rried up the stairs after
them. The end of a great and deep room was visible, and I had a glimpse,
between heads and shoulders, of a woman standing in the light of many
lusters. She parted her lips to smile, closing them quickly, but having
shown little dark teeth. She was of exquisite shape, her face and arms
and bosom having a clean fair polish like the delicate whiteness of a
magnolia, as I have since seen that flower in bloom. She wore a small
diadem in her hair, and her short-waisted robe trailed far back among
her ladies. I knew without being told that this was the empress of the
French.

De Chaumont's hand was on my arm, but another hand touched my shoulder.
I looked behind me. This time it was not an old woman, or a laborer in
a blouse, or a soldier; but I knew my pursuer in his white court dress.
Officer of the law, writ in the lines of his face, to my eyes appeared
all over him.

"Monsieur Veeleeum!"

As soon as he said that I understood it was the refugee from Ste.
Pelagie that he wanted.

"Certainly," I answered. "Don't make a disturbance."

"You will take my arm and come with me, Monsieur Veeleeum."

"I will do nothing of the kind until my errand is finished," I answered
desperately.

De Chaumont looked sharply at the man, but his own salvation required
him to lay hold on the marquis. As he did so, Eagle's face and my face
encountered in a panel of mirror, two flashes of pallor; and I took my
last look.

"You will come with me now," said the gendarme at my ear.

She saw him, and understood his errand.

There was no chance. De Chaumont wheeled ready to introduce me to the
marquis. I was not permitted to speak to him. But Eagle took my right
arm and moved down the corridor with me.

Decently and at once the disguised gendarme fell behind where he could
watch every muscle without alarming Madame de Ferrier. She appeared not
to see him. I have no doubt he praised himself for his delicacy and her
unconsciousness of my arrest.

"You must not think you can run away from me," she said.

"I was coming back," I answered, making talk.

My captor's person heaved behind me, signifying that he silently
laughed. He kept within touch.

"Do you know the Tuileries well?" inquired Eagle.

"No. I have never been in the palace before."

"Nor I, in the state apartments."

We turned from the corridor into a suite in these upper rooms, the
gendarme humoring Madame de Ferrier, and making himself one in the c