m him full directions for the continuance of
our journey. After that I go to the guard-house, which is some distance
from here, right at the other end of the city. We pick up a fresh squad
here, twenty hardened troopers from a cavalry regiment usually stationed
at Abbeville. They have had work to do in this town, which is a hot-bed
of treachery. I must go inspect the men and the sergeant who will be in
command. Citizen Heron leaves all these inspections to me; he likes to
stay by his prisoner. In the meanwhile you will be escorted back to your
coach, where I pray you to await my arrival, when we change guard first,
then proceed on our way."

Marguerite was longing to ask him many questions; once again she
would have smothered her pride and begged for news of her husband,
but Chauvelin did not wait. He hurried out of the room, and Armand and
Marguerite could hear him ordering the soldiers to take them forthwith
back to the coach.

As they came out of the inn they saw the other coach some fifty metres
further up the street. The horses that had done duty since leaving
Abbeville had been taken out, and two soldiers in ragged shirts, and
with crimson caps set jauntily over their left ear, were leading the two
fresh horses along. The troopers were still mounting guard round both
the coaches; they would be relieved presently.

Marguerite would have given ten years of her life at this moment for the
privilege of speaking to her husband, or even of seeing him--of seeing
that he was well. A quick, wild plan sprang up in her mind that she
would bribe the sergeant in command to grant her wish while citizen
Chauvelin was absent. The man had not an unkind face, and he must be
very poor--people in France were very poor these days, though the rich
had been robbed and luxurious homes devastated ostensibly to help the
poor.

She was about to put this sudden thought into execution when Heron's
hideous face, doubly hideous now with that bandage of doubtful
cleanliness cutting across his brow, appeared at the carriage window.

He cursed violently and at the top of his voice.

"What are those d--d aristos doing out there?" he shouted.

"Just getting into the coach, citizen," replied the sergeant promptly.

And Armand and Marguerite were immediately ordered back into the coach.

Heron remained at the window for a few moments longer; he had a
toothpick in his hand which he was using very freely.

"How much longer are we going to wai