning. Yes, I will be here this evening."
+
+So saying he turned and moved away, walking unsteadily as if he
+were drunk. The woman looked after him pityingly, and then, shaking
+her head and muttering execrations against the "Reds," she made
+her way home to tell Mere Pichon that she had fulfilled her mission.
+
+Harry walked on slowly until some distance from the town, and then
+threw himself down on a bank by the road and lay for a time silent
+and despairing. At last tears came to his relief, and his broad
+shoulders shook with a passion of sobbing to think that just at
+the moment when a chance of escape was opened--just when all the
+dangers seemed nearly past--the girls should have fallen into
+the hands of the enemy, and he not there to strike a blow in their
+defence.  To think of Jeanne--his bright, fearless Jeanne--and
+clinging little Virginie, in the hands of these human  tigers. It
+was maddening! But after a time the passion of weeping calmed down,
+and Harry sat up suddenly.
+
+"I am a fool," he said as he rose to his feet; "a nice sort of fellow
+for a protector, lying here crying like a girl when I had begun to
+fancy I was a man; wasting my time here when I know the only hope
+for the girls is for me to keep myself free to help them. I need
+not lose all hope yet. After Marie has been saved, why shouldn't
+I save my Jeanne? I am better off than I was then, for we have
+friends who will help. These women whose hearts Jeanne has won will
+aid if they can, and may get some of their husbands and brothers
+to aid. The battle is not lost yet, and Jeanne will know I shall
+move heaven and earth to save her."
+
+Harry's fit of crying, unmanly as he felt it, had afforded him an
+immense relief, for he hardly knew himself how great the strain
+had been upon him of late, and with a more elastic step he strode
+away into the country, and for hours walked on, revolving plan
+after plan in his mind for rescuing the girls. Although nothing
+very plausible had occurred to him he felt brighter in mind, though
+weary in body, when, just after nightfall, he again approached the
+spot where he had that morning received so heavy a blow. He was
+not disheartened at the difficulty before him, for he knew that he
+should have some time yet to hit upon a a plan, and the jails were
+so crowded with prisoners that he might fairly reckon upon weeks
+before there was any actual necessity for action. Marthe Pichon
+was waiting for him.
+
+"Ah, Monsieur," she began, "but this is a terrible day! Oh, if I
+had but known a day or two earlier they could have moved in time,
+and now they are in the power of those wolves; but we will try
+to save them. We have been talking it over. We will all go to the
+tribunal, and we will take our husbands and our children with us,
+and we will demand their release. We will not let them be murdered.
+And now here are the clothes, but you need not put them on now.
+There will be a boat here in a few minutes. We have told some of
+the sailors how they misjudged you, and they are sorry, now it is
+too late, that they would not listen when you spoke to them. However,
+they will do all they can for you. I have sent a message by a boy
+to my sister to say that I shall be down this evening, so they will
+be expecting us.  Ah, here is the boat!"
+
+The splash of oars was heard, and a boat rowed along close to the
+bank.
+
+"Is that you, Pierre?"
+
+"It is us, sure enough, Mere Pichon. Is all right?"
+
+"Yes, we are both here."
+
+In another minute the boat was rowed alongside, and Harry and the
+woman got on board. There were few words spoken as the two men rowed
+vigorously down stream. In three quarters of an hour some lights
+were seen on the opposite bank, and the boat was headed towards
+them and soon reached a little causeway.
+
+"I shall not be more than twenty minutes," Mere Pichon said as she
+got out.
+
+"All right, we will wait!" was the reply, and mounting the causeway
+La Mere Pichon led the way to the farthest cottage in the little
+fishing-village. A light was burning within, and lifting the latch
+she entered, followed by Harry. A fisherman and his wife were
+sitting by the fire.
+
+"Here, sister Henriette and brother Pierre," Marthe said; "you
+have heard from me how a dear angel, who lived next door to me, has
+nursed and tended my little Julie, and by blessing of the Virgin
+brought her round from her illness; and those wretches, the Reds,
+have carried her off to-day with her sister, and you know what it
+is to fall into their hands. This is her brother, and I am going
+to ask you to give him shelter and let him stay here with you. I
+have brought him a suit of clothes with me, and no one will guess
+that he is not the son of some comrade of yours. He will pay you
+well for sheltering him till we can put him on board Adolphe's
+lugger and send him across the water. If it had not been that the
+Reds had come to-day I should have brought his sisters with him. I
+was just starting to arrange it with you when those wretches came
+and took them away, and it may be that they would pay a hundred
+crowns to you, and that is not a sum to be earned every day."
+
+"No, indeed," her sister said briskly; "that will buy Pierre a new
+boat, and a good one, such as he can go out to sea in; besides, as
+you say, after what his sister did for Julie we are bound to help
+them.  What do you say, Pierre?"
+
+Pierre's face had expressed anything but satisfaction until the
+money was mentioned, but it then changed entirely. The times were
+bad--his boat was old and unseaworthy--a hundred crowns was a
+fortune to him.
+
+"I have risked my life often," he said, "to earn five crowns,
+therefore I do not say no to the offer. Monsieur, I accept; for a
+hundred crowns I will run the risk of keeping you here, and your
+sisters too if they should come, until you can cross the water."
+
+"Very well then," Marthe Pichon said. "That's settled, now I shall
+be off at once. They will be watching the street for monsieur, and
+to-morrow, when they find he has not come back, they will be asking
+questions, so the sooner I am back the better."
+
+"We cannot give you much accommodation, monsieur," the fisherman
+said. "There is only the loft upstairs, and, for to-night, the sails
+to sleep on; but we will try and make you more comfortable to-morrow."
+
+"I care nothing for comfort," Harry answered, "so make no change
+for me. Just treat me as if I were what I shall seem to be--a young
+fisherman who has come to work with you for a bit. I will row with
+you and help you with your nets. Your sister has promised to send
+a boy every day with all the news she can gather. Now, if you have
+a piece of bread I will gladly eat it, for I have touched nothing
+since breakfast."
+
+"We can do better than that for you," the woman replied, and in a
+few minutes some fish were frying over the fire. Fortunately the
+long hours he had been on his feet had thoroughly tired Harry out,
+and after eating his supper he at once ascended to the loft, threw
+himself on the heap of sails, and in a few minutes was sound asleep.
+The next morning he dressed himself in the fisherman's clothes with
+which he had been provided, and went down stairs.
+
+"You will do," Pierre said, looking at him; "but your hands and face
+are too white. But I was tanning my sails yesterday, and there is
+some of the stuff left in the boiler; if you rub your hands and
+face with that you will do well."
+
+Harry took the advice, and the effect was to give him the appearance
+of a lad whose face was bronzed by long exposure to the sea and
+air.
+
+"You will pass anywhere now," Pierre said approvingly. "I shall give
+out that you belong to St. Nazaire, and are the son of a friend of
+mine whose fishing-boat was lost in the last gale, and so you have
+come to work for a time with me; no one would ask you any more.
+Besides, we are all comrades, and hate the Reds, who have spoilt
+our trade by killing all our best customers, so if they come asking
+questions here they won't get a word out of anyone."
+
+For ten days Harry lived with the fisherman. Adolphe had returned
+in his lugger the day after his arrival there, and came over the
+next evening to see him. He said that it would be some little time
+before the lugger sailed again, but that if he was ready to start
+before she sailed he would manage to procure him a passage in some
+other craft. He said that he had already been talking to some of
+the sailors on the wharves, and that they had promised to go to
+the Tribunal when the girls were brought up before it, and that he
+would manage to get news from a friend employed in the prison when
+that would be.
+
+Harry frequently went up in a boat to Nantes with Pierre with the
+fish they had caught. He had no fear of being recognized, and did
+not hesitate to land, though he seldom went far from the boat.
+Adolphe was generally there, and he and two or three of his comrades,
+who were in the secret, always hailed him as an old acquaintance,
+so that had any of the spies of the Revolutionists been standing
+there, no suspicion that Harry was other than he seemed would have
+entered their minds.
+
+One evening, three weeks after Harry's arrival at the hut, Adolphe
+came in with his head bound up by a bandage.
+
+"What is the matter, Adolphe?" Harry exclaimed.
+
+"I have bad news for you, monsieur. I learned this morning that
+mesdemoiselles were to-day to be brought before the Tribunal, and
+we filled the hall with women and two or three score of sailors.
+Mesdemoiselles were brought out. The young one seemed frightened,
+but the elder was as calm and brave as if she feared nothing. They
+were asked their names, and she said:
+
+"'I am Jeanne de St. Caux, and this is my sister Virginie. We have
+committed no crime.'
+
+"Carrier himself was there, and he said:
+
+"'You are charged with being enemies of France, with being here
+in disguise, and with trying to leave France contrary to the laws
+against emigration, and with being in company with one who, under
+false pretenses, obtained admission to the Committee of Safety
+here, but who is an enemy and traitor to France. What do you say?'
+
+"'I do not deny that we were in disguise,' she said in her clear
+voice. 'Nor do I deny that we should have escaped if we could. And
+as you treat us as enemies, and our lives are in danger, I cannot
+see that we were to blame in doing so. I deny that we are enemies
+of France, or that the gentleman who was with us was so either. He
+did not obtain a place on the committee by fraud, for he was really
+the secretary of Monsieur Robespierre, and he could not refuse the
+post when it was offered to him.'
+
+"Then we thought it was time to speak, and the women cried out
+for mercy, and said how good she had been to the poor; and we men
+cried out too. And then Carrier got into a passion, and said they
+were traitors and worthy of death, and that they should die.  And
+we shouted we would not have it, and broke into the Tribunal and
+surrounded mesdemoiselles, and then the guards rushed in and there
+was a fight. We beat them off and got outside, and then a regiment
+came up, and they were too strong for us, though we fought stoutly,
+I can tell you, for our blood was up; but it was no use. The dear
+ladies were captured again, and many of us got severe wounds.  But
+the feeling was strong, I can tell you, among the sailors when the
+news spread through the town, for some of the women got hurt, too,
+in the melee, and I think we could get five hundred men together
+to storm the jail."
+
+Harry was bitterly disappointed, for he had hoped that the
+intercession of the women might have availed with the judges, and
+doubtless would have done so had not Carrier himself been present.
+However, he thanked the sailor warmly for the efforts he had made
+and gave him some money to distribute among the wounded, for he
+always carried half his money concealed in a belt under his clothes.
+The other half was hidden away under a board in his lodgings,
+so that in case of his being captured the girls would still have
+funds available for their escape. As to the prospects of storming
+the jail he did not feel sanguine. It was strongly guarded, and
+there were three regiments of troops in the town, and  these could
+be brought up before the fishermen could force the strong defences
+of the jail. However, as a last resource, this might be attempted.
+
+Two days later Adolphe again returned, and was obliged to confess
+in answer to Harry's inquiries that he feared the sailors as a body
+would not join in the attempt.
+
+"I can hardly blame them, monsieur. For though I myself would risk
+everything, and some of the others would do so too, it is a terrible
+thing for men with wives and families to brave the anger of these
+monsters. They would think nothing of putting us all to death.
+It isn't the fighting we are afraid of, though the odds are heavy
+against us, but it's the vengeance they would take afterwards,
+whether we happened to win or whether we didn't."
