L\ b RAFIY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UN IVLRSITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 8^3 
 
 V,
 
 3 0^ ,
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE GUARDSMAN
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://wwW.archive.org/details/lifeguardsman01walm
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE GUARDSMAK 
 
 HUGH MULLENEUX WALMSLEY. 
 
 COLONEL, OTTO^IAN IMPERLiL ARJNJY, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 JOUKNAL O*" A BASH! BAZOUK," "THE CHASSEUR d'aFKIQU; 
 ETC., ETC. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET 
 
 187L 
 
 [AU liights reserved.']
 
 8^S 
 
 M Y F A T H E R, 
 
 8 I K J O S H U A W A L M S L E Y, 
 
 £ 43ctiii:;itc thcoc llolnmce. 
 
 H. M W. 
 
 .0 
 
 r 
 
 s 
 
 ^
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
 
 I. L0UI8 THE WELL-BELOVED 
 II. "VIVAT KEX IN .ETERNrM" 
 
 III. THE TEMPLE 
 
 IV, THE CHEVALIERS DE L"(EILLET 
 V. LA CONCIERGEIIIE 
 
 VI. THE CAFE CORAZZA 
 VIL MARIE ANTOINETTE 
 VIII. DE BRIS.SAC'S VOW 
 IX. ON (iUARD 
 X. SIMON THE COBBLER . 
 XI. CORALIE 
 
 XII. henriot's man-hunt 
 
 i 
 24 
 
 :58 
 ')7 
 
 .so 
 
 m) 
 
 107 
 117 
 124 
 1:39 
 150 
 KA
 
 VIU 
 
 C0x\TA'^T6'. 
 
 CHAPIKK 
 
 XIII. LE CABAKET DU CHAT SAUVAGE 
 XIV. THE CKUlSb; OF THE AVYVERN 
 XV. THE ClIOUAN CHIEFS . 
 XVI. THE CAVEllN OF FOUGEIIES . 
 XVII. THE DUEL \ MORT 
 XVIII. THE OLD VANGUARD . 
 XIX. ADMIRAL NELSON 
 
 PAGE 
 
 177 
 
 216 
 
 238 
 25(j 
 207 
 281
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 
 
 '' A ND who was St. Eemi ?" asked a 
 young noble, riding at the head of 
 a splendidly organized regiment of the 
 Eoyal Body Guard, as he turned to an 
 officer by his side. " Who the deuce was 
 St. Eemi, De Brissac ?" 
 
 ''Oh, I thought everyone had heard of 
 him," replied the officer addressed, '' for he 
 is as famous in France as ever was Saint 
 Januarius in Naples. But we must move 
 
 VOL. L 1
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 on, De Rougeville; your regiment, the Royal 
 AUemand, is pressing on our rear ;" and as 
 he spoke, the guardsman raised his finger, 
 and the trumpets of the King Louis Life 
 Guards rang out on the breeze, as amidst a 
 cloud of dust the splendid corps moved on 
 rapidly at the trot. 
 
 The sun was shining brightly that morn- 
 ing of the 9th of June, 1775. The high road 
 along which the Life Guards were moving 
 had been crowded for days, and was every 
 hour becoming more and more so, horsemen, 
 carriages, and troops pressing forward, for 
 amidst the joy shouts of a whole nation, 
 Louis had left Versailles to be anointed 
 king of France under the great cathedral 
 dome at Rheims. Twenty thousand horses 
 were echeloned along the highway between 
 the two towns, for the use of the court 
 alone, but they did not nearly suffice, and
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 3 
 
 SO hundreds who could not afford to ride, 
 toiled along on foot, despite sun and dust, 
 rather than be left behind, for the heart of 
 the whole land was beating high with affec- 
 tion, for Louis and Marie Antoinette. 
 
 The officer who had first spoken wore 
 the splendid uniform of the " Koyal Alle- 
 mand," the broad-flapped coatee of the stuff 
 called in that day. Bleu du Roi, turned up 
 with crimson, and heavily slashed with 
 gold lace. 
 
