When he reached the mansion6 of the marquis he found a crowd of people going in and out. Those leaving the house were laden7 with articles of furniture, clocks, pictures, bedding, and other things. A complete sack of the mansion was indeed taking place. The servants had all fled after the arrest of the marquis and his wife, and the mob had taken possession of the house. The lofty mirrors were smashed into fragments, the costly8 hangings torn down, and after they had destroyed much of the elaborate furniture, every man and woman began to lay hands upon whatever they fancied and the mansion was already stripped of the greater part of its belongings9.
With his hands in his pockets, whistling carelessly, Harry wandered from room to room watching the proceedings10. Several barrels of wine had been brought up into the salon12, and round these were gathered a number of already drunken men, singing, shouting, and dancing.
"Drink, drink, my garcon," a woman said, holding a silver goblet13 full of wine towards him, "drink confusion to the tyrants14 and liberty and freedom to the people."
Harry drank the toast without hesitation15, and then, heartsick at the destruction and ruin, wandered out again into the streets. Knowing the anxiety which Marie would be suffering as to the safety of her lover he next took his way to the mansion of the Duke de Gisons. The house was shut up, but groups of men were standing16 in the road opposite talking.
Sauntering along Harry stopped near enough to one of these to hear what they were saying. He learned that the duke had been arrested only that morning. It had been effected quietly, the doors had again been locked before those in the neighbourhood knew what was going on, and a guard had been left inside, partly, it was said, in order that the mansion might be preserved from pillage17 and be used for public purposes, partly that the young count, who was absent, might be arrested when he returned.
As Harry knew that the duke had estates in the neighbourhood of Fontainebleau he thought it probable that Victor might have gone thither18, and he at once proceeded towards the gate by which he would enter on his return thence. He sat down a short distance outside the gate and watched patiently for some hours until he perceived a horseman approaching at a gallop19 and at once recognized Victor de Gisons. Harry went forward on to the road and held out his arms. The young count, not recognizing him, did not check his horse and would have ridden him down had he not jumped aside, at the same time shouting to him by name to stop.
"You do not recognize me!" Harry said. "I am Harry Sandwith, count, and I am here to warn you of the danger of proceeding11."
"Why, what has happened?" Victor exclaimed anxiously; "and why are you in disguise, Monsieur Sandwith?"
"A great number of arrests have taken place in the night, among them that of the Marquis de St. Caux and your father. Men are waiting inside your house to arrest you as you enter."
Victor uttered an exclamation21 of anger.
"That is why I have been sent away," he said. "My father had no doubt received a warning of what was about to happen, and yesterday at noon he requested me to ride to his estate and have an interview with the steward22 as to the rents. I wondered at his sending me so suddenly, and, feeling uneasy, rode there post-haste, saw the steward last night, and started again on a fresh horse this morning. This accounts for it. He knew that if I were there nothing would have induced me to separate myself from him, while by sending me away he left it to me to do as I thought fit afterwards, trusting that when I found that he was already imprisoned23 I might follow the counsel he had urged upon me, to make my escape from the country. And how about the ladies, how about Marie?"
"The marquise was conveyed to prison with the marquis. The three young ladies are all safe with their mother's old servant, Louise Moulin; this is her address. They are in disguise as peasants, and no suspicion will, I hope, arise as to their real position. Not that the marquis thought it probable they would be included in the order of arrest, but he said there was no knowing now to what lengths the mob might go and he thought it better that they should disappear altogether for the present. Ernest and Jules went away in disguise with Monsieur du Tillet. After seeing the young ladies in safety this morning I went down to see what had happened at your father's mansion, in order to assuage24 Mademoiselle de St. Caux's anxiety respecting your safety, and found, as I expected, that the duke had been arrested, and learned that a party were inside waiting to arrest you on your return.
"I thank you indeed," Victor said, "and most warmly. I do not know what to do. My father is most anxious that I should cross the frontier, but I cannot go so long as he and Marie are in danger."
"If you enter Paris as you are," Harry said, "you are certain to be arrested. Your only chance would be to do as I have done, namely to disguise yourself and take a small lodging25, where you might live unsuspected."
