med one of
the delegates of the Council of the Commune, but he refused the honor,
preferring to remain, as he said, "the representative of the great
republic across the seas."

More than once Cuthbert met him as he rode about, but only once did they
speak. Cuthbert was crossing the square in front of the Hotel de Ville,
when he saw Arnold Dampierre. The latter was on foot and did not notice
Cuthbert until he was within a few yards of him; as his eye fell on him
he hesitated and then walked on as if about to pass without speaking;
Cuthbert, however, held out his hand.

"Why, Dampierre," he said, "you are not going to cut me, are you? There
has been no quarrel between us, and the last time we met was when we
were lying next to each other in the ambulance."

Dampierre took the offered hand. "No, no," he said with nervous
quickness, "no quarrel at all, Hartington, but you see we have gone
different ways, that is to say, I have gone out of your way, and thought
that you would not care to continue the acquaintance."

"There is no such feeling on my part, I can assure you. There need be no
question between us as to the part you have taken. I am sorry, but it
is no concern of mine, and after living in the same house for a year or
so, and having faced death side by side at Champigny, no difference of
political opinion should interfere with our friendship. Besides, you
know," he added with a laugh, "I may want to get you to exert your
influence on my behalf. Events are thickening. In troubled times it is
always well to have a friend at court, and if I come to be treated as a
suspect, I shall refer to you for a character as a peaceable and
well-intentioned student of art."

"There is no fear of anything of that sort, Hartington; but should you,
by any possibility, get into trouble, you have but to send to me.
However, this state of things will not last long, the people are fairly
roused now and will soon sweep the butchers of Versailles before them,
and a reign of perfect freedom and equality will be established, and the
world will witness the spectacle of a free country, purging itself from
the tyranny of capital and the abuse of power, under which it has so
long groaned. But I have much to do and must be off," and with a hasty
shake of the hand he hurried away again.

Cuthbert looked after him. "The poor fellow is fast qualifying for a
mad-house," he said; "he has changed sadly, his cheeks are hollow and
his eyes unnatura