n qualm of nervousness in his frame as
he remembered how powerful this man was.

"Mathon is a good fellow. I spoke in jest, not to do him harm. When he
has the keys in his keeping he does not drink, citizen."

"I am glad to hear that," answered Latour, as he passed on.

He found the turnkey Mathon in a neighboring wine shop, and called him
out. The order was peremptory, and the man came quickly. Mathon had a
history. He had been lackey to a nobleman, and while shouting with
patriots in the beginning of the trouble, had helped his old master and
his master's friends. Since then he had mended his ways and become a
true patriot, with no desire to help a living soul but himself, with no
sentiment and no fear in him except for one man--Raymond Latour. Latour
knew the truth about him, was the only man who did, and held the proof,
therefore Mathon was bound to serve him. He came quickly out of the wine
shop and followed Latour into a side street.

"You know the room where this aristocrat was placed to-day?"

"Yes, citizen."

"She is not likely to be moved from there?"

"No, citizen, not until--not until she is condemned."

"When will you be in charge of the keys of her prison?"

"Not for a week, citizen."

"A week!"

"My turn for that part of the prison comes in a week, and she may not be
there then. If you would speak with her, I might manage it before then."

"I do not want speech with her," Latour returned.

Mathon looked at him sharply.

"More than speech," said Latour. "In a week I will see you again. You
shall run small risk, I will see to that."

Mathon nodded, he could not refuse his help, though his throat grew dry,
and the collar of his shirt seemed to tighten as he thought of what the
consequences might be. He hastened back to the wine shop and Latour
returned to the Rue Valette slowly, thinking of a week hence.

He hardly noticed those who passed him on the way, and was certainly
quite unconscious of the figure which followed him like a shadow.

CHAPTER XIV

AN APPEAL TO FRIENDSHIP

Raymond Latour was a busy man, he seldom missed attending the meetings
of the Convention, and was assiduous in his work upon the various
committees of public instruction, domains, liquidation and finance. It
was therefore past noon on the following day when Sabatier found him and
related what had occurred at the wine shop on the previous evening.

"Citizen Bruslart is no coward," concluded Sabatier, as th