see
him making his quest among the wasted papers on the floor, and so:

"I shall not be more than a few minutes," he announced quietly. "I will
call you when I am ready to depart."

Thus uncompromisingly dismissed, she did not venture to remain, and,
passing in, La Boulaye closed the door. As great as had been his
deliberation hitherto was now the feverish haste with which he crossed
to the spot where he had seen the document flung. He caught up a
crumpled sheet and opened it out It was not the thing he sought. He cast
it aside and took up another with no better luck. To crumple discarded
papers seemed the habit of the Incorruptible, for there was a very
litter of them on the ground. One after another did Caron investigate
without success. He was on his knees now, and his exploration had
carried him as far as the table; another moment and he was grovelling
under it, still at his search, which with each fresh disappointment grow
more feverish.

Yonder--by the leg of the Incorruptible's chair--he espied the ball
of paper, and to reach it he stretched to his full length, lying prone
beneath a table in an attitude scarce becoming a Deputy of the French
Republic. But it was worth the effort and the disregard of dignity, for
when presently on his knees he smoothed out that document, he discovered
it to be the one he sought the order upon the gaolers of the Luxembourg
to set at liberty a person or persons whose names were to be filled in,
signed by Maximilien Robespierre.

He rose, absorbed in his successful find, and he pursued upon the table
the process of smoothing the creases as much as possible from that
priceless document. That done he took up a pen and attached his own
signature alongside of Robespierre's; then into the blank space above he
filled the name of Anatole d'Ombreval ci-devant Vicomte d'Ombreval.
He dropped the pen and took up the sand-box. He sprinkled the writing,
creased the paper, and dusted the sand back into the receptacle. And
then of a sudden his blood seemed to freeze, and beads of cold sweat
stood out upon his brow. There had been the very slightest stir behind
him, and with it had come a warm breath upon his bowed neck. Someone was
looking over his shoulder. An instant he remained in that bowed attitude
with head half-raised. Then suddenly straightening himself he swung
round and came face to face with Cecile Deshaix.

Confronting each other and very close they now stood and each was
breathi