 On his breast glittered the cross 
 of St. Louis, and he rode with care- 
 less ease a magnificent black charger, 
 whose housings of blue and gold nearly 
 swept the ground. He. was a slight well- 
 l)uilt man, about five feet three inches in 
 height, quick and active in his movements, 
 his hair and heavy moustache of a dark 
 auburn, his complexion a clear olive 
 
 i— 2
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 colour. The face slightly pitted with small- 
 pox, and the aquiline nose, restless eyes, 
 and thin compressed lips, gave him the 
 air of one not to be trifled with. Not 
 more than five-and-twenty, the Chevalier 
 De Rougeville was a well-known and rising 
 courtier, and his gay reckless bearing, his 
 well-built but slight graceful figure, ever 
 Avon favour for him where women were 
 concerned. Among men he could always 
 hold his own. 
 
 He who had been called De Brissac, was 
 a man of another type. Wearing the blue 
 and silver uniform of the Life Guards, 
 embroidered with the Eoyal Arms of 
 France, now thickly covered with dust ; he 
 was at least five years the other's senior, 
 and might be some thirty years of age, 
 though he looked older. His dark 
 sallow complexion was not improved by
 
 LOUIS THE WELL^BELOVED. 
 
 the hollow sunken cheeks. The forehead 
 w£is high, but rather narrow, the short thin 
 hair combed straight under the velvet cap 
 with its gay plume, the nose large and 
 well-formed ; but what struck those who 
 saw him foi* the first time, were the eyes, 
 which were black, brilliant, and piercing. 
 A deep scar ran down the left cheek, from 
 a sword cut, gained in a duel fought with 
 the Sieur De Caderousse, the most noted 
 swordsman of the day, whom De Brissac 
 had challenged, because of some slighting 
 words spoken against the Queen before her 
 marriage. White breeches and heavy jack 
 boots reaching to the knee, completed the 
 costumes of both officers. 
 
 " St. Remi lived, passed away, and wa,s 
 buried in the old town of Rheims, De 
 Eougeville," said the Captain of the Life 
 Ouo.rds, as the regiment once more came to
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 a walk, "and his memory might have died 
 out if it had not been for one little circum- 
 stance." 
 
 ''And what was that ?" asked De Kouge- 
 ville, " some old monastic Tom foolery, I'll 
 be bound. I'll tell you what, mon Capi- 
 taine, the days for all that trumpery are 
 passing away." 
 
 "Perhaps so, and the days for such 
 sights as that," replied his comrade, indi- 
 cating with his sword the peasants who 
 might be seen here and there along the 
 road kneeling in the dust, and pointing to 
 their parched lips, and cavernous cheeks, as 
 the gaily dressed troops passed on. 
 
 " Oh, some one must work," answered 
 De Brissac, as he pitched a gold piece 
 among a group of famishing peasants, who 
 straightway fought for it frantically. "The 
 roads between Versailles and Rheims were
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 
 
 too narrow, and it's not possible tliat the 
 king should be delayed for that, and be- 
 sides, some one will pay them sometime." 
 
 " But no one does pay them, and the 
 idea seems to be that they must be torn 
 from their homes and made to labour on 
 the roads night and day. They work and 
 then starve,'' replied De Brissac, shaking 
 his head sorrowfully. " Look at yonder 
 poor fellow crawling away to die. A.s his 
 breath comes more and more feebly, he 
 will think of his wife and children who 
 must starve, when he, the bread winner, is 
 gone." 
 
 " Pshaw, De Brissac !" exclaimed the 
 other impatiently. " You had better turn 
 monk, and give me the chance of exchang- 
 ing the Boyal Allemand for the Life 
 Guards. Now what of St. Ptemi ? Who 
 was he ?"
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " Well, here's the legend/' replied the 
 officer addressed, as the corps moved 
 slowly on, and courier after courier passed 
 to the front, while the bugles and trumpets 
 of a score of regiments rang on the 
 breeze. 
 
 " King Clovis was to be anointed King 
 of France, and Saint E-emi in his garments 
 of state stood before the altar of his 
 church at Hheims ready to perform the 
 ceremony. The building was not that vast 
 pile whose dome we see yonder in the far 
 distance, but it was crowded by a rough 
 set. Men who believed in the old Gods of 
 Bome, and who laughed to scorn the milk- 
 and-water Christian Deities. Men who 
 knew well that Clovis was a great warrior, 
 and a successful soldier ; but now they 
 smiled in scorn, for was he not to be bap-
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 9 
 
 tised, and that tliey deemed a womanly 
 superstition." 
 
 " They were not far wrong," muttered 
 De Kougeville, laughing. 
 
