In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy

esp

resented himself a

irst question. She was alone, for Louise was cooking,

ry scheme by which he could get Marie out of prison, "but at present I have fixed upon nothing. I cannot carry out our original plan of

asked quietly. "Is i

Harry exclaimed in surpris

if she told him. It was not likely. Why, here are you staying here and risking your life for us, though we are not related to you and have no claim upon you. And how could Victor run away? But as Marie seemed pleased to think he was safe, I said nothing; but I know, if he had gone, and some day they had been married, I should never have looked

ng hit him so hard, as you may suppose, Jeanne; but the doctor says he thinks it made no difference, and that Victor's delirium is due to the mental shock and not in any

w, tell me about your plans. Could I not take Victor's place and help you to seize Marat? I am not strong, you know; but I co

ther and elder sister to her now. The next plan I thought of was to try and get appointed as a warder in the prison, but that seems full of difficulties, for I know no one who could get me such a berth, and certainly they would not appoint a fellow at

and if you are once in prison you might never get out again; besides, there are lots of other prisons, and there i

is no reason why they should send me there rather than anywhere else. I would kill that villain who arrested her-the scoundrel, after being a guest at the chateau!-but I don't see that would do your sister any good, and would probab

greed it would be a terrible risk to try it, for the

e would be fatal, and I do not think there is any pressing danger just at present. It is hardly likely there will be any repetition of the wholesale work of the 2nd of September; and if they have anything like a trial of the prisoners, there ar

es that do not seem possible when you try to work them out. I do not know whether they let you inside the prisons to sell ever

hook hi

ike that, but if they did it would only be a

but one of them might be bribed

heartened. We can hardly expect to hit upon a scheme at once, and I don't think either of our heads is very clear to-day; let us think it over quietly, and perhaps some other idea may occur to one of us, I expect it will be to you. Now, good-ni

ears as she put her hands into Harry's, and no sou

ese wretches, and danger hanging over herself and Virginie! It isn't that she doesn't feel it. I can see she does, quite as much, if not more, than people who would sit down and howl and wring their hands. She is a trump, Jeanne is, and no mistake. And now about Marie. She must be got out somehow, but how? Tha

oung lady who had been arrested was the fiance of their sick lodger they were greatly interested, but

days; but how could it be done? Even if you made up your mind to be killed, I don't see that would pu

e men who have the keys of the corridors could be bribed, and the guard at

o see if he was in earnest, and s

s we should, no doubt, see our w

we are working for her, and to learn, if possible, from her whether, among those in charge of her, there is one man who shows some sort of feeling of pity and kindness; when that

Martha is a good soul, and I know that sometimes she has been inside the prison, I suppose to see her brother, for before the troubles the warde

think of Martha. She is a good soul

ing my friend; I cannot let you hazard your lives farther. This woman may, as you say, be ready to help us, but her brother mig

ether she can rely completely upon her brother. If she can, we will set her to sound him. Elise will go and s

, Harry went off at once to tell Jeanne that the ou

face brightene

o her. I should like to send her just a line to say tha

t, if the letter falls into wrong hands. Tell her we are working to get her free, and ask if she can suggest any way of escape; knowing the place she may see opportunities

-a few loving words, and the

l know well enough who it comes from, and it is bet

brother, who was still employed in the prison. She had said she was s

o in and out without trouble, except that on leaving they have to be accompanied by the guard at the door, so as to be sure that no one is passing out in disguise. She says her brother is good-natured but very fond of money. He is always ta

nd, when you see her in the morning, that I will give her twenty lou

at offer will set his wits

lling to enter into their plan. Harry had a quiet night of watching, for Victor lay so still that his friend sever

ay wake, recognize you for a few minutes, and then go off in a last stupor; he may wake stronger and with a chance of life. Here is a draught that you wil

n Harry's face, but they had lost the wild expression they had worn while he had lain there, and Harry felt renewed hope as he lifted his head and poured the draug

e in and felt Victor's

w. It will be slow, very slow, but I think he will regain his s

-day Elis

he faubourgs mixed up with the old warders, and there is the greatest vigilance to ensure that none escape. There would be many doors to be opened, and the keys are all held by different persons. He says he will think it over, and if it is any way possible he wil

e man would be able to hit upon a scheme at once; but now that he has gone so far as to agree to carry notes, the

wed with his eyes the movements of those in the room. Once he had said, "Where am I?" but the answer "You are with friends; you have been ill; you shall hear all about it when you get stro

