h-and-judies. He is a man of judgment, for which reason
I report to you, sir, the main gist of his conversation. He does
not believe that the existing state of things will last long. Nor
does he foresee its being ended by the victory of the coalition,
and events appear to justify his opinion; for, as you are aware,
sir, for some time past tidings from the front have been bad. He
would rather seem to believe in the revolt of the poor and the
women of the humbler classes, who remain still deeply attached to
their religion. He holds that the widespread alarm caused by the
Revolutionary Tribunal will soon reunite all France against the
Jacobins. 'This tribunal,' he said, in his joking way, 'which
sentences the Queen of France and a bread-hawker, is like that
William Shakespeare the English admire so much, etc....' He thinks
it not impossible that Robespierre may marry Madame Royale and have
himself named Protector of the Kingdom.

"I should be grateful to you, sir, if you would transmit me the
amount owing to me, that is to say one thousand pounds sterling, by
the channel you are in the habit of using; but whatever you do, do
not write to Monsieur Morhardt; he has lately been arrested, thrown
into prison, etc., etc...."_

"This worthy des Ilettes makes dancing-dolls, it appears," observed
Beauvisage, "that is a valuable clue ... though certainly there are many
petty trades of the sort carried on in the Section."

"That reminds me," said Delourmel, "I promised to bring home a doll for
my little girl Nathalie, my youngest, who is ill with scarlatina. The
fever is not a dangerous one, but it demands careful nursing, and
Nathalie, a very forward child for her age, and with a very active
brain, has but delicate health."

"I," remarked Guenot, "I have only a boy. He plays hoop with
barrel-hoops and makes little montgolfier balloons by inflating paper
bags."

"Very often," Beauvisage put in his word, "it is with articles that are
not toys at all that children like best to play. My nephew Emile, a
little chap of seven, a very intelligent child, amuses himself all day
long with little wooden bricks with which he builds houses.... Do you
snuff, _citoyens_?"--and Beauvisage held out his open snuff-box to the
two delegates.

"Now we must set about nabbing our rascal," said Delourmel, who had long
moustaches and great eyes that rolled i