"And in that way I can see Marie sometimes," Victor said.
"You could do so," Harry agreed, in a somewhat hesitating way, "but it would greatly add to her danger, and, were you detected, might lead to the discovery of her disguise. Besides, the thought that you were liable to arrest at any time would naturally heighten the anxiety from which she is suffering as to the fate of her father and mother."
"But I cannot and will not run away and leave them all here in danger," Victor said passionately26.
"I would not advise you to do so," Harry replied. "I would only suggest, that after seeing Mademoiselle de St. Caux once, you should lead her to believe that you have decided27 upon making for the frontier, and she will therefore have the happiness of believing that you are safe, while you are still near and watching over her."
"That is all very well," Victor said; "but what opinion would she have of me if she thought me capable of deserting her in that way?"
"You would represent that you were obeying the duke's orders; and besides, if you did suffer in her opinion it would be but temporarily, for when she learned the truth, that you had only pretended to leave in order that her position might be the safer and that her mind might be relieved, she could only think more highly of you. Besides, if necessary, you could at any time again present yourself before her."
"Your counsel is good, Monsieur Sandwith, and I will, at anyrate for a time, follow it. As you say, I can at anytime reappear. Where are you lodging? I will take a room near, and we can meet and compare notes and act together."
Harry gave him his address.
"You have only to walk upstairs to the top story. My room is the one directly opposite the top of the stairs."
"I will call on you to-morrow morning," Victor said. "I will ride my horse a few miles back and turn him loose in some quiet place, and buy at the first village a blouse and workman's pantaloons."
"I think," Harry said, "that would be unwise, count; it would look strange in the extreme for a gentleman dressed as you are to make such a purchase. You might be at once arrested, or a report of the circumstance might be sent into Paris and lead to your discovery. If you will wait here for half an hour I will go back and buy you the things you want at the first shop I come to and bring them out to you. Then you can ride back and loose the horse as you propose; but I should advise you to hide the saddle and bridle28, as well as the clothes you are now wearing, most carefully. Whoever finds your horse will probably appropriate it and will say nothing about it, so that all clue to your movements will be lost, and it will be supposed that you have ridden to the frontier."
"Peste, Monsieur Sandwith! You seem to have a head ready for all emergencies. I know what a high opinion the marquis had of you, and I perceive that it is fully29 justified30, and consider myself as fortunate indeed in having you for a friend in such a time as the present."
"We have need of all our wits," Harry said quietly. "The marquis was good enough to accept my offer to do all that I could to look after the safety of mesdemoiselles, and if I fail in my trust it will not, I hope, be from any lack of care or courage."
The meeting had taken place at a point where it could not be observed from the gate, and the count withdrew a few hundred yards farther away while Harry went back into Paris. The latter had no difficulty in purchasing the clothes required by the count and returned with them in little over a quarter of an hour, and then, having seen De Gisons ride off, he sauntered back into Paris and made his way towards the heart of the city.
Crossing the river he found a vast crowd gathered in front of the Hotel de Ville. The news of the wholesale31 arrests which had been made during the night had filled the populace with joy, and the air was full of shouts of "Down with the Aristocrats32!" "Vive Danton! Vive Marat! Vive Robespierre!" Hawkers were selling, in the crowd, newspapers and broadsheets filled with the foulest33 attacks, couched in the most horrible language, upon the king, the queen, and the aristocracy.
At various points men, mounted upon steps or the pedestals of statues, harangued34 the mob while from time to time the crowd opened and made way for members of the city council, who were cheered or hooted35 according to their supposed sentiments for or against the cause of the people. After remaining there for some time Harry made his way to the entrance to the Assembly. A crowd was gathered here, and a tremendous rush was made when the doors were opened. Harry managed to force his way in and sat for some hours listening to the debate, which was constantly interrupted by the people in the galleries, who applauded with frenzy36 the speeches of their favourite orators37, the deputies of the Mountain, as the bank of seats occupied by the Jacobin members was named, and howled and yelled when the Girondists ventured to advocate moderation or conciliation38.
