reat for them."

It was fortunate that Robespierre went out early on the following
morning to attend a meeting at the Jacobins, and Harry was therefore
saved the necessity for asking leave to absent himself again. At
eight o'clock he was at Louise Moulin's.

"What is it, Harry?" Jeanne exclaimed as he entered. "I can see
you have news. What is it?"

"I have news," Harry said, "and good news, but you must not excite
yourselves."

"Have you found a way for getting Marie out?"

"Yes, I have found a way."

"A sure, certain way, Harry?" Virginie asked. "Not only a chance?"

"A sure, certain way," Harry replied. "You need have no more fear;
Marie will certainly be freed."

The two girls stood speechless with delight. It never occurred to
them to doubt Harry's words when he spoke so confidently.

"Have you told us all, Harry?" Jeanne asked a minute later, looking
earnestly in his face. "Can it be? Is she really out already?"

"Yes," Harry said, "thank God, dears, your sister is free."

With a cry of delight Virginie sprang to him, and throwing her
arms round his neck, kissed him in the exuberance of her happiness.
Louise threw her apron over her head and burst into tears of
thankfulness, while Jeanne put her hand on his shoulder and said:

"Oh, Harry, how can we ever thank you enough for all you have done
for us?"

Six months back Jeanne would probably have acted as Virginie did,
but those six months had changed her greatly; indeed, ever since
she received that note from Marie, which she had never shown even
to Virginie, there had been a shade of difference in her manner to
Harry, which he had more than once noticed and wondered at.

It was some little time before the girls were sufficiently composed
to listen to Harry's story.

"But why did you not bring her here, Harry?" Virginie asked. "Why
did you take her somewhere else?"

"For several reasons, Virginie. I have not told you before, but there
is no reason why you should not know now, that Victor is still in
Paris."

Virginie uttered an exclamation of wonder.

"He stopped here to look after you all, but he has had a very bad
illness, and is still terribly weak, and does not even know me.
Marie will nurse him. I have great hopes that he will know her,
and that she may be able in time to effect a complete cure. In the
next place I think it would be dangerous to bring her here, for we
must leave in a very few days."

"What, go without her?"

"Yes,