+
+"I cannot blame them," Harry said. "As you say, even if they succeeded
+there would be a terrible vengeance for it afterwards. No; if the
+girls are to be rescued it must be by some other way. I have been
+quiet so long because I hoped that the intercession of the women
+would have saved them. As that has failed I must set to work. I
+have thought of every method, but bribery seems the only chance.
+Will you speak to the man you know in the prison, and sound him
+whether it will be possible to carry out any plan in that way?"
+
+"I will speak again to him," Adolphe said. "But I have already
+sounded him, and he said that there were so many guards and jailers
+that he feared that it would be impossible. But I will try again."
+
+The next day, soon after dinner, Adolphe came again, and there was
+a white scared look upon his face which filled Harry with alarm.
+
+"What is it, Adolphe? What is your news?"
+
+"Monsieur, I can hardly tell it," Adolphe said in a low awe-stricken
+voice. "It is too awful even for these  fiends."
+
+"What is it, Adolphe? Tell me. If they have been murdered I will
+go straight to Nantes and kill Carrier the first time he leaves
+his house, though they may tear me to pieces afterwards."
+
+"They are not murdered yet," Adolphe said; "but they are to be, and
+everyone else." And this time the sailor sat down and cried like
+a child.
+
+At last, in answer to Harry's entreaties, he raised his head and
+told the story. The Revolutionary Committee had that day been down
+at the wharf, and had taken for the public service four old luggers
+past service which were lying on  the mud, and they had openly
+boasted that an end was going to put to the aristocrats; that the
+guillotine was too slow, that the prison must be cleared, and that
+they were going to pack the aristocrats on board the luggers and
+sink them.
+
+Harry gave a cry of horror, in which the fisherman and his wife
+joined, the latter pouring out voluble curses against Carrier and
+the Reds.
+
+After his first cry Harry was silent; he sank down on to a low chair,
+and sat there with his face hidden in his hands for some minutes,
+while the fisherman and his wife poured question after question upon
+Adolphe. Presently Harry rose to his feet, and saying to Adolphe,
+"Do not go away, I shall be back presently, I must think by myself,"
+went out bareheaded into the night.
+
+It was half an hour before he returned.
+
+"Now, Adolphe," he said, "I can think again. Now, how are they to
+be saved?"
+
+"I cannot say, monsieur," Adolphe said hesitatingly. "It does not
+seem to me--"
+
+"They have to be saved," Harry interrupted him in a grave, steady
+voice. "The question is how?"
+
+"Yes, monsieur," Adolphe agreed hesitatingly, "that is the question.
+You can rely upon me, monsieur," he went on, "to do my best whatever
+you may decide; but I have no head to invent things.  You tell me
+and I will do it."
+
+"I know I can rely upon you, Adolphe. As far as I can see there
+are but two ways. One is for me to go to Carrier's house, find the
+monster, place a pistol at his head, compel him to order them to
+be released, stand with him at the prison door till they come out,
+embark with him and them in a boat, row down the river, and put to
+sea."
+
+"And then, monsieur?" Adolphe asked after a pause, seeing that
+Harry was speaking to himself rather than to him.
+
+"Yes, that is the question that I cannot answer," Harry replied.
+"I can see all the rest as if it were passing. I can feel Carrier
+trembling in my grasp, and shrinking as the pistol touches his
+forehead. I can hear him giving his orders, I can see the crowd
+falling back as I walk with him through the street, I can hear  him
+crying to the people to stand aside and let us pass, I can see us
+going down the river together; but what am I to do in a boat with
+two ladies at sea?"
+
+"Could you not embark in a lugger?" Adolphe exclaimed, carried
+away by the picture which Harry seemed to be describing as if he
+saw it. "Why not start in a lugger at once? I might have the Trois
+Freres ready, and the men will all stand by you; and when we are
+once outside the river we will throw Carrier over to the fishes
+and make for England."
+
+"Thank you, Adolphe. If the other plans seem impossible we will
+try that, but only as a last resource; for I know the chances are
+a hundred to one against its success. I should have no fear as to
+Carrier himself, but as I went through the streets some one else
+might place a musket at the back of my head and shoot me. If I
+could get him alone it would be different. You could go with me;
+I would force him to sign the order of release; you could take it;
+and I would stand over him till you had time to embark with them;
+then I would blow out his brains and make my way down to the river.
+But there would be no chance of finding him alone. Monsters like
+this are always fearful of assassination."
+
+"And what is monsieur's other plan?"
+
+"The other plan is to get on board the boat in which they are to be
+placed--you might find out which it is from your friend in prison--hide
+down in the hold until the guards leave her; then join them;
+and when she sinks fasten them to a spar and drift down the river
+with them till out of sight of the town, when Pierre could row off
+and pick them up."
+
+"They say there are to be soldiers on each side of the river,"
+Adolphe said despondently, "to shoot down any who may try to swim
+to shore. But there would not be many who would try. Most of them,
+they say, will be women and children; but the heads would be seen
+as you drifted down."
+
+"Yes; but we must think of something, Adolphe--think, man,
+think--and you, Pierre, think; if you were in a sinking ship, and you
+wanted something which would hide you from the eyes of people a
+hundred yards away, what would you take?"
+
+"But you would be seen on anything you climbed on to or clung to,
+monsieur.
+
+"But we need not climb on to it," Harry said. "I can take pieces
+of cork with me and wrap round them so as to keep their faces just
+afloat. I should only want something that would hide their faces."
+
+"A hatch might do," Pierre said.
+
+"The very thing!" Harry exclaimed with a fresh ring of animation
+and hopefulness in his voice. "The very thing! Of course there
+would be a hatchway to the forecastle of the lugger. We might get
+that loosened beforehand, so that it would float off. What is the
+size of such a hatch?"
+
+"Some four feet square, monsieur."
+
+"That will be enough," Harry said; "but how high would a hatch
+float out of water, because there must be room between the top of
+the water for us to breathe as we lie on our backs. Four inches
+would be enough. Are the sides buoyant enough to keep the top that
+much out of water?"
+
+"I do not think so, monsieur," Pierre said with a shake of the
+head. "It would float nearly level with the water."
+
+"But see here, monsieur," Adolphe said eagerly; "I have an idea!
+The hatches are covered with tarpaulin. If you could hide in the
+forecastle during the night you might cut away all the top underneath
+the tarpaulin and prop it up, so that if anyone trod on it in the
+morning they would not notice what had been done. Then when they
+have pushed off you could knock away the props, the board would
+tumble down, and there would be only the tarpaulin cover on the
+sides. It would float then quite four inches out of the water, and
+that in the middle of the stream would look almost level with it."
+
+"I will try it," Harry said; "there is a chance of success."
+
+"It is a terrible risk, monsieur," Pierre said.
+
+"I know it," Harry replied; "but it is just possible. The chances
+are a hundred to one against it, but it may succeed. Well, Pierre,
+do you be with your boat on the river just below the point where
+the town can be seen. If you see a hatch floating down row to it.
+If we are beneath it, well and good; if not--"
+
+"If not, monsieur," the fisherman's wife said solemnly, "we will
+pray for your souls."
+
+"Adolphe will send down to you in the morning the two fisher-girls'
+dresses his wife had prepared for the ladies. Have some brandy in
+the boat and your little charcoal stove, and keep water boiling.
+They will want it. And now good-bye, my good friends! Pray for us
+to-night. Now, Adolphe, let us hasten back to the town, for there
+is much to be done. And first of all you must see your friend in
+the prison; find out if mesdemoiselles are on the list of those
+to be murdered. I have no doubt they will be, for after the emeute
+there has been about them they are almost sure to be among the
+first victims.  But above all, find out, if you can, which vessel
+they are to be placed in.
+
+"But if I cannot find that out, monsieur; if there is no arrangement
+made at all--though I should think there would be, for the butchers
+will like to have everything done in order--"
+
+"Then I will get you to find a dozen men you can trust to volunteer
+to row the boats to put them on board. And you must be sure to take
+the boat in which they are to the lugger we have prepared."
+
+"I will try," Adolphe said, "though I would rather cut off my hand
+than pull an oar to take these poor creatures out to be murdered.
+But I will do it, monsieur. But except for that I warrant me they
+will not get a sailor in Nantes to put his hand to an oar to aid
+their accursed work."
+
+It was four o'clock when they arrived at Nantes. Adolphe went
+straight to the prison, while Harry walked along the quay. When
+he came abreast the centre of the town a number of sailors and
+fishermen were standing talking in low tones, and looking with
+horror at four luggers moored in a line in the centre of the river.
+A number of men drawn from the scum of the town were painting them
+white, while a strong body of troops were drawn up on the quay in
+readiness to put a summary stop to any demonstration of hostility
+on the part of the sailors. These did not indeed venture to express
+openly their detestation of the proceedings, but the muttered
+execrations and curses that rose from the little group showed how
+deep were their feelings.
+
+Harry joined a little knot of three or four men who had been, with
+Adolphe, in the habit of greeting him when he landed.
+
+"All is lost, you see!" one of them said in a tone of deep
+commiseration. "There is nothing left but vengeance--we will take
+that one of these days--but that is a poor consolation for you
+now."
+
+"All is not quite lost," Harry said. "I have yet one hope."
+
+"We dare not try force," one of the other men said. "They have marched
+three more regiments of Reds in to-day. What can we do against them
+without arms? I could cry to think that we are so helpless in the
+face of these things."
+
+"No; I know force is useless," Harry said. "Still I have just one
+hope left. It is a desperate one, and I cannot tell you what it is
+now; but to-night, maybe, Adolphe may ask you to help us. I expect
+him here soon."
+
+In half an hour Adolphe returned, and Harry at once joined him.
+
+"I have got the news I wanted," he said. "Mesdemoiselles are to be
+in the first batch brought out. Boats have already been bought by
+the Reds to row them out, and men hired. They were forced to buy
+the boats, for not a man would let his craft for such a purpose.
+It would be accursed ever afterwards, no sailor would ever put a
+foot on board. The first boats will go to the ship lying lowest in
+the stream; then they will come back and take the next batch out
+to the vessel next above; and so until all are on board. There will
+be fifty placed on board each lugger; and I hear, monsieur, that
+is only the first of it, and that the drownings will go on until
+the prisons are cleared."
+
+"Thank God we know that much, Adolphe! Now, in the first place,
+I want you to get me some tools--a sharp saw, a chisel, a large
+screw-driver, and half a dozen large screws; also, two beams of
+wood to fasten across the hatchway and keep the boards up after I
+have sawn through them; also, I want three bundles of cork--flat
+pieces will be the best if you can get them, but that doesn't matter
+much. I may as well have an auger too. When you go back to your
+house will you go in next door and ask our landlady, Mere Leflo--"
+
+"She died three days ago," the man said.
+
+"Then go into the house without asking, and in the farthest corner
+to the right-hand side of the kitchen scratch away the earth, and
+you will find a little bag of money. If I fail to-morrow, keep it
+for yourself; if I succeed, bring it to me at Pierre's. When does
+your lugger sail for England?"
+
+"In three days, monsieur. I have already sounded the captain, and
+I think he will take you. And what shall I do next?"
