mselves, he continued:

"Time is precious, and it will not do for Dolores and yourself to
remain long here, or, for that matter, in Paris! You are safe for the
moment, but at what instant you may again be in deadly peril it is
impossible to say! I have succeeded in cheating the guillotine of its
prey, and I will tell you how in as few words as I can. When I learned
that Dolores was in prison and heard of your own arrest, I determined to
move heaven and earth to save you, but was at a loss to know either
where to turn or what to do. Just at that critical juncture word was
brought me that I had been chosen a member of the Committee of Public
Safety, on the recommendation of no less a personage than Robespierre
himself, and that the Dictator wished to see me at once. I saw my
opportunity and hastened to him without an instant's delay.

"Robespierre received me cordially and informed me that I could be of
the greatest service to him and the Republic. I answered that as a true
patriot I was not only willing but anxious to do all that lay in my
power. He smiled and said that he had a mission of the utmost importance
to entrust to me, that he had selected me for it because of my
well-known zeal for the Nation's welfare and my equally well-known
integrity. I bowed, and he went on to say that certain members of the
Committee of Public Safety were plotting against himself and the
continuance of his power. My mission was to win over those members to
his interest and restore harmony in the Committee. I accepted the
mission and succeeded.

"The Dictator's delight and exultation were boundless. He told me to
name the price of my distinguished service and, whatever it might be, it
should instantly be paid. He undoubtedly expected that I would demand
money and position, but I demanded neither. I simply asked for his
warrant, under his own signature and the great seal of the Republic, to
save from prison and the guillotine two of my friends who were accused
of crimes of which they were entirely innocent. Robespierre was
surprised. He hesitated; then he asked the names of my friends. I gave
them and he showed further hesitation. Finally, he drew up the warrant,
signed it, placed the great seal upon it, and directed me to take two of
his clerks and have it at once carried into effect. You may well imagine
that I did not let the grass grow under my feet. I took the precious
document and, accompanied by the clerks, fairly flew to the
Con