is own death, for as in former
fights here, the female Communists will be sure to take their place in
the barricades with the men, and, if so, I will guarantee that Minette
will be one of the foremost to do so. The production of female fiends
seem to be one of the peculiarities of French revolutions. As I told
you, I am going to the wedding in order to sign as a witness; I could
hardly refuse what I regard as the poor fellow's last request, though it
will be a most distasteful business."

"The last time you spoke to him, you said it struck you that he was
going put of his mind."

"Yes, I thought so and think so still; his manner was changed to-day;
before, he had that restless, nervous, excitable look that is the
indication of one phase of insanity; to-day there was the gloomy,
brooding sort of look that is equally characteristic of another form of
madness.

"At the same time that might be well explained by the circumstances, and
I have not the same absolute conviction in his sanity that I had before.
I suppose you will not care to honor the wedding ceremony by your
presence."

"No, no, Cuthbert, not for anything. You cannot think that I should like
to be present at such a ghastly ceremony. I thought the churches were
all shut up."

"So they are; the marriage is to be a civil one. They will merely
declare themselves man and wife in the presence of an official; he will
enter them as such in a register, and the affair will be over. I would
not say so to Arnold, but I have serious doubt whether the American
authorities would recognize the ceremony as a legal one, did she ever
appear there to claim possession. Of course, if he gets away also, it
can be put right by another marriage when they get out, or they can stop
for a few weeks on their way through England, and be married again
there."

"It is all most horrid, Cuthbert."

"Well, if you see it in that light, Mary, I won't press you to go
to-morrow, and will give up any passing idea that I may have had, that
we might embrace the opportunity and be married at the same time."

"It is lucky that you did not make such a proposition to me in earnest,
Cuthbert," Mary laughed, "for if you had, I would assuredly have had
nothing more to do with you."

"Oh, yes, you would, Mary, you could not have helped yourself, and you
would, in a very short time have made excuses for me on the ground of my
natural anxiety to waste no further time before securing my happiness."