 " Well," continued his comrade, " St. 
 Kemi stood on the altar step, while, at the 
 far end of the church, near the door, he 
 marked the monk (who bore in his hand 
 the oil to be used in the ceremony,) 
 vainly struggling to win his way to his 
 superior. King Clovis' men were closely 
 packed and they only laughed at the 
 priest's entreaties. ' Let the God of the 
 Christian send oil if it be necessary for the 
 mummery,' scoffed a gigantic Gaul as he 
 leaned on his heavy war axe ; and the 
 crowd laughed with him, for before the 
 altar stood Bishop Ptemi, his eyes raised to 
 heaven, while King Clovis was getting im- 
 patient.
 
 iO THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " ^ Oh ! God/ prayed the Saint, 'let not 
 the good work be stayed for this small 
 need/ and the prayer was granted." 
 
 " Of course it was, I could have sworn 
 to that/' exclaimed De Rougeville, "and so 
 a bottle of oil jumped miraculously into the 
 priest s hands. It is too absurd." 
 
 " Over the heads of the scoffing crowd/' 
 continued De Brissac, without noticing the 
 interruption, " came a white dove, holding 
 a phial of celestial oil in its beak, and as 
 the noise of its wings was heard beneath 
 the dome, the scoffers became silent, king 
 Clovis was baptised, and when Archbishop 
 Remi died, he still remained the guardian 
 of the sacred phial, which is never taken 
 from under his protection save when France 
 needs a new king/' 
 
 '' Which is precisely the case now," ex- 
 claimed De Eougeville, laughing, "and I
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 11 
 
 have heard that the liquid in the phial sub- 
 sided very low when Louis XY. was sick 
 to death, but now he is gone, why long 
 live Louis the Well-beloved ! Long live 
 Louis XVI. !" 
 
 And the men took up the shout, it rang 
 from reoiment to reofiment, until it died 
 away, far in the rear, into a dull distant 
 murmur. 
 
 " I have seen the phial," resumed the 
 Life Guardsman, as the dull roar from the 
 closely packed corps died away. "It is of 
 very antique form, not more than an inch 
 and a half high, containing a reddish liquid, 
 not unlike heated glue. Whenever a king 
 of France is to be crowned, the tomb of the 
 old archbishop is opened, and the phial 
 taken out. The miraculous liquid, it is 
 said, never really diminishes, but when the 
 king is sick to death, it appears to shrink in
 
 12 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 volume, and once the king dead, resumes 
 its old form. 
 
 " The leading regiment of Life Guards 
 will halt," exclaimed an aide, riding up at 
 the gallop, " until the procession is formed. 
 Captain De Brissac, you will send forward 
 this, the king's special order to the citizens 
 of E-heims. They must hang out no tap- 
 estries ; let nothing, says the king, hinder 
 my people and myself seeing each other." 
 
 And they did see him ; but as the gilded 
 carriage, which had cost the fabulous sum 
 of two hundred and fifty thousand livres, 
 rolled along to take its proper place in the 
 triumphal march — what the good king did 
 not notice were the corpses of the dead 
 peasants. 
 
 The sun was hot, and both the sight and 
 smell might have been unpleasant, and so 
 the living dug holes, and the dead were
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 
 
 unfortunate indeed, for they missed gazing 
 on the pleasant smile which sat on King 
 Louis' lips as on that ninth of June he en- 
 tered his good town of Kheims. 
 
 At the last moment it had been found 
 that the gates were too small to admit of 
 the procession marching in. What did that 
 matter ? Down they went, and a new 
 and more imposing entrance was hastily 
 made. 
 
 It was a sight worth seeing, as in rear 
 of that splendid regiment of Life Guards, 
 with trumpets sounding, and colours 
 flying, came the state carriages of the 
 governor of the province, and those of the 
 princes of the blood, all heavy with gold 
 panelling. Well worth seeing until the 
 equipages of the Count D'Artois appeared, 
 closely followed by the " Royal Allemand," 
 whose magnificent band rang out on the
 
 14 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 air. Then two regiments of musqueteers, 
 every man a picked soldier, the muster 
 roll of whose officers showed some of the 
 noblest names of France. On they went 
 with a steady tramp up the streets of 
 E-heims. 
 
