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farewells； the Vicomte besought the aid of Suzanne。 He was； he
wrote； in the hands of men who might be bribed； and since she was
rich … for he knew of the treasure with which she had escaped … he
based his hopes upon her employing a portion of her riches to
obtaining his enlargement。 She； he continued； was his only hope；
and for the sake of their love； for the sake of their common
nobility； he besought her not to fail him now。 Carried away by
the piteousness of his entreaties the tears welled up to his eyes
and trickled down his cheeks； one or two of them finding their
way to the paper thus smearing it with an appeal more piteous still
if possible than that of his maudlin words。
At last the letter was ended。 He sealed it with a wafer and wrote
the superscription：
〃To Mademoiselle de Bellecour。 At the 'Hotel des Trois Rois；'
Treves。〃
He announced the completion of his task； and La Boulaye bade him go
join Des Cadoux at the next table and take some food before setting
out； whilst the Deputy himself now sat down to write。
〃Citoyenne；' he wrote； 〃the man to whom you are betrothed； for whose
sake you stooped to treachery and attempted murder； is in my hands。
Thus has Heaven set it in my power to punish you； if the knowledge
that he travels to the guillotine is likely to prove a punishment。
If you would rescue him； come to me in Paris； and； conditionally；
I may give you his life。〃
That； he thought should humble her。 He folded his letter round
Ombreval's and having sealed the package； he addressed it as Ombreval
had addressed his own missive。
〃Garin；〃 he commanded briefly； 〃remove the Citizen Ombreval。〃
When he had been obeyed； and Garin had conducted the Vicomte from
the room； La Boulaye turned again to Des Cadoux。 They were alone；
saving the two soldiers guarding the door。
The old man rose； and making the sign of the cross； he stepped
forward； calm and intrepid of bearing。
〃Monsieur；〃 he announced to La Boulaye； who was eyeing him with the
faintest tinge of surprise； 〃I am quite ready。〃
〃Have you always been so devout； Citizen？〃 inquired the Deputy。
〃Alas！ no Monsieur。 But there comes a time in the life of every
man when； for a few moments at least； he is prone to grow mindful
of the lessons learnt in childhood。〃
The surprise increased in La Boulaye's countenance。 At last he
shrugged his shoulders； after the manner of one who abandons a
problem that has grown too knotty。
〃Citizen des Cadoux；〃 said he； 〃I have deliberated that since I
have received no orders from Paris concerning you； and also since
I am not by profession a catch…poll there is no reason whatever why
I should carry you to Paris。 In fact； Citizen； I know of no reason
why I should interfere with your freedom at all。 On the contrary
when I recall the kindness you sought to do me that day； years ago；
at Bellecour； I find every reason why I should further your escape
from the Revolutionary tribunal。 A horse； Citizen； stands ready
saddled for you； and you are free to depart； with the one condition；
however； that you will consent to become my courier for once； and
carry a letter for me … a matter which should occasion you； I think；
no deviation from your journey。〃
The old dandy； in whose intrepid spirit the death which he had
believed imminent had occasioned no trembling； turned pale as La
Boulaye ceased。 His blue eyes were lifted almost timidly to the
Deputy's face； and his lip quivered。
〃You are not going to have me shot； then？〃 he faltered。
〃Shot？〃 echoed La Boulaye； and then he remembered the precise words
of the request which Des Cadoux had preferred the night before； but
which； at the time； he had treated lightly。 〃Ma foi； you do not
flatter me！〃 he cried。 〃Am I a murderer； then？ Come； come；
Citizen； here is the letter that you are to carry。 It is addressed
to Mademoiselle de Bellecour； at Treves； and encloses Ombreval's
farewell epistle to that lady。〃
〃But； gladly； Monsieur；〃 exclaimed Des Cadoux。
And then； as if to cover his sudden access of emotion； of which he
was most heartily ashamed； he fumbled for his snuff…box； and；
having found it； he took an enormous pinch。
They parted on the very best of terms did these two … the aristocrat
and the Revolutionary … actuated by a mutual esteem tempered in each
case with gratitude。
When at last Des Cadoux had taken a sympathetic leave of Ombreval
and departed； Caron ordered the Vicomte to be brought before him
again； and at the same time bade his men make ready for the road。
〃Citizen；〃 said La Boulaye； 〃we start for Paris at once。 If you
will pass me your word of honour to attempt no escape you shall
travel with us in complete freedom and with all dignity。〃
Ombreval looked at him with insolent surprise； his weak supercilious
mouth growing more supercilious even than its wont。 He had recovered
a good deal of his spirit by now。
〃Pass you my word of honour？〃 he echoed。 〃Mon Dieu！ my good fellow
a word of honour is a bond between gentlemen。 I think too well of
mine to pass it to the first greasy rascal of the Republic that
asks it of me。〃
La Boulaye eyed him a second with a glance before which the
aristocrat grew pale； and already regretted him of his words。 The
veins in the Deputy's temples were swollen。
〃I warned you；〃 said he； in a dull voice。 Then to the soldiers
standing on either side of Ombreval … 〃Take him out；〃 he said；
〃mount him on horseback。 Let him ride with his hands pinioned
behind his back； and his feet lashed together under the horse's
belly。 Attend to it！〃
〃Monsieur；〃 cried the young man； in an appealing voice；〃 I will give
you my word of honour not to escape。 I will … 〃
〃Take him out；〃 La Boulaye repeated； with a dull bark of contempt。
〃You had your chance； Citizen…aristocrat。〃
Ombreval set his teeth and clenched his hands。
〃Canaille！〃 he snarled； in his fury。
〃Hold！〃 Caron called after the departing men。
They obeyed； and now this wretched Vicomte； of such unstable spirit
dropped all his anger again； as suddenly as he had caught it up。
Fear paled his cheek and palsied his limbs once more； for La
Boulaye's expression was very terrible。
〃You know what I said that I would have done to you if you used that
word again？〃 La Boulaye questioned him coldly。
〃I … I was beside myself； Monsieur；〃 the other gasped； in the
intensity of his fear。 And at the sight of his pitiable condition
the anger fell away from La Boulaye； and he smiled scornfully。
〃My faith；〃 he sneered。 〃You are hot one moment and cold the next。
Citizen； I am afraid that you are no better than a vulgar coward。
Take him away；〃 he ended； waving his hand towards the door； and as
he watched them leading him out he reflected bitterly that this was
the man to whom Suzanne was betrothed … the man whom； not a doubt
of it； she loved； since for him she had stooped so low。 This
miserable craven she preferred to him； because the man； so ignoble
of nature； was noble by the accident of birth。
PART III
THE EVERLASTING RULE
Love rules the court； the camp； the grove；
And men below and saints above；
For love is Heaven and Heaven is love。