nd redress wrongs. Can you read and write well?" For from Harry's
words he supposed that he had held some menial post in the household
of the Marquis de St. Caux.

"Yes, I can read and write fairly," Harry said.

"And are you acquainted with the English tongue?"

"I know enough of it to read it," Harry said. "I spoke it when I
was a child."

"If you can read it that will do," Robespierre said. "There are
English papers sent over, and I should like to hear for myself
what this perfidious people say of us, and there are few here who
can translate the language. Do you accept my proposal?"

"Willingly," Harry said.

"Very well, then, come here at nine o'clock in the morning. But
mind you are only filling the post of my secretary until I can find
something better for you to do."

"The post will be a better one some day, Monsieur Robespierre.
Ere long you will be the greatest man in France, and the post of
secretary will be one which may well be envied."

"Ah, I see you know how to flatter," Robespierre said with a smile,
much gratified nevertheless with Harry's words. "You must remember
that I crave no dignities, that I care only for the welfare of
France."

"I know, monsieur, that you are called 'Robespierre the Incorruptible,"'
Harry said; "but, nevertheless, you belong to France, and France
will assuredly see that some day you have such a reward as you
richly merit."

"There was no untruth in that," Harry said to himself as he made
his way down stairs. "These human tigers will meet their doom when
France comes to her senses. He is a strange contrast, this man;
but I suppose that even the tiger is a domestic animal in his own
family. His food almost choked me, and had I not known that Marie's
fate depends upon my calmness, I should assuredly have broken out
and told this dapper little demagogue my opinion of him. But this
is glorious! What news I shall have to give the girls in the morning!
If I cannot ensure Marie's freedom now I should be a bungler
indeed. Had I had the planning of the events of this evening they
could not have turned out better for us."

It was the first time that Harry had called at Louise Moulin's as
early as eight o'clock in the morning, and Jeanne leaped up as he
entered.

"What is it, Harry? You bring us some news, don't you?"

"I do indeed, Jeanne; capital news. Whom do you think I had supper
with last night?"

"Had supper with, Harry!" Jeanne repeated. "What do you mean?