 Next followed the royal carriages sur- 
 rounded by a crowd of gaily -dressed pages, 
 all of noble birth and bearing, while a 
 strong force of the Life Guards four abreast, 
 the splendid black chargers tossing their 
 long manes, and champing on the silver- 
 mounted bits, formed the guard of honour 
 commanded by Philip De Brissac in 
 person. 
 
 Suddenly the church bells rang out in 
 one deafening peal, the boom of the 
 artillery mixing with the clang, seeming to 
 shake the massive walls, as the king's 
 carriage, followed by two regiments of
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 15 
 
 Swiss, passed into the town, the people let- 
 ting fly hundreds of white pigeons and 
 shouting in their eagerness. They crowded 
 round the carriages, they threw themselves 
 under the legs of the black chargers. Some 
 were killed, others maimed for life, as the 
 startled horses plunged and curvetted. 
 But Louis the Well-beloved smiled and 
 bowed to his people, as, wdth the Dukes of 
 Chart res and Bourbon, and followed by the 
 princes of the house of Conde, the gilded 
 carriages rolled slowly along amid the 
 homage of the people. Philip De Brissac 
 drew^ his bridle rein as the gates were 
 passed, ranging his horse alongside the 
 second equipage, and he saw then that 
 Marie Antoinette's eyes were wet with 
 tears. They were tears of pleasure though, 
 for as she looked out on the packed throng, 
 who could doubt that Louis XVI. relofned
 
 16 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 indeed in the hearts of the French nation ? 
 Then came more guards, more carriages, 
 more regiments whose fanfares rang on the 
 breeze mixed with the booming of the guns, 
 the crash of the joy bells, and the shouts of 
 the people. 
 
 At last the Archiepiscopal palace was 
 reached, and there on the steps stood an 
 aged cardinal waiting to welcome the 
 sovereigns, surrounded by a crowd of high 
 dignitaries. 
 
 " Sire," exclaimed old De La Roche 
 Aymon, and the tears stood in his eyes as 
 he spoke, " Sire, it was I who baptised you ; 
 I who confirmed you ; I who administered 
 to you your first communion. Lady," he 
 continued, his frame literally trembling 
 with emotion as he turned to Marie 
 Antoinette, who now stood by King Louis's 
 side with the Duchesse De Lamballe and
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 17 
 
 the Ladies De Polignac. " Lady, I had the 
 honour of pronouncing your marriage cere- 
 mony, and now, yes, now, it is I who am 
 chosen to anoint Louis the Well-beloved 
 king of France/' 
 
 A hush had fallen over the crowd, which 
 was so dense that the black chargers of the 
 Life Guards were unable to move. Drawing 
 himself up to his full height, the old cardi- 
 nal, the successor of St. Remi, turned to 
 the people. 
 
 "When the destiny of kings," he con- 
 tinued — and the clear bell-like tones rang 
 over the sea of uncovered heads — "when the 
 destiny of kings calls them to rule over the 
 future of nations, the world should study to 
 promote their happiness. The respect and 
 obedience due to the sacred name of king 
 is not sufficient wherewith to pay what 
 they owe. Their love, deep and intense, 
 
 VOL. I. 2
 
 18 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 alone can cancel the debt due to those 
 whose lives are spent in studying and 
 creating the happiness of their people. 
 Such, my brethren, is the love you this day 
 feel for this our beloved king." 
 
 The old man ceased, and once more, as 
 by signal, the bells crashed forth, the guns 
 boomed out, the trumpets rang on the ah, 
 and one loud cry went up to heaven — 
 " Long live King Louis ! Long live our 
 beautiful queen !" 
 
 That night the town was given over to 
 feasting and revelry ; but with the morning 
 light began the religious ceremony of the 
 monarch's coronation. The queen was 
 lodged in the cathedral itself. A splendid 
 suite of rooms had been prepared for her — 
 her loyal people could not bear to think 
 that Marie Antoinette should be fatigued 
 by walking the score or two of steps which
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 19 
 
 separated the cathedral from the archi- 
 episcopal palace where the king was lodged, 
 and so the rooms were built, and splendidly 
 furnished. A passage leading to the 
 tribune near the high altar was made, and 
 it was there the queen was to sit in regal 
 state to see Louis crowned king of a nation 
 which idolized him, and anointed with the 
 sacred balm as yet in the keeping of the 
 dead St. Remi. 
 