+
+"At nine o'clock this evening have a boat with the things on board
+half a mile below the town. Give a low whistle, and I will answer
+it. Wrap some flannel round the rowlocks to muffle the sound.  It
+will be a dark night, and there's a mist rising already from the
+river.  I do not think there's much chance of our meeting any boats
+near those vessels."
+
+"No, indeed," Adolphe agreed. "It makes me shiver to look at them.
+There will be no boat out on the river to-night except ours.  Will
+you not come home with me, monsieur, until it is time to start?
+You will need supper, for you must keep up your strength."
+
+Harry accepted the sailor's invitation; and after partaking of
+a meal with Adolphe and his wife, who was informed of the attempt
+which was about to be made, he sat looking quietly into the fire,
+arranging in his mind all the details of the enterprise, uttering
+many a silent but fervent prayer that he might be permitted to save
+the lives of the two girls.
+
+Adolphe went in and out making his preparations. At half-past eight
+he said, touching Harry on the shoulder: "It is time to start,
+monsieur. I have got the bag of money. Everything is in the boat,
+and I saw the men start with it. It is time for us to go and meet
+them."
+
+Marthe burst into tears as she said good-bye to Harry.
+
+"I shall spend all night on my knees," she said, "praying God and
+the Holy Virgin to aid you and save those dear angels. Here is
+a packet, monsieur, with some food for you to eat in the morning,
+and a bottle of good wine. You will want strength for your adventure."
+
+Three or four minutes after Harry and Adolphe had gained
+the appointed spot they heard a low whistle on the water. Adolphe
+whistled in return, and in another minute a dark object appeared
+through the mist. They took their places in the stern, and the boat
+rowed quietly off again. So well were the oars muffled that Harry
+could hear no sound save an almost imperceptible splash each time
+they dipped into the water.
+
+The town was very still and scarce a sound was heard. The awe
+of the horrible event which was about to take place hung over the
+town, and although there was drinking and exultations among the
+ruffians in the back lanes, even these instinctively avoided the
+neighbourhood of the river.
+
+So thick was the fog that they were some little time before they
+found the white luggers. When they did so they rowed to that moored
+lowest down the stream and made fast alongside. Noiselessly the
+tools and beams were handed on board. Then Harry said:
+
+"That is all, Adolphe."
+
+"Not at all, monsieur. We are not going to leave you till the work
+is done. We have settled that four sets of hands can work better
+than one, and besides, we may hit on some idea. No one can say."
+
+Finding it useless to remonstrate, Harry let the good fellows have
+their way. The men had already removed their boots, and noiselessly
+made their way to the hatch of the forecastle.
+
+"Ah, it is just as well I brought a file with me," Adolphe said in
+a low voice, as he knelt down and felt the hatch. "It is fastened
+down with a staple and padlock. They are old, but you might have
+some trouble in breaking them. But let us see first. No, it moves.
+Now, a wrench all together."
+
+As he spoke the staple came up through the rotten wood of the deck.
+The hatch was then lifted.
+
+"Lower it down corner-ways into the fo'castle," Adolphe said.  "We
+can work all the better at it there. Jacques, do you get that sail
+up out of the boat and throw it over the hatch. It isn't likely
+anyone will come out here through the fog; but it's just as well
+not to run any risk."
+
+As soon as all were below, and the sail spread over the opening
+above, Adolphe produced a dark lantern from the great pocket of his
+fisherman's cloak, together with two or three candles. These were
+lit at the lantern, and the party then set to work.
+
+Two saws had been brought on board, and a piece three feet square
+was cut out of the top of the hatch, leaving six inches of wood
+all round. Great pains were taken not to saw through the tarpaulin
+cover.
+
+"Now, the next thing to do," Harry said, "is to fix the beams so
+as to hold the wood in its place again." Four pieces of wood, each
+three inches long, were screwed against the combing of the hatchway
+in such a position that when the beams were placed upon them they
+were exactly level with the top, and supported the piece cut out
+from the hatchway in its original position.
+
+"That will do rarely," Adolphe said, when it was finished and the
+hatchway experimentally placed in its position. "Now, all you have
+to do is just to knock the ends of the beams off their ledges.  The
+bit we have cut out will fall down, and you will be able easily
+enough to lift the hatchway from its place. It is no great weight
+now.
+
+"It will do capitally," Harry agreed, "and when it floats the
+tarpaulin will certainly be three inches above the water. Yes, I
+have no fear of that part of the adventure going wrong. You don't
+think that it will be noticed from the shore, Adolphe?"
+
+"Not it," Adolphe answered confidently. "Why, from the shore it
+will look awash with the water. No one will ever dream that there
+could be a soul alive underneath it. I begin to think you will do
+it, monsieur. At first it seemed hopeless. Now I really do think
+there is a chance. I should feel pretty confident if it was you
+and two of us who had to do it; but the difficulty will be to get
+the young ladies under it, and then to get them to lie quiet there."
+
+"That is the difficulty," Harry admitted. "I am sure of the eldest.
+Her nerves are as good as mine; what I fear is about the younger."
+
+"I'll tell you what, monsieur," one of the other men said; "if you
+take my advice you will have a piece of rope in readiness and tie
+it round her arms so as to prevent her struggling."
+
+"That would be the best way," Harry agreed. "Yes, if I see she
+won't be calm and do as I tell her, that is what I will do."
+
+"Now, monsieur, I will bore a couple of auger-holes through the
+bulkhead here so that you can see what is going on in the hold.
+They have got the hatch off there. I suppose it wasn't padlocked,
+and they will no doubt go down to bore the holes the last thing.
+Like enough they have bored them already, and will only have to
+knock out the plugs. I will just go and see anyhow. If that is so
+you may set your mind at rest that none of them will come down here
+in the morning."
+
+So saying, taking the dark lantern he climbed up on deck, and
+descended the hold.
+
+"That's it," he said when he returned; "there are six holes bored
+with plugs in them, so they won't be coming down here. When we
+go up we will put the staple into its hole again, so that it will
+look all right. Now, monsieur, we will just  have one nip of brandy
+apiece out of this bottle, and then we will be off. It's just
+gone midnight, and it were best we should leave you to sleep for a
+few hours. You will want your strength in the morning, unless, of
+course, you would rather we stopped with you for a bit."
+
+"No, thank you, Adolphe, I don't think I shall sleep; I shall sit
+and think out every detail."
+
+"Then good night, monsieur. May the good God bless you and aid you
+to-morrow, and I think he will! I do think you are the bravest man
+I ever met."
+
+"I am not brave for myself, Adolphe, but for them."
+
+The three men shook hands with Harry, and one after another in
+husky voices gave him their good wishes. Then they ascended to the
+deck, put on the hatch, pressed the staple down through its holes
+in the deck, got into the boat, cast off the head-rope, and got
+out the oars.
+
+"Mon Dieu, what courage!" one of them exclaimed. "His hand is as
+steady, and his voice as firm as if he were going fishing to-morrow."
+
+"I think he will succeed;" Adolphe said, "anyhow, we will have our
+boat out below the bend of the river, and lend a hand to Pierre to
+get them out."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+The Noyades
+
+
+When left alone Harry blew out the other candles, but left that
+in the lantern burning, and threw himself down on the locker and
+thought over every detail of the work for the next day. As he had
+said, the great danger was of Virginie struggling and being too
+frightened to follow his instructions. Certainly he could fasten a
+rope round her, but even then it might be difficult to manage her.
+The next danger was, that other persons might cling to the hatchway.
+Harry felt the long knife which was concealed in his breast.
+
+"God grant I may not have to use it!" he said. "But, if it must be,
+I shall not hesitate. They would simply destroy us without saving
+themselves, that is certain; therefore, I am justified in defending
+the girls, as I would against any other enemy."
+
+He knelt down and prayed for some time. Then he replaced the piece
+they had cut out from the hatch, and fixed the beams beneath it,
+and then lay down again. He was worn out by the excitement of the
+day, and in spite of his anxiety about the morrow he presently fell
+off to sleep.
+
+It was long before he woke. When he did so, he looked through one
+of the auger-holes into the hold and saw the light streaming down
+the open hatchway, and could tell that the sun was already up.
+
+He ate the food which Marthe had put into his pocket just as he
+was starting; saw that the bundles of corks were ready at hand, and
+the ropes attached to them so placed that they could be fastened on
+in an instant. Then there was nothing to do but to wait. The time
+passed slowly. Presently he heard the sound of drums and bugles, and
+knew that the troops were taking up their positions on the quays.
+At last--it seemed many hours to him--he heard the splash of oars,
+and presently a slight shock as a boat ran alongside the lugger.
+Then there were voices, and the sound of  feet above as persons
+mounted on to the deck. There was a scraping noise by the lugger's
+side, and immediately afterwards another bump as the second boat
+took the place of the first.
+
+This, as far as Harry could hear, did not leave the lugger. There
+was a great hum of talking on deck, principally in women's voices,
+and frequently persons stepped on the hatch, and Harry congratulated
+himself that the beams gave a solid support to it.
+
+Half an hour passed, as well as Harry could judge, then the boom
+of a cannon was heard, and immediately two men leapt down into the
+hold, knocked the six plugs out of their place, and climbed up on
+deck again. There was again the scraping noise, and Harry knew the
+boat had pushed off this time for good. He watched as if fascinated
+the six jets of water for a minute or two. Then, saying to himself,
+"It is time," he knocked the beams from their ledges, allowed
+the square of wood to fall, lifted the hatch, and pushed it off
+its combing, and then clambered on to the deck with the corks and
+ropes. There were some fifty persons on board, for the most part
+women and children, but with two or three men among them. They were
+gathered near the stern, and were apparently watching the scene
+ashore with astonishment. He hurried aft, having no fear that at
+this distance from the shore his figure would be recognized from
+the rest, and, if it were, it mattered not. Two or three turned
+round as the supposed sailor came aft, exclaiming:
+
+"What does this mean? Why are we put here on board these white
+ships? What are they going to do with us?"
+
+"Alas, ladies," he said, "they have put you here to die; they have
+bored holes in the ships' bottoms, and in a few minutes they will
+sink. It is a wholesale execution."
+
+As he began to speak one of the ladies in the stern pushed her way
+through the rest.
+
+"Oh, Harry, is it you!" she exclaimed as he finished. "Is it true,
+are we to die together?"
+
+"We are in God's hands, Jeanne, but there is hope yet. Bring Virginie
+forward with me."
+
+At Harry's first words a panic had seized all around; one or two
+ran to the hatchway and looked down into the hold, and screamed
+out that the water was rushing in; then some cried to the distant
+crowd to send to save them; others ran up  and down as if demented;
+while some threw themselves on their knees. But the panic soon
+passed away; all had for weeks looked death in the face, and though
+the unexpected form in which it appeared had for the moment shaken
+them, they soon recovered. Mothers clasped their daughters to their
+breasts for a last farewell, and then all with bowed heads kneeled
+and listened in silence to an old man who began to pray aloud.
+
+Jeanne, without another word, had taken Virginie's hands and
+accompanied Harry forward to the fore part of the deck.
