re he would give far
better terms than they could have any right to expect, rather than that
Paris should be the scene of a desperate struggle, and, if the
Communists fulfil their threats, of wholesale destruction and ruin."

Two more days passed. Cuthbert went down each day to his old lodging and
found that Arnold was doing well. On the second day, indeed, he was out
of bed with his arm in a sling and sitting partly dressed in an
easy-chair. Martin Dufaure had left that morning for his own lodging,
having slept for the last two nights on the sofa. Minette had made
everything about the rooms tidy and fresh, the windows were open, and
the distant roar of the bombardment could be plainly heard. She had a
white handkerchief tied over her head, a neat, quiet dress, and was
playing the role of nurse to perfection. Cuthbert had been round to
Monsieur Goude and had told him what had happened, and he had the
evening before dropped in for a talk with Arnold.

"I am getting on wonderfully, Cuthbert," Arnold said, on the latter's
second visit. "Of course it is trying to be sitting here incapable of
taking a part in what is going on."

"You have taken quite enough part, Arnold, and I own I think your wound
at the present moment is a fortunate one, for it will keep you out of
mischief. When the surgeon comes next I should strongly advise you to
get him to write you a certificate certifying that you have been wounded
by a pistol ball, so that if, as is probable, there will sooner or later
be a general search for Communists, you can prove that your injury was
not received in the fighting outside the walls, and you can refer to
Goude and me as to the fact that you are an art student here. Both
documents had better be made out in another name than your own, for,
unfortunately, yours has been rendered familiar to them by the frequent
notices of your doings and speeches in the papers here."

"I will see about it," Arnold said; "I do not know that I can bring
myself to that."

"You will be very foolish and wrong not to do so, Arnold. You are a
married man now, and have your wife to think about as well as yourself.
You may be sure that there is not a single leader of the insurrection
here who will not endeavor to escape under a false name; besides, even
granting that, as you believe, the cause is a righteous one, you
certainly cannot benefit it in the slightest by sacrificing your life.
Your wife was a Communist Vivandiere a few days a