It was late in the evening before the sitting was over, and Harry was unable to leave his place earlier. Then he went and had supper at a wineshop, and after sauntering on the Boulevards until the streets began to be deserted39 he again crossed the river and made his way to the mansion. Not a light was to be seen in the windows and all was still and quiet. The great door stood open. The work of destruction was complete; the house was stripped of everything that could be carried away.
Harry made his way up to the bedroom of the marquis. The massive bedstead still stood in its place, having defied the efforts of destruction which had proved successful with the cabinets and other furniture. Sitting down on the floor Harry counted the boards beneath the bed, and then taking out a strong knife which he had purchased during the day he inserted it by the side of the middle board and tried to raise it. It yielded without difficulty to his effort.
As soon as it was lifted he groped in the cavity below it, and his hand soon came in contact with the heavy bag. Taking this out and putting it beneath his blouse he replaced the board and made his way downstairs. He felt too fatigued41 to walk across Paris again, and therefore made his way down to the river and curled himself up for the night at the foot of the wood pile where the girls had found shelter in the morning, and, in spite of the novelty of his situation, fell instantly asleep.
It was broad daylight when he woke, and an hour later he regained42 his lodgings43, stopping by the way to breakfast at a quiet estaminet frequented by the better class of workmen. As when he had sallied out the day before, he was fortunate in meeting no one as he made his way up the stairs to his room. His first step was to get up a board and to deposit beneath it the bag of money. Then, having changed his clothes, he went out and made a variety of purchases for housekeeping, as he did not wish to be obliged to take his meals at places where anyone sitting at the table with him might enter into conversation.
His French was quite good enough to pass in the salon of the marquis, but his ignorance of the Parisian slang spoken among the working-classes would have rendered it difficult for him to keep up his assumed character among them, and would have needed the fabrication of all sorts of stories as to his birthplace and past history.
Although in the position in which he was placed Harry felt that it would be impossible always to adhere to the truth, he shrank from any falsehoods that could possibly be avoided.
His first duty in order to carry out the task he had undertaken was to keep up his disguise, and this must be done even at the cost of telling lies as to his antecedents; but he was determined45 that he would avoid this unpleasant necessity as far as lay in his power.
At nine o'clock he made his way to the apartments of Louise Moulin. His entry was received with a cry of satisfaction from the girls.
"What is the news, Harry?" Jeanne exclaimed. "We expected you here yesterday evening, and sat up till ten o'clock."
"I was over the other side of the river discharging a mission your father had confided46 to me, and did not get back till this morning."
"I knew he was prevented by something," Jeanne said triumphantly47. "I told you so, Marie—didn't I?"
"Yes, dear, I was wrong to be impatient; but you will forgive me, Harry? You can guess how I suffered yesterday."
"It was natural you should expect me, mademoiselle. I was sorry afterwards that I did not tell you when I left you that I should not be able to come in the evening, but indeed I did not think of it at the time."
"And now for your news, Harry," Jeanne asked impatiently; "have you learned anything about our father and mother?"
"I am sorry to say I have not, except that they, with many others, were taken to the prison of Bicetre. But I have good news for you, Mademoiselle Marie. After going first to the house and finding it in the possession of a hideous48 mob, who were plundering49 and drinking, I went to see what had taken place at the hotel of the Duc de Gisons. I found that he had, like your father, been arrested in the night. I learned that the count was absent, and that a party were inside in readiness to arrest him on his return. Thinking it probable that he might have gone down to their estate near Fontainebleau, I went out beyond the gate on that road and waited for him. I had the good fortune to meet him, to warn him of his danger, and to prevent his returning to town. He rode away with a suit of workman's clothes I had procured50 for him, and was to enter Paris in that disguise in the evening. He is to call on me at ten o'clock, and I will then conduct him hither. I thought it best to come in before to let you know that he was coming."
Marie burst into tears of happiness at hearing that her lover had escaped from the danger which threatened. Worn out by the fatigue40 and anxiety of the previous night, she had slept for some hours after reaching the shelter of the old nurse's roof, but she had lain awake all night thinking over the danger of all those dear to her. She was now completely overcome with the revulsion of feeling.
