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your virtuous； prudish； incorruptible uncle … say when he learns of
it？ If he does not demand a heavy price from you for so dishonouring
him； he is not the man I deem him。 Now be sensible； child； and open
that door while there is yet time； and before anybody discovers us
in this most compromising situation。〃
He struck the tone most likely to win him obedience； and that he
had judged astutely her face showed him。 In the place of the anger
that had distorted it there came now into that countenance a look
of surprise and fear。 She saw herself baffled at every point。 She
had threatened him with Duplay … the only man available … and he had
shown her how futile it must prove to summon him。 And now she had
locked herself in with him； thinking to sit there until he should do
her will； and he showed her the danger to herself therein； which had
escaped her notice。
There was a settle close behind her； and on to this she sank； and
bending her head she opened the floodgates of her passionate little
soul； and let the rage that had so long possessed her dissolve in
tears。 At sight of that sudden change of front La Boulaye stamped
his foot。 He appreciated the fact that she was about to fight him
with weapons that on a previous occasion … when； however； it is
true； they were wielded by another … had accomplished his undoing。
And for all that he steeled his heart； and evoked the memory of
Suzanne to strengthen him in his purpose： he approached her with a
kindly exterior。 He sat him down beside her； he encompassed her
waist with his arm； and drawing her to him he set himself to soothe
her as one soothes a wilful child。 Had he then recalled what her
attitude had been towards him in the past he had thought twice
before adopting such a course。 But in his mind there was no
sentiment that was not brotherly； and far from his wishes was it
to invest his action with any other than a fraternal kindness。
But she； feeling that caressing arm about her； and fired by it in
her hapless passion for this man； was quick to misinterpret him；
and to translate his attitude into one of a kindness far beyond his
dreams。 She nestled closer to him； at his bidding her weeping died
down and ceased。
〃There； Cecile； you will give me the key now？〃 he begged。
She glanced up at him shyly through wet lashes … as peeps the sun
through April clouds。
〃There is nothing I will not do for you； Caron；〃 she murmured。 〃See；
I will even help you to play the traitor on my uncle。 For you love
me a little； cher Caron； is it not so？〃
He felt himself grow cold from head to foot； and he grew sick at
the thought that by the indiscretion of his clumsy sympathy he had
brought this down upon his luckless head。 Mechanically his arm
relaxed the hold of her waist and fell away。 Instinctively she
apprehended that all was not as she had thought。 She turned on the
seat to face him squarely； and caught something of the dismay in
his glance of the loathing almost （for what is more loathsome to a
man than to be wooed by a woman he desires not？） Gradually； inch
by inch； she drew away from him； ever facing him； and her eyes ever
on his； as if fascinated by the horror of what she saw。 Thus until
the extremity of the settle permitted her to go no farther。 She
started； then her glance flickered down； and she gave a sudden gasp
of passion。 Simultaneously the key rang on the boards at Caron's
feet angrily flung there by Cecile。
〃Go！〃 she exclaimed； in a suffocating voice； 〃and never let me see
your face again。〃
For a second or two he sat quite still； his eyes observing her with
a look of ineffable pity； which might have increased her disorder
had she perceived it。 Then slowly he stooped； and took up the key。
He rose from the settle； and without a word … for words he realised；
could do no more than heighten the tragic banality of the situation
… he went to the door； unlocked it； and passed out。
Huddled in her corner sat Cecile； listening until his steps had died
away on the stairs。 Then she cast herself prone upon the settle；
and in a frenzy of sobs and tears she vented some of the rage and
shame that were distracting her。
CHAPTER XX
THE GRATITUDE OF OMBREVAL
What La Boulaye may have lacked in knowledge of woman's ways he made
up for by his knowledge of Cecile； and from this he apprehended that
there was no time to be lost if he would carry out his purpose。
Touching her dismissal of him； he permitted himself no illusions。
He rated it at its true value。 He saw in it no sign of relenting
of generosity； but only a desire to put an end to the shame which
his presence was occasioning her。
He could imagine the lengths to which the thirst of vengeance would
urge a scorned woman； and of all women he felt that Cecile scorned
was the most to be feared。 She would not sit with folded hands。
Once she overcame the first tempestuous outburst of her passion she
would be up and doing； straining every sense to outwit and thwart
him in his project； whose scope she must have more than guessed。
Reasoning thus； he clearly saw not only that every moment was of
value； but that flight was the only thing remaining him if he would
save himself as well as Ombreval。 And so he hired him a cabriolet；
and drove in all haste to the house of Billaud Varennes； the Deputy；
from whom he sought to obtain one of the two signatures still
needed by his order of release。 He was disappointed at learning
that Varennes was not at home … though； had he been able to peep an
hour or so into the future； he would have offered up thanks to
Heaven for that same Deputy's absence。 His insistent and impatient
questions elicited the information that probably Verennes would be
found at Fevrier's。 And so to Fevrier's famous restaurant in the
old Palais Royal went La Boulaye； and there he had the good fortune
to find not only Billaud Varennes； but also the Deputy Carnot。 Nor
did fortune end her favours there。 She was smiling now upon Caron；
as was proved by the fact that neither to Varennes nor Carnot did
the name of Ombreval mean anything。 Robespierre's subscription of
the document was accepted by each as affording him a sufficient
warrant to append his own signature； and although Carnot asked a
question or two； it was done in an idle humour； and he paid little
attention to such replies as Caron made him。
Within five minutes of entering the restaurant； La Boulaye was in
the street again； driving； by way of the Pont Neuf； to the Luxembourg。
At the prison he encountered not the slightest difficulty。 He was
known personally to the officer； of whom he demanded the person of
the ci…devant Vicomte； and his order of release was too correct to
give rise to any hesitation on the part of the man to whom it was
submitted。 He was left waiting a few moments in a chamber that did
duty as a guard…room； and presently the Vicomte； looking pale； and
trembling with excitement at his sudden release； stood before him。
〃You？〃 he muttered； upon beholding La Boulaye。 But the Republican
received him very coldly； and hurried him out of the prison with
scant ceremony。
The officer attended the Deputy to th