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looked at her husband with fixed eyes widened by fear； she tried to
speak； but her throat was dry。 Michu disappeared like a shadow； having
tied Couraut to the foot of his bed where the dog； after the manner of
all dogs； howled in despair。
Michu's anger against Monsieur Marion had serious grounds； but it was
now concentrated on another man； far more criminal in his eyes；on
Malin； whose secrets were known to the bailiff； he being in a better
position than others to understand the conduct of the State
Councillor。 Michu's father…in…law had had； politically speaking； the
confidence of the former representative to the Convention； through
Grevin。
Perhaps it would be well here to relate the circumstances which
brought the Simeuse and the Cinq…Cygne families into connection with
Malin；circumstances which weighed heavily on the fate of
Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne's twin cousins； but still more heavily on
that of Marthe and Michu。
The Cinq…Cygne mansion at Troyes stands opposite to that of Simeuse。
When the populace； incited by minds that were as shrewd as they were
cautious； pillaged the hotel Simeuse； discovered the marquis and
marchioness； who were accused of corresponding with the nation's
enemies； and delivered them to the national guards who took them to
prison； the crowd shouted； 〃Now for the Cinq…Cygnes！〃 To their minds
the Cinq…Cygnes were as guilty as other aristocrats。 The brave and
worthy Monsieur de Simeuse in the endeavor to save his two sons； then
eighteen years of age； whose courage was likely to compromise them；
had confided them； a few hours before the storm broke； to their aunt；
the Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne。 Two servants attached to the Simeuse
family accompanied the young men to her house。 The old marquis； who
was anxious that his name should not die out； requested that what was
happening might be concealed from his sons； even in the event of dire
disaster。 Laurence； the only daughter of the Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne；
was then twelve years of age； her cousins both loved her and she loved
them equally。 Like other twins the Simeuse brothers were so alike that
for a long while their mother dressed them in different colors to know
them apart。 The first comer； the eldest； was named Paul…Marie； the
other Marie…Paul。 Laurence de Cinq…Cygne； to whom their danger was
revealed； played her woman's part well though still a mere child。 She
coaxed and petted her cousins and kept them occupied until the very
moment when the populace surrounded the Cinq…Cygne mansion。 The two
brothers then knew their danger for the first time； and looked at each
other。 Their resolution was instantly taken； they armed their own
servants and those of the Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne； barricaded the
doors； and stood guard at the windows； after closing the wooden
blinds； with the five men…servants and the Abbe d'Hauteserre； a
relative of the Cinq…Cygnes。 These eight courageous champions poured a
deadly fire into the crowd。 Every shot killed or wounded an assailant。
Laurence； instead of wringing her hands； loaded the guns with
extraordinary coolness； and passed the balls and powder to those who
needed them。 The Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne was on her knees。
〃What are you doing； mother？〃 said Laurence。
〃I am praying；〃 she answered； 〃for them and for you。〃
Sublime words；said also by the mother of Godoy； prince of the Peace；
in Spain； under similar circumstances。
In a moment eleven persons were killed and lying on the ground among a
number of wounded。 Such results either cool or excite a populace；
either it grows savage at the work or discontinues it。 On the present
occasion those in advance recoiled； but the crowd behind them were
there to kill and rob； and when they saw their own dead； they cried
out： 〃Murder！ Murder！ Revenge！〃 The wiser heads went in search of the
representative to the Convention； Malin。 The twins； by this time aware
of the disastrous events of the day； suspected Malin of desiring the
ruin of their family； and of causing the arrest of their parents； and
the suspicion soon became a certainty。 They posted themselves beneath
the porte…cochere； gun in hand； intending to kill Malin as soon as he
made his appearance； but the countess lost her head； she imagined her
house in ashes and her daughter assassinated； and she blamed the young
men for their heroic defence and compelled them to desist。 It was
Laurence who opened the door slightly when Malin summoned the
household to admit him。 Seeing her； the representative relied upon the
awe he expected to inspire in a mere child； and he entered the house。
To his first words of inquiry as to why the family were making such a
resistance； the girl replied： 〃If you really desire to give liberty to
France how is it that you do not protect us in our homes？ They are
trying to tear down this house； monsieur； to murder us； and you say we
have no right to oppose force to force！〃
Malin stood rooted to the ground。
〃You； the son of a mason employed by the Grand Marquis to build his
castle！〃 exclaimed Marie…Paul； 〃you have let them drag our father to
prisonyou have believed calumnies！〃
〃He shall be released at once；〃 said Malin； who thought himself lost
when he saw each youth clutch his weapon convulsively。
〃You owe your life to that promise；〃 said Marie…Paul； solemnly。 〃If it
is not fulfilled to…night we shall find you again。〃
〃As to that howling populace；〃 said Laurence； 〃If you do not send them
away； the next blood will be yours。 Now； Monsieur Malin； leave this
house！〃
The Conventionalist did leave it； and he harangued the crowd； dwelling
on the sacred rights of the domestic hearth； the habeas corpus and the
English 〃home。〃 He told them that the law and the people were
sovereigns； that the law /was/ the people； and that the people could
only act through the law； and that power was vested in the law。 The
particular law of personal necessity made him eloquent； and he managed
to disperse the crowd。 But he never forgot the contemptuous expression
of the two brothers； nor the 〃Leave this house！〃 of Mademoiselle de
Cinq…Cygne。 Therefore； when it was a question of selling the estates
of the Comte de Cinq…Cygne； Laurence's brother； as national property；
the sale was rigorously made。 The agents left nothing for Laurence but
the chateau； the park and gardens； and one farm called that of Cinq…
Cygne。 Malin instructed the appraisers that Laurence had no rights
beyond her legal share；the nation taking possession of all that
belonged to her brother； who had emigrated and； above all； had borne
arms against the Republic。
The evening after this terrible tumult； Laurence so entreated her
cousins to leave the country； fearing treachery on the part of Malin；
or some trap into which they might fall； that they took horse that
night and gained the Prussian outposts。 They had scarcely reached the
forest of Gondreville before the hotel Cinq…Cygne was surrounded；
Malin came himself to arrest the heirs of the house of Simeuse。 He
dared not lay hands on the Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne； who was in bed with
a nervous fever； nor on Laurence； a child of twelve。 The servants；
fearing the severity of the Republic； had disappeared。 The n