lation whatever."

The official made a note of this. "Martin Dufaure, do you give your
sanction and consent to the marriage of your daughter with Arnold
Dampierre, American citizen."

"I do," the Communist said.

"Take her hand, Arnold Dampierre."

"Do you take this woman as your wife?"

As the words left his lips, there was a pistol-shot. With a low cry,
Arnold fell across the table. Cuthbert had turned at the report, and as
the man who had fired, lowered his pistol to repeat the shot, he sprang
forward, and struck him with all his weight and strength on the temple.
The man fell like a log, his pistol exploding as he did so. With a cry
like that of a wounded animal Minette had turned around, snatched a
dagger from her girdle, and, as the man fell, she sprang to his side and
leant over him with uplifted knife. Cuthbert caught her wrist as she was
about to strike.

"Do not soil your hand with blood, Minette," he said quietly as she
turned fiercely upon him. "Arnold would not like it; leave this fellow
to justice, and give your attention to him."

Dropping the knife she ran forward to the table again, two or three of
Arnold's colleagues were already leaning over him. Believing that her
lover was dead, Minette would have thrown herself on his body, but they
restrained her.

"He is not dead, Minette, the wound is not likely to be fatal, he is
only hit in the shoulder."

"You are lying, you are lying, he is dead," Minette cried, struggling to
free herself from their restraining arms.

"It is as they say, Minette," her father said, leaning over Arnold,
"here is the bullet hole in his coat, it is the same shoulder that was
broken before; he will recover, child, calm yourself, I order you."

Minette ceased to struggle, and burst into a passion of tears.

"You had better send a man to fetch a surgeon at once," Cuthbert said to
one of the Communists. "I have no doubt Arnold has but fainted from the
shock, coming as it did at such a moment," He then looked at the wound.

"'Tis not so serious as the last," he said, "by a long way, it is higher
and has no doubt broken the collar bone, but that is not a very serious
matter. I think we had better lay him down on that bench, put a coat
under his head, pour a few drops of spirits between his lips, and
sprinkle his face with cold water."

Cuthbert then went across the room. Several of the Communists were
standing round the fallen man.

"He is stunned, I think," Cuthber