gaiety； indeed of jocularity； prevailing at Court … whither madame
and mademoiselle went almost daily … reassured them。 M。 de
Plougastel had come and gone again； back to Coblenz on that secret
business that kept him now almost constantly absent from his wife。
But whilst with her he had positively assured her that all measures
were taken； and that an insurrection was a thing to be welcomed；
because it could have one only conclusion； the final crushing of
the Revolution in the courtyard of the Tuileries。 That； he added；
was why the King remained in Paris。 But for his confidence in that
he would put himself in the centre of his Swiss and his knights of
the dagger； and quit the capital。 They would hack a way out for
him easily if his departure were opposed。 But not even that would
be necessary。
Yet in those early days of August； after her husband's departure
the effect of his inspiring words was gradually dissipated by the
march of events under madame's own eyes。 And finally on the
afternoon of the ninth； there arrived at the Hotel Plougastel a
messenger from Meudon bearing a note from M。 de Kercadiou in
which he urgently bade mademoiselle join him there at once； and
advised her hostess to accompany her。
You may have realized that M。 de Kercadiou was of those who make
friends with men of all classes。 His ancient lineage placed him
on terms of equality with members of the noblesse； his simple
manners … something between the rustic and the bourgeois … and his
natural affability placed him on equally good terms with those who
by birth were his inferiors。 In Meudon he was known and esteemed
of all the simple folk； and it was Rougane； the friendly mayor；
who； informed on the 9th of August of the storm that was brewing
for the morrow； and knowing of mademoiselle's absence in Paris；
had warningly advised him to withdraw her from what in the next
four…and…twenty hours might be a zone of danger for all persons
of quality； particularly those suspected of connections with the
Court party。
Now there was no doubt whatever of Mme。 de Plougastel's connection
with the Court。 It was not even to be doubted … indeed； measure of
proof of it was to be forthcoming … that those vigilant and
ubiquitous secret societies that watched over the cradle of the
young revolution were fully informed of the frequent journeyings of
M。 de Plougastel to Coblenz； and entertained no illusions on the
score of the reason for them。 Given； then； a defeat of the Court
party in the struggle that was preparing； the position in Paris of
Mme。 de Plougastel could not be other than fraught with danger； and
that danger would be shared by any guest of birth at her hotel。
M。 de Kercadiou's affection for both those women quickened the fears
aroused in him by Rougane's warning。 Hence that hastily dispatched
note； desiring his niece and imploring his friend to come at once
to Meudon。
The friendly mayor carried his complaisance a step farther； and
dispatched the letter to Paris by the hands of his own son； an
intelligent lad of nineteen。 It was late in the afternoon of that
perfect August day when young Rougane presented himself at the
Hotel Plougastel。
He was graciously received by Mme。 de Plougastel in the salon； whose
splendours； when combined with the great air of the lady herself；
overwhelmed the lad's simple； unsophisticated soul。 Madame made up
her mind at once。
M。 de Kercadiou's urgent message no more than confirmed her own
fears and inclinations。 She decided upon instant departure。
〃Bien； madame；〃 said the youth。 〃Then I have the honour to take
my leave。〃
But she would not let him go。 First to the kitchen to refresh
himself； whilst she and mademoiselle made ready； and then a seat
for him in her carriage as far as Meudon。 She could not suffer him
to return on foot as he had come。
Though in all the circumstances it was no more than his due； yet
the kindliness that in such a moment of agitation could take thought
for another was presently to be rewarded。 Had she done less than
this； she would have known … if nothing worse … at least some hours
of anguish even greater than those that were already in store for her。
It wanted； perhaps； a half…hour to sunset when they set out in her
carriage with intent to leave Paris by the Porte Saint…Martin。 They
travelled with a single footman behind。 Rougane … terrifying
condescension … was given a seat inside the carriage with the ladies；
and proceeded to fall in love with Mlle。 de Kercadiou； whom he
accounted the most beautiful being he had ever seen； yet who talked
to him simply and unaffectedly as with an equal。 The thing went to
his head a little； and disturbed certain republican notions which
he had hitherto conceived himself to have thoroughly digested。
The carriage drew up at the barrier； checked there by a picket of
the National Guard posted before the iron gates。
The sergeant in command strode to the door of the vehicle。 The
Countess put her head from the window。
〃The barrier is closed； madame；〃 she was curtly informed。
