JARCEAU'S

“The pardon of my wife, who is con- demned to death by Carrier.'

“Your wife condemned to death by Carricr ! The wife of Marceau, the well- known Republican! the Spartan soldier | What is Carrier then doing at Nantes ? "

Marceau gave him an account of the atrocities which Carrier was superintending at Nantes.

“See how Tam alwavs misunderstood,” cricd Robespicrre, with a hoarse voice, broken by cmotion. ** Above all, wherc My cves cannot see, nor my hand arrest. There is enough blood being spilt that we cannot avord, and we are not at the end of 1t '\"Ct.”

“ Then give me my wife's pardon.”

Robespierre took a leal of white paper.

“What was her name 2

“AWhy do vou wish to know that -

“TUas necessary in cases of identity.”

• Blanche de Beaulicu.” '

L}

CCULIVED ME MY WIFES PARDON.

Robespierre let his pen lall.

“What? The daughter of the Marquis de Beaulicu, the chief of the Royalists of L.a Vendde, How ia it that she 1s vour wile 27

PRISONER. 11

Marceau told him all.

“Young fool and madman ! " “Must you Marccau him,

“lask from vou neither insults nor abuse. [ ask for her Iite. Wil vou give it mez "

SV family ties, Tove's influence, never lcad you to betray the Republic 77

v Never.”

“IE you find yoursell armed, face to face with the Marquis de Beaulicu 7°

“Dwill ight agamst him as [ have already done.”

“And ol he falls into vour

Marceau reflected an instant

“Twill bring him to vou, and you shall be his judge.”

“You swear it to me 7

“ Upon my honour.”

Robespicrre took up his pen and finished writig.

“There 1= your wife's parden,” he said. “You can depart.”

Marceau took his hand and wrung it with force. 1le wish- cd to speak, but tears choked his ut- terance o oand 1t was Robespicerre who saud to him—

“(ro! there s not an Instant to lose. A revon

Marceau sprang. down the stairs and into the street, and ran toward the

Palais-Egalité, where his car- riage waited.

/ / \ . -+, x’-\’:k“’ . . 2 ] SN IFrom what ‘ A e/ a N Y

he said. iterrupted

[

hands ?

welght his heart was freed ! What happiness awaited him T What joy after so much avief ! His1imagina- tion plunged into the future, and hie saw the moment when, appear- ing on the threshold of the prison-ccll, he would cry—

“Blanche, vou are saved | You wre free ! Before us lies a life of love and happimess.”

Yot from time to time a vaguce uneasi- ness tormented him ;o oa sudden chill struck cold upon his heart. He spurred on the postillions by lavish promiscs of gold, and the horses flew along the road. Everything