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〃By no means；〃 she answered； her voice quivering。 〃It seems as if
a man's life will be required for that。〃
He shrugged his shoulders； and his face put on a look of annoyance。
〃I hope； Mademoiselle； that you are not proposing to introduce
sentimentality。 I think you would be better advised to leave that
vulgarity to the vulgar。〃
〃I do not propose to pursue the discussion at all； Monsieur；〃 was
her chilly answer。
〃The way of woman；〃 he reflected aloud。 〃Let her find that she is
being worsted in argument； and she calmly tells you that she has
no mind to pursue it。 But； Mademoiselle； will you tell me at least
what you intend？〃
〃What do I intend？〃 she questioned。 〃What choice have we？〃
〃Whenever we are asked to follow a given course； we have always the
choice between two alternatives；〃 he theorised。 〃We can comply；
or not comply。〃
〃In the present instance I am afraid your rule is inapplicable。
There is no room for any alternative。 We can do nothing but wait。〃
She looked at him impatiently； and wearily she sank on to a chair。
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； as calmly as might be；〃 I am almost distracted
by my thoughts as it is。 I don't know whether you are seeking to
complete the rout of my senses。 Let me beg of you at least not to
deal in riddles with me。 The time is ill…chosen。 Tell me bluntly
what is in your mind； if； indeed； anything。〃
He turned from her peevishly； and crossed to the window。 The
twilight was descending； and the little garden was looking grey in
the now pallid light。 Her seeming obtuseness was irritating him。
〃Surely； Mademoiselle；〃 he exclaimed at last； 〃it is not necessary
that I should tell you what other course is open to us？ It is a
matter for our choice whether we depart at once。 We have a
passport； and … and； enfin； every hour that we remain here our
danger is increased； and our chances of escape are lessened。〃
〃Ah！〃 She breathed the syllable contemptuously。 〃And what of La
Boulaye？〃
〃Pooh！ he says himself that he is in no great danger。 He is among
his fellows。 Leave him to extricate himself。 After all； it is his
fault that we are here。 Why should we endanger our necks by waiting
his convenience？〃
〃But surely you forget what he has done for us。 You are forgetting
that he has rescued you from the guillotine； dragged you out of the
very jaws of death。 Do you think that to forsake him now would be
a fair； an honest return？〃
〃But name of a name；〃 rasped the Vicomte； 〃does he not say that he
is far from despairing？ His position is not half so dangerous as
ours。 If we are taken； there will be an end of us。 With him matters
are far from being so bad。 He is one of the rabble himself； and the
rabble will look after its own。〃
She rose impatiently。
〃Monsieur； I am afraid the subject is not one that we may profitably
discuss。 I shall obey the voice of my conscience in the matter； and
I shall wait until we hear again from La Boulaye。 That is the
message I am about to return him by his servant。
The Vicomte watched her fling out of the room； and his weak face was
now white with anger。 He rapped out an oath as he turned to the
window again。
〃Mad！〃 he muttered； through…set teeth。 〃Mad as a sun…struck dog。
The troubles she has lately seen have turned her head … never a
difficult matter with a woman。 She talks as if she had been reading
Rousseau on the 'Right of man'。 To propose to endanger our lives
for the sake of that scum； La Boulaye！ Ciel！ It passes belief。〃
But it was in vain that he was sullen and resentful。 Suzanne's mind
entertained no doubt of what she should do； and she had her way in
the matter； sending back Brutus with the message that she would wait
until La Boulaye communicated with her again。
That night Caron slept tranquilly。 He had matured a plan of escape
which he intended to carry out upon the morrow； and with confident
hope to cradle him he had fallen asleep。
But the morrow … early in the forenoon … brought a factor with which
he had not reckoned； in the person of the Incorruptible himself。
Robespierre had returned in hot haste to Paris upon receiving
Varennes' message； and he repaired straight to the house of La
Boulaye。
Caron was in his dressing…gown when Robespierre was ushered into
his study； and the sight of that greenish complexion and the small
eyes； looking very angry and menacing； caused the song that the
young man had been humming to fade on his lips。
〃You； Maximilien！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Your cordial welcome flatters me；〃 sneered the Incorruptible；
coming forward。 Then with a sudden change of voice： 〃What is that
they tell me you have done； miserable？〃 he growled。
It would have been a madness on Caron's part to have increased an
anger that was already mounting to very passionate heights。
Contritely； therefore； and humbly he acknowledged his fault； and
cast himself upon the mercy of Robespierre。
But the Incorruptible was not so easily to be shaken。
〃Traitor that you are！〃 he inveighed。 〃Do you imagine that because
it is yours to make high sounding speeches in the Convention you
are to conspire with impunity against the Nation？ Your loyalty； it
seems； is no more than a matter of words； and they that would keep
their heads on their shoulders in France to…day will find the need
for more than words as their claim to be let live。 If you would
save your miserable neck； tell me what you have done with this
damned aristocrat。〃
〃He is gone；〃 answered La Boulaye quietly。
〃Don't prevaricate； Caron！ Don't seek to befool me； Citizen…deputy。
You have him in hiding somewhere。 You can have supplied him with
no papers； and a man may not travel out of France without them in
these times。 Tell me … where is he？〃
〃Gone；〃 repeated La Boulaye。 〃I have set him free； and he has
availed himself of it to place himself beyond your reach。 More
than that I cannot tell you。〃
〃Can you not？〃 snarled Robespierre； showing his teeth。 〃Of what
are you dreaming fool？ Do you think that I will so easily see
myself cheated of this dog？ Did I not tell you that rather would
I grant you the lives of a dozen aristocrats than that of this
single one？ Do you think； then； that I am so lightly to be
baulked？ Name of God？ Who are you； La Boulaye； what are you；
that you dare thwart me in this？〃 He looked at the young man's
impassive face to curb his anger。 〃Come； Caron；〃 he added； in a
wheedling tone。 〃Tell me what you have done with him？〃
〃I have already told you；〃 answered the other quietly。
As swift and suddenly as it changed before did Robespierre's humour
change again upon receiving that reply。 With a snort of anger he
strode to the door and threw it open。
〃Citizen…lieutenant！〃 he called； in a rasping voice。
〃Here； Citizen；〃 came a voice from below。
〃Give yourself the trouble of coming up with a couple of men。 Now；
Citizen La Boulaye；〃 he said； more composedly； as he turned once
more to the young man； 〃since you will not learn reason you may
mount the guillotine in his place。〃
Caron paled slightly as he inclined his head in silent submission。
At that moment the officer entered with his men at his heels。