g to remove the
disabilities of the _emigres_."

"That is true, madame," she replied, with rather too much eagerness,
"and if so, why do we rouse Brittany and La Vendee? Why bring civil war
into France?"

This eager cry, in which she seemed to share her own reproach, made
the young sailor quiver. He looked earnestly at her, but was unable
to detect either hatred or love upon her face. Her beautiful skin, the
delicacy of which was shown by the color beneath it, was impenetrable. A
sudden and invincible curiosity attracted him to this strange creature,
to whom he was already drawn by violent desires.

"Madame," said Mademoiselle de Verneuil, after a pause, "may I ask if
you are going to Mayenne?"

"Yes, mademoiselle," replied the young man with a questioning look.

"Then, madame," she continued, "as your son serves the Republic" (she
said the words with an apparently indifferent air, but she gave her
companions one of those furtive glances the art of which belongs to
women and diplomatists), "you must fear the Chouans, and an escort is
not to be despised. We are now almost travelling companions, and I hope
you will come with me to Mayenne."

Mother and son hesitated, and seemed to consult each other's faces.

"I am not sure, mademoiselle," said the young man, "that it is prudent
in me to tell you that interests of the highest importance require our
presence to-night in the neighborhood of Fougeres, and we have not yet
been able to find a means of conveyance; but women are so naturally
generous that I am ashamed not to confide in you. Nevertheless," he
added, "before putting ourselves in your hands, I ought to know whether
we shall get out of them safe and sound. In short, mademoiselle, are
you the sovereign or the slave of your Republican escort? Pardon my
frankness, but your position does not seem to me exactly natural--"

"We live in times, monsieur, when nothing takes place naturally. You can
accept my proposal without anxiety. Above all," she added, emphasizing
her words, "you need fear no treachery in an offer made by a woman who
has no part in political hatreds."

"A journey thus made is not without danger," he said, with a look which
gave significance to that commonplace remark.

"What is it you fear?" she answered, smiling sarcastically. "I see no
peril for any one."

"Is this the woman who a moment ago shared my desires in her eyes?"
thought the young man. "What a tone in her voice! she is laying a t