 A strong detachment of De Brissac's 
 Life Guards held the approaches, while 
 that officer himself was lodged near the 
 queen — the Swiss guarding the arch- 
 bishop's palace, where the king was lodged. 
 Its furniture had existed even in the days 
 of Francis the First, nor were the rooms 
 ever used save once during the lifetime of 
 a king of France — that is to say, at his 
 coronation. 
 
 2—2
 
 20 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 The great Master Eaphael D'Urbino had 
 traced the drawings of the scenes repre- 
 sented on the walls and furniture, and 
 skilful hands had carried out the artist's 
 designs, in costly silk embroidery. The 
 bed itself was a curiosity, for it was seven 
 feet ten inches long, and only two inches 
 less in widtli, while in height it was not 
 less than eight feet. Covered with si].k 
 drapery, embroidered in gold and silver, it 
 looked stately enough, and on it, in the 
 early morning of the day after his public 
 entry into the town, lay Louis the Sixteenth, 
 dressed in his robes of state. The room 
 was filled with the barons and nobles of 
 his court, and it was evident some great 
 ceremony w^as to, be enacted. Soon the 
 sound of distant chaunting was heard 
 gradually nearing the palace, and the crowd
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. t21 
 
 which had already assembled to see their 
 king pass on to the cathedral, opened 
 out eagerly for the procession, which, 
 headed by the cardinal archbishop, with 
 censers of incense swinging before him, took 
 its way to the palace. Slowly it wound 
 along under the windows of the king's 
 apartment, up the broad marble staircase, 
 finally halting at the door of the royal bed- 
 chamber. 
 
 " What seek ye T asks the Duke de 
 Chatres, as the chaunting ceased, and three 
 distinct knocks were heard at the door. 
 
 ^* We seek our king,'' replied the voice 
 of old De la Roche Aymon. 
 
 " He sleeps," answered De Chatres. 
 
 " Nevertheless, we demand our king, 
 whom the great God has found for us ;" 
 and then the doors flew open, the royal
 
 22 THE LIFE GUAEDSMAN. 
 
 room becoming heavy with incense, while 
 the monks claimed their king. 
 
 Beside the regal couch stood the cardinal. 
 " All-seeing God," were his solemn words, 
 " who hast with thy powerful arm raised 
 thy servant Louis to the throne of France, 
 give him to make his people happy during 
 the course of a long reign, and keep him 
 in the path of truth and justice. Eise, 
 King of France." 
 
 Two mitred bishops, in their full robes, 
 stepped forward, and taking the king by 
 either arm, raised him to his feet, and then 
 the procession was formed, the guns boom- 
 ing, and the bells ringing out their peals. 
 Flowers strewed the king's path, the bles- 
 sings of the people filled his ears, and over 
 the crowd shone a bright glorious June 
 sun, as, moving through the ranks of the 
 peers and nobles of his court, Louis the
 
 LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED. 2^5 
 
 Well-beloved took his way to the high 
 altar, where lay, ready for his hand to 
 grasp, the crown and sword of Charle- 
 magne.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 TN a chamber almost fronting the queen's 
 apartments, which had been con- 
 structed in the cathedral itself, sat Philip 
 de Brissac. 
 
 The small room was furnished as any one 
 might have expected in such a town as 
 Hheims. There were no gilded clocks, no 
 tables of Buhl or marquetrie, but good solid 
 furniture, whose tapestry told of the looms 
 of the Gobelins ; and the light which 
 streamed over the marble consoles, and the 
 pictures on the walls representing sacred
 
 VIVAT HEX IN .ETERNUMr 
 
 subjects, gave to all a softened tint, simply 
 because one of the cathedral windows with 
 its stained-giass had been utilized by the 
 designer. 
 
 Dressed in cloth of blue and silver, his 
 sword-belt of the same metal, and beauti- 
 fully chiselled, his cap of blue velvet, sur- 
 mounted by a plume, lying on the table, 
 the lieutenant commanding the king's 
 bodyguard sat, his head leaning on his 
 hands, in deep thought. The ringing 
 of steel outside, a light step in the corridor, 
 and then the door opened, and a lady 
 entered. 
 
 Starting suddenly to his feet, De Brissac s 
 lips parted, his whole manner altered^ and 
 the stern resolute soldier seemed to change 
 his nature. 
 
 " The queen !" he murmured. " The 
 queen here ?"
 
 26 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 "Yes, Monsieur De Brissac. I would 
 see the churcli before the king arrives — 
 before it is filled with people." 
 
