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offer of twenty-five louis to go to Paris, and a letter of credit. As soon as my honest friend found he could get no more than that, he was mighty anxious to depart; but he condescended to take the despatches. I do not think we shall see any more of him.'

'I do not agree with you. He is like a burr. He sticks.'

'We are quit of him for one night, anyhow. Well, I must be going! Do not come, Lucien. Mademoiselle Jeanne thinks that something is going to happen. I think so, too.'

'The duchess invited me. A royal invitation is a command.'

'I have told her that you are not well enough. They have only laid places for two.'

'You may say what you like. I am well and strong; but if I were a dying man I should go.'

'Well, so should I! But if there were anyone so anxious about me as that pretty girl is about you, I should think twice.'

'I cannot. It is not my habit. And I desire that you will leave my sister's name out of this conversation.'

Good! I have done as I promised her. Make haste! Madame de Charette and the elder mademoiselle de Kersabiec are expected. Brush your hair, for goodness' sake! You look as if you had been sitting in a haystack.'

CHAPTER XXXIV

CAN IT BE?

A LONG ray of the moon lay right across the floor of the chamber, lighting up a great armchair on which the duchess knelt in a position that was unusual with her, her arms folded on the back of it, her white face dreamy with emotion.

Hush!' she said in a whisper. 'Come here. Look! No-do not light the candles.'

Lucien remained beside her.

Guibourg went for

ward and stood looking down into the street.

Everything lay bathed in a flood of silver, everything except the strong, thick walls of the Castle, which had gathered into itself all the blackness that the moon had left, and rose, a fort and stronghold of the dark, against the pure, unclouded sky.

'Too beautiful!' she whispered. 'It will not last.' She sprang down from the chair.

'Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you all to a supper in the moon!' she cried.

Guibourg did not seem to hear, for he stood still in the same attitude. Was it the moon that made him look so pale? Suddenly his voice rang through the

room.

'Fly, Madame, fly!'

The moon was flashing on a line of serried bayonets at the far end of the street. Each moment they were drawing nearer in perfect silence. So dumb they were

that not a child had come to window or door anywhere.

'Five minutes to decide!' said Guibourg.

'The secret chamber

'Yes. There is no choice. Come with me, Stylite— Monsieur de Mesnard-Monsieur Guibourg! We are proscribed. We stand or fall together. Monsieur Sylvestre

'I go with you,' said Lucien.

'No, no. To be found with me is death to you— You are not proscribed.'

"I cannot reach the Castle. I shall compromise these ladies if I stay here.'

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Lucien is right, Madame,' said Guibourg.

De Mesnard was old. He needed a younger arm for the defence.

She reflected.

Madame, there is not a moment to lose.'

'Come, then-but on one condition! I am responsible for the other three-I can protect them. I cannot protect you. Promise me, if any chance of escape offers, that you will take it.'

Promise, for goodness' sake, promise! There is no chance,' added Guibourg in a whisper.

Lucien promised. He saw de Mesnard take a lump or two of sugar from a basin that stood on the table and drop it into his pocket. Monsieur de Mesnard was a person who always thought of breakfast-time at

supper.

'The white portfolio!' cried the duchess. Give me that.'

'The money.'

'It is there already-we keep it there,' said Stylite.

'Quick!'

They dashed up the staircase into the garret. There was nothing in the grate, and by chance the panel had been left open.

'Here-behind the fireplace!

In with you! Go first, Monsieur de Mesnard—to the left, it rises on the left you are the tallest. Monsieur Guibourg—Lucien-Stylite-nonsense, Stylite, go forward! If you were a good tactician, you would know that the general marches last in a retreat.'

Upon her hands and knees she crept behind, and closed and bolted the sliding panel.

'What am admirable contrivance it is!' said Guibourg.

'For rats-yes!'

She laughed nervously.

'Céline would not have let her do it,' thought Lucien. In the thick darkness they were mere voices to each other-scarcely that—for though they knew they could not be heard, they whispered.

For hours, it seemed, they remained silent.

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'How still it is! Are we the only people left alive? Perhaps the Judgment Day has come. In an hour that ye know not- Hark! that was a trumpet!'

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And that was a man,' said Guibourg, as a grinding shriek, 'A bas, Caroline!' made her put her hands to her ears. I think, if Your Royal Highness will forgive me for saying so, the Judgment Day has not come yet.'

'Fiends of Hell!' muttered de Mesnard, as the thunder of shouts and execrations redoubled.

'Oh to be at the throat of one of them!' Guibourg clenched his fists.

'I did not know that I was hated so much.' 'No one could be loved as you are-and not hated,' said Lucien, so that she only should hear.

He began to understand the sensations of the blind. On the further side of the panel there were no visible men-there were blows and voices; on his own side, whispers merely. They pressed against each other; each felt the other tremble. They thought the house was coming down about their ears in the uproar that followed. Stamping, trampling, banging, swearing, screaming— I shall be deaf next!' thought Lucien. 'Have they let loose the Mad Asylum?'

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'Impossible! There is no one to fight with.'

A stern voice made itself heard from below. 'Dog! idiot! There is no knowing what a policeinspector will do next. Shot his own elbow, did he? Order! order! or I shoot every one of you.'

A momentary lull; the storm broke forth again with greater fury. There was a sound of crashing glass, of crockery smashed on the ground.

"Order, I say!' cried the same indignant voice.

'Take the maid to the barracks of the gendarmerie. Interrogate her there!'

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She is as safe as her mistresses. She loves me. Marie will never tell,' said Madame.

' Escort Mademoiselle de Kersabiec and her sister to their own house,' continued the voice. 'Do not leave them.'

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And her sister"?' whispered Stylite. Ah, yes, I understand! Madame de Charette has taken my name.'

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