restorations the affair is endless. It would shake all public
confidence. I have no more devoted adherents than the men who hold land
which does not belong to them. As long as they serve me, as your uncle
serves me, the land must remain with them. But what can this young lady
require of me? Show her in, Constant!'

An instant later my cousin Sibylle was conducted into the room.
Her face was pale and set, but her large dark eyes were filled with
resolution, and she carried herself like a princess.

'Well, mademoiselle, why do you come here? What is it that you want?'
asked the Emperor in the brusque manner which he adopted to women, even
if he were wooing them.

Sibylle glanced round, and as our eyes met for an instant I felt that my
presence had renewed her courage. She looked bravely at the Emperor as
she answered him.

'I come, Sire, to implore a favour of you.'

'Your father's daughter has certainly claims upon me, mademoiselle.
What is it that you wish?'

'I do not ask it in my father's name, but in my own. I implore you,
Sire, to spare the life of Monsieur Lucien Lesage, who was arrested
yesterday upon a charge of treason. He is a student, Sire--a mere
dreamer who has lived away from the world and has been made a tool by
designing men.'

'A dreamer!' cried the Emperor harshly. 'They are the most dangerous of
all.' He took a bundle of notes from his table and glanced them over.
'I presume that he is fortunate enough to be your lover, mademoiselle?'

Sibylle's pale face flushed, and she looked down before the Emperor's
keen sardonic glance.

'I have his examination here. He does not come well out of it. I
confess that from what I see of the young man's character I should not
say that he is worthy of your love.'

'I implore you to spare him, Sire.'

'What you ask is impossible, mademoiselle. I have been conspired
against from two sides--by the Bourbons and by the Jacobins. Hitherto I
have been too long-suffering, and they have been encouraged by my
patience. Since Cadoudal and the Due d'Enghien died the Bourbons have
been quiet. Now I must teach the same lesson to these others.'

I was astonished and am still astonished at the passion with which my
brave and pure cousin loved this cowardly and low-minded man, though it
is but in accordance with that strange law which draws the extremes of
nature together. As she heard the Emperor's stern reply the last sign
of colour faded from her pal