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wish； but I think that it will prove convincing enough to the dull
wits of the landlady； and of such of Charlot's followers as may enter
here。 I am afraid；〃 he deplored； 〃that it will be some time before
he recovers。 He was so far gone in wine that it needed little weight
to fell him。〃
Her glance met his once more； and she took a step towards him with
hands outstretched。
〃Monsieur； Monsieur！〃 she cried。 〃If you but knew how in my thoughts
I wronged you a little while ago。〃
〃You had all reason to；〃 he answered； taking her hands； and there
came the least softening of his stern countenance。 〃It grieved me
to add to your affliction。 But had I permitted him to do so much as
suspect that I was anything but your implacable enemy； I had no
chance of saving you。 He would have dismissed me； and I must have
obeyed or been compelled； for he is master here； and has men enough
to enforce what he desires。〃
And now she would have thanked him for having saved her； but he cut
her short almost roughly。
〃You owe me no thanks；〃he said。 〃I have but done for you what my
manhood must have bidden me do for any woman similarly situated。 For
to…night I have saved you； Citoyenne。 I shall make an effort to
smuggle you and your mother out of Boisvert before morning； but after
that you must help yourselves。〃
〃You will do this？〃 she cried； her eyes glistening。
〃I will attempt it。〃
〃By what means； Monsieur Caron？〃
〃I do not yet know。 I must consider。 In the meantime you had best
return to your coach。 Later to…night I shall have you and your
mother brought to me； and I will endeavour to so arrange matters
that you shall not again return to your carriage。
〃Not return to it？〃 she exclaimed。 〃But are we then to leave it
here？〃
〃I am afraid there is no help for that。〃
〃But； Monsieur； you do not know； there is a treasure in that carriage。
All that we have is packed in it； and if we go without it we go
destitute。〃
〃Better； perhaps； to go destitute than not to go at all； Mademoiselle。
I am afraid there is no choice for you。〃
His manner was a trifle impatient。 It irritated him that in such a
moment she should give so much thought to her valuables。 But in
reality she was thinking of them inasmuch as they concerned her
mother； who was below； and her father and brother who awaited them
in Prussia； whither they had separately emigrated。 The impatience
in his tone stung her into a feeling of resentment； that for the
moment seemed to blot out the much that she owed him。 A reproachful
word was trembling on her lips； when suddenly he put out his hand。
〃Hist！〃 he whispered； the concentrated look of one who listens
stamped upon his face。 His sharp ears had detected some sound which
… perhaps through her preoccupation … she had not noticed。 He
stepped quickly to the Captain's side； and taking up the lamp by its
chain； he leapt into the air like a clown； and came down on his heels
with a thud that shook the chamber。 Simultaneously he dropped the
lamp with a clatter； and sent a shout re…echoing through the house。
The girl stared at him with parted lips and the least look of fear
in her eyes。 Was he gone clean mad of a sudden？
But now the sound which had warned him of someone's approach reached
her ears as well。 There were steps on the stairs； which at that
alarming noise were instantly quickened。 Yet ere they had reached
the top La Boulaye was at the door vociferating wildly。
Into the room came the hostess； breathless and grinning with anxiety；
and behind her came Guyot； who； startled by the din； had hastened up
to inquire into its cause。
At sight of the Captain stretched upon the floor there was a scream
from Mother Capoulade and an oath from the soldier。
〃Mon Dieu！ what has happened？〃 she cried； hurrying forward。
〃Miserable！〃 exclaimed La Boulaye； with well…feigned anger。 〃It
seems that your wretched hovel is tumbling to pieces； and that men
are not safe beneath its roof。〃 And he indicated the broken plaster
and the fallen lamp。
〃How did it happen； Citoyenne…deputy？〃 asked Guyot； for all that he
drew the only possible inference from what he saw。
〃Can you not see how it happened？〃 returned La Boulaye； impatiently。
〃As for you； wretched woman； you will suffer for it； I promise you。
The nation is likely to demand a high price for Captain Charlot's
injuries。〃
〃But； bon Dieu； how am I to blame？〃 wailed the frightened woman。
〃To blame；〃 echoed La Boulaye； in a furious voice。 〃Are you not to
blame that you let rooms in a crazy hovel？ Let them to emigres as
much as you will； but if you let them to good patriots and thereby
endanger their lives you must take the consequences。 And the
consequences in this case are likely to be severe； malheureuse。〃
He turned now to Guyot； who was kneeling by the Captain； and looking
to his hurt。
〃Here； Guyot；〃he commanded sharply； 〃reconduct the Citoyenne to her
coach。 I will perhaps see her again later； when the Captain shall
have recovered consciousness。 You； Citoyenne Capoulade； assist me
to carry him to bed。〃
Each obeyed him； Guyot readily； as became a soldier； and the hostess
trembling with the dread which La Boulaye's words had instilled into
her。 They got Charlot to bed； and when a half…hour or so later he
recovered consciousness； it was to find Guyot watching at his bed…side。
Bewildered； he demanded an explanation of his present position and of
the pain in his head； which brought him the memory of a sudden and
unaccountable blow he had received； which was the last thing that he
remembered。 Guyot； who had never for a moment entertained a doubt
of the genuineness of the mise…en…scene La Boulaye had prepared；
answered him with the explanation of how he had been struck by the
falling lamp； whereupon Charlot fell to cursing lamps and crumblings
with horrid volubility。 That done he would have risen； but that La
Boulaye； entering at that moment； insisted that he should remain
abed。
〃Are you mad？〃 the Deputy expostulated； 〃or is it that you do not
appreciate the nature of your hurt？ Diable！ I have known a man
die through insisting to be about with a cracked skull that was as
nothing to yours。〃
〃Name of a name！ gasped Charlot； who in such matters was profoundly
ignorant and correspondingly credulous。 〃Is it so serious？〃
〃Not serious if you lie still and sleep。 You will probably be quite
well by to…morrow。 But if you move to…night the consequences may
well be fatal。〃
〃But I cannot sleep at this hour；〃the Captain complained。 〃I am very
wakeful；〃
〃We will try to find you a sleeping potion； then；〃said La Boulaye。
〃I hope the hosteen may have something that will answer the purpose。
Meanwhile； Guyot； do not allow the Captain to talk。 If you would
have him well to…morrow； remember that it is of the first importance
that he should have utter rest tonight。〃
With that he went in quest of Dame Capoulade to ascertain whether
she possessed any potion that would induce sleep。 He told her that
the Captain was seriously injured； and that unless he slept he might
die； and； quickened by the terror of what might befall her in such
a case； the woman p