dvice, and a dozen stalwart hands banged
at our frail barricade. It could not resist long, and what chance
would there be for us, when the rioters had swept it away?

"Down with the house! Burn it! Burn it! Have them out! Friends of
Conde to the death! Room there for Pierre's club! Bravo, Pierre!"

"Madame," I cried passionately, "listen to reason. Do you want this
innocent girl killed before your eyes? These wild beasts will have no
mercy."

"It is too late," she answered calmly, "and we both come from a race
that knows how to die."

"It is not too late; there is still a chance. Get some clothes from
the servants, and disguise yourselves; we can slip out at the back."

Even then I believe she would have stood her ground, but for Marie's
evident terror. The poor girl could not conceal her dismay, and her
eyes distended in fright as the hungry roar of the mob leaped from the
street. Those in front hacked at the barrier: those behind urged on
their fellows with deep-mouthed baying.

"In! In! Set it on fire! Death to Conde's friends!" they roared.

"Go!" said I sternly, pushing Madame Coutance out of the room, "and I
pray that this poor girl's death is not laid to your account."

The terrified servants had already fled, but madame found some
garments, in which the two dressed. I waited for them on the stairs,
and my blood ran cold at the yells of the ravenous pack below. Crash!
Crash! The barrier was yielding! A few more stout blows and they
would be upon us. A second, aye, even half a second might mean the
difference to us between life and death.

"Quick! Quick!" I cried, as the ladies in their borrowed dresses ran
from the room. "The barricade will fall at any moment!"

Half dragging, half supporting Marie, Madame Coutance and I ran swiftly
along the landing, as, with the noise of a river in flood, the crowd
burst into the hall.

"Down with Conde!"

The shout was appalling, and even Marie's aunt, for all her bravado,
shrank at it. The sound of the savage voices urged us on, through the
servants' quarters, down a narrow staircase, into the kitchen, and so
to the yard beyond. The door was already wide open, and we pushed
through to a side street. Just in time! A portion of the mob had
swept round to the back of the house, and almost directly we found
ourselves in the midst of the crowd, fighting, pushing, struggling,
with all our might to force a way through.

Marie, poor girl, clu