er: ah! there is no help for it." Suddenly a new thought struck him.
"Louis, did you come by the Hotel de Ville?" "Yes." "What was going on?"
"I looked neither right nor left; I don't know." "Well, what did you
hear?" "I heard a cry of _Vive Tallien!_ with strange noises, and
shouts, and yells; and somebody said that the National Guards were
disbanding, and had forsaken Robespierre; and the people were
surrounding the Hotel de Ville." "Then, _Dieu merci_, there is hope. You
are in the nick of time; let us out. If Robespierre falls, you may
rescue the comte. He is in the Rue St. Martin; in the same prison is
Madame de Fontenay, the _friend_ of Tallien, whom Robespierre has
incarcerated. The former will proceed thither as soon as Robespierre is
disposed of, to free _Madame_; there will be confusion and much tumult.
I know the keeper: I must be cautious; but I will discover where the
comte and the lady are secured. Then I will leave you with the jailer;
the crisis cannot be delayed another day. Wait till you hear them
coming, then shout _Vive Tallien!_ run about, dance around like a crazy
man--hasten the jailer to release _Madame_, and do _you_ manage to
rescue the comte--then be off instantly; don't come here again; strike
into the country while the confusion prevails. Come; let us go this
minute." And I did go. I found Maurice's introduction potent with the
keeper, and what was better, I found the keeper to be an old companion
in arms, who had belonged to the same company with me. We embraced; we
were like two brothers; nothing could have happened better. I learned
from him all I cared to know. I staid hour after hour; just as I was in
despair at the delay, I heard the expected advance. I found my
fellow-soldier understood what it meant. I began to shout _Vive
Tallien!_ as loud as I could cry. In a fit of enthusiasm I snatched the
keys from the hands of the keeper, as if to liberate the lady, while my
comrade opened the doors to the company. I hied first to the comte's
room. In one instant the door was unlocked. "Quick!" I whispered;
"follow me--do as I do. Shout, huzza; jump this way and that--but stick
close to me." In another minute I had unbolted the door of Madame de
Fontenay, making as much noise as I could get from my lungs--the comte
keeping very good time to my music. So, while we were shouting _Vive
Tallien!_ at the top of our voices, Tallien himself rushed in with a
large party. I took the opportunity to gain th