e face, and her eyes were dimmed with
despairing tears, which gleamed upon her white cheeks like dew upon the
petals of a lily.

'For God's sake, Sire! For the love of your mother spare him!' she
cried, falling upon her knees at the Emperor's feet. 'I will answer for
him that he never offends you again.'

'Tut, tut!' cried Napoleon angrily, turning upon his heel and walking
impatiently up and down the room. 'I cannot grant you what you ask,
mademoiselle. When I say so once it is finished. I cannot have my
decisions in high matters of State affected by the intrusion of women.
The Jacobins have been dangerous of late, and an example must be made or
we shall have the Faubourg St. Antoine upon our hands once more.'

The Emperors set face and firm manner showed it was hopeless, and yet my
cousin persevered as no one but a woman who pleads for her lover would
have dared to do.

'He is harmless, Sire.'

'His death will frighten others.'

'Spare him and I will answer for his loyalty.'

'What you ask is impossible.'

Constant and I raised her from the ground.

'That is right, Monsieur de Laval,' said the Emperor. 'This interview
can lead to nothing. Remove your cousin from the room!'

But she had again turned to him with a face which showed that even now
all hope had not been abandoned.

'Sire,' she cried. 'You say that an example must be made. There is
Toussac--!'

'Ah, if I could lay my hands upon Toussac!'

'He is the dangerous man. It was he and my father who led Lucien on.
If an example must be made it should be an example of the guilty rather
than of the innocent.'

'They are both guilty. And, besides, we have our hands upon the one but
not upon the other.'

'But if I could find him?'

Napoleon thought for a moment.

'If you do,' said he, 'Lesage will be forgiven!'

'But I cannot do it in a day.'

'How long do you ask?'

'A week at the least.'

'Then he has a respite of a week. If you can find Toussac in the time,
Lesage will be pardoned. If not he will die upon the eighth day. It is
enough. Monsieur de Laval, remove your cousin, for I have matters of
more importance to attend to. I shall expect you one evening at the
Pont de Briques, when you are ready to be presented to the Empress.'

CHAPTER XIII

THE MAN OF DREAMS

When I had escorted my cousin Sibylle from the presence of the Emperor,
I was surprised to find the same young hussar officer waiting outside
who had c