+
+"Jeanne, I am going to try to save you and Virginie, but everything
+depends upon your being cool and brave. I need not urge you, because
+I am sure of you. Virginie, will you try to be so for Jeanne's sake
+and your own? If you do not we must all die together."
+
+"What are we to do, Harry?" Jeanne said steadily, while Virginie
+clung to her sister sobbing bitterly.
+
+"Fasten this bundle of corks between Virginie's shoulders high
+up-yes, there."
+
+While Jeanne was doing this, Harry fastened a rope to a ring in the
+side of the hatch, then he tied the corks on to Jeanne's shoulders,
+and adjusted the third bundle to his own. "Now, Jeanne," he said,
+"I will tell you what we are going to do. You see this hatch; when
+the vessel sinks it will float, and we must float on our backs with
+our faces underneath it so that it will hide us from the sight of
+the wretches on shore; and even if they put out in boats to kill
+any who may be swimming or clinging to spars, they will not suspect
+that there is anyone under this. We may not succeed; an accident
+may betray us, but there is a possibility. At anyrate, dear, we
+shall live or die together."
+
+"I am content," Jeanne said quietly.
+
+"You know, Jeanne," Harry said, putting his hands on the girl's
+shoulders, "that I love you; I should never have told you so until
+I got you home if it hadn't been for this; but though I have never
+said it, you know I love you."
+
+"I know, Harry, and I love you too with all my heart; so much that
+I can feel almost happy that we are going to die together. We are
+affianced now, dear, come what will." And she lifted her face to
+his.
+
+He gave her one long kiss, then there was a crash. Impatient at
+the length of time the vessels were in sinking, those ashore had
+opened fire with cannons upon them, and the shot had struck the
+lugger just above the water.
+
+With a little cry Virginie fell senseless on the deck.
+
+"That's the best thing that could have happened," Harry said as
+Jeanne stooped over her sister. "Lie down on the deck, dear, or
+you may be struck; they are firing with muskets now. I am going to
+lie down too," he said in answer to her look, "but I shall first
+twist this cord round Virginie so as to keep her arms by her side,
+otherwise when the water touches her she may come to her senses
+and struggle.  That's all right."
+
+Then he lay down on the deck between the girls with his head against
+the hatch, and holding the rope.
+
+"Put your head on my shoulder, Jeanne, and I will put my arm round
+you; I will hold Virginie the same way the other side. Hold tight
+by me for a moment as we sink, I may have to use my arms to get
+the hatch over our faces. Do not breathe while you are under the
+water, for we shall, no doubt, go down with the lugger, although
+I shall try to keep you afloat; when you are under the hatch you
+will find you will float with your mouth well out of the water,
+and will be able to breathe, the corks will keep you up."
+
+"I understand, Harry; now let us pray until the time comes."
+
+Shot after shot struck the lugger, then Harry felt her give a sudden
+lurch. There was a wild cry and the next moment she went down stern
+first. She was so nearly even with the water when she sank, that
+there was less downward suck than Harry had expected, and striking
+out with his feet his head was soon above the surface.  The cord
+had kept the hatch within a couple of feet of him, and with some
+difficulty, owing to the buoyancy of the corks, he thrust himself
+and the girls under it. The tarpaulin was old and rotten, and the
+light penetrated in several places, and Harry could see that, in
+the position in which they were lying, the faces of both girls were
+above the water.
+
+It was useless to speak for their ears were submerged; but a slight
+motion from Jeanne responded to a pressure of his arm, and he knew
+that she was sensible although she had not made the slightest motion
+from the moment the vessel sank. Virginie had not, as he feared
+would be the case, recovered her  senses with the shock of the
+immersion, but lay insensible on his shoulder. He could see by the
+movement of Jeanne's lips that she was praying, and he too thanked
+God that He had given success to the plan so far, and prayed for
+protection to the end.
+
+With every minute that passed, his hopes rose; everything had
+answered beyond his expectation. The other victims had apparently
+not even noticed what he was doing, and therefore had not, as he
+feared might be the case, interfered with his preparations, nor
+had any of them striven to gain a hold on the hatchway. The sinking
+of the vessels, and the tearing up of the water by the shot, would
+render the surface disturbed and broken, and decrease the chances
+of the floating hatch attracting attention. After ten minutes had
+passed he felt certain that they must be below the point where the
+troops were assembled.
+
+The tide was running out strong, for the time for the massacre had
+been fixed at an hour which would ensure the bodies being swept down
+to sea. Half an hour would, he thought, take them past the bend,
+where their friends would be waiting for them. The time seemed
+endless, for although Harry felt the coldness of the water but little
+for himself, he knew that it must be trying indeed for Jeanne. As
+far as he could see her face it was as white as her sister's; but
+he had hold of one of her hands now, and knew that she was still
+conscious.
+
+At last he heard the sound of oars. It might not be one of the
+friendly boats; but the probability was that it was one or other
+of them. Had they seen any other fisherman's boat near the point
+they would have rowed high up so as to intercept the hatch before
+it reached the stranger. Harry could not hear voices; for although
+the water had conveyed the sound of the oars a considerable distance,
+he could hear no sound in the air.
+
+The oars came nearer and nearer, and by the quickness with which
+the strokes followed each other he knew that two boats were at
+hand. Then the hatch was suddenly lifted, and as Harry raised his
+head above water there was a loud cheer, and he saw Adolphe and
+Pierre, one on each side, stretch out their arms to him. The girls
+were first lifted into Pierre's boat, for Jeanne was as incapable
+of movement as her sister, then Harry was  dragged in, the rough
+sailors shaking his hand and patting him on the shoulder, while
+the tears ran down their cheeks.
+
+"Give them some hot brandy and water," were his first words.  Pierre
+had a kettle boiling. A glass of hot liquor was placed to Jeanne's
+lips.
+
+At first she could not swallow, but after a few drops had passed
+her lips she was able to take a sip, and would then have stopped,
+but Harry insisted upon her drinking the whole contents of the
+glass.
+
+"You must do as you are told, Jeanne," he said in her ear. "You
+belong to me now, you know. It can do you no harm chilled as you
+are, and may save you from illness."
+
+In the meantime Pierre had poured several spoonfuls of nearly neat
+brandy between Virginie's lips. Adolphe, and one of the men with
+him, had changed over into Pierre's boat, and were rowing lustily
+down the river.
+
+As soon as Jeanne was able to sit up she began to chafe one of
+Virginie's hands, while Harry took the other.
+
+"Take off her shoes, Pierre, and soak a swab with the hot water
+and put it to her feet."
+
+But with all these efforts it was not until they were close to
+Pierre's village that Virginie opened her eyes. When they arrived
+at the little causeway the two girls were wrapped up in the peasants
+cloaks which Pierre had brought with him. Jeanne took Harry's arm,
+while Adolphe lifted Virginie and carried her up. Henriette was
+standing at the door as Jeanne staggered in with Harry.
+
+"That is right, mademoiselle. Thank God who has brought you straight
+through the danger. Now, do not stop a moment, but come in here
+and get into bed, it is all ready for you. The blankets have been
+before the fire until the moment you landed; they will soon give
+you warmth. Hurry in, mademoiselle; I will undress your sister.
+And do you, Monsieur Sandwith, hurry up to the loft and get on dry
+clothes."
+
+Harry soon rejoined the party in the kitchen. The strong glass of
+hot spirits he had drunk had sent the blood quickly through his
+veins, and he felt in a glow of warmth.
+
+"Now," he said, "my friends, I can thank you all for the aid you
+have given us. It is to you we owe our lives, for without your aid
+I never should have succeeded."
+
+"Say nothing about it, monsieur. We are happy to have saved such a
+brave young man, and to have rescued two victims from those monsters."
+
+"Do you think there is any danger of anyone here taking the news
+of our landing to the town?" Harry asked. "They must have seen us
+come up to the cottage."
+
+"There is no fear," Pierre said confidently. "There is not a man
+or woman here who would not tear the _scelerats_ to pieces if they
+had the chance. Have they not spoiled our market by killing all
+our best customers? And now how are we to earn our living, I should
+like to know? Why, not even the poorest beggar in Nantes would buy
+fish out of the river for months after this. No, you need have no
+fear of them. They may guess who you are, but it is no business of
+theirs, and they will hold their tongues."
+
+"At anyrate, Pierre, you had better distribute a few crowns among
+them, to help them live till the fishing is good again."
+
+"That I will do, monsieur. It is quite safe; but it is as well to
+make it even safer."
+
+In half an hour Pierre's wife came in from the inner room, and said
+that both girls were sound asleep.
+
+"Now, Adolphe, it only remains for you to arrange with your captain
+for our passage."
+
+"That I will do this afternoon," Adolphe said confidently.  "Consider
+it as good as done."
+
+After Adolphe had started for the town, Harry was persuaded by
+Pierre to lie down for a bit; but he soon gave up the idea of going
+to sleep. His brain was in a whirl from the events of the last
+twenty-four hours, and above all he felt so  brimming over with
+happiness that the girls had been saved that he soon found it
+impossible to lie still. He therefore went down again and joined
+Pierre, who was doing some repairs to his boat.
+
+"It is no use my trying to sleep, Pierre. I am too delighted that
+everything has turned out right. I want to break out into shouting
+and singing."
+
+"I can understand, monsieur. Yes, yes. After great trouble great
+joy. I know it myself. I was once adrift in a boat for three weeks.
+I was on a voyage to Guadaloupe when we were blown in a hurricane
+on a 'key,' as they call the low sandy islands out there. It was
+in fact no more than a sand-bank. More than half of those on board
+were drowned; but eight of us got ashore, and we managed to haul
+up a woman with her child of two years old in her arms.
+
+"We thought at first the mother was dead, but she came round.
+The ship went to pieces and we saved nothing. The currents swept
+everything away but a boat, which had been thrown up beyond the reach
+of the waves. For two days we had no food or water, and suffered
+terribly, for the sun had shone down straight on our heads, and we
+envied those who had died at once. The woman set us a good example.
+She spent her time tending her child and praying to God; and we
+sailors, who are rough, you know--but who know that God protects
+us, and never go for a long voyage without going to the chapel and
+paying for a mass for our safety--we prayed too, and the third
+morning there were three turtles asleep on the shore. We turned them
+over on their backs, and there was meat for us for a long time.
+
+"We killed one and drank the blood, and ate our first meal raw.
+Then we cut up the rest of the flesh and hung it up in the sun to
+dry.  That very night we saw the clouds banking up, and knew it
+was going to rain.
+
+"'Now,' our mate said, 'if we had but a barrel we could catch water
+and start in our boat, but without that the water will last only a
+day or two; for if we kill all the turtles and fill their shells,
+it will evaporate in a day under this hot sun, and it may be weeks
+before there is rain again, and we might as well have died at once.
+
+"'For shame,' the woman said. 'You are doubting the good God again,
+after he has saved your life and has sent you food and is now going
+to send you water. Do you think he has done all this for nothing?
+There must be some way out of the difficulty if we could but think
+of it.'
+
+"She sat looking at the turtle for two or three minutes, and then
+said:
+
+"'It is easy. Why have you not thought of it? See there. Cut off
+one of their heads, and then you can get your arm in, if you take
+the biggest. Then cut out all the meat and bones piece by piece,
+and there is a great bottle which will hold gallons.'
