t to be lost.'

'You left her at Madame Catherine's?' I said.

'To be sure,' he answered impatiently. 'Trouble not about her. Save
yourself, M. de Marsac. That is the thing to be done now.'

I mounted mechanically, and felt my courage return as the horse moved
under me. I trotted through the crowd, and without thought took the road
by which we had come. When we had ridden a hundred yards, however, I
pulled up 'An hour is a short start,' I said sullenly. 'Whither?'

'To St. Cloud,' he answered promptly. 'The protection of the King of
France may avail for a day or two. After that, there will still be the
League, if Paris have not fallen.'

I saw there was nothing else for it, and assented, and we set off. The
distance which separates Meudon from St. Cloud we might have ridden
under the hour, but the direct road runs across the Scholars' Meadow,
a wide plain north of Meudon. This lay exposed to the enemy's fire, and
was, besides, the scene of hourly conflicts between the horse of both
parties, so that to cross it without an adequate force was impossible.
Driven to make a circuit, we took longer to reach our destination, yet
did so without mishap; finding the little town, when we came in sight
of it, given up to all the bustle and commotion which properly belong to
the Court and camp.

It was, indeed, as full as it could be, for the surrender of Paris being
momentarily expected, St. Cloud had become the rendezvous as well of
the few who had long followed a principle as of the many who wait
upon success. The streets, crowded in, every part, shone with glancing
colours, with steel and velvet, the garb of fashion and the plumes of
war. Long lines of flags obscured the eaves and broke the sunshine,
while, above all, the bells of half a dozen churches rang merry answer
to the distant crash of guns. Everywhere on flag and arch and streamer
I read the motto, 'Vive le Roi!'--words written, God knew then, and we
know now, in what a mockery of doom!

CHAPTER XXXIV. ''TIS AN ILL WIND.'

We had made our way slowly and with much jostling as far as the
principal street, finding the press increase as we advanced, when I
heard, as I turned a corner, my name called, and, looking up, saw at
a window the face of which I was in search. After that half a minute
sufficed to bring M. d'Agen flying to my side, when nothing, as I
had expected, would do but I must dismount; where I was and share his
lodging. He made no secret of his joy