oyenne?"
added the officer, pointing to Dolores.

"That is my daughter."

"Be seated, citoyenne," said the lieutenant, politely offering Dolores
his own chair.

She accepted it, and the examination continued.

"From whence do you come?"

"From Beaucaire."

"Afoot?"

"No, citizen; we left the coach at Montgeron. The driver had no other
passengers, and, when he heard of the troubles in Paris, he declared he
would wait there until they were over. His coach was loaded with
merchandise, and he feared it would be taken from him."

"Does he take patriots for bandits?" exclaimed the officer, angrily. "If
I am on guard here when his coach enters the city, he will receive the
lesson he deserves. You said you had passports, I think?"

"Here they are!"

The officer took the papers that Coursegol handed him and examined them
carefully.

"These papers were drawn up two years ago," said he. "Where have you
spent these years?"

"My daughter has been ill and we were obliged to stop at numerous places
on the way. We made long sojourns at Dijon and at Montereau; but you
will notice, citizen, the passports bear the endorsement of the
authorities of those towns."

"So I perceive. Very well, you will be taken before the Commissioners
and if your papers prove all right, as I believe they are, you will be
allowed to remain in the city."

The young lieutenant turned away to give an order to one of his
soldiers; then suddenly he approached Coursegol and said kindly, in a
low voice:

"You seem to be worthy people, and I should be very sorry if any
misfortune happened to you. Paris is not a safe abode just now.
Yesterday they began to put the prisoners to death, and, perhaps, you
and your daughter would do well to wait until the fury of the populace
is appeased."

"But we belong to the people," replied Coursegol. "We have nothing to
fear; moreover, I know a good patriot who will be responsible for us if
necessary: Citizen Bridoul, who keeps a wine-shop on the Rue Antoine."

"At the sign of the Bonnet Rouge?" cried the officer.

"The very same," replied Coursegol, boldly, though until now he had been
ignorant of the sign which distinguished his friend Bridoul's
establishment.

"Bridoul is a true patriot. Thanks to him, you will incur no risk! You
will now be conducted to the Commissioners."

"Many thanks for your kindness, lieutenant," said Coursegol.

And taking Dolores' arm in his, he followed the soldier who was to