 De Brissac bowed. 
 
 " It is easy, your majesty. This corridor 
 leads to the tribune, specially constructed 
 for your use, and for that of the ladies of 
 your suite." 
 
 Marie Antoinette moved to the door, 
 where the Duchesse de Lamballe and seve- 
 ral other ladies were waiting, and then, fol- 
 lowed by the Life Guardsman, took her 
 way towards the tribune set apart for her. 
 
 But it was too late, for hardly had she 
 entered it when the great gates were thrown 
 open, and a brilliant crowd, laughing, talk- 
 ing, and sometimes jostling each other, 
 poured in. Seating herself, the queen 
 leaned over the balustrade, covered with 
 crimson velvet, and gazed around, her 
 ladies grouped about, and De Brissac stand-
 
 VIVAT REX IN jETERNUMr 
 
 ing beside the door, never taking his eyes 
 from her. 
 
 The massive pillars of the cathedral were 
 hidden under rich tapestries, and even the 
 walls were concealed with them, while from 
 the roof great chandeliers hung, blazing 
 with myriads of tapers. The June sun- 
 shine streamed through the stained glass 
 windows, and over the tiers of crimson 
 velvet-covered seats, now thronged by the 
 notabilities of the town, and by the nobles 
 and barons of the French court. Banners 
 were hanging from the walls, rich carpets 
 covered the stone floors, while the tribunes 
 around were filling fast, the ambassadors of 
 the various courts of Europe having each 
 their assigned place. 
 
 "How gorgeous the grand altar looks !'* 
 said the Duchesse de Lamballe, w^hose deli- 
 cately clear complexion, beautifully pei;i-
 
 ^8 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 cilled eyebrows, large blue eyes, and broad 
 polished forehead, might with many have 
 disputed the palm, even, with the more 
 haughty loveliness of the queen. 
 
 "Yes," was the low reply. "It is lite- 
 rally blazing with gold, silver, and precious 
 stones. The air is heavy with the smell of 
 the incense. I feel faint." 
 
 "Your place. Monsieur de Brissac," con- 
 tinued Marie Antoinette, as she took the 
 crystal goblet filled with water from his 
 hand, "your place, as commandant of the 
 body guard, is with the king, not here." 
 
 De Brissac bowed low, and obeyed. 
 When in her presence Philip reverenced 
 the queen ; when absent, he remembered 
 only the woman : but to both he cultivated 
 feelings of deep reverence and obedience. 
 
 " Hush !" said the queen, as a low solemn 
 chant was heard in the distance, turning to
 
 " VI VA T REX IN .ETEENUMr .29 
 
 her suite, who were talking merrily toge- 
 ther. " Hush ! the kinof is comincy." 
 
 O O 
 
 Not to the throne yet, though Louis 
 advanced up the aisle preceded by the 
 archbishop and the high dignitaries of the 
 church. He walked towards where it stood 
 empty, on a raised richly carpeted platform. 
 Four curiously twisted columns upholding 
 a dais of violet-covered velvet, heavy with 
 2:olden fleurs-de-lis. Around it, awaitino^ 
 their sovereign, were grouped the peers of 
 France in their robes of state, fashioned in 
 cloth of gold, reaching below the knee, 
 while the ducal cloak of violet- coloured 
 cloth, edged with ermine, hung from their 
 shoulders, their coronets on their heads, 
 and the order of the Holy Ghost worn on 
 their breast. 
 
 " A brilliant group," remarked the queen 
 to Madame de Polignac as she glanced over
 
 50 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 it and sighed, for King Louis, even at that 
 age, was stout ; and though his step was 
 firm as he advanced up the aisle, there 
 wanted the proud glance of the eye, the 
 stately carriage which Marie Antoinette 
 would fain have seen. 
 
 And the kiug for whom all this magni- 
 ficence was displayed ? Well, Louis the 
 Well-beloved, despite his stout form, and 
 kind good-humoured look, telling how glad 
 he should be when all was over, was no 
 less magnificently dressed than his dukes 
 and peers. His long crimson mantle was 
 heavy with the precious metal, and as he 
 walked it opened, showing the cloth of 
 silver which covered his portly frame un- 
 derneath it. A cap of the same coloured 
 velvet, adorned with an aigrette of feathers, 
 whose clasp was formed of large diamonds, 
 completed his costume.
 