+
+"We shouted for joy, for it was as she had said, though I am sure
+none of us would ever have thought of it if God had not given her
+the idea. We soon set to work and got the shell ready. The rain
+storm came quickly. We had turned the boat over, the oars had been
+washed away, but the mast and sail were lashed to the thwarts. We
+made a little hollow in the sand and stretched out the sail, and by
+the time this was done and the men were ready with the turtle-shell
+the rain came. When it rains in those parts it comes down in
+bucketfuls, and we soon had enough in the sail to drink our fill
+and to fill up the turtle-shell to the top.
+
+"The next morning we got the boat afloat, put the other turtle
+in, with our stock of dried flesh and our shell of water, and set
+sail.  But our luck seemed gone. We lay for days scarce moving
+through the water, with the sail hanging idle and the sun blazing
+down upon us. We had not been careful enough of the water at first,
+making sure that in three or four days we should sight land, and
+when after three days we put ourselves on short rations, there was
+scarce a gallon of water left.
+
+"It was a week after that before we saw a sail. Two of the men had
+jumped overboard raving mad, the rest were lying well-nigh senseless
+in the bottom of the boat. Only the woman was sitting up, holding
+her child in her arms. She was very weak, too; but she had never
+complained, never doubted for a moment. Her eyes went from the
+child's face over the sea to look for the help she felt would come,
+and back again, and at last she said quite quiet and natural:
+
+"'There is the ship. I knew it must come to-day, for my child could
+not live through another night.'
+
+"We thought she was dreaming or off her head. But one of us made
+a shift to stand up and look, and when he screamed out 'A sail!  A
+sail!' two of us who were strong enough looked out also. There she
+was and sailing, as we could soon see, on a line as directly for
+us as if they had our bearings, and had been sent to fetch us.
+
+"It was not until evening that she came up, though she was bringing
+a light breeze along with her. And when we were lifted on to her
+deck, and had water held to our lips, and knew that we were safe,
+we felt, I expect, much the same as you do now, monsieur, that it
+was the good God himself who had assuredly saved us from death.
+That was my last voyage, for Henriette was waiting for me at home,
+and I had promised her that after we had gone to church together I
+would go no more to distant countries, but would settle down here
+as a fisherman."
+
+"That was a narrow escape indeed, Pierre," Harry said as he worked
+away with the tar brush. "That idea of the turtle was a splendid
+one, and you may well say that God put it into the woman's head,
+for without it you could never have lived till the ship found you."
+
+In the meantime Henriette had made her rounds to the cottage to see
+what remarks had been made as to the coming of her visitors.  She
+saw that everyone had guessed that the girls who had been picked
+up by Pierre were victims of the massacre, but no one supposed that
+it was the result of intention.
+
+"Ah, Mere Gounard, but your good man was fortunate to-day," one
+of the women said. "My man did not go out. We heard what was doing
+at Nantes, and he had not the heart to go; besides, who would buy
+fish caught to-day? If he had thought of it he would have gone too,
+and perhaps he would have picked up somebody, as you have done.
+Poor things, what an escape for them!"
+
+"It is wonderful that they have come round," Henriette said.  "It
+was lucky my husband had some brandy in the boat. He thought for a
+time he would never bring the youngest round. They are only young
+girls. What harm could they have done that those monsters at Nantes
+should try to murder them? There is no fear, I hope, that any in
+the village will say a word about it."
+
+"What!" the woman said indignantly. "Do you think that anyone
+here would betray a comrade to the Reds? Why, we would tear him to
+pieces."
+
+"No, no," Henriette said; "I never thought for a moment that anyone
+would do it intentionally; but the boys might let slip a word
+carelessly which might bring them down upon us."
+
+"We will take care of that," the woman said. "Make your mind easy.
+Not a soul outside the village will ever know of it."
+
+"And," Henriette added, "one of them has some money hidden upon her,
+and she told me just before I came out, when I was saying that the
+village would have a bad time now the fishing was spoiled--that
+as she hoped to cross to England in a few days, and would have
+no need of the money, for it seems that she can get plenty over
+there, she will give five crowns to each house in the village as
+a thank-offering."
+
+"Well, that is not to be despised," the woman said. "We shall have
+a hard time of it for a bit, and that will carry us on through it.
+You are sure she can spare it; because we would rather starve than
+take it if she cannot."
+
+Henriette assured her that her visitor said she could afford it
+well.
+
+"Well, then, it's a lucky day for the village, Mere Gounard, that
+your husband picked them up."
+
+"Well, I will go back now," Henriette said. "Will you go round the
+village and tell the others about silencing the children? I must
+get some broth ready by the time these poor creatures wake."
+
+The next morning Jeanne appeared at breakfast in her dress as
+a fish-girl, but few words were spoken between her and Harry, for
+the fisherman and his wife were present.
+
+"How is Virginie?" he asked.
+
+"She's better, but she is weak and languid, so I told her she must
+stop in bed for to-day. Do not look anxious. I have no doubt that
+she will be well enough to be up to-morrow. She has been sleeping
+ever since she went to bed yesterday, and when she woke she had
+a basin of broth. I think by to-morrow she will be well enough to
+get up. But it will be some time before she is herself again. It
+is a terrible strain for her to have gone through, but she was very
+brave all the time we were in prison. She had such confidence in
+you, she felt sure that you would manage somehow to rescue us."
+
+After breakfast Jeanne strolled down with Harry to the river-side.
+
+"I feel strange with you, Harry," she said. "Before you seemed
+almost like a brother, and now it is so different."
+
+"Yes; but happier?" Harry asked gently.
+
+"Oh, so much happier, Harry! But there is one thing I want to tell
+you. It might seem strange to you that I should tell you I loved you
+on my own account without your speaking to the head of the family."
+
+"But there was no time for that, Jeanne," Harry said smiling.
+
+"No," Jeanne said simply. "I suppose it would have been the same
+anyhow; but I want to tell you, Harry, that in the first letter
+which she sent me when she was in prison, Marie told me, that as
+she might not see me again, she thought it right I should know that
+our father and mother had told her that night we left home that
+they thought I cared for you. You didn't think so, did you, Harry?"
+she broke off with a vivid blush. "You did not think I cared for
+you before you cared for me?"
+
+"No, indeed, Jeanne," he said earnestly. "It never entered my mind.
+You see, dear, up to the beginning of that time I only felt as a
+boy, and in England lads of eighteen or nineteen seldom think about
+such things at all. It was only afterwards, when somehow the danger
+and the anxiety seemed to make a man of me, when I saw how brave
+and thoughtful and unselfish you were, that I knew I loved you, and
+felt that if you could some day love me, I should be the happiest
+fellow alive. Before that I thought of you as a dear little girl
+who inclined to make rather too much of me because of that dog
+business.  And did you really care for me then?"
+
+"I never thought of it in that way, Harry, any more than you did,
+but I know now that my mother was right, and that I loved you all
+along without knowing it. My dear father and mother told Marie
+that they thought I was fond of you, and that, if at any time you
+should get fond of me too and ask for my hand, they gave their
+approval beforehand, for they were sure that you would make me
+happy.
+
+"So they told Marie and Ernest, who, if ill came to them, would be
+the heads of the family, that I had their consent to marry you. It
+makes me happy to know this, Harry."
+
+"I am very glad, too, dear," Harry said earnestly.
+
+"It is very satisfactory for you, and it is very pleasant to me to
+know that they were ready to trust you to me. Ah!" he said suddenly,
+"that was what was in the letter. I wondered a little at the time,
+for somehow after that, Jeanne, you were a little different with
+me. I thought at first I might somehow have offended you. But I did
+not think that long," he went on, as Jeanne  uttered an indignant
+exclamation, "because if anything offended you, you always spoke
+out frankly. Still I wondered over it for some time, and certainly
+I was never near guessing the truth."
+
+"I could not help being a little different," Jeanne said shyly. "I
+had never thought of it before, and though I am sure it made me
+happy, I could not feel quite the same with you, especially as I
+knew that you never thought of me like that."
+
+"But you thought of me so afterwards, Jeanne?"
+
+"Sometimes just for a moment, but I tried not to think of it,
+Harry. We were so strangely placed, and it made it easier for you
+to be a brother, and I felt sure you would not speak till we were
+safely in England, and I was in Ernest's care. But," she said
+with a little laugh, "you were nearly speaking that evening in the
+cottage when you felt so despairing."
+
+"Very nearly, Jeanne; I did so want comfort."
+
+And so they talked happily together for an hour.
+
+"I wonder Pierre does not come down to his boat," Harry said at
+last. "There were several more things wanting doing to it. Why,
+there he is calling. Surely it can never be dinner-time; but that's
+what he says. It doesn't seem an hour since breakfast."
+
+Jeanne hurried on into the hut.
+
+"Why, Pierre," Harry said to the fisherman, who was waiting outside
+for him, "I thought you were going on with your boat."
+
+"So I was, monsieur, but Henriette told me I should be in the way."
+
+"In the way, Pierre!" Harry repeated in surprise.
+
+"Ah, monsieur," Pierre said with a twinkle in his eye, "you have
+been deceiving us. My wife saw it in a moment when the young lady
+came to breakfast.
+
+"'Brother!' she said to me when you went out; 'don't tell me!
+Monsieur is the young lady's lover. Brother and sister don't look
+at each other like that. Why, one could see it with half an eye.'
+
+"Your wife is right, Pierre; mademoiselle is my fiance. I am really
+an Englishman. She and her sister had their old nurse with them,
+till the latter died some three weeks since; but I have always been
+called their brother, because it made it easier for her."
+
+"Quite right, monsieur; but my wife and I are glad to see that it
+is otherwise, and that, after all you have risked for that pretty
+creature, you are going to be happy together. My wife was not
+surprised.  Women are sharper than men in these matters, and she
+said to me, when she heard what you were going to do to save them,
+'I would wager, Pierre, that one of these mesdemoiselles is not
+monsieur's sister.  Men will do a great deal for their sister, but
+I never heard of a man throwing away his life as he is going to do
+on the mere chance of saving one.'"
+
+"I should have done just the same had it been one of my sisters,"
+Harry said a little indignantly.
+
+"Perhaps you would, monsieur, I do not say no," the fisherman said,
+shaking his head; "but brothers do not often do so."
+
+A stop was put to the conversation by Henriette putting her head
+outside the door and demanding angrily what they were stopping
+talking there for when the fish was getting cold.
+
+In the evening Adolphe and his wife came in.
+
+"Ah, mademoiselle," the woman said as she embraced Jeanne with tears
+in her eyes, "how thankful I am to see you again! I never thought
+I should do so. My heart almost stopped beating yesterday when
+I heard the guns. I and my little one were on our knees praying
+to the good God for the dear lady who had saved her life. Adolphe
+had spoken hopefully, but it hardly seemed to me that it could be,
+and when he brought back the news that he had left you all safely
+here, I could hardly believe it was true."
+
+"And I must thank you also, mademoiselle," Adolphe said, "for saving
+the life of my little one. I never expected to see her alive again,
+and when the lugger made fast to the wharf I was afraid to go home,
+and I hung about till Marthe had heard we were in and came down
+to me with Julie in her arms, looking almost herself again. Ah,
+mademoiselle, you cannot tell how glad I was when she told me that
+there was a way of paying some part of my debt to you."
