kind as
to get out for a moment? Jerome will get what he wants as quickly as
possible." Then, with that note of gayety which was never entirely
absent from that laughing voice, he added, "Won't you, Jerome?"

Jerome replied from the top of the diligence, confirming these words.

With an instinctive movement to put herself between the danger and her
son, Madame de Montrevel, while complying with that request, pushed
Edouard behind her. That instant sufficed for the boy to seize the
conductor's pistols.

The young man with the laughing voice assisted Madame de Montrevel from
the coach with the greatest care, then signed to one of his companions
to give her an arm, and returned to the coach.

But at that instant a double report was heard. Edouard had fired a
pistol with each hand at the Companion of Jehu, who disappeared in the
smoke.

Madame de Montrevel screamed, and fainted away. Various cries,
expressive of diverse sentiments, echoed that of the mother.

From the interior came one of terror; they had all agreed to offer no
resistance, and now some one had resisted. From the three young men came
a cry of surprise--it was the first time such a thing had happened.

They rushed to their companion, expecting to find him reduced to
pulp; but they found him safe and sound, laughing heartily, while the
conductor, with clasped hands, was exclaiming: "Monsieur, I swear there
were no balls; monsieur, I protest, they were only charged with powder."

"The deuce," said the young man, "don't I see that? But the intention
was good, wasn't it, my little Edouard?" Then, turning to his
companions, he added: "Confess, gentlemen, that he is a fine boy--a true
son of his father, and brother of his brother. Bravo, Edouard! you'll
make a man some day!"

Taking the boy in his arms, he kissed him, in spite of his struggles, on
both cheeks.

Edouard fought like a demon, thinking no doubt that it was very
humiliating to be embraced by a man at whom he had just fired two
pistols.

In the meantime one of the Companions had carried Edouard's mother to
the bank by the roadside a little distance from the diligence. The man
who had kissed Edouard with so much affection and persistence now looked
around for her.

"Ah!" cried he, on perceiving her, "Madame de Montrevel still
unconscious? We can't leave a woman in that condition, gentlemen.
Conductor, take Master Edouard." Placing the boy in Jerome's arms, he
turned to one of his companio