room,
quietly telling his beads. His serene philosophy and gentle placidity
could in no way be disturbed by the opening of shutting of a door, or by
the bearer of good or evil tidings.

The room now seemed strangely gloomy and cavernous, with those deep,
black shadows all around and that white ray of the moon which struck so
weirdly on the door.

Marguerite shuddered with one of those unaccountable premonitions of
something evil about to come, which ofttimes assail those who have a
nervous and passionate temperament.

The door swung slowly open upon its hinges: there was a quick word of
command, and the light of a small oil lamp struck full into the gloom.
Vaguely Marguerite discerned a group of men, soldiers no doubt, for
there was a glint of arms and the suggestion of tricolour cockades and
scarves. One of the men was holding the lamp aloft, another took a few
steps forward into the room. He turned to Marguerite, entirely ignoring
the presence of the old priest, and addressed her peremptorily.

"Your presence is desired by the citizen governor," he said curtly;
"stand up and follow me."

"Whither am I to go?" she asked.

"To where my men will take you. Now then, quick's the word. The citizen
governor does not like to wait."

At a word of command from him, two more soldiers now entered the room
and placed themselves one on each side of Marguerite, who, knowing that
resistance was useless, had already risen and was prepared to go.

The Abbe tried to utter a word of protest and came quickly forward
towards Marguerite, but he was summarily and very roughly pushed aside.

"Now then, calotin," said the first soldier with an oath, "this is none
of your business. Forward! march!" he added, addressing his men, "and
you, Citizeness, will find it wiser to come quietly along and not to
attempt any tricks with me, or the gag and manacles will have to be
used."

But Marguerite had no intention of resisting. She was too tired even to
wonder as to what they meant to do with her or whither they were going;
she moved as in a dream and felt a hope within her that she was being
led to death: summary executions were the order of the day, she knew
that, and sighed for this simple solution of the awful problem which had
been harassing her these past two days.

She was being led along a passage, stumbling ever and anon as she
walked, for it was but dimly lighted by the same little oil lamp, which
one of the soldiers was carryin