 " VIVAT REX IN jETERNUMr 31 
 
 The measured chant rang among the 
 pillars supporting the groined roof, as the 
 procession moved on, and the king, when 
 he passed imder the tribune where Marie 
 Antoinette sat, looked up with a wearied 
 glance, which caused the frown to deepen 
 on her brow. 
 
 Outside the cathedral a vast crowd was 
 collected, and it was as much as De Bris- 
 sa.c's Life Guards could do to keep the way 
 clear. Mounted on a white charger, almost 
 concealed by its gorgeous trappings, a richly- 
 decorated canopy borne over his head, with 
 two barons of the royal household on either 
 side, a venerable priest bears the sacred 
 deposit taken from St. Remi's tomb, and 
 whose volume was never diminished since 
 the days of Clovis. 
 
 A hundred priests in cope and stole 
 chant the sacred office as the relic is borne
 
 32 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 alonof to the cathedral, the incense floats on 
 the air, and every head is uncovered, every 
 knee bent in homage, as it winds along the 
 densely-crowded streets, and among the 
 packed masses in the cathedral square. 
 
 Inside the voice of the king is heard as 
 lie swears to^iphold, with his life, if neces- 
 sary, order and the Roman Catholic Church, 
 while the aged cardinal turns to the spec- 
 tators, asking, " Do they accept Louis the 
 Sixteen th as their king V Then the sword 
 of Charlemagne is belted on, and Louis, 
 drawing the bright blade from its scabbard, 
 lays it on the altar, whence the archbishop 
 takes it, the new king ultimately thus re- 
 ceiving it from the altar of God for the 
 protection of France. 
 
 Once more the sacred anthem rings 
 throusfh the cathedral aisles, the air be- 
 comes heavier with the fras^rant incense,
 
 " VI VAT REX IN jETEENUMr 33 
 
 the flags and banners seem to move, and 
 every head is bent as Louis, kneeling be- 
 fore the great altar, is anointed with the 
 holy oil from St. Remi's tomb, while de la 
 Roche Aymon exhorts him to put down 
 pride, to be an example to the rich, a father 
 to the poor, and to give peace to the nation. 
 
 Then the grand chamberlain advances, 
 throwing over the king's shoulders the 
 royal mantle, with its ermine bordering, 
 thus symbolising the protection God will 
 afford the king against the designs of the 
 evil-disposed, w^hile the cardinal archbishop 
 placed on his finger a ring, showing how 
 closely henceforth should be the union be- 
 tween the anointed king of France and his 
 loving people. 
 
 " But the ceremony is far from finished, 
 and La Roche Aymon takes from the altar 
 where they lie the sceptre, emblem of 
 
 VOL. I. 3
 
 34 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 royal rule, and the ivory hand of justice. 
 Of enamelled gold, the first is fully six 
 feet high, blazoned with the legend of 
 Charlemagne, sitting on his throne guarded 
 by lions and eagles, holding the world in 
 his hand. In whitest ivory, richly orna- 
 mented with rubies and pearls, the hand of 
 justice is about a foot in length, the top 
 forming a perfect hand. And so there 
 stands King Louis, the sceptre in his 
 grasp, the royal mantle on his shoulder, 
 the ring marrying him to France on his 
 finger, and the rod of justice in his grasp. 
 Before him on the high altar glitters the 
 crown of Charlemagne, brought from the 
 Church of St. Denis. 
 
 King Louis seemed placid and quiet 
 enough, but De Brissac, as he stood near 
 the altar, marked the haughty look, which 
 passed over the queen's face, as the
 
 " VIVAT HEX IN .ETERNUM." 35 
 
 chancellor, surrounded by the nobles of 
 France, reverently received the crown 
 from the cardinal, and then placing it on 
 the head of their chosen king, priests and 
 nobles for a few moments united, appearing 
 mutually to support the massive crown 
 thus conferred on King Louis ; and as they 
 did so, came the confused roar of the 
 populace without, eager to assist at the 
 ceremony, and then the anthem rang out, 
 swelling gradually as all joined in it, filling 
 the pillared aisles, and floating among the 
 carved work of the groined roof; but above 
 all came the mighty roar of the massed 
 people. 
 
