w you how foolish you
have all been;" and with that he snatched a kiss from his wife and the
little one, and started off. The former called to him twice, "Albert,
Albert!" and the baby in imitation, with its little voice said, "Papa,
papa!" but the comte did not hear those precious tones of wife or child,
and in a few minutes he was out of sight. I cannot say what was the
matter with me; my spirit was troubled; the comtesse looked so
desponding, and Agathe so _triste_, that I knew not what to do with
myself. I did nothing for an hour, then I spoke to Agathe: "Wife, I am
going across to the town." She said, "Ah, Louis, I almost wish you would
go. See how the comtesse suffers. I am sure I shall feel easier myself."
Then I told her to say nothing of where I had gone, and away I went. It
did not take me long, for it seemed as if I ought to hasten. I got into
the town, and having walked along till I came to the Rue de Paris, I was
about turning down it when I saw a small concourse of people on the
opposite corner; I crossed over and beheld the Comte de Choissy in the
custody of four _gens-d'armes_, and surrounded by a number of
"citizens." My first impulse was to rush to his assistance, but I
reflected in time, and contented myself with joining the crowd. One of
the soldiers had gone for a carriage, and the remainder were questioning
him; the comte, however, would make no reply, except, "You have me
prisoner, I have nothing to say, do what you will." I waited quietly for
an opportunity of showing myself to him, but he did not look toward me.
Presently I said to the man next me, "Neighbor, you crowd something too
hard for good fellowship." The comte started a very little at the sound
of my voice, but he did not immediately look up. Shortly he raised his
head and fixed his eyes on me for an instant only, and then turned them
upon others of the company with a look as indifferent as if he were a
mere spectator. What a courageous dog! by Heaven, he never changed an
iota, nor showed the slightest possible mark of recognition; still, I
knew well enough he did recognize me, but I got no sign of it, neither
did he look towards me again. Soon the carriage came up and he was
hurried in by the _gens-d'armes_, and off they drove! I made some
inquiries, and found that the comte was known, and that they were taking
him to Paris.

"'It seems that he had been observed by a spy of the uncle during one of
his visits to the town, and although h