"Armed!" ejaculated the tipsy scoundrel. "God have mercy! Pardon,
monsieur, I came to see if you were comfortable."

"Monsieur citoyen is too good. I am most comfortable, and beg to be
waked at cock-crow. _Bonsoir_."

I knew of course that was not the end of him, but while he stumbled
downstairs to take counsel with his comrades I had at least time to
breathe. I peeped out of the door. All was dark, and there was no
sound but the ticking of the great Dutch clock in the shop below.

The clock! I had noticed it that evening--a great unwieldy structure
like a coffin on end, and a dial above. If I could but get down to it,
while my assailants were up despatching me, I might yet have a chance of
eluding them. I could hear them discussing together at the foot of the
stairs, and presently advance once more to the charge, not this time
with my host as an advance-guard, but all together. I slipped out into
the passage, and hid in a dark corner at the head of the stairs, so
close, indeed, that they all but brushed against me in passing.

"_Alors, il dort_," said my host, listening for a moment. "No; he
moves. All together now."

And with one accord they hurled themselves against the door, which of
course offered no resistance, and admitted them toppling one over the
other into the room.

I waited no longer, but slipped down the stairs and into the clock. I
had to displace the pendulum to do it, but trusted to the muddled
condition of the enemy not to miss the ticking.

After a while they came down in a towering rage, blaming one another for
what had happened. They were just in the humour to be quarrelsome, and
as I stood motionless in my narrow sentry-box I heard as pretty a battle
of words as it has ever been my lot to listen to.

Their one comfort was that I could not be far away. Either I had gone
out by the window, in which case I had undoubtedly broken my neck; or I
was down in the cellar, in which case I would keep till morning.
"Meanwhile, comrades, let us drink long life to the Republic, and down
with the Girondists."

So to drink they fell, but were hardly settled when a loud summons came
at the outer door, and a shout of, "Open, in the name of the Republic
One and Indivisible!"

Then did mine host quake in his shoes, and his comrades turned pale.

"To bed!" whispered my host with trembling voice. "Go up and sleep."

They were not long in obeying, and that night the bed that was meant for