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〃Go the house and ask to speak to the Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne； when you
see her beg her to speak to you alone。 If no one can overhear you； say
to her： 'Mademoiselle； the lives of your two cousins are in danger；
and he who can explain the how and why is waiting to speak to you。' If
she seems afraid； if she distrusts you； add these words： 'They are
conspiring against the First Consul and the conspiracy is discovered。'
Don't give your name； they distrust us too much。〃
Marthe raised her face towards her husband and said：
〃Can it be that you serve them？〃
〃What if I do？〃 he said； frowning； taking her words as a reproach。
〃You don't understand me；〃 cried Marthe； seizing his large hand and
falling on her knees beside him as she kissed it and covered it with
her tears。
〃Go； go； you shall cry later；〃 he said； kissing her vehemently。
When he no longer heard her step his eyes filled with tears。 He had
distrusted Marthe on account of her father's opinions； he had hidden
the secrets of his life from her； but the beauty of her simple nature
had suddenly appeared to him； just as the grandeur of his had； as
suddenly； revealed itself to her。 Marthe had passed in a moment from
the deep humiliation caused by the degradation of the man whose name
she bore； to the exaltation given by a sense of his nobleness。 The
change was instantaneous； without transition； it was enough to make
her tremble。 She told him later that she went； as it were； through
blood from the pavilion to the edge of the forest； and there was
lifted to heaven； in a moment； among the angels。 Michu； who had known
he was not appreciated； and who mistook his wife's grieved and
melancholy manner for lack of affection； and had left her to herself；
living chiefly out of doors and reserving all his tenderness for his
boy； instantly understood the meaning of her tears。 She had cursed the
part which her beauty and her father's will had forced her to take；
but now happiness； in the midst of this great storm； played； with a
beautiful flame like a vivid lightning about them。 And it was
lightning！ Each thought of the last ten years of misconception； and
they blamed themselves only。 Michu stood motionless； his elbow on his
gun； his chin on his hand； lost in deep reverie。 Such a moment in a
man's life makes him willing to accept the saddest moments of a
painful past。
Marthe； agitated by the same thoughts as those of her husband； was
also troubled in heart by the danger of the Simeuse brothers； for she
now understood all； even the faces of the two Parisians； though she
still could not explain to herself her husband's gun。 She darted
forward like a doe； and soon reached the road to the chateau。 There
she was surprised by the steps of a man following behind her； she
turned； with a cry； and her husband's large hand closed her mouth。
〃From the hill up there I saw the silver lace of the gendarmes' hats。
Go in by the breach in the moat between Mademoiselle's tower and the
stables。 The dogs won't bark at you。 Go through the garden and call
the countess by the window； order them to saddle her horse； and ask
her to come out through the breach。 I'll be there； after discovering
what the Parisians are planning； and how to escape them。〃
Danger； which seemed to be rolling like an avalanche upon them； gave
wings to Marthe's feet。
CHAPTER IV
LAURENCE DE CINQ…CYGNE
The old Frank name of the Cinq…Cygnes and the Chargeboeufs was
Duineff。 Cinq…Cygne became that of the younger branch of the
Chargeboeufs after the defence of a castle made； during their father's
absence； by five daughters of that race； all remarkably fair； and of
whom no one expected such heroism。 One of the first Comtes de
Champagne wished； by bestowing this pretty name； to perpetuate the
memory of their deed as long as the family existed。 Laurence； the last
of her race； was； contrary to Salic law； heiress of the name； the
arms； and the manor。 She was therefore Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne in her
own right； her husband would have to take both her name and her
blazon； which bore for device the glorious answer made by the elder of
the five sisters when summoned to surrender the castle； 〃We die
singing。〃 Worthy descendant of these noble heroines； Laurence was fair
and lily…white as though nature had made her for a wager。 The lines of
her blue veins could be seen through the delicate close texture of her
skin。 Her beautiful golden hair harmonized delightfully with eyes of
the deepest blue。 Everything about her belonged to the type of
delicacy。 Within that fragile though active body； and in defiance as
it were of its pearly whiteness； lived a soul like that of a man of
noble nature； but no one； not even a close observer； would have
suspected it from the gentle countenance and rounded features which；
when seen in profile； bore some slight resemblance to those of a lamb。
This extreme gentleness； though noble； had something of the stupidity
of the little animal。 〃I look like a dreamy sheep；〃 she would say；
smiling。 Laurence； who talked little； seemed not so much dreamy as
dormant。 But； did any important circumstance arise； the hidden Judith
was revealed； sublime； and circumstances had； unfortunately； not been
wanting。
At thirteen years of age； Laurence； after the events already related；
was an orphan living in a house opposite to the empty space where so
recently had stood one of the most curious specimens in France of
sixteenth…century architecture； the hotel Cinq…Cygne。 Monsieur
d'Hauteserre； her relation； now her guardian； took the young heiress
to live in the country at her chateau of Cinq…Cygne。 That brave
provincial gentleman； alarmed at the death of his brother； the Abbe
d'Hauteserre； who was shot in the open square as he was about to
escape in the dress of a peasant； was not in a position to defend the
interests of his ward。 He had two sons in the army of the princes； and
every day； at the slightest unusual sound； he believed that the
municipals of Arcis were coming to arrest him。 Laurence； proud of
having sustained a siege and of possessing the historic whiteness of
her swan…like ancestors； despised the prudent cowardice of the old man
who bent to the storm； and dreamed only of distinguishing herself。 So；
she boldly hung the portrait of Charlotte Corday on the walls of her
poor salon at Cinq…Cygne； and crowned it with oak…leaves。 She
corresponded by messenger with her twin cousins； in defiance of the
law； which punished the act； when discovered； with death。 The
messenger； who risked his life； brought back the answers。 Laurence
lived only； after the catastrophes at Troyes； for the triumph of the
royal cause。 After soberly judging Monsieur and Madame d'Hauteserre
（who lived with her at the chateau de Cinq…Cygne）； and recognizing
their honest； but stolid natures； she put them outside the lines of
her own life。 She had； moreover； too good a mind and too sound a
judgment to complain of their natures； always kind； amiable； and
affectionate towards them； she nevertheless told them none of her
secrets。 Nothing forms a character so much as the practice of constant
concealment in the bosom of a family。
After she attained her major