"Found at last," cried Lorin. "Faith, it is not without some trouble that we have rejoined you.
"'But since I find a friend so fond,
My fate assumes an aspect new.'
This time you will not complain, I hope, for I have given you Racine instead of Lorin."
"But what do you do here as patrol?" inquired Maurice, anxiously.
"I am the chief of the expedition, old fellow; the business is to establish our blemished reputation upon its original footing." Then turning toward his company, "Carry arms! Present arms! Shoulder arms!"
"There, my lads, it is not yet sufficiently dark, so you can talk over your little affairs while we follow your example." Then turning to Maurice, "I have heard great news at the section to-day," continued Lorin.
[Pg 283]
"What!"
"First, that you and I are beginning to be suspected."
"I know it. What next?"
"Secondly, that the whole conspiracy of the carnations was conducted by the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge."
"I know that also."
"But this you do not know,—that the conspiracy of the carnations and that of the subterranean passage are one and the same."
"Again, I know it."
"Then let us pass on to the third piece of news. This I am certain you cannot know. We go this night to capture the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge."
"To take the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge?"
"Yes."
"Have you then turned gendarme?"
"No; but I am a patriot. A patriot belongs to his country. Now my country is horribly ravaged by this Chevalier, who forms plot upon plot. Well, my country commands me, being a patriot, to free her from this Chevalier de Maison-Rouge, who distresses her horribly, and I obey my country."
"It is all the same," said Maurice; "but it is singular that you should be charged with this commission."
"I am not charged; I charge myself, or rather, I should say, I solicited the commission. It required a brilliant stroke to reinstate us in our former position; while our re-establishment will not only prove security for our lives, but still more the right of putting, at the very first opportunity offered, six inches of steel into the belly of that hideous Simon."
"But how are they sure it was the Chevalier who was the instigator of this subterranean plot?"
"They are not yet certain, but they presume so."
[Pg 284]
"You proceed, then, upon inference?"
"No; we proceed by certainty."
"How do you make out all this?"
"Listen."
"I am listening."
"I had scarcely heard the cry 'Grand conspiracy discovered by the Citizen Simon,'—that beast Simon (the wretch is everywhere),—than I wished to judge of the truth for myself. Then, they spoke of a subterranean passage."
"Does it really exist?"
"It does; I have seen it;
"'Seen it with both my eyes; that I call seeing,—'
There, why do you not hiss?"
"Because that is Molière; and besides, these events, I must confess, appear to me rather too serious for pleasantry."
"What can we jest about, if we do not jest about serious things?"
"You say, then, that you have seen it?"
"I repeat that I have seen the subterranean passage. It extends from the cellar of the Widow Plumeau to a house in the Rue de la Corderie, No. 12 or 14, I cannot remember which."
"Really? Have you passed through it, Lorin?"
"I have, the whole length; and, faith, it is a trench prettily cut, I assure you; and moreover it was divided by three iron gratings, which they have been obliged to remove one after the other, but which, in case these conspirators had succeeded, would have given them time, by sacrificing two or three of their number, to have placed Madame Widow Capet in a place of safety. Happily it is not so, and that hideous Simon discovered all!"
[Pg 285]
"But it appears to me," said Maurice, "those who ought to have been first arrested were the inhabitants of the house in the Rue de la Corderie."
"This would have been, had they not found the house perfectly uninhabited."
"But at least this house must belong to some one?"
"Yes, to a new proprietor; but no one knows who. They know the house changed masters two weeks since, and that is all. The neighbors have often heard a noise; but the house being very old, they had imagined it was undergoing thorough repair. As to the late proprietor, he has left Paris. In the mean time I arrived."
"'Upon my word!' said I to Santerre, drawing him aside, 'you are in an awkward situation.'
"'Indeed we are,' replied he.
"'This house has been sold, has it not?'
"'Yes, it was, about a fortnight ago.'
"'Was it sold in the presence of a notary?'
"'Yes.'
"'Then we must search all the notaries in Paris, to discover which of them sold this house, and then make him produce the agreement, at the bottom of which will be found the name of the purchaser.'
"'Well and good!' said Santerre, 'that is capital advice, and coming too from a man they accuse of not being a good patriot. Lorin! Lorin! I will re-establish you, or may the foul fiend seize me!'
"To be brief," continued Lorin, "this was no sooner said than done. The notary was sought for, the act was found, and upon the agreement the name and domicile of the culprit were written. Then Santerre took me aside, and I have engaged to arrest him."
"Was this man the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge?"
[Pg 286]
"No, only his accomplice,—that is to say, in all probability he was so."
"Then how is it you say you are going to arrest the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge?"
"We are going to arrest them all together."
"Do you, then, know this Chevalier de Maison-Rouge?"
"Perfectly."
"Have you seen the description of him?"
"By thunder! Santerre gave it to me. Five feet two or three inches, fair hair, blue eyes, straight nose, etc.; besides, I have seen him."
"When?"
"This very day."
"You have seen him?"
"And so have you."
Maurice started.
"The short, fair young man who rescued us this morning,—he who commanded the troop of Muscadins, and struck so hard."
"Was that the Chevalier?" demanded Maurice.
"Himself. They followed and lost him in the environs of the domicile of our proprietor of the Rue de la Corderie, so that we surmise they live together."
"It seems probable."
"It is certain."
"But it seems to me, Lorin," added Maurice, "that if this evening you arrest him who rescued you this very morning, you are much wanting in gratitude."
"Go along, then," said Lorin; "why, you don't suppose he saved us for our own sakes, do you?"
"For what else, then?"
