was shot and my despatch
stolen."

Men who had lived through the years of the French Revolution were not
readily astonished, but at this statement the Minister sat up and
exclaimed: "_Mon Dieu!_ What is this?"

"I am in damnable pain; I must be brief. I was waylaid near Bristol by
Schmidt and De Courval, and when I would not stop, was shot by De
Courval. They stole the despatch, and made me swear on threat of death
that I had been attacked by men I did not know."

Fauchet was silent for a while, and then said: "That is a singular
story--and that you kept the promise, still more singular."

"I did keep it. I had good reason to keep it." He realized, as he told
the tale, how improbable it sounded, how entirely Fauchet disbelieved
him. If he had not been dulled by opiates and racked past power of
critical thought, he was far too able a man to have put forth so
childish a tale. He knew at once that he was not believed.

"You do not believe me, Citizen."

"I do not. Why did you not tell me the truth at first?"

"It was not the threat to kill me which stopped me. I was of the
tribunal at Avignon which condemned the _ci-devant_ vicomte, the young
man's father. To have had it known here would have been a serious thing
to our party and for me ruin. I was ill, feeble, in their hands, and I
promised Schmidt that I would put it all on some unknown person."

Fauchet listened. He entirely distrusted him. "Is that all? Do you
expect any reasonable man to believe such a story?"

"Yes, I do. If I had told you at the time, you would have used my
statement at once and I should have suffered. Now that both these cursed
villains are gone, I can speak."

"Indeed," said Fauchet, very desirous of a look at the face secure from
observation within the curtained bed, "but why do you speak now! It is
late. Why speak at all?"

"For revenge, Monsieur. I am in hell."

Fauchet hesitated. "That is a good reason; but there is more in this
matter than you are willing to tell."

"That is my business. I have told you enough to satisfy my purpose and
yours."

"Rather late for mine. But let us understand each other. This man, then,
this De Courval, had a double motive--to avenge his father's death and
to serve his masters, the Federalists. That is your opinion?"

"Yes, his desire for revenge made him an easy tool. I cannot talk any
more. What shall you do about it?"

"I must think. I do not know. You are either a great fool or a coward or