too probably
massacred. I felt thankful, however, that Madame La Touche and Sophie
had escaped in time. Had they remained a few minutes longer, they might
have been too late. Had I been alone, I should have been unable to
restrain myself from galloping back to ascertain what had occurred; but
to protect them was now my great object. I kept as close as possible to
the carriage, not knowing what might at any moment occur. I was afraid
that they might look out of the window and see the flames; but they were
too much overcome with grief and terror to do that, and sat back in the
carriage, clasped in each other's arms. When the road would allow, I
rode up and spoke a few words to try and comfort them, although it was
no easy matter to do that.

"When will Henri come?" exclaimed Madame La Touche. "He ought to have
overtaken us by this time."

"You forget, madame, we have been travelling at a rapid rate," I
observed. "He promised to retreat in time, should he find it necessary
to abandon the chateau. He will probably overtake us when we stop for
the night. There is no fear that the mob will follow him to any
distance."

The coachman said he knew of an inn about six leagues on the Paris road,
where madame and Sophie might rest securely, as the mob could not get so
far that night. It was where Monsieur La Touche had ordered him to
remain. I bade him therefore go on as his master told him, although he
proceeded at a slower rate than at first, for fear of knocking up his
horses.

I was very thankful when the little inn was reached. It was kept by a
buxom dame, who received Madame La Touche and Sophie politely, and
offered the best accommodation her house would afford. I handed the
ladies from the carriage. Madame entered the house at once, but Sophie
lingered for a moment.

"Oh, tell me, Monsieur Finnahan, has Henri come yet? I dread lest he
should have done anything rash, and lost his life. It would break
mamma's heart if he were to be killed; and she will not rest, I am
convinced, until she knows he is safe. I cannot ask you to go back to
look for him, but will you send your servant to gain intelligence, and
bring it to us?"

"I would go back myself, but my duty is to remain and guard you," I
said. "What do you wish?--tell me."

"We shall be perfectly safe here, and I desire for my mother's sake to
know what has happened to Henri," she answered.

I thought that Sophie was right, and my own anxiety m