"Not at all; they were in ambush to carry off the poor girl, Héloïse Tison, as she passed to the scaffold. Our cut-throats embarrassed them, so they fell upon the[Pg 287] cut-throats; that was the whole of it. We have been saved by a contre-coup. Now, as the intention is everything, and there was no intention, I have nothing to accuse myself with on the score of ingratitude. Besides, do you see, Maurice, the capital point is necessity; and the necessity is that we should reinstate ourselves by some brilliant achievement. And then I have promised for you."
"To whom?"
"To Santerre; he knows that you command this expedition."
"How can that be?"
"'Are you sure of arresting these criminals?' said he to me.
"'Yes,' I replied; 'if Maurice is with me.'
"'But are you sure of Maurice? For some time he has been looked upon as rather lukewarm.'
"'Those who say so are totally deceived. Maurice is no more lukewarm in the cause than I am myself.'
"'And you will answer for his fidelity?'
"'As for my own.' I then went to your house, but could not find you at home. I took this road first because it lay in my way, and then I remembered it was the one you usually frequented; so at last we have met. Forward! March!
"'Where Victory leads us still onward we go,
Ever joyfully singing we'll face every foe.'"
"My dear Lorin, I am in despair. I do not feel the slightest taste for this expedition. Say that you were not able to find me."
"Impossible! all our men have seen you."
"Well, then, say you met me, and I was not willing to join you."
[Pg 288]
"Again impossible."
"But why so?"
"Because this time you will not only be considered lukewarm, but a suspect; and you well know the fate of these suspects. They are conducted to the Place de la Révolution, and are there invited to salute the statue of Liberty; only instead of saluting with the hat they substitute the head."
"Well, Lorin, I hardly care how soon this fate may befall me; but without doubt it seems strange to you to hear me say so."
Lorin opened his eyes wide, and looked at Maurice.
"Well," said Maurice, "I am weary of life."
Lorin burst into a roar of laughter.
"Ah! ah!" said he, "we have had a quarrel with our beloved, and that fills us with melancholy ideas. Come, my handsome Amadis! let us return to the man, and from that we shall pass to the citizen. As for me I am never a better patriot than when I am embroiled with Arthémise. Apropos, her Divinity the Goddess Reason charged me with a thousand gracious messages for you."
"Pray thank her for me. Adieu, Lorin."
"Adieu! how adieu?"
"Yes, I am going."
"Where are you going?"
"I am going home."
"Maurice, you will ruin yourself."
"I laugh at the idea."
"Maurice, reflect; my friend, reflect!"
"I have done so."
"I have not repeated all—"
"What?"
"That Santerre said to me."
"What did he say?"
[Pg 289]
"When I asked for you to be chief of this expedition, he said to me, 'Take care!'"
"'Of whom?'
"'Of Maurice.'"
"Of me?"
"Yes, Maurice; and he also added, 'he often goes into that quarter?'"
"Into what quarter?"
"Into that of Maison-Rouge."
"How?" cried Maurice, "is it here he hides himself?"
"They fancy so, since it is here his supposed accomplice resides, the purchaser of the house in the Rue de la Corderie."
"Faubourg Victor?" demanded Maurice.
"Yes; Faubourg Victor."
"And in what street?"—
"In the old Rue Saint Jacques."
"O God!" murmured Maurice, as if struck by a thunderbolt. And he pressed his hand before his eyes. But after a moment's interval, during which he had collected all his courage,—
"What trade?" said he.
"A master-tanner."
"His name?"
"Dixmer."
"You are right, Lorin," said Maurice, by a violent effort controlling his emotion; "I will go with you."
"And you do well; are you armed?"
"I always carry my sword."
"Take also this pair of pistols."
"And you?"
"I have my gun. Carry arms! Shoulder arms! Forward! March!"
The patrol commenced its march, accompanied by[Pg 290] Maurice, who walked near Lorin. They were preceded by a man dressed in gray, who directed their movements. This was an agent of police.
From time to time a shadow might be seen emerging from the angles of the streets or the doors of the houses, who exchanged some words with the man in gray. This was the inspector. On arriving at the little street, the man in gray did not hesitate for an instant. He was well instructed, and entered the street at once. Before the door of the garden where Maurice had been so nearly garroted, he stopped.
"It is here," said he.
"What is here?" demanded Lorin.
"It is here we shall find the two principals."
Maurice supported himself against the wall; he felt as if he were sinking to the ground.
"Now," said the man in gray, "there are three entrances,—the principal entrance, this one, and another which leads into a pavilion. I shall enter with six or eight men through the principal entrance, in the mean time keep guard here with four or five men, and place three sure men at the entrance of the pavilion."
"I will get over the wall," said Maurice, "and watch in the garden."
"The very thing," said Lorin, "as from the interior you can open the door to us."
"Willingly," said Maurice, "but do not clear the passage, or come, till I call you. All that passes in the interior I shall see from the garden."
"You are acquainted with the house, then?" demanded Lorin.
"Some time back I wished to buy it."
Lorin proceeded to conceal his men in the corners of the hedges and angles of the doors, while the agent of[Pg 291] police retired with six or eight National Guards to force his way by the principal entrance. In an instant the noise of their receding steps ceased in the distance, without having awakened the least suspicion. Maurice's men were at their post, and did their best to keep concealed. One would have declared that everything was perfectly quiet, and that nothing extraordinary was passing in the old Rue Saint Jacques. Maurice then began to climb the wall.
"Listen," said Lorin.
"To what?"
"The countersign."
"Right."
"'Carnation and Vault.' Stop all those who cannot give these three words. Permit all to pass who can. This is the password."
"Thanks," said Maurice, dropping from the top of the wall into the garden.
[Pg 292]