〃Closed！〃 she echoed。 The thing was incredible。 〃But。。。 but do
you mean that we cannot pass？〃
Not unless you have a permit； madame。〃 The sergeant leaned
nonchalantly on his pike。 〃The orders are that no one is to leave
or enter without proper papers。〃
〃Whose orders？〃
〃Orders of the Commune of Paris。〃
〃But I must go into the country this evening。〃 Madame's voice was
almost petulant。 〃I am expected。〃
〃In that case let madame procure a permit。〃
〃Where is it to be procured？〃
〃At the Hotel de Ville or at the headquarters of madame's section。〃
She considered a moment。 〃To the section； then。 Be so good as to
tell my coachman to drive to the Bondy Section。〃
He saluted her and stepped back。 〃Section Bondy； Rue des Morts；〃
he bade the driver。
Madame sank into her seat again； in a state of agitation fully
shared by mademoiselle。 Rougane set himself to pacify and reassure
them。 The section would put the matter in order。 They would most
certainly be accorded a permit。 What possible reason could there
be for refusing them？ A mere formality； after all！
His assurance uplifted them merely to prepare them for a still more
profound dejection when presently they met with a flat refusal from
the president of the section who received the Countess。
〃Your name； madame？〃 he had asked brusquely。 A rude fellow of the
most advanced republican type； he had not even risen out of
deference to the ladies when they entered。 He was there； he would
have told you； to perform the duties of his office； not to give
dancing…lessons。
〃Plougastel；〃 he repeated after her； without title； as if it had
been the name of a butcher or baker。 He took down a heavy volume
from a shelf on his right； opened it and turned the pages。 It was
a sort of directory of his section。 Presently he found what he
sought。 〃Comte de Plougastel； Hotel Plougastel； Rue du Paradis。
Is that it？〃
〃That is correct； monsieur；〃 she answered； with what civility she
could muster before the fellow's affronting rudeness。
There was a long moment of silence； during which he studied certain
pencilled entries against the name。 The sections had been working
in the last few weeks much more systematically than was generally
suspected。
〃Your husband is with you； madame？〃 he asked curtly； his eyes still
conning that page。
〃M。 le Comte is not with me；〃 she answered； stressing the title。
〃Not with you？〃 He looked up suddenly； and directed upon her a
glance in which suspicion seemed to blend with derision。 〃Where
is he？〃
〃He is not in Paris； monsieur。
〃Ab！ Is he at Coblenz； do you think？〃
Madame felt herself turning cold。 There was something ominous in
all this。 To what end had the sections informed themselves so
thoroughly of the comings and goings of their inhabitants？ What was
preparing？ She had a sense of being trapped； of being taken in a
net that had been cast unseen。
〃I do not know； monsieur；〃 she said； her voice unsteady。
〃Of course not。〃 He seemed to sneer。 〃No matter。 And you wish to
leave Paris also？ Where do you desire to go？〃
〃To Meudon。〃
〃Your business there？〃
The blood leapt to her face。 His insolence was unbearable to a
woman who in all her life had never known anything but the utmost
deference from inferiors and equals alike。 Nevertheless； realizing
that she was face to face with forces entirely new； she controlled
herself； stifled her resentment； and answered steadily。
〃I wish to conduct this lady； Mlle。 de Kercadiou； back to her uncle
who resides there。〃
〃Is that all？ Another day will do for that； madame。 The matter is
not pressing。〃
〃Pardon； monsieur； to us the matter is very pressing。〃
〃You have not convinced me of it； and the barriers are closed to all
who cannot prove the most urgent and satisfactory reasons for wishing
to pass。 You will wait； madame； until the restriction is removed。
Good…evening。〃
〃But； monsieur。。。 〃
〃Good…evening； madame；〃 he repeated significantly； a dismissal more
contemptuous and despotic than any royal 〃You have leave to go。
Madame went out with Aline。 Both were quivering with the anger that
prudence had urged them to suppress。 They climbed into the coach
again； desiring to be driven home。
Rougane's astonishment turned into dismay when they told him what
had taken place。 〃Why not try the Hotel de Ville； madame？〃 he
suggested。
〃After that？ It would be useless。 We must resign ourselves to
remaining in Paris until the barriers are opened again。〃
〃Perhaps it will not matter to us either way by then； madame；〃 said
Aline。
〃Aline！〃 she exclaimed in horror。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 cried Rougane on the same note。 And then； because
he perceived that people detained in this fashion must be in some
danger not yet discernible； but on that account more dreadful； he
set his wits to work。 As they were approaching the Hotel Plougastel
once more； he announced that he had solved the problem。
〃A passport from without would do equally well；〃 he announced。
〃Listen； now； and trust to me。 I will go back to Meudon at once。
My father shall give me two permits … one for mys