Part 60 (2/2)
Yet in those early days of August, after her husband's departure the effect of his inspiring words was gradually dissipated by the march of events under madame's own eyes And finally on the afternoon of the ninth, there arrived at the Hotel Plougastel aa note froently bade mademoiselle join him there at once, and advised her hostess to accompany her
You may have realized that M de Kercadiou was of those who e placed him on terms of equality withbetween the rustic and the bourgeois--and his natural affability placed hiood terms with those who by birth were his inferiors
In Meudon he was known and esteeane, the friendly ust of the stor of ly advised him to withdraw her froht be a zone of danger for all persons of quality, particularly those suspected of connections with the Court party
Now there was no doubt whatever of Mastel's connection with the Court It was not even to be doubted--indeed, ilant and ubiquitous secret societies that watched over the cradle of the young revolution were fully inforastel to Coblenz, and entertained no illusions on the score of the reason for thele that was preparing, the position in Paris of Mer, and that danger would be shared by any guest of birth at her hotel
M de Kercadiou's affection for both those wo Hence that hastily dispatched note, desiring his niece and i his friend to come at once to Meudon
The friendly mayor carried his complaisance a step farther, and dispatched the letter to Paris by the hands of his own son, an intelligent lad of nineteen It was late in the afternoon of that perfect August day when young Rougane presented hiraciously received by Mastel in the salon, whose splendours, when coreat air of the lady herself, overwhelmed the lad's simple, unsophisticated soul Madaent e no more than confirmed her own fears and inclinations She decided upon instant departure
”Bien, madame,” said the youth ”Then I have the honour to take o First to the kitchen to refresh himself, whilst she and madee as far as Meudon She could not suffer hih in all the circumstances it was no more than his due, yet the kindliness that in such a ht for another was presently to be rewarded Had she done less than this, she would have known--if nothing worse--at least soreater than those that were already in store for her
It wanted, perhaps, a half-hour to sunset when they set out in her carriage with intent to leave Paris by the Porte Saint-Martin
They travelled with a single footiven a seat inside the carriage with the ladies, and proceeded to fall in love with Mlle de Kercadiou, who he had ever seen, yet who talked to hi went to his head a little, and disturbed certain republican notions which he had hitherto conceived hie drew up at the barrier, checked there by a picket of the National Guard posted before the iron gates
The sergeant in command strode to the door of the vehicle The Countess put her head from the
”The barrier is closed, madame,” she was curtly infor was incredible ”But but do you mean that we cannot pass?”
”Not unless you have a pereant leaned nonchalantly on his pike ”The orders are that no one is to leave or enter without proper papers”
”Whose orders?”
”Orders of the Coo into the country this evening” Madame's voice was almost petulant ”I am expected”
”In that case let madame procure a permit”
”Where is it to be procured?”
”At the Hotel de Ville or at the headquarters of madame's section”
She considered a ood as to tell my coachman to drive to the Bondy Section”
He saluted her and stepped back ”Section Bondy, Rue des Morts,” he bade the driver
Madaitation fully shared by ane set himself to pacify and reassure them The section would put the matter in order They would most certainly be accorded a per them? A mere formality, after all!