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devils have devised for the breaking of your willevery day thus
spent diminishes your power of ultimately saving yourself。 You
see； I speak calmlydispassionatelyI do not even urge my claims
upon your life。 But what you must weigh in the balance is the
claim of all those for whom in the past you have already staked
your life； whose lives you have purchased by risking your own。
What； in comparison with your noble life； is that of the puny
descendant of a line of decadent kings？ Why should it be
sacrificedruthlessly； hopelessly sacrificed that a boy might
live who is as nothing to the world； to his countryeven to his
own people？〃
She had tried to speak calmly； never raising her voice beyond a
whisper。 Her hands still clutched that paper； which seemed to
sear her fingers； the paper which she felt held writ upon its
smooth surface the death…sentence of the man she loved。
But his look did not answer her firm appeal； it was fixed far away
beyond the prison walls； on a lonely country road outside Paris；
with the rain falling in a thin drizzle； and leaden clouds
overhead chasing one another； driven by the gale。
〃Poor mite；〃 he murmured softly； 〃he walked so bravely by my side；
until the little feet grew weary； then he nestled in my arms and
slept until we met Ffoulkes waiting with the cart。 He was no King
of France just then； only a helpless innocent whom Heaven aided me
to save。〃
Marguerite bowed her head in silence。 There was nothing more that
she could say； no plea that she could urge。 Indeed； she had
understood； as he had begged her to understand。 She understood
that long ago he had mapped out the course of his life； and now
that that course happened to lead up a Calvary of humiliation and
of suffering he was not likely to turn back； even though； on the
summit； death already was waiting and beckoning with no uncertain
hand； not until he could murmur； in the wake of the great and
divine sacrifice itself； the sublime words：
〃It is accomplished。〃
〃But the Dauphin is safe enough now；〃 was all that she said； after
that one moment's silence when her heart； too； had offered up to
God the supreme abnegation of self； and calmly faced a sorrow
which threatened to break it at last。
〃Yes！〃 he rejoined quietly； 〃safe enough for the moment。 But he
would be safer still if he were out of France。 I had hoped to take
him one day with me to England。 But in this plan damnable Fate
has interfered。 His adherents wanted to get him to Vienna； and
their wish had best be fulfilled now。 In my instructions to
Ffoulkes I have mapped out a simple way for accomplishing the
journey。 Tony will be the one best suited to lead the expedition；
and I want him to make straight for Holland； the Northern
frontiers are not so closely watched as are the Austrian ones。
There is a faithful adherent of the Bourbon cause who lives at
Delft； and who will give the shelter of his name and home to the
fugitive King of France until he can be conveyed to Vienna。 He
is named Nauudorff。 Once I feel that the child is safe in his
hands I will look after myself； never fear。〃
He paused； for his strength； which was only factitious； born of
the excitement that Marguerite's presence had called forth； was
threatening to give way。 His voice； though he had spoken in a
whisper all along； was very hoarse； and his temples were throbbing
with the sustained effort to speak。
〃If those friends had only thought of denying me food instead of
sleep；〃 he murmured involuntarily； 〃I could have held out until〃
Then with characteristic swiftness his mood changed in a moment。
His arms closed round Marguerite once more with a passion of
self…reproach。
〃Heaven forgive me for a selfish brute；〃 he said； whilst the ghost
of a smile once more lit up the whole of his face。 〃Dear soul； I
must have forgotten your sweet presence； thus brooding over my own
troubles； whilst your loving heart has a graver burdenGod help
me！than it can possibly bear。 Listen； my beloved； for I don't
know how many minutes longer they intend to give us； and I have
not yet spoken to you about Armand〃
〃Armand！〃 she cried。
A twinge of remorse had gripped her。 For fully ten minutes now
she had relegated all thoughts of her brother to a distant cell of
her memory。
〃We have no news of Armand；〃 she said。 〃Sir Andrew has searched
all the prison registers。 Oh！ were not my heart atrophied by all
that it has endured this past sennight it would feel a final throb
of agonising pain at every thought of Armand。〃
A curious look； which even her loving eyes failed to interpret；
passed like a shadow over her husband's face。 But the shadow
lifted in a moment； and it was with a reassuring smile that he
said to her：
〃Dear heart！ Armand is comparatively safe for the moment。 Tell
Ffoulkes not to search the prison registers for him； rather to
seek out Mademoiselle Lange。 She will know where to find Armand。〃
〃Jeanne Lange！〃 she exclaimed with a world of bitterness in the
tone of her voice； 〃the girl whom Armand loved； it seems； with a
passion greater than his loyalty。 Oh！ Sir Andrew tried to
disguise my brother's folly； but I guessed what he did not choose
to tell me。 It was his disobedience； his want of trust； that
brought this unspeakable misery on us all。〃
〃Do not blame him overmuch； dear heart。 Armand was in love； and
love excuses every sin committed in its name。 Jeanne Lange was
arrested and Armand lost his reason temporarily。 The very day on
which I rescued the Dauphin from the Temple I had the good fortune
to drag the little lady out of prison。 I had given my promise to
Armand that she should he safe； and I kept my word。 But this
Armand did not knowor else〃
He checked himself abruptly； and once more that strange；
enigmatical look crept into his eyes。
〃I took Jeanne Lange to a place of comparative safety；〃 he said
after a slight pause； 〃but since then she has been set entirely
free。〃
〃Free？〃
〃Yes。 Chauvelin himself brought me the news；〃 he replied with a
quick； mirthless laugh； wholly unlike his usual light…hearted
gaiety。 〃He had to ask me where to find Jeanne； for I alone knew
where she was。 As for Armand； they'll not worry about him whilst I
am here。 Another reason why I must bide a while longer。 But in
the meanwhile； dear； I pray you find Mademoiselle Lange； she lives
at No。 5 Square du Roule。 Through her I know that you can get to
see Armand。 This second letter；〃 he added； pressing a smaller
packet into her hand； 〃is for him。 Give it to him； dear heart； it
will； I hope； tend to cheer him。 I fear me the poor lad frets；
yet he only sinned because he loved； and to me he will always be
your brotherthe man who held your affection for all the years
before I came into your life。 Give him this letter； dear； they
are my instructions to him； as the others are for Ffoulkes； but
tell him to read them when he is all alone。 You will do that； dear
heart； will you not？〃
〃Yes； Percy；〃 she said simply。 〃I promise。〃
Great joy； and the expression of intense relief； lit up his face；
whilst his eyes spoke the gratitude which he felt。
〃Then there is one thing more；〃 he said。 〃There