"You are a dear boy, Harry!" Jeanne said with frank admiration51, while Marie sobbed52 out exclamations53 of gratitude54. "You do seem to think about everything; and now Marie knows that Victor is safe, I do hope she is going to be more like herself. As I tell her, they cannot hurt father or mother. They have done no wrong, and they must let them out of prison after a time. Mamma said we were to be brave; and at anyrate I try to be, and so does Virginie, though she does cry sometimes. And now I hope Marie will be cheerful too, and not go about the rooms looking so downcast and wretched. It seems to me a miserable55 thing being in love. I should have thought Marie would have been the last person to be downcast, for no one is prouder of being a St. Caux than she is."
"I shall be better now, Jeanne," Marie said smiling, as she wiped away her tears. "You shall not have any reason to complain of me in future.
"But do you not think, Harry," she went on with a return of her anxiety, "that it is very dangerous for Victor to come back into Paris? I know that his father has long been praying him to make for the frontier."
"I do not think it is very dangerous at present, mademoiselle, although it may be later, if this rage against the aristocrats increases; but I hope that when he has once seen you, which is his principal object in returning to Paris, he will carry our his father's wishes and make for the frontier, for his presence here can be of no possible utility."
"Oh, I hope so," Marie said, "for I am sure Victor would soon be found out, he could never make himself look like one of these canaille."
"Why shouldn't he?" Jeanne said indignantly. "Harry does, and he is just as good-looking as Victor."
Marie burst into a fit of laughter.
"What a champion you are, child, to be sure! But you are quite right. Clothes, after all, do go a long way towards making a man. Still, although I think that it is dangerous for Harry, I think it will be more dangerous for Victor; because, you see, he is a man and he has the manner of his race, and would find it more difficult to pass himself off as a workman than Harry, who has got something of English"—and she hesitated.
"Roughness," Harry put in laughing. "You are quite right, mademoiselle. I can assure you that with these thick shoes on I find it quite natural for me to slouch along as the workmen do; and it will be much more difficult for the count, who always walks with his head thrown back, and a sort of air of looking down upon mankind in general."
Marie laughed this time.
"That is a fair retort. Victor certainly has the grand manner. However, I shall order him to go; and if he won't obey his father's wishes, he will have to give way to mine."
"I think, mademoiselle, that it would be wiser for Monsieur de Gisons to meet you elsewhere than here. The arrival of three relations to stop with Madame Moulin is sure to attract some little attention among her neighbours just at first. You will be the subject of talk and gossip. My visit will no doubt be noticed, and it will be as well that there should not be more material for talk. The less we attract attention the better. No doubt many have escaped arrest, and there will be a sharp look-out, for, as they will call us, suspicious persons. I should propose, if you have no objection to such a course, that you should stroll out with your sisters and Louise through the fields to St. Denis. The count will be in my room in a few minutes. We can keep a look-out from my window and follow you at a distance until we get clear from observation beyond the gates."
Marie looked at Madame Moulin, who nodded.
"That would be the best plan, my dear. What Monsieur Sandwith says is very true. The less we give the neighbours to gossip about the better; for though your disguises are good, if sharp eyes are watching you they may note something in your walk or air that may excite suspicion."
"That being arranged then you must excuse me, for it is just the time when the count was to arrive, and I fancy that he will be before rather than behind time."
Indeed, upon reaching the door of his room Harry found the young count standing there.
"Oh, it is you, friend Harry! I have been here ten minutes, and I began to be afraid that something might have happened to you and to imagine all sorts of things."
"It is still three or four minutes before the time we agreed upon, Victor," Harry said in a loud voice, for at this moment one of the other doors opened, and a woman came out with a basket in her arms.
"I have been looking about as usual, but without luck so far. I suppose you have had no better fortune in your search for work?" He had by this time unlocked his door, and the two entered together.
