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 wi