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dictate to him。 One is not the better for this； and another the
worse。 Farewell； my friend！ Take care for your own safety； for it is
well that some faithful ones should still remain to serve the queen；
and I know that you will serve her when she needs your help。〃
〃Then give me your hand in parting； my friend。 And if at last you
come to the conclusion to flee； come to Normandy； and in the village
of Lerne； near Dieppe； you will find me； and my father will receive
you； and you shall be treated as if you were my brother。〃
〃Thanks； my friend； thanks！ One last shake of the hand。 There！ Now
you are away； and I remain here。〃
Toulan went out into the street； walked along with a cheerful face；
and repaired at once to the hall where the Committee of Safety were
sitting。
〃Citizens and brothers；〃 he said； in aloud； bold voice； 〃I have just
been informed that I have been brought under suspicion and
denounced。 Friends have warned me to betake to flight。 But I am no
coward； I have no bad conscience； and therefore do not fly； but come
here and ask you is this true？ Is it possible that you regard me as
no patriot； and as a traitor？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered President Hobart； with a harsh； hard voice； 〃you are
under suspicion； and we mistrust you。 This shameful seducer； this
she…wolf Marie Antoinette has cast her foxy eyes upon you； and would
doubtless succeed if you are often with her。 We have therefore once
for all taken your name from the list of the official guards in the
Temple； and you will no longer be exposed to the wiles of the
Austrian woman。 But besides this； as the second denunciation has
been made against you to…day； and as it is asserted that you are in
relations with aristocrats and suspected persons； we have considered
it expedient； in view of the common safety； to issue a warrant for
your apprehension。 An officer has just gone with two soldiers to
your house； to arrest you and bring you hither。 You have simply
anticipated the course of law by surrendering yourself。 Officer；
soldiers； here！〃
The persons summoned appeared； and put Toulan under arrest；
preparatory to taking him to prison。
〃It is well；〃 said Toulan； with a noble calmness。 〃I know that the
time will come when you will regret having so abused a true patriot；
and I hope； for the peace of your consciences； that there will be a
time then to undo the evil which you are doing to me to…day； and
that my head will then be on my shoulders； that my lips may be able
to testify to you what my heart now dictates； that I forgive you！
You are in error about me； yet I know that you are acting not out of
enmity to me； but for the weal of the country； and out of love for
the great； united republic。 As the true and tenderly loving son of
this noble； exalted mother； I forgive you for giving ear to my
unrighteous accusers； and； even if you shed my innocent blood； my
dying wish will be a blessing on the republic。〃
〃Those are noble and excellent words；〃 said Hobart； coldly。 〃But if
deeds speak in antagonism to words； we cannot let the latter beguile
us out of our sense； but we must give heed to justice。〃
〃That is the one only thing that I ask；〃 cried Toulan； brightly。
〃Let justice be done； my brothers； and I shall very soon he free；
and shall come out from an investigation like a spotless lamb。 I
make no resistance。 Come； my friends； take me to prison！ I only ask
for permission to be escorted first to my house； to procure a few
articles of clothing to use during my imprisonment。 But I urge
pressingly that my articles may be sealed up in my presence。 For
when the man of the house is not at home； it fares badly with the
safety of his property； and I shall be able to feel at ease only
when the seal of the republic is upon my possessions。 I beg you
therefore to allow my paper and valuables to be sealed in my
presence。 You will thus be sure that my wife and my friends have not
removed any thing which might be used against me； and my innocence
will shine out the more clearly。 I beg you therefore to comply with
my wish。〃
The members of the committee consulted with one another in low
tones； and the chairman then announced to Toulan that his wish would
be complied with； and that an escort of soldiers might accompany him
to his house； to allow him to procure linen and clothing； and to
seal his effects and papers in their presence。
Toulan thanked them with cheerful looks； and went out into the
street between the two guards。 As they were on the way to his house；
he talked easily with them； laughed and joked； but in his own
thoughts he said to himself； 〃You are lost！ hopelessly lost； if you
do not escape now。 You are the prey of the guillotine； if the gates
of the prison once close upon you； therefore escape； escape or die。〃
While he was thus laughing and talking with the soldiers； and
meanwhile thinking such solemn thoughts； his sharp black eyes were
glancing in all directions； looking for a friend who might assist
him out of his trouble。 And fortune sent him such a friend！Ricard；
Ionian's most trusted counsellor； the abettor of his plans。 Toulan
called him with an animated face； and in loud tones told him that he
had been denounced； and therefore arrested； and that he was only
allowed to go to his house to procure some clothing。
〃Come along； Ricard；〃 he said。 〃They are going to put my effects
under seal； and you have some papers and books on my writing…table。
Come along； and take possession of your own things； so that they may
not be sealed up as mine。〃
Ricard nodded assent； and a significant look told Toulan that his
friend understood him； and that his meaning was； that Ricard should
take possession of papers that might bring Toulan under suspicion。
Continuing their walk； they spoke of indifferent matters； and at
last reached Toulan's house。 Marguerite met them with calm bearing。
She knew that every cry； every expression of anxiety and trouble；
would only imperil the condition of her husband； and her love gave
her power to master herself。
〃Ah！ are you there； husband？〃 she said； with a smile； how hard to
her no one knew。 〃You are bringing a great deal of company。〃
〃Yes； Marguerite；〃 said Toulan； with a smile； 〃and I am going to
keep on with this pleasant company to prison。〃
〃Oh！〃 she cried； laughing； 〃that is a good joke！ Toulan； the best of
patriots； in prison！ Come； you ought not to joke about serious
matters。〃
〃It is no joke；〃 said one of the guards； solemnly。 〃Citizen Toulan
is arrested； and is here only to procure some articles of clothing；
and have his effects put under seal。〃
〃And to give back to his friend Ricard the books and papers that
belong to him；〃 said Toulan。 〃Come； let us go into my study；
friends。〃
〃There are my books and papers；〃 cried Ricard； as they went into the
next room。 He sprang forward to the writing…table； seized all the
papers lying upon it； and tried to thrust them into his coat…pocket。
But the two soldiers checked him； and undertook to resist his
movement。 Ricard protested； a loud exchange of words took placein
which Marguerite had her shareinsisting that all the papers on the
table belonged to Ricard； and she should like to see the