"I must call you by your Christian56 name, count, and will do so, if you don't mind, when alone as at other times, otherwise the title might slip out accidentally. Will you, on your part, call me Henri? As you know the marquis and his family called me Harry, which is the ordinary way in England of calling anyone whose name is Henry, that is unless he is a soft sort of fellow; but I must ask them to call me Henri now, Harry would never do here."
"Have you seen them?" was the count's first question.
"I have just left them, Victor, and if you look out from that window into the street you will in a few minutes see them also; they are just going for a ramble57 towards St. Denis, and we will follow them. I thought it safer not to attract attention by going to the house, and I also thought that it would be more pleasant for you to talk to Mademoiselle de St. Caux out there in the fields, than in a little room with us present.
"Much more pleasant; indeed, I was wondering whether I should get an opportunity for a few minutes' talk alone with her."
They both took their places at the open window and leaned out apparently58 chatting and carelessly watching what was passing in the street.
A quarter of an hour later they saw Louise Moulin and the girls come out of their house.
"We had better come away from the window now," Harry said; "Virginie might look up and nod, we can't be too careful."
They waited three or four minutes to allow the others to get well ahead and then started out after them; they walked fast until they caught sight of the others, and then kept some distance behind until the party had left the town and were out among the fields which lay between Paris and St. Denis. They then quickened their pace and were soon up with them.
The greeting between the lovers was a silent one, few words were spoken, but their faces expressed their joy at meeting again after the perils59 through which they had passed; there was a little pause, and then Harry, as usual, took the lead.
"I will stroll on to St. Denis and back with Jeanne and Virginie; Madame Moulin can sit down on that log over there, and go on with her knitting; you, Victor, can ramble on with mademoiselle by that path through the field; we will agree to meet here again in an hour."
This arrangement was carried out; Jeanne and Virginie really enjoyed their walk; the latter thought their disguise was great fun, and, being naturally a little mimic60, imitated so well the walk and manner of the country children she had seen in her walks near the chateau61 that her sister and Harry were greatly amused.
"I like this too, Harry," Jeanne said. "It would not be nice to be a peasant girl for many things; but it must be joyful62 to be able to walk, and run, and do just as you please, without having a gouvernante always with you to say, Hold up your head, Mademoiselle Jeanne; Do not swing your arms, Mademoiselle Jeanne; Please walk more sedately63, Mademoiselle Jeanne. Oh, it was hateful! Now we might run, mightn't we, Harry?"
"Oh, by the way, Jeanne, please call me Henri now; Harry is English, and people would notice directly if you happened to say it while anyone is near."
"I like Harry best," Jeanne said; "but, of course, I should not say it before the people; but may we run just for once?"
"Certainly you may," Harry laughed; "you and Virginie can have a race to the corner of that wall."
"Come on, Virginie," Jeanne cried as she started, and the two girls ran at full speed to the wall; Jeanne, however, completely distancing her younger sister. They were both laughing when Harry came up.
"That is the first time I have run a race," Jeanne said. "I have often wanted to try how fast I could run, but I have never ventured to ask mademoiselle; she would have been horrified64; but I don't know how it is Virginie does not run faster."
"Virginie has more flesh," Harry said smiling. "She carries weight, as we should say in England, while you have nothing to spare.
"And she is three years older," Virginie put in. "Jeanne is just sixteen, and I am not thirteen yet; it makes a difference."
"A great deal of difference," Harry agreed; "but I don't think you will ever run as fast as she does. That will not matter, you know," he went on, as Virginie looked a little disappointed, "because it is not likely that you will ever race again; but Jeanne looks cut out for a runner—just the build, you see—tall, and slim, and active."
"Yes," Virginie agreed frankly66, "Jeanne has walked ever so far and never gets tired, while I get dreadfully tired; mamma says sometimes I am quite a baby for my age."
"Here are some people coming," Harry said; "as we pass them please talk with a little patois67. Your good French would be suspicious."
All the children of the marquis, from their visits among the peasants' cottages, had picked up a good deal of the Burgundian patois, and when talking among themselves often used the expressions current among the peasantry, and they now dropped into this talk, which Harry had also acquired, as they passed a group of people coming in from St. Denis.
