La Boulaye closed the window, and crossed slowly to the fire. He stirred
the burning logs with his boot, then stood there waiting. Presently the
stairs creaked, next the door opened, and Guyot ushered in Mademoiselle.

"The elder citoyenne refuses to come, Citizen-deputy," said the soldier.
"They both insisted that it was not necessary, and that the Citoyenne
here would answer your questions."

Almost on the point of commanding the soldier to return for the
Marquise, Caron caught the girl's eye, and her glance was so significant
that he thought it best to hear first what motives she had for thus
disobeying him.

"Very well," he said shortly. "You may go below, Guyot. But hold
yourself in readiness lest I should have need of you."

The soldier saluted and disappeared. Scarce was he gone when
Mademoiselle came hurrying forward.

"Monsieur Caron," she cried "Heaven is surely befriending us. The
soldiers are drinking themselves out of their wits. They will be keeping
a slack watch presently."

He looked at her for a moment, fathoming the purport of what she said.

"But," he demanded at last, "why did not the Marquise obey my summons,
and accompany you?"

"She was afraid to leave the coach, Monsieur. Moreover, she agreed with
me that it would not be necessary."

"Not necessary?" he echoed. "But it is necessary. When last you were
here I told you I did not intend you should return to the coach. This is
my plan, Citoyenne. I shall keep Guyot waiting below while you and your
mother are fortifying yourselves by supper here. Then I shall dismiss
him with a recommendation that he keep a close watch upon the carriage,
and the information that you will not be returning to it to-night. A
half-hour later or so, when things are quiet, I shall find a way out for
you by the back, after which the rest must remain in your hands. More I
cannot do."

"You can," she cried; "you can."

"If you will enlighten me," said he, with the faintest touch of irony.

She looked at his stern, sardonic face and solemn grey eyes, and for a
moment it almost seemed to her that she hated him more than anybody in
the world. He was so passionless, so master of himself, and he addressed
her in a tone which, whilst it suggested that he accounted himself most
fully her equal, made her feel that he was really her better by much.
If one of these two was an aristocrat, surely that one was the
Citizen-deputy La Boulaye.

"If you had but the will you