+
+"You have been able to pay more than your debt," Jeanne said gently;
+"if I saved one life you have helped to save three."
+
+"No, we shall be only quits, mademoiselle, for what would Marthe's
+life and mine be worth if the child had died?
+
+"There are fresh notices stuck up," he went on, "warning all
+masters of ships, fishermen, and others, against taking passengers
+on board, and saying that the penalty of assisting the enemies of
+France to escape from justice is death."
+
+"That is rather serious," Harry said.
+
+"It is nothing," Adolphe replied confidently. "After yesterday's
+work there is not a sailor or fisherman in the port but would do all
+he could to help people to escape from the hands of the butchers,
+and once on board, it will help you. You may be sure the sailors
+will do their best to run away if they can, or to hide any on
+board, should they be overhauled, now they know that they will be
+guillotined if anyone is found. However, our captain has made the
+agreement, and he is a man of his word; besides, he hates the Reds.
+I have been helping ship the casks to-day, and we have stowed them
+so as to leave space into which your sisters can crawl and the
+entrance be stopped up with casks, if we should be overhauled. As
+for you, monsieur, you will pass anywhere as one of the crew, and
+we have arranged that one of the men shall at the last moment stay
+behind, so that the number will be right, and you will answer to
+his name. We have thought matters over, you see, and I can tell
+you that the captain does it more because he hates the Reds than
+for the money. The day before, he would give me no answer. He said
+he thought the risk was too great; but when I saw him last night he
+was a different man altogether. His face was as white as a sheet,
+and his eyes seemed on fire, and he said, 'I will take your friends,
+Adolphe. I would take them without a penny. I should never sleep
+again if, owing to me, they fell into the hands of these monsters.'
+So you see he is in it heart and soul."
+
+After half an hour's talk Adolphe and Marthe took their leave.  Both
+refused the reward which Harry had promised, but Harry insisted,
+and at last Jeanne said:
+
+"You can refuse for yourselves, but you will make me unhappy if
+you do not take it. Put it by for Julie; it will help swell her dot
+when she marries, and will set her husband up in a good fishing-boat
+if she takes to a sailor."
+
+So it was arranged, and Adolphe and his wife went off invoking
+blessings on the heads of the fugitives. At daybreak the party took
+their places in the boat with the fishermen. Virginie was still
+weak, but was able to walk with Harry's help.  Half an hour later
+a lugger was seen coming down with the wind and tide. She carried
+a small white flag flying on the mizzen.
+
+"That is her," the fisherman said; "that is the signal."
+
+He rowed out into the middle of the river. In a few minutes the
+lugger came dashing along, her course took her within a few feet
+of the boat, a rope was thrown, and in an instant the boat was
+tearing through the water alongside her. Half a dozen hands were
+stretched out, the girls and Harry sprang on board, the rope was
+cast off, and the fisherman, with a cheery "God speed you," put
+out his oars again and rowed to shore.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+England
+
+
+"Go below, mesdemoiselles," the captain of the lugger said as soon
+as they had put foot on the deck. "If anyone on the shore were to
+see us as we ran down, and notice women on deck, he would think it
+strange. At anyrate it's best to be on the safe side."
+
+So saying he led the way to his cabin below.
+
+"It is a rough place, mesdemoiselles," he said, removing his cap,
+"but it is better than the prisons at Nantes. I am sorry to say
+that when we get down near the forts I shall have to ask you to
+hide down below the casks. I heard last night that in future every
+boat going out of the river, even if it is only a fishing-boat,
+is to be searched. But you needn't be afraid; we have constructed
+a hiding-place, where they will never find you unless they unloaded
+the whole lugger, and that there is no chance of their doing."
+
+"We do not mind where we hide, captain," Jeanne said. "We have been
+hiding for the last six months, and we are indeed grateful to you
+for having consented to take us with you."
+
+"I hope that you will not be the last that the Trois Freres will
+carry across," the captain said. "Whatever be the risk, in future
+I will take any fugitives who wish to escape to England. At first
+I was against the government, for I thought the people were taxed
+too heavily, and that if we did away with the nobles things would
+be better for those who work for their living, but I never bargained
+for bloodshed and murder, and that affair I saw yesterday has
+sickened me altogether; and fond as I am of the Trois Freres, I
+would myself bore holes in her and sink her if I had Carrier and
+the whole of his murderous gang securely fastened below hatches.
+This cabin is at your disposal, mesdemoiselles, during the voyage,
+and I trust you will make yourselves as comfortable as  you can.
+Ah, here is the boy with coffee. Now, if you will permit me, I will
+go on deck and look after her course."
+
+In the meantime Harry was chatting with Adolphe, who introduced
+him to the crew, whom he had already told of the services Jeanne
+had rendered, and as several of them lived in the same street they
+too had heard from their wives of the young woman who lodged with
+Mere Leflo, and had done so much for those who were suffering.  He
+was therefore cordially received by the sailors, to each of whom
+the captain had already promised double pay for the voyage if they
+got through safely.
+
+"You will remember," Adolphe said, "that you are Andre Leboeuf.
+Andre had to make a cold swim of it this morning, for there was the
+commissary on the wharf when we started, and he had the captain's
+list of the crew, and saw that each man was on board and searched
+high and low to see that there was no one else. So Andre, instead
+of slipping off home again, had to go with us. When we were out of
+sight of the town the captain steered as near the bank as he could
+and Andre jumped over and swam ashore. It is all the better as it
+has turned out, because the commissary signed the list of the crew
+and put a seal to it."
+
+In four hours the Trois Freres was approaching the forts at the
+mouth of the river, and the captain came down to the cabin, in
+which Harry was chatting with the two girls.
+
+"Now, mesdemoiselles," he said, "it is time for you to go to your
+hiding-place, for it will take us nearly half an hour to close it
+up again. As soon as the Reds have left us we will let you out."
+
+The hatch was lifted and they descended into the hold of the
+vessel, which was full of kegs to within three feet of the deck.
+The captain carried a lantern.
+
+"Please follow me, mesdemoiselles, you must crawl along here."
+
+The girls followed him until they were close to the bulkhead dividing
+the hold from the forecastle. Two feet from this there was a vacant
+space.
+
+"Now, mesdemoiselles, if you will give me your hands I will lower
+you down here. Do not be afraid--your feet will touch the bottom;
+and I have had some hay put there for you to sit upon.  Adolphe,
+you had better go down first with that lantern of yours to receive
+them."
+
+The girls were lowered down and found themselves in a space of five
+feet long and two feet wide. One side was formed by the bulkhead,
+on the other there were kegs. Four feet from the bottom a beam of
+wood had been nailed against the bulkhead. The captain now handed
+down to Adolphe some short beams; these he fixed with one end
+resting on the beam, the other in a space between the kegs.
+
+"This is to form the roof, mesdemoiselles," he said. "I am going
+up now, and then we shall place three tiers of kegs on these beams,
+which will fill it up level with the rest above. I think you will
+have plenty of air, for it can get down between the casks, and the
+captain will leave the hatchway open. Are you comfortable?"
+
+"Quite," Jeanne said firmly, but Virginie did not answer; the
+thought of being shut up down there in the dark was terrible to
+her.  However, the warm, steady pressure of Jeanne's hand reassured
+her, and she kept her fears to herself. The kegs were lowered into
+their places, and all was made smooth just as one of the men called
+down the hatchway to the captain:
+
+"There is a gunboat coming out from the port, captain."
+
+After a last look round the captain sprang on to the deck and
+ordered the sails to be lowered, and in a few minutes the gunboat
+ran alongside.
+
+"Show me your papers," an officer said as he leaped on board followed
+by half a dozen sailors. The captain went down into his cabin and
+brought up the papers.
+
+"That is all right," the officer said glancing at them; "now, where
+is the list of your crew?"
+
+"This is it," the captain said taking it from his pocket; "a
+commissary at Nantes went through them on starting and placed his
+seal to it, as you see."
+
+"Form the men up, and let them answer to their names," the officer
+said. The men formed in line and the officer read out the names;
+Harry answering for Andre Leboeuf. "That is all right, so far,"
+the officer said. "Now, sir, I must, according to my orders, search
+your vessel to see that no one is concealed there."
+
+"By all means," the captain said, "you will find the Trois Freres
+carries nothing contraband except her cargo. I have already taken
+off the hatch, as you see, in order to save time."
+
+The forecastles and cabin were first searched closely. Several of
+the sailors then descended into the hold. Two lanterns were handed
+down to them.
+
+"It looks all clear, sir," one of the sailors said to their officer.
+The latter leaped down on to the kegs and looked round.
+
+"Yes, it looks all right, but you had better shift some of the kegs
+and see that all is solid."
+
+Some of the kegs were moved from their position, and in a few places
+some of the second tier were also lifted.  The officer himself
+superintended the search.
+
+"I think I can let you go on now, Captain Grignaud," he said.
+"Your men can stow the cargo again. A good voyage to you, and may
+you meet with no English cruisers by the way."
+
+The captain at once gave orders for the sails to be run up again,
+and by the time the officer and his men had climbed over the bulwarks
+into the gunboat the Trois Freres had already way upon her. The
+captain then gave the order for the men to go below and stow the
+casks again. Adolphe and Harry were the first to leap down, and
+before the vessels were two hundred yards apart they had removed
+the two uppermost tiers of kegs next to the bulkhead, and were able
+to speak to the girls.
+
+"Are you all right down there, Jeanne?" Harry asked.
+
+"Yes, quite right, Harry, though the air is rather close. Virginie
+has fainted; she was frightened when she heard them moving the
+kegs just over our heads; but she will come round as soon as you
+get her on deck."
+
+The last tier was removed, and Harry lowered himself into the hold;
+he and Jeanne raised Virginie until Adolphe and one of the other
+sailors could reach her. Jeanne was lifted on to the cross beams,
+and was soon beside her sister, and Harry quickly clambered up.
+
+"They must not come on deck yet," the captain said, speaking down
+the hatchway. "We are too close to the gunboat, and from the forts
+with their glasses they can see what is passing on our deck. Don't
+replace the kegs over the hole again, Adolphe; we may be overhauled
+again, and had better leave it open in case of emergencies."
+
+Virginie was carried under the open hatchway; some water was handed
+down to Jeanne, who sprinkled it on her face, and this with the
+fresh air speedily brought her round. When the lugger was a mile
+below the forts, the captain said that they could now safely come
+up, and they were soon in possession of the cabin again. Before
+evening the lugger was out of sight of land. The wind was blowing
+freshly, and she raced along leaving a broad track of foam behind
+her. The captain and crew were in high spirits at having succeeded
+in carrying off the fugitives from under the noses of their enemies,
+and at the progress the lugger was making.
+
+"We shall not be far from the coast of England by to-morrow night,"
+the captain said to Harry, "that is if we have the luck to avoid
+meeting any of the English cruisers. We don't care much for the
+revenue cutters, for there is not one of them that can overhaul
+the Trois Freres in a wind like this. They have all had more than
+one try, but we can laugh at them; but it would be a different
+thing if we fell in with one of the Channel cruisers; in a light
+wind we could keep away from them too, but with a brisk wind like
+this we should have no chance with them; they carry too much sail
+for us. There is the boy carrying in the supper to your sisters;
+with their permission, you and I will sup with them."
