XVIII. "THERE IS NO LAW--" 114
XIX. KNIFE DUEL AND ESCAPE 124
XX. THE NEW TYRANNY 129
XXI. ADVENTURES OF A PILGRIM 136
XXII. ADVENTURES OF A PILGRIM (CONTINUED) 142
XXIII. BEFORE THE DREAD TRIBUNAL 149
XXIV. VENGEANCE COME TO JUDGMENT 156
XXV. THE VOICE OF DANTON 160
XXVI. REPRIEVE OR AGONY 169
XXVII. THE FAREWELL 173
XXVIII. MANIAC WITH A DAGGER 178
XXIX. DANTON'S RIDERS 184
XXX. THE AFTERMATH 191

ORPHANS OF THE STORM

CHAPTER I

TWO GIRLS OF NORMANDY

In all the countryside of Evreux, nay in all the beauteous old-time
Normandy of the period of 1789, there were no lovelier _filles du
peuple_ than Henriette and Louise Girard.

Their romantic story was often whispered by country gossips. In
infancy foundlings on the church steps of Notre Dame, then brought to
this quiet Norman backwater by the Girards and raised as sisters, they
had lost both their protectors by death. The same visitation of the
dread plague had cost poor little Louise her eyesight.

Since the orphaning and especially since the blindness of Louise,
Henriette cared for her with a love overwhelming as that of a mother
for her helpless baby. She looked forward eagerly to the day when they
might leave the kinswoman's where they were staying and go to Paris.

A local doctor had imparted a precious ray of hope.

"As for me, voila! I can do nothing," he said. "Mais, is it not that
there are learned faculties in Paris--men skilled in chirurgery even
to the taking off of cataracts and the restoration of sight? Of a
truth, yes! En avant, mes enfants! Let Monsieur Martin, your ancient
cousin in Paris, have the care of you whilst the chirurgeons exert
their skill--presto! if all goes well, the little one shall yet see!"

Henriette's heart thumped with joy o'er the cheering prospect. She
kissed and fondled Louise and even teased her. Reading or chatting to
the blind girl, sewing her frocks or performing a thousand and one
kindly serv