en he
added, regretfully, "Must you leave me?"

"My friend, I have only a few hours' leave. I have given one to my
mother, two to you, and I owe one to your friend Edouard. I want to
kiss him and ask his masters to let him scuffle as he likes with his
comrades. Then I must get back to the Luxembourg."

"Well, take him my compliments, and tell him I have ordered another pair
of pistols for him, so that the next time he is attacked by bandits he
needn't use the conductor's."

Roland looked at Sir John.

"Now, what is it?" he asked.

"What! Don't you know?"

"No. What is it I don't know?"

"Something that nearly killed our poor Amelie?"

"What thing?"

"The attack on the diligence."

"But what diligence?"

"The one which your mother was in."

"The diligence my mother was in?"

"Yes."

"The diligence my mother was in was attacked?"

"You have seen Madame de Montrevel, and she didn't tell you?"

"Not a word about that, anyway."

"Well, my dear Edouard proved a hero; as no one else defended the coach,
he did. He took the conductor's pistols and fired."

"Brave boy!" exclaimed Roland.

"Yes, but, unluckily or luckily the conductor had taken the precaution
to remove the bullets. Edouard was praised and petted by the Companions
of Jehu as the bravest of the brave; but he neither killed nor wounded
them."

"Are you sure of what you are telling me?"

"I tell you your sister almost died of fright."

"Very good," said Roland.

"How very good?" exclaimed Sir John.

"I mean, all the more reason why I should see Edouard."

"What makes you say that."

"A plan."

"Tell me what it is."

"Faith! no. My plans don't turn out well for you."

"But you know, my dear Roland, that if there are any reprisals to
make--"

"I shall make them for both. You are in love, my dear fellow; live in
your love."

"You promise me your support?"

"That's understood! I am most anxious to call you brother."

"Are you tired of calling me friend?"

"Faith, yes; it is too little."

"Thanks."

They pressed each other's hands and parted.

A quarter of an hour later Roland reached the Prytanee Francais, which
stood then on the present site of the Lyceum of Louis-le-Grand--that is
to say, at the head of the Rue Saint-Jacques, behind the Sorbonne. At
the first words of the director, Roland saw that his young brother had
been especially recommended to the authorities. The boy was sent for.
Edouard flung himself into th