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these poor victims； the third； a very elegant gentleman in a green
coat and buckskin breeches； leant nonchalantly upon the rail of the
tumbril and exchanged gibes with the people。 All five of them were
in the prime of life； and； by their toilettes and the air that clung
to them； belonged unmistakably to the noblesse。
One glance did Mademoiselle bestow upon that tragic spectacle； then
with a shudder she drew back； her face going deathly white。
〃Why did you bid me look？〃 she moaned。
〃That for yourself you might see；〃 he answered pitilessly； 〃the
road by which your lover is to journey。〃
〃Mon Dieu！〃 she cried； wringing her hands； 〃it is horrible。 Oh！
You are not men； you Revolutionists。 You are beasts of prey； tigers
in human semblance。〃
He shrugged his shoulders。
〃Great injustices beget great reactions。 Great wrongs can only be
balanced by great wrongs。 For centuries the power has lain with
the aristocrats； and they have most foully abused it。 For centuries
the people of France have writhed beneath the armed heel of the
nobility； and their blood； unjustly and wantonly shed； has saturated
the soil until from that seed has sprung this overwhelming
retribution。 Now … now； when it is too late … you are repenting；
now； when at last some twenty…five million Frenchmen have risen with
weapons in their hands to purge the nation of you。 We are no worse
than were you； indeed； not so bad。 It is only that we do in a little
while … and； therefore； while it lasts in greater quantity … what
you have been doing through countless generations。〃
〃Spare me these arguments； Monsieur；〃 she cried； recovering her
spirit。 〃The 'whys' and 'wherefores' of it are nothing to me。 I
see what you are doing； and that is enough。 But；〃 and her voice
grew gentle and pleading； her hands were held out to him； 〃you are
good at heart； Monsieur； you are generous and you can be noble。 You
will give me the life that I have come to beg of you； the life you
promised me。〃
〃Yes； but upon terms； Mademoiselle； and those terms you have heard。〃
She looked a moment into that calm； set face； into the dark grey
eyes that looked so solemn and betrayed so little of what was
passing within。
〃And you say that you love me？〃 she cried。
〃Helas！〃 he sighed。 〃It is a weakness I cannot conquer。
〃Look well down into your heart； M。 La Boulaye；〃 she answered him；〃
and you will find how egregious is your error。 You do not love me；
you love yourself； and only yourself。 If you loved me you would not
seek to have me when I am unwilling。 Above all things； you would
desire my happiness … it is ever so when we truly love … and you
would seek to promote it。 If； indeed； you loved me you would grant
my prayer； and not torture me as you are doing。 But since you only
love yourself； you minister only to yourself； and seek to win me by
force since you desire me。〃
She ceased； and her eyes fell before his glance； which remained
riveted upon her face。 Immovable he stood a moment or two； then
he turned from her with a little sigh； and leaning his elbow upon
the window…sill； he gazed down into the crowds surging about the
second tumbril。 But although he saw much there that was calculated
to compel attention； he heeded nothing。 His thoughts were very busy；
and he was doing what Mademoiselle had bidden him。 He was looking
into himself。 And from that questioning he gathered not only that
he loved her； but that he loved her so well and so truly that … in
spite even of all that was passed … he must do her will； and deliver
up to her the man she loved。
His resolve was but half taken when he heard her stirring in the
room behind him。 He turned sharply to find that she had gained the
door。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 he called after her。 She stopped； and as she
turned； he observed that her lashes were wet。 But in her heart
there arose now a fresh hope； awakened by the name by which he had
recalled her。 〃Whither are you going？〃 he asked。
〃Away； Monsieur；〃 she answered。 〃I was realising that my journey
had indeed been in vain。〃
He looked at her a second in silence。 Then stepping forward：
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said； very quietly； 〃your arguments have
prevailed； and it shall be as you desire。 The ci…devant Vicomte
d'Ombreval shall go free。〃
Her face seemed to grow of a sudden paler； and for an instant she
stood still as if robbed of understanding。 Then she came forward
with hands outheld。
〃 aid I not that you were good and generous？ Said I not that you
could be noble； Monsieur？〃 she cried； as she caught his resisting
hand and sought to carry it to her lips。 〃God will bless you；
Monsieur … 〃
He drew his hand away； but without roughness。 〃Let us say no more；
Mademoiselle；〃 he begged。
〃But I will；〃 she answered him。 〃I am not without heart； Monsieur；
and now that you have given me this proof of the deep quality of
your love； I … 〃 She paused； as if at a loss for words。
〃Well； Mademoiselle？〃 he urged her。
〃I have it in my heart to wish that … that it were otherwise；〃 she
said； her cheeks reddening under his gaze。 〃If it were not that I
account myself in honour bound to wed M。 le Vicomte … 〃
〃Stop！〃 he interrupted her。 He had caught at last the drift of
what she was saying。 〃There is no need for any comedy； Suzanne。
Enough of that had we at Boisvert。〃
〃It is not comedy；〃 she cried with heat。 〃It was not altogether
comedy at Boisvert。〃
〃True；〃 he said； wilfully misunderstanding her that he might the
more easily dismiss the subject；〃 it went nearer to being tragedy。〃
Then abruptly he asked her：
〃Where are you residing？〃
She paused before replying。 She still wanted to protest that some
affection for him dwelt in her heart； although curbed （to a greater
extent even than she was aware） by the difference in their stations；
and checked by her plighted word to Ombreval。 At last； abandoning
a purpose which his countenance told her would be futile：
〃I am staying with my old nurse at Choisy；〃 she answered him。
〃Henriette Godelliere is her name。 She is well known in the village；
and seems in good favour with the patriots； so that I account myself
safe。 I am believed to be her niece from the country。〃
〃Hum！〃 he snorted。 〃The Citoyenne Godelliere's niece from the
country in silks？〃
〃That is what someone questioned； and she answered that it was a
gown plundered from the wardrobe of some emigrated aristocrats。〃
〃Have a care； Suzanne；〃 said he。 〃The times are dangerous； and it
is a matter of a week ago since a man was lanterne for no other
reason than because he was wearing gloves； which was deemed an
aristocratic habit。 Come； Mademoiselle； let us gather up your gems。
You were going without them some moments ago。〃
And down upon his knees he went； and； taking up the little bag
which had been left where he had flung it； he set himself to
restore the jewels to it。 She came to his assistance； in spite of
his protestations； and so； within a moment or two； the task was
completed； and the little treasure was packed away in the bosom
of her gown。
〃To…morrow；〃 he said； as he took his leave of her at the door； 〃I
shall hope to bring the ci…