e with it,
was that they were not without protection; and that Captain Lestrange,
who had shown himself so ready of resource in the morning, might succeed
even without my help in rescuing those innocent ones from the bloody
hands of "the terror."

A chill went through me when it dawned upon me at last that I was being
conducted to the fatal Conciergerie--that half-way house between life
and death towards which so many roads converged, but from which only
one, that to the guillotine, led.

An angry parley took place at the door between the jailer and my
captors.

"Why here?" demanded the former; "we are packed to the bursting point."

"To-morrow you will have more room by fifty," said the other.

"This is not to-morrow," growled the hard-worked official.

"The _detenu_ is your parishioner," said the soldier.

"It is scandalous the slowness with which the Committee works," said the
jailer. "Fifty a day goes no way; we want one hundred and fifty."

"You shall have it, Citizen Concierge. Patience!--Now, Regnier, enter,
and adieu," said he, with a push from the butt-end of his gun.

Beyond entering my name and assigning me my night's quarters, no notice
was taken of me by my jailers. I was allowed to wander on into the
crowded courtyard, where of the hundreds who prowled about like caged
animals none troubled themselves so much as to look up at the new
unfortunate. Men and women of all sorts were there: gentlemen who held
themselves aloof and had their little _cercle_ in one corner, with
servants to attend them; rogues and thieves who quarrelled and gambled
with one another, and made the air foul with their oaths; terrified
women and children who huddled together for shelter from the impudent
looks and words of the ruffians, who amused themselves by insulting
them. Sick people were there with whom it was a race whether disease or
the guillotine would claim them first. And philosophers were there, who
looked with calm indifference on the scene, and jested and discussed
among themselves.

Among this motley company I was lost, and, indeed, it would have
troubled me to be anything else. I found leaning-room against the wall,
and had no better wish than that the promised fifty who to-morrow were
to feed the guillotine might count me in their number.

As soon as the short February day closed in, we were unceremoniously
ordered within doors. Some of the more distinguished and wealthy
retired to their private ap