Part 64 (1/2)

Charlotte replied. ”Robespierre is put under ban of arrest, but the Jacobins and the Sections will go to his rescue. The Commune has declared the country in danger, the tocsin calls the people to arms.”

”Alas, I fear for your husband. He is at the City Hall as a member of the General Council. The Commune is in insurrection against the Convention; if the Commune loses, John will have become an outlaw.”

”My husband will do his duty; the future belongs to G.o.d.”

Suddenly Castillon entered the parlor, crying: ”Good news! The Sections are taking arms and a.s.sembling to march to the Commune, with their cannon; the Jacobins have declared themselves in permanent session.

Robespierre has been taken to the Luxembourg Prison; his brother to St.

Lazare; St. Just to the Scotch Prison; Couthon to La Bourbe; and Lebas to the Chatelet. As I left the City Hall they were discussing the means of rescuing them.”

”You see, mother, the Sections are in the majority, with the Commune.”

”Ah, madam, madam!” cried Gertrude, running in in a fright. ”Don't be too alarmed--Oh, heavens, there he is!”

Hardly had Gertrude uttered these words when advocate Desmarais, pale, half frightened to death, tumbled into the room, crying: ”Save me! In heaven's name!”

And running to his wife and daughter, whom he pressed in his arms, he continued wailing, ”Hide me! They are after me!”

”Fright has unbalanced you, father,” said Charlotte. ”No one is pursuing you.”

Madam Desmarais had hurriedly found a bottle of smelling salts, which she held to the nose of her half-fainting spouse. He recovered his senses, and began again, in a quaking voice: ”Thank you. You are generous. Now, I beseech you both, conceal me somewhere. Charlotte's husband may come back and be accompanied by some member of the General Council. I shall be recognized--arrested--guillotined. Pity me!”

”But, father, your fears are all exaggerated. My husband will not allow you to be arrested in his house.”

At that moment Gertrude, opening a crack of the door, called mysteriously to her mistress:

”Madam, come at once!”

”What is it, Gertrude?” Charlotte asked. ”Who is there?”

”A man of the mounted police demands to speak with you.”

Hearing the nature of the visitor, Monsieur Desmarais flew into a new fit of fear. His mind gave way. He ran to a window and sought to hide by wrapping himself up in the curtains. Charlotte left the room, closing the door behind her. In a second she was back, joyfully waving a paper she held in her hand. ”It is good news, mother. Where's father?”

Madam Desmarais indicated with a gesture the window, the curtains of which revealed the figure of the attorney, and left his feet exposed at the bottom. Then she added, in a low voice: ”If we do not hide your father somehow, he will die of agony and fright.”

”His fright is baseless, but I think you are right about it,” responded Charlotte in the same tone. ”We can take him up to the garret, to the locked room; there he will no doubt feel that he is safe, and his fears will calm down.” And she went to the window where her father, white as a sheet and bathed in a cold sweat, was clinging for support to the window casing.

”That gendarme!” stammered the lawyer. ”What did he want?”

”He just brought me a letter from John. I shall read it to you and mother, after which you will be taken, as you wish, to a retreat, in the top of the house, where you need not fear being seen by a soul. Here is what John wrote me:

”Dearly beloved wife:--All goes well here so far. The General Council of the Commune is almost complete. We are advising on energetic and prompt measures--prompt above all; the Convention, on its side, is not idle. We are in session. The majority of the Sections are with us. We shall receive word in an instant that the suburbs of St. Antoine and Marceau are ready to march; we await their delegates. The City Hall Place is covered with an armed force, furnished with several pieces of artillery, and all crying 'Long live the Republic! Down with the brigands of the Convention!'

Robespierre and his friends are still in prison; we shall deliver them. Be of good cheer, and remember that you live not alone for

”Your

”J. L.

”Tell Castillon to join me as soon as possible. He is a sure man, and I shall need him.”