They walked nearly as far as that town, and then turned and reached the point where the party had separated, a few minutes before the expiration68 of the appointed hour.
The two girls ran away to Louise Moulin, and chatted to her gaily69, while Harry walked up and down until, a quarter of an hour later, the count and Marie made their appearance. The party stood talking together for a few minutes; then adieus were said with a very pale face, but with firmness on Marie's part, and then the girls, with Louise, turned their faces to Paris, while Harry and Victor remained behind until they had got well on their way.
"It was hard to deceive her," Victor said; "but you were right. She insisted that I should go. I seemed to resist, and urged that it was cowardly for me to run away and to leave her here alone, but she would not listen to it. She said it was a duty I owed to my father and family to save myself, and that she should be wretched if she thought I was in Paris in constant danger of arrest. Finally, I had to give way to her, but it went against the grain, for even while she was urging me she must have felt in her heart it would be cowardly of me to go. However, she will know some day that Victor de Gisons is no coward."
"I am sure it is better so," Harry said. "She will have anxiety enough to bear as to her father and mother; it is well that her mind should be at ease concerning you."
"In reality," Victor said, "I shall be safer here than I should be journeying towards the frontier. The papers this morning say that in consequence of the escape of suspected persons, and of the emigration of the nobles to join the enemies of France, orders have been sent that the strictest scrutiny70 is to be exercised on the roads leading to the frontier, over all strangers who may pass through. All who cannot give a perfectly71 satisfactory account of themselves and produce their papers en regle, are to be arrested and sent to Paris. Therefore, my chance of getting through would be small indeed, whereas while remaining in Paris there can be little fear of detection."
"Not much risk, I hope," Harry agreed; "but there is no saying what stringent72 steps they may take as time goes on."
Victor had taken a lodging a few houses from that of Harry. Every day the excitement in Paris increased, every day there were fresh arrests until all the prisons became crowded to overflowing73. It was late in August; the Prussians were advancing and had laid siege to Verdun, and terror was added to the emotions which excited to madness the population of Paris. Black flags were hung from the steeples, and Danton and his allies skilfully74 used the fear inspired by the foreign enemy to add to the general hatred75 of the Royalists.
"We Republicans," he said in the rostrum of the Assembly, "are exposed to two parties, that of the enemy without, that of the Royalists within. There is a Royalist directory which sits secretly at Paris and corresponds with the Prussian army. To frustrate76 it we must terrify the Royalists."
The Assembly decreed death against all who directly or indirectly77 refused to execute or hindered the orders given by the executive power. Rumours78 of conspiracy79 agitated80 Paris and struck alarm into people's minds, while those who had friends within the prison walls became more and more alarmed for their safety.
On the 28th of August orders were issued that all the inhabitants of Paris were to stay in their houses in order that a visit might be made by the delegates of the Commune to search for arms, of which Danton had declared there were eighty thousand hidden in Paris, and to search for suspected persons. As soon as the order was issued, Harry and Victor went to their lodgings, and telling their landlords that they had obtained work at the other end of town, paid their rent and left the city, and for the next two days slept in the woods.
They passed most of their time discussing projects for enabling their friends to escape, for from the stringency81 of the steps taken, and the violence of the Commune, they could no longer indulge in the hopes that in a short time the prisoners against whom no serious charge could be brought, would be released. At the same time they could hardly persuade themselves that even such men as those who now held the supreme82 power in their hands, could intend to take extreme measures against so vast a number of prisoners as were now in custody83.
Victor and Harry knew that their friends had at first been taken to the prison of Bicetre, but whether they were still confined there they were of course ignorant. Still there was no reason to suppose that they had been transferred to any of the other jails.
The Bicetre was, they had discovered, so strongly guarded that neither force nor stratagem84 seemed available. The jailers were the creatures of Danton and Robespierre, and any attempt to bribe85 them would have been dangerous in the extreme. Victor proposed that, as he as well as Harry was well provided with funds, for he had brought to Paris all the money which the steward of the estates had collected, they should recruit a band among the ruffians of the city, and make a sudden attack upon the prison. But Harry pointed65 out that a numerous band would be required for such an enterprise, and that among so many men one would be sure to turn traitor86 before the time came.
