u Roule when first he had heard of Jeanne's arrest. The open place
facing the gate had transformed itself into the Place de la Revolution,
the tall rough post that held a flickering oil lamp had become the gaunt
arm of the guillotine, the feeble light of the lamp was the knife that
gleamed with the reflection of a crimson light.

And Armand saw himself, as in a vision, one of a vast and noisy
throng--they were all pressing round him so that he could not move; they
were brandishing caps and tricolour flags, also pitchforks and scythes.
He had seen such a crowd four years ago rushing towards the Bastille.
Now they were all assembled here around him and around the guillotine.

Suddenly a distant rattle caught his subconscious ear: the rattle of
wheels on rough cobble-stones. Immediately the crowd began to cheer and
to shout; some sang the "Ca ira!" and others screamed:

"Les aristos! a la lanterne! a mort! a mort! les aristos!"

He saw it all quite plainly, for the darkness had vanished, and the
vision was more vivid than even reality could have been. The rattle of
wheels grew louder, and presently the cart debouched on the open place.

Men and women sat huddled up in the cart; but in the midst of them a
woman stood, and her eyes were fixed upon Armand. She wore her pale-grey
satin gown, and a white kerchief was folded across her bosom. Her brown
hair fell in loose soft curls all round her head. She looked exactly
like the exquisite cameo which Marguerite used to wear. Her hands were
tied with cords behind her back, but between her fingers she held a
small bunch of violets.

Armand saw it all. It was, of course, a vision, and he knew that it was
one, but he believed that the vision was prophetic. No thought of the
chief whom he had sworn to trust and to obey came to chase away these
imaginings of his fevered fancy. He saw Jeanne, and only Jeanne,
standing on the tumbril and being led to the guillotine. Sir Andrew was
not there, and Percy had not come. Armand believed that a direct message
had come to him from heaven to save his beloved.

Therefore he forgot his promise--his oath; he forgot those very things
which the leader had entreated him to remember--his duty to the others,
his loyalty, his obedience. Jeanne had first claim on him. It were
the act of a coward to remain in safety whilst she was in such deadly
danger.

Now he blamed himself severely for having quitted Paris. Even Percy
must have thought him a cow