+
+The captain sent in a polite message to the girls, and on the
+receipt of the answer that they would be very pleased to have the
+captain's company, he and Harry went down. The meal was an excellent
+one, but the girls ate but little, for they were both beginning to
+feel the effects of the motion of the vessel, for they had, when
+once fairly at sea, kept on deck. The captain perceiving that they
+ate but little proposed to Harry that coffee should be served on
+deck, so that the ladies might at once lie down for the night.
+
+"Now, captain," Harry said as the skipper lit his pipe, "I daresay
+you would like to hear how we came to be fugitives on board your
+ship."
+
+"If you have no obligation to tell me, I should indeed," the captain
+replied; "I have been wondering all day how you young people escaped
+the search for suspects so long, and how you came to be at Nantes,
+where, as Adolphe tells me, your sister was an angel among the poor,
+and that you yourself were a member of the Revolutionary Committee;
+that seemed to me the most extraordinary of all, but I wouldn't
+ask any questions until you yourself volunteered to enlighten me."
+
+Harry thereupon related the whole story of their adventures,
+concealing only the fact that the girls were not his sisters; as
+it was less awkward for Jeanne that this relationship should be
+supposed to exist.
+
+"Sapriste, your adventures have been marvellous, monsieur, and I
+congratulate you heartily. You have a rare head and courage, and
+yet you cannot be above twenty."
+
+"I am just nineteen," Harry replied.
+
+"Just nineteen, and you succeeded in getting your friend safely
+out of that mob of scoundrels in the Abbaye, got your elder sister
+out of La Force, you fooled Robespierre and the Revolutionists
+in Nantes, and you carried those two girls safely through France,
+rescued them from the white lugger, and got them on board the Trois
+Freres! It sounds like a miracle."
+
+"The getting them on board the Trois Freres was, you must remember,
+my sister's work. I had failed and was in despair. Suspicions were
+already aroused, and we should assuredly have been arrested if it
+had not been that she had won the heart of Adolphe's wife by nursing
+her child in its illness."
+
+"That is so," the captain agreed; "and they must have good courage
+too that they didn't betray themselves all that time. And now I
+tell you what I will do, monsieur. If you will write a letter to
+your sister in Paris, saying that you and the other two have reached
+England in safety, I will when I return send it by sure hand to
+Paris.  To make all safe you had better send it to the people she
+is staying with, and word it so that no one will understand it if
+they were to read it. Say, for example:
+
+"'My dear Sister,  You will be glad to hear that the consignment of
+lace has been safely landed in England,' Then you can go on saying
+that 'your mother is better, and that you expect to be married
+soon, as you have made a good profit out of the lace,' and so on;
+and just sign your name--'Your brother Henri.'
+
+"I can trust the man who will deliver it in Paris, but it is just
+as well always to be on the safe side. If your letter is opened and
+read, anyone will suppose that it is written by a sailor belonging
+to one of the Nantes luggers."
+
+Harry thanked the captain warmly for the offer, and said that the
+letter would indeed be an immense comfort to his sister and friend.
+
+"I will tell the man that he is to ask if there is any answer," the
+captain said. "And if your sister is as sharp as you are she will
+write the same sort of letter, and I will bring it across with me
+to England the first voyage I make after I get it."
+
+Harry slept down in the forecastle with the crew, the captain
+keeping on deck all night. He was awoke by an order shouted down
+the forecastle for all hands to come on deck; and hurrying up with
+the rest found that the sun had just risen. The day was beautifully
+fine, and to Harry's surprise he found that those on deck had
+already lowered the great lugsails.
+
+"What is it, captain?" he asked.
+
+"There is a sail there I don't like," the captain said. "If I am
+not mistaken that is an English frigate."
+
+There were several sails in sight, but the one to which the captain
+pointed was crossing ahead of the lugger. Her hull could not be
+seen, and indeed from the deck only her topsails and royals were
+visible above the water.
+
+"I hope she will not see us," the captain said. "We are low in the
+water, and these stump masts could not be seen at that distance
+even by a look-out at the mast-head.
+
+"We are already somewhat astern of her, and every minute will take
+her further away. If she does not see us in a quarter of an hour,
+we shall be safe. If she does, there is nothing for it but to run
+back towards the French coast. We should have such a long start
+that with this wind she would never catch us. But she may fire her
+guns and bring another cruiser down upon us and cut us off. There
+are a dozen of them watching on different parts of the coast."
+
+Harry kept his eye anxiously upon the ship, but she sailed steadily
+on; and in half an hour the sails were again hoisted and the Trois
+Freres proceeded on her way. She passed comparatively near several
+merchantmen, but these paid no attention to her. She was too small
+for a privateer, and her object and destination were easily guessed
+at. The girls soon came on deck, and the captain had some cushions
+placed for them under shelter of the bulwark; for although the sun
+was shining brightly the wind was keen and piercing.
+
+"Are we beyond danger?" was Virginie's first question as Harry took
+his seat by her.
+
+"Beyond all danger of being overtaken--that is to say, beyond all
+danger of meeting a French vessel-of-war. They very seldom venture
+to show themselves many miles from port, except, of course, as a
+fleet; for single vessels would soon get picked up by our cruisers.
+Yes, I think we are quite out of danger. There is only one chance
+against us."
+
+"And what is that, Harry?" Jeanne asked.
+
+"It is not a serious one," Harry replied; "it is only that we may
+be chased by English revenue cutters and forced to run off from the
+English coast again. But even then we should soon return. Besides,
+I have no doubt the captain would let us have a boat, so that we
+could be picked up by the cutter in pursuit of us."
+
+"I don't think that would be a good plan," Jeanne said; "because
+they might not stop to pick us up, and then we might have a long
+way to reach the shore. No, I think it will be better to stay on
+board, Harry; for, as you say, if she does have to run away for a
+time, she is sure to come back again to unload her cargo. But of
+course do whatever you think best."
+
+"I think your view is the best, Jeanne. However, I hope the
+opportunity will not occur, and that the Trois Freres will run her
+cargo without interference. The captain tells me he is making for
+a point on the Dorsetshire coast, and that he is expected. Of course
+he could not say the exact day he would be here. But he told them
+the day on which, if he could get his cargo on board, he should
+sail, and they will be looking out for him."
+
+Before sunset the English coast was visible.
+
+"We could not have timed it better," the captain said. "It will be
+getting dark before they can make us out even from the cliffs."
+
+Every sail was now scrutinized by the captain through his glass,
+but he saw nothing that looked suspicious. At nine o'clock in the
+evening the lugger was within three miles of the coast.
+
+"Get ready the signal lanterns," the captain ordered. And a few
+minutes later three lanterns were hoisted, one above the other.
+Almost immediately two lights were shown in a line on top of the
+cliff.
+
+"There is our answer," the captain said. "There is nothing to be
+done to-night. That means 'The revenue men are on the look-out;
+come back to-morrow night."'
+
+"But they are always on the look-out, are they not?" Harry asked.
+
+"Yes," the captain said; "but when our friends on shore know we are
+coming they try to throw them off the scent. It will be whispered
+about to-morrow that a run is likely to be made ten miles along
+the coast, and they will take care that this comes to the ears of
+the revenue officer. Then to-morrow evening after dusk a fishing-boat
+will go out and show some lights  two miles off shore at the point
+named, and a rocket will be sent up from the cliff. That will
+convince them that the news is true, and the revenue officers will
+hurry away in that direction with every man they can get together.
+Then we shall run here and land our cargo. There will be plenty of
+carts waiting for us, and before the revenue men are back the kegs
+will be stowed safely away miles inland. Of course things go wrong
+sometimes and the revenue officers are not to be fooled, but in
+nine cases out of ten we manage to run our cargoes without a shot
+being fired. Now I must get off shore again."
+
+The orders were given, and the Trois Freres was soon running out
+to sea. They stood far out and then lowered the sails and drifted
+until late in the afternoon, when they again made sail for the
+land.  At ten o'clock the signal lights were again exhibited, and
+this time the answer was made by one light low down by the water's
+edge.
+
+"The coast is clear," the captain said, rubbing his hands. "We'll
+take her in as close as she will go, the less distance there is to
+row the better."
+
+The Trois Freres was run on until within a hundred yards of the
+shore, then a light anchor was dropped. The two boats had already
+been lowered and were towed alongside, and the work of transferring
+the cargo at once began.
+
+"Do you go in the first boat, monsieur, with the ladies," the
+captain said. "The sooner you are ashore the better. There is no
+saying whether we may not be disturbed and obliged to run out to
+sea again at a moment's notice."
+
+"Thank God!" he exclaimed, as after wading through the shallow
+water he stood on the shore, while two of the sailors carried the
+girls and put them beside him. "Thank God, I have got you safe on
+English soil at last. I began to despair at one time."
+
+"Thank God indeed," Jeanne said reverently; "but I never quite
+despaired, Harry. It seemed to me He had protected us through so
+many dangers, that He must mean that we should go safely through
+them all, and yet it did seem hopeless at one time."
+
+"We had better stand on one side, girls, or rather we had better
+push on up the cliff. These people are all too busy to notice us,
+and you might get knocked down; besides, the coastguard might arrive
+at any moment, and then there would be a fight. So let us get well
+away from them."
+
+But they had difficulty in making their way up the cliff, for the
+path was filled with men carrying up tubs or coming down for more
+after placing them in the carts, which were waiting to convey them
+inland. At last they got to the top. One of the carts was already
+laden, and was on the point of driving off when Harry asked the man
+if he could tell him of any farmhouse near, where the two ladies
+who had landed with him could pass the night.
+
+"Master's place is two miles away," the man said; "but if you like
+to walk as far, he will take you in, I doubt not."
+
+The girls at once agreed to the proposal, and in three quarters of
+an hour the cart drew up at a farmhouse.
+
+"Is it all right, Bill?" a man asked, opening the door as the cart
+stopped.
+
+"Yes, it be all right. Not one of them revenue chaps nigh the place.
+Here be the load of tubs; they was the first that came ashore."
+
+"Who have you got here?" the farmer asked as Harry came forward
+with the girls.
+
+"These are two young ladies who have crossed in the lugger," Harry
+replied. "They have narrowly escaped being murdered in France by
+the Revolutionists, and have gone through a terrible time. As they
+have nowhere to go to-night, I thought perhaps you would kindly
+let them sit by your fire till morning."
+
+"Surely I will," the farmer said. "Get ye in, get ye in. Mistress,
+here are two young French ladies who have escaped from those
+bloody-minded scoundrels in Paris. I  needn't tell you to do what
+you can for them."
+
+The farmer's wife at once came forward and received the girls most
+kindly. They had both picked up a little English during Harry's
+residence at the chateau, and feeling they were in good hands, Harry
+again went out and lent his assistance to the farmer in carrying
+the tubs down to a place of concealment made under the flooring of
+one of the barns.
+
+The next day the farmer drove them in his gig to a town some miles
+inland. Here they procured dresses in which they could travel without
+exciting attention, and took their places in the coach which passed
+through the town for London next day.
