ut this only seemed to make the present anxiety all the sharper.
The woman had promised to get disguises, and make the arrangements
with her friends at the village below during the course of the day,
and by night, if all went well, they might start. He told himself
that he had no reason for supposing that the vague suspicions which
were, he knew, afloat would suddenly be converted into action. He
determined to take his place that afternoon with the committee as
usual, and endeavour to allay their doubts by assuming a violent
attitude. He felt, however, that the day would be more trying than
any he had passed, and that he would give a great deal if the next
twenty-four hours were over. Scarcely heeding where he walked he
was out longer than usual, and it was nearly three hours after he
started before he approached the town again by the road along the
river bank. Just when he came to the first houses a woman, who was
standing there knitting, came up to him.

"You are the citizen who lives with his two sisters next door to
La Mere Pichon, are you not?"

Harry assented hurriedly, with a strange presentiment of evil.

"La Mere Pichon bids me tell you," the woman said, "that half an
hour after you started this morning six men, with an official with
the red scarf, came to the house and arrested your sisters and
carried them off. They are watching there for your return."

Harry staggered as if struck with a blow.

"Poor young man," the woman said compassionately, seeing the ghastly
pallor of his face, "but I pity you. The street is furious that
these wretches should have carried off that sweet young creature,
who was so good to everyone; but what could we do? We hissed the men,
and we would have pelted them had we not been afraid of striking
your sisters. When they had gone La Mere Pichon said to some of
us, 'The best thing we can do for that angel is to save her brother
from being caught also. So do one of you post yourself on each
road leading to the house, and warn him in time. He generally walks
beyond the town. I heard one of his sisters say so.' So some of
us came out on all the roads, and two remained, one at each end of
the street, in case we should miss you. La Mere said, whoever met
you was to tell you to be on this road, by the river, just outside
the town, after dark, and she would bring you some clothes, and
take you where you would be safe; but till then you were to go away
again, and keep far from the town.