Part 57 (1/2)

”You have come in time, colonel, to do me a great service,” he said.

”Now give me a weapon, and let me take part in any further fight.”

Tournay gave him a pistol. St. Hilaire went to the side of Madame d'Arlincourt. The crowd began again to surge around the soldiers threateningly.

”Let the guillotine go on!” ”Let the executioner finish his work!” were the cries from all sides.

”Citizens,” yelled Sanson, who had risen to his feet and was now rubbing his bruised sides, ”you are a thousand. They are only a few soldiers.

Take back the prisoners and I will execute them.”

”Make ready--aim,” was Colonel Tournay's quick command. The muskets clicked; the crowd fell back. ”Fix bayonets, forward march.” And through the press Colonel Tournay bore those whom he had saved from the guillotine.

No organized attempt was made to attack them, and the party proceeded to the Rue d'Arcis unmolested. Here Tournay turned to his captain.

”Dessarts, leave a file of men here and take the others back to their barracks for repose, but hold them subject to immediate orders.”

”Very good, my colonel,” and the soldiers were marched away.

Madame d'Arlincourt showed signs of succ.u.mbing to the effects of the terrible strain to which she had been subjected, and St. Hilaire, supporting her gently, hastened to the door of his former servant.

In another instant they were all inside.

They pa.s.sed through the corridor and entered the wainscoted salon. As they did so the bookcase above moved gently. Edme entered through the secret door and stood for an instant surrounded by a frame of dusty books, looking down upon them.

In her plain gown of homespun, with her skin browned by exposure to the air, and cheeks which had the glow of health in them despite the hards.h.i.+p she had undergone, Edme de Rochefort was a different picture from that of the girl of five years before. Yet it was not the present Edme that suffered by comparison.

With a cry of joy she hastened down the stairs. ”I have been told the glorious news,” she cried. ”Have you returned to tell me it is all true?

But you are wounded!” she exclaimed in the same breath, with a cry of alarm.

”'Tis nothing,” Tournay replied, folding her in his arms. ”I do not even feel it.”

”Is all the danger over?” she asked anxiously, looking up in his face.

”Not all over,” he answered caressingly. ”The result hangs in the balance, but we shall win, we shall surely win. At present we have need of a little food and repose. St. Hilaire and myself must go out again shortly. Has Gaillard come with a message? I expected him from the convention,” he continued, addressing Beaurepaire.

”He has not returned,” was the answer.

Edme turned to a.s.sist Agatha in caring for Madame d'Arlincourt, while old Beaurepaire busied himself in setting forth some food upon the table.

At this moment Gaillard burst into the room, followed by Father Ambrose.

”I bring glorious news!” cried the actor excitedly. ”Robespierre, at one time released by the aid of Henriot, has been rearrested. He has attempted suicide. Henriot, St. Just, Couthon, are also arrested. They will all be sent to the guillotine. The convention triumphs. The Commune is defeated. The Reign of Terror is at an end.”

The news was received with a great shout of joy. ”Listen,” called out Gaillard, ”and you will learn what the people think.”