d Harry, Victor?" he had shake

; and after all it is much better that he should remember nothing at presen

not remember me, for had he done so the past might have come back at o

once started off at full speed and soon ha

ore i

know what it

e the letter is addressed to you. Of cou

m. Sit down between me and Virginie and let us re

what was evidently a fly-leaf

thrust into my hand, I found that it was from you, and that you were both safe and well. I am writing this crouched down on the ground behind Madame de Vigny, and so hidden from the sight of our guards, but I can only write a few lines at

h as we like, and sometimes even a joke and a laugh are heard. Every day some names are called out, and these go and we never see them again. Do

at do you think the wretch had the insolence to say? That he loved me, and that if I would consent to marry him he could save me. He said that his influence would suffice, not only to get me free, but to obtain for me some of our estates, and he told me he would give me time to consider his offer, but that I must remember

p with hope. I have none. Strange as it may seem to you we are not very unhappy here. There are many of our old friends and some of the deputies of the Gironde, who used to attend our salon. We keep up

. He will do all that is possible to take you out of this unhappy land and conduct you to England, where you will find Victor, Monsieur du Tillet, and your brothers, who have, I trust, weeks ago ar

walking to the window opened it. As she did so a burning flush of colour swept across her face to her very brow. She folded it

we must not give up hope, for that he believes he may hit upon some plan for saving Marie yet. He says it's only natural th

aid with a quiver in her lip, and

eak down I should lose heart. Do not think of Marie's letter as a good-bye. I have not lost hope yet, by a long way. Why, we have done wonder

ten I give way, but to-day I do not feel quite myself, and this

sk Louise to give you something-your hands are hot and your cheeks are qui

d be the finishing touch to the whole affair; but perhaps, as she says, she will be all right in the morning. No doubt in that note M

ll by a messenger. He saw how things were going, and thought that when the division of the estates came he might get a big slice. However, it's most unfortunate that he should have had this interview with Marie in the prison. If it had not been for that it might h

ing, if she is murdered I will kill him as I would a dog, for he will be her murderer just as much as if he had himself cut her throat. I would do it at onc

, but in most of these the prisoner had been a man, capable of using tools passed in to him to saw through iron bars, pierce walls, or overcome jailers; some had been saved by female relatives, wives or daughters, who went in and exchanged clothes and pl

ang forward just as the man fell, and with his stick struck a sharp blow on the uplifted wrist of one of the assailants, sending the knife he was holding flying through the air. The other

adly hurt?

I think I slipped down; but they woul

ng of some disgust at the abject fear expressed in the tones of the man's voice. He was

"I see you have your coat cut on the shoulder, and are bleeding pretty freely, but it is not

d evidently was careful as to his attire, which was neat and precise. His linen and the ruffles of his shirt were spotlessly white and of fine material. The short-waisted coat was of olive-green cloth, with bright metal butt

ats," he murmured,

ists upon one of the men of the Revolution. He looked more closely at the person whose life he had saved. He had a thin and insignificant figure-his face was pale and looked like that of a student. It seemed to Harry that he had seen it b

t is of some value to France. I live but two streets away. It is not often I am out alone, for I have many enemies, but I was called sud

w not why, with a feeling of repulsion; he had certainly heard i

eg you," the

oor and rang at the bell. A

ed on seeing his face, "you ar

, though, had it not been for this citizen it would have gone har

e birds in cages, which, late though the hour was, hopped on their perches and twittered when

the citizen will take a meal with us. You

lection of your face and voice, but

espierre,

was hated and feared by the Royalists of France. His first feeling was one of loathing and hatred, but at the same moment there flashed through his mind the thought that chance had favoured h

mple in his tastes, and yet very vain and greedy of applause. Domestic and affectionate in his private character, but ready to shed a river of blood in his public capacity. Pure in morals; passionless in his resolves; incorruptible and inflexible; the more dangerous because he had neither pas

thwarted the schemes of the enemies of France. Had you been but ten seconds later I should have ceased to be, a

had rendered Robespierre, or should he retain his present character and obtain Robespierre's confidence? There was danger in an open appeal, for, above all things, Robespierre prided himself upon his incorruptibility, and he mig

rally great at finding that I had unwittingly been the means of saving the life of one on whom the ey

although not perhaps in the sens

t. Indeed it is long past our usual hour, and we were just sitting down when