hat had I to
do?--to despair and to leave her. As for my poor uncle Jacob, he had no
counsel to give me, and, indeed, no spirit left: his little church was
turned into a stable, his surplice torn off his shoulders, and he was
only too lucky in keeping HIS HEAD on them. A bright thought struck him:
suppose you were to ask the advice of my old friend Schneider regarding
this marriage? he has ever been your friend, and may help you now as
before.

(Here the Captain paused a little.) You may fancy (continued he) that it
was droll advice of a reverend gentleman like uncle Jacob to counsel
me in this manner, and to bid me make friends with such a murderous
cut-throat as Schneider; but we thought nothing of it in those days;
guillotining was as common as dancing, and a man was only thought the
better patriot the more severe he might be. I departed forthwith to
Strasburg, and requested the vote and interest of the Citizen President
of the Committee of Public Safety.

He heard me with a great deal of attention. I described to him most
minutely the circumstance, expatiated upon the charms of my dear Mary,
and painted her to him from head to foot. Her golden hair and her
bright blushing cheeks, her slim waist and her tripping tiny feet;
and furthermore, I added that she possessed a fortune which ought, by
rights, to be mine, but for the miserly old father. "Curse him for an
aristocrat!" concluded I, in my wrath.

As I had been discoursing about Mary's charms Schneider listened with
much complacency and attention: when I spoke about her fortune, his
interest redoubled; and when I called her father an aristocrat, the
worthy ex-Jesuit gave a grin of satisfaction, which was really quite
terrible. O fool that I was to trust him so far!

The very same evening an officer waited upon me with the following note
from Saint Just:--

"STRASBURG, Fifth year of the Republic, one and indivisible, 11 Ventose.

"The citizen Pierre Ancel is to leave Strasburg within two hours, and
to carry the enclosed despatches to the President of the Committee of
Public Safety at Paris. The necessary leave of absence from his military
duties has been provided. Instant punishment will follow the slightest
delay on the road.

"Salut et Fraternite."

There was no choice but obedience, and off I sped on my weary way to the
capital.

As I was riding out of the Paris gate I met an equipage which I knew to
be that of Schneider. The ruffian smiled at m