me out of hand."

"How, Citizen?" inquired La Boulaye.

"Why, your men, I take it are tolerable marksmen. I think that it might
prove more convenient to both of us if you were to have me shot as soon
as there is light enough."

La Boulaye's eyes rested in almost imperceptible kindness upon Des
Cadoux. Here, at least, was an aristocrat with a spirit to be admired
and emulated.

"You are choosing the lesser of two evils, Citizen," said the Deputy.

"Precisely," answered Des Cadoux.

"But possibly, Citizen, it may be yours to avoid both. You shall hear
from me in the morning. I beg that you will sleep tranquilly in the
meantime. Garin, remove the prisoners."

CHAPTER XV. LA BOULAYE BAITS HIS HOOK

For fully an hour after their prisoners had been removed La Boulaye
paced the narrow limits of the kitchen with face inscrutable and busy
mind. He recalled what Suzanne had said touching her betrothal to
Ombreval, whom she looked to meet at Treves. This miserable individual,
then, was the man for whose sake she had duped him. But Ombreval at
least was in Caron's power, and it came to him now that by virtue of
that circumstance he might devise a way to bring her back without the
need to go after her. He would send her word--aye, and proof--that he
had taken him captive, and it should be hers to choose whether she would
come to his rescue and humble herself to save him or leave him to his
fate. In that hour it seemed all one to La Boulaye which course she
followed, since by either, he reasoned, she must be brought to
suffer. That he loved her was with him now a matter that had sunk into
comparative insignificance. The sentiment that ruled his mind was anger,
with its natural concomitant--the desire to punish.

And when morning came the Deputy's view of the situation was still
unchanged. He was astir at an early hour, and without so much as
waiting to break his fast, he bade Garin bring in the prisoners. Their
appearance was in each case typical. Ombreval was sullen and his dress
untidy, even when allowance had been made for the inherent untidiness of
the Republican disguise which he had adopted to so little purpose. Des
Cadoux looked well and fresh after his rest, and gave the Deputy an airy
"Good morning" as he entered. He had been at some pains, too, with his
toilet, and although his hair was slightly disarranged and most of the
powder was gone from the right side, suggesting that he had lain on it,
his appeara