"I am ready to run all risks, Victor, but I see no chance of success in it. The very first man we spoke44 to might denounce us, and if we were seized there would be no one to look after the safety of Mademoiselle de St. Caux and her sisters. My first duty is towards them. I gave my promise to their father, and although it is not probable that I can be of any use to them, I will at any rate, if possible, be at hand should occasion arise."
On the evening of the 30th they returned to Paris, and took two fresh apartments at a distance from their former quarters.
They were greatly anxious as to the safety of the girls, and Harry at once hastened there, but found that all was well. The deputies, learning from the landlord that only an old woman and her nieces inhabited the upper story, and having a heavy task before them, had only paid a short visit to the room, and had left after asking Louise one or two questions.
The girls, however, were in a state of terrible anxiety as to their parents, although Louise had avoided repeating to them the sinister87 rumours which came to her ears when she was abroad doing her marketing88, for she now went out alone, thinking it better that the girls should appear as little as possible in the streets.
"It is terrible," Marie said. "I think night and day of our father and mother. Can nothing be done? Surely we might devise some means for their escape."
"I can think of nothing," Harry said. "The prison is too strong to be taken without a considerable force, and it would be impossible to get that together."
"I have thought over that too," Harry replied; "but, you see, it would be necessary to get several men to work together. One might, perhaps, bribe the man who has charge of the cell, but there would be other warders, and the guard at the gate, and the latter are changed every day. I do not see how that could possibly be done."
"Would it be any use, do you think, were I to go to Danton or Robespierre and plead with them for their lives? I would do that willingly if you think there would be the slightest chance of success."
"It would be like a lamb going to plead with a wolf. You would only attract attention to them."
"Could you not get hold of one of these wretches and force him to sign an order for their release?" Jeanne suggested.
"Eh!" Harry exclaimed in surprise. "Jeanne, you have the best head of us all. That idea never occurred to me. Yes, that might be possible. How stupid of me not to think of it!"
"Do not run into any danger, Harry," Marie said earnestly. "Such a scheme could hardly succeed."
"I don't know, mademoiselle. I think it might. I will think it over. Of course there are difficulties, but I do not see why it should not succeed."
"Certainly it will succeed if Harry undertakes it," Jeanne said, with implicit90 trust in his powers.
Harry laughed, and even Marie, anxious as she was, could not help smiling.
"I will try and deserve your confidence, Jeanne; but I am not a magician. But I will talk it over with"—and he hesitated—"with a young fellow who is, like myself, a Royalist, and in disguise. Luckily, we ran against each other the other day, and after a little conversation discovered each other. He, too, has relatives in prison, and will, I am sure, join me in any scheme I may undertake. Two heads are better than one, and four are much better than two when it comes to acting91. And now I must say good-night. I hope when I see you again I shall be able to tell you that I have formed some sort of plan for their release."
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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5
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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6
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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8
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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9
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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12
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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13
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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14
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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15
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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17
pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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18
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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19
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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21
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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22
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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23
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
assuage
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| v.缓和，减轻，镇定 | |
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25
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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31
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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aristocrats
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| n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 ) | |
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foulest
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| adj.恶劣的( foul的最高级 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的 | |
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harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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38
conciliation
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| n.调解，调停 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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42
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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43
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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44
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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46
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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47
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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48
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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49
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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50
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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51
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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52
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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53
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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54
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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55
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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57
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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59
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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60
mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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61
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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62
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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63
sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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64
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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65
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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66
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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67
patois
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| n.方言；混合语 | |
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68
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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69
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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70
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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71
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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72
stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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73
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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74
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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75
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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76
frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 | |
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77
indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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78
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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79
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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80
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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81
stringency
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| n.严格，紧迫，说服力；严格性；强度 | |
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82
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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83
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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84
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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85
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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86
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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87
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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88
marketing
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| n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西 | |
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89
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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90
implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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91
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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