+
+That evening Harry gently broke to the girls the news of their
+brothers' death, for he thought that it would otherwise come as a
+terrible shock to them on their arrival at his home. Virginie was
+terribly upset, and Jeanne cried for some time, then she said:
+
+"Your news does not surprise me, Harry. I have had a feeling all
+along that you knew something, but were keeping it from me.  You
+spoke so very seldom of them, and when you did it seemed to me that
+what you said was not spoken in your natural voice. I felt sure
+that had you known nothing you would have often talked to us of
+meeting them in London, and of the happiness it would be. I would
+not ask, because I was sure you had a good reason for not telling
+us; but I was quite sure that there was something."
+
+"I thought it better to keep it from you, Jeanne, until the danger
+was all over. In the first place you had need of all your courage
+and strength; in the next place it was possible that you might never
+reach England, and in that case you would never have suffered the
+pain of knowing anything about it."
+
+"How thoughtful you are, Harry!" Jeanne murmured. "Oh how much
+we owe you! But oh how strange and lonely we seem--everyone gone
+except Marie, and we may never see her again!"
+
+"You will see her again, never fear," Harry said confidently. "And
+you will not feel lonely long, for I can promise you that before
+you have been long at my mother's place you will feel like one of
+the family."
+
+"Yes; but I shall not be one of the family," Jeanne said.
+
+"Not yet, Jeanne. But mother will look upon you as her daughter
+directly I tell her that you have promised to become so in reality
+some day."
+
+Harry's reception, when with the two girls he drove up in a hackney
+coach to the house at Cheyne Walk, was overwhelming, and the two
+French girls were at first almost bewildered by the rush of boys
+and girls who tore down the steps and threw themselves upon Harry's
+neck.
+
+"You will stifle me between you all," Harry said, after he had
+responded to the embraces. "Where are father and mother?"
+
+"Father is out, and mother is in the garden. No, there she is"--as
+Mrs. Sandwith, pale and agitated, appeared at the door, having
+hurried in when one of the young ones had shouted out from a back
+window: "Harry has come!"
+
+"Oh, my boy, we had given you up," she sobbed as Harry rushed into
+her arms.
+
+"I am worth a great many dead men yet, mother. But now let me
+introduce to you Mesdemoiselles Jeanne and Virginie de St. Caux,
+of whom I have written to you so often. They are orphans, mother,
+and I have promised them that you and father will fill the place
+of their parents."
+
+"That will we willingly," Mrs. Sandwith said, turning to the girls
+and kissing them with motherly kindness. "Come in, my dears, and
+welcome home for the sake of my dear boy, and for that of your
+parents who were so kind to him. Never mind all these wild young
+people," she added, as the boys and girls pressed round to shake
+hands with the new-comers. "You will get accustomed to their way
+presently.  Do you speak in English?"
+
+"Enough to understand," Jeanne said; "but not enough to speak much.
+Thank you, madame, for receiving us so kindly, for we are all alone
+in the world."
+
+Mrs. Sandwith saw the girl's lip quiver, and putting aside her
+longing to talk to her son, said:
+
+"Harry, do take them all out in the garden for a short time.  They
+are all talking at once, and this is a perfect babel."
+
+And thus having cleared the room she sat down to talk to the two
+girls, and soon made them feel at home with her by her unaffected
+kindness. Dr. Sandwith soon afterwards ran out to the excited
+chattering group in the garden, and after a few minutes' happy talk
+with him, Harry spoke to him of the visitors who were closeted with
+his mother.
+
+"I want you to make them feel it is their home, father. They will
+be no burden pecuniarily, for there are money and jewels worth a
+large sum over here."
+
+"Of course I know that," Dr. Sandwith said, "seeing that, as you
+know, they were consigned to me, and the marquis wrote to ask me
+to act as his agent. The money is invested in stock, and the jewels
+are in the hands of my bankers. I had begun to wonder what would
+become of it all, for I was by no means sure that the whole family
+had not perished, as well as yourself."
+
+"There are only the three girls left," Harry said.
+
+"In that case they will be well off, for the marquis inclosed me a
+will, saying that if anything should happen to him, and the estates
+should be altogether lost, the money and proceeds of the jewels
+were to be divided equally among his children. You must have gone
+through a great deal, old boy. You are scarcely nineteen, and you
+look two or three and twenty."
+
+"I shall soon look young again, father, now I have got my mind
+clear of anxiety. But I have had a trying time of it, I can tell
+you; but it's too long a story to go into now, I will tell you all
+the whole yarn this evening. I want you to go in with me now to
+the girls and make them at home. All this must be just as trying
+for them at present as the dangers they have gone through."
+
+The young ones were all forbidden to follow, and after an hour
+spent with his parents and the girls in the dining-room, Harry
+was pleased to see that the latter were beginning to feel at their
+ease, and that the strangeness was wearing off.
+
+That evening, before the whole circle of his family, Harry related
+the adventures that they had gone through, subject, however, to a
+great many interruptions from Jeanne.
+
+"But I am telling the story, not you, Jeanne," he said at last.
+"Some day when you begin to talk English quite well you shall give
+your version of it."
+
+"But he is not telling it right, madame," Jeanne protested, "he
+keeps all the best part back. He says about the dangers, but he says
+noting about what he do himself." Then she broke into French, "No,
+madame, it is not just, it is not right; I will not suffer the tale
+to be told so. How can it be the true story when he says no word
+of his courage, of his devotion, of the way he watched over us and
+cheered us, no word of his grand heart, of the noble way he risked
+his life for us, for our sister, for our parents, for all? Oh,
+madame, I cannot tell you what we all owe to him;" and Jeanne, who
+had risen to her feet in her earnestness, burst into passionate
+tears. This put an end to the story for the evening, for Mrs.
+Sandwith saw that Jeanne required rest and quiet, and took the two
+girls up at once to the bed-room prepared for them. From this
+Jeanne did not descend for some days. As long as the strain was
+upon her she had borne herself bravely, but now that it was over
+she collapsed completely.
+
+After the young ones had all gone off to bed, Harry said to his
+father and mother:
+
+"I have another piece of news to tell you now. I am afraid you will
+think it rather absurd at my age, without a profession or anything
+else, but I am engaged to Jeanne. You see," he went on, as his
+parents both uttered an exclamation of surprise, "we have gone
+through a tremendous lot together, and when people have to look
+death in the face every day it makes them older than they are; and
+when, as in this case, they have to depend entirely on themselves,
+it brings them very closely together. I think it might have been
+so had these troubles never come on, for somehow we had taken very
+much to each other, though it might have been years before anything
+came of it. Her poor father and mother saw it before I  knew
+it myself, and upon the night before they were separated told her
+elder sister and brother that, should I ever ask for Jeanne's hand,
+they approved of her marrying me. But although afterwards I came
+to love her with all my heart, I should never have spoken had it
+not been that I did so when it seemed that in five minutes we should
+neither of us be alive. If it hadn't been for that I should have
+brought her home and waited till I was making my own way in life."
+
+"I do not blame you, Harry, my boy," his father said heartily.  "Of
+course you are very young, and under ordinary circumstances would
+not have been thinking about a wife for years to come yet; but I
+can see that your Jeanne is a girl of no ordinary character, and it
+is certainly for her happiness that, being here with her sister alone
+among strangers, she should feel that she is at home. Personally she
+is charming, and even in point of fortune you would be considered
+a lucky fellow. What do you say, mother?"
+
+"I say God bless them both!" Mrs. Sandwith said earnestly.  "After
+the way in which Providence has brought them together, there can
+be no doubt that they were meant for each other."
+
+"Do you know I half guessed there was something more than mere
+gratitude in Jeanne's heart when she flamed out just now; did not
+you, mother?"
+
+Mrs. Sandwith nodded and smiled. "I was sure there was," she said.
+
+"I did not say anything about it when we came in," Harry said,
+"because I thought it better for Jeanne to have one quiet day, and
+you know the young ones will laugh awfully at the idea of my being
+engaged."
+
+"Never you mind, Harry," his father said; "let those laugh that
+win. But you are not thinking of getting married yet, I hope."
+
+"No, no, father; you cannot think I would live on Jeanne's money."
+
+"And you still intend to go into the army, Harry?"
+
+"No, father; I have had enough of bloodshed for the rest of my life.
+I have been thinking it over a good deal, and I have determined to
+follow your example and become a doctor."
+
+"That's right, my boy," Dr. Sandwith said heartily. "I have always
+regretted you had a fancy for the army, for I used to look forward
+to your becoming my right hand. Your brothers, too, do not take to
+the profession, so I began to think I was going to be alone in my
+old age.  You have made me very happy, Harry, and your mother too,
+I am sure. It will be delightful for us having you and your pretty
+French wife settled by us; will it not, mother?"
+
+"It will indeed," Mrs. Sandwith said in a tone of deep happiness.
+"You are certainly overworked and need a partner terribly, and who
+could be like Harry?"
+
+"Yes, I have been thinking of taking a partner for some time, but
+now I will hold on alone for another three years. By that time
+Harry will have passed."
+
+The next morning the young ones were told the news. The elder girls
+were delighted at the thought of Jeanne becoming their sister, but
+the boys went into fits of laughter and chaffed Harry so unmercifully
+for the next day or two that it was just as well that Jeanne was
+up in her room. By the time she came down they had recovered their
+gravity. Mrs. Sandwith and the girls had already given her the
+warmest welcome as Harry's future wife, and the boys received her
+so warmly when she appeared that Jeanne soon felt that she was
+indeed one of the family.
+
+Three years later, on the day after Harry passed his final examination,
+Jeanne and he were married, and set up a pretty establishment
+close to Cheyne Walk, with Virginie to live with them; and Harry,
+at first as his father's assistant, and very soon as his partner,
+had the satisfaction of feeling that he was not wholly dependent
+on Jeanne's fortune.
+
+They had received occasional news from Marie. Victor had steadily
+recovered his strength and memory, and as soon as the reign of terror
+had come to an end, and the priests were able to show themselves
+from their hiding-places in many an out-of-the-way village in the
+country, Marie and Victor were quietly married. But France was at
+war with all Europe now, and Victor, though he hated the revolution,
+was a thorough Frenchman, and through some of his old friends who
+had escaped the wave of destruction, he had obtained a commission,
+and joined Bonaparte when he went to take the command of the army
+of Italy. He had attracted his general's attention early in the
+campaign by a deed of  desperate valour, and was already in command
+of a regiment, when, soon after Jeanne's marriage, Marie came over
+to England by way of Holland to stay for a time with her sisters.
+She was delighted at finding Jeanne so happy, and saw enough before she
+returned to France to feel assured that before very long Virginie
+would follow Jeanne's example, and would also become an Englishwoman,
+for she and Harry's next brother Tom had evidently some sort of
+understanding between them. It was not until many years later that
+the three sisters met again, when, after the fall of Napoleon,
+Jeanne and Virginie went over with their husbands and stayed for
+some weeks with General De Gisons and his wife at the old chateau
+near Dijon. This the general had purchased back from the persons
+into whose hands it had fallen at the Revolution with the money
+which he had received as his wife's dowry.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Reign of Terror, by G. A. Henty
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