 " May the king have the strength of 
 the rhinoceros, the courage of the lion, 
 that his enemies may ever fly before the 
 anointed of God and man ;" and with these 
 words the cardinal archbishop takes king 
 
 3—2
 
 30 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Louis by the hand and leads the tired 
 monarch to the imperial throne, where, the 
 sceptre in his hand, the massive crown on 
 his head, the sword of Charlemagne by 
 his side, Louis the Well-beloved seats 
 himself firmly, his dukes and nobles 
 ranged round his throne, and even the 
 haughty prelate bowing before him, while 
 the cadenced anthem again rings forth — 
 
 "Yivat Rex in sternum." 
 
 Suddenly the great gates are thrown 
 open, and as their iron clang is heard, the 
 multitude massed without floods the 
 church by thousands, gazing on the 
 gorgeous spectacle of their king on his 
 throne. Hundreds of small birds were let 
 loose, who, startled by the music and noise, ' 
 dashed wildly to and fro, while over all 
 came the dull roar of the multitude,
 
 " VIVAT REX IN uETERNUMP 37 
 
 gradually swelling into a continuous 
 shout — '' Long live King Louis ! Long 
 live the Queen !" The bells of the church 
 rang out in one crashing peal ; the deep 
 boom of the guns was heard, but still 
 above all came the concentrated roar of 
 the massed thousands, the condensed cheer 
 of " Vivat Kex in Sternum ! Long live 
 Louis the Well-beloved ! Long live the 
 Queen !"
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 THE TEMPLE. 
 
 "\7"EAES had glided by, and tlie first 
 gray light of a January morning, 
 in the year 1792, was feebly struggling 
 with the mist which lay heavily packed in 
 the narrow streets leading to the Seine, 
 and around the old Hubert Tower of the 
 Temple. Paris was waking into life. The 
 drums and bugles of the National Guard 
 made themselves heard, and from time to 
 time, detachments of men well armed 
 swept along the streets ; groups collected 
 at the corners, the rumbling of the artil-
 
 THE TEMPLE. 39 
 
 lery, and now and then tlie trumpets of 
 cavalry, could be distinguished, a large 
 crowd gradually collecting round the prison 
 walls. 
 
 In a room on the second storey, a man 
 lay in bed sleeping heavily, despite the 
 increasing noise, while another on his 
 knees, before the small fire-place, was 
 endeavouring to blow into flame some 
 damp green wood, which steadfastly 
 baulked his efforts, throwing out, indeed, 
 masses of white smoke, but nothing 
 more. 
 
 The room was a very small one. There 
 was no ceiling, but an apology for one in 
 the shape of a sheet of thick linen tightly 
 stretched. The walls were formed of 
 wooden partitions, and the narrow win- 
 dows were heavily barred, while strong 
 blinds were also nailed over them, shutting
 
 40 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 out both light and air. Eough, yellow 
 paper covered the wood-work, and the 
 furniture seemed made for the room. A 
 small bed, with faded green hangings, 
 stood in one corner ; a battered table, a 
 worm-eaten chest of drawers, and four 
 common chairs, one of which was broken, 
 composed it. 
 
 The bed was painted white, and a 
 mirror, also smeared with white paint, 
 hung on the wall, while on the chimney- 
 piece stood a clock bearing the name 
 ''Lepaute, horloger du roi," a couple of 
 wafers being pasted over the last two 
 words. Communicating with this room 
 there was an anti-chamber, and beyond 
 that a stone landing closed by a mas- 
 sive iron door. The anti-chamber was 
 occupied. Three stretcher beds being so 
 placed as to prevent any one passing in or
 
 THE TEMPLE. 41 
 
 out of tlie principal room, without step- 
 ping over the bodies of the commissaries 
 sleeping on them. 
 
 The clocks of the neighbouring churches 
 rang out ^yq, as the man so busily engaged 
 in his apparently hopeless task looked up, 
 seeming to count the strokes. His face 
 bore evident traces of deep sorrow, and as 
 the last chime rang out, a heavy piece of 
 wood fell from the bars, the green curtains 
 of the bed were pushed aside, and the 
 broad apathetic face of Louis the Sixteenth 
 looked out as he raised himself on his elbow. 
 
 " Is it ^YQ o'clock, Clery?" was the ques- 
 tion asked. 
 
 " The clock has not struck yet, sire,'' re- 
 plied the man, with difficulty suppressing 
 his emotion, " but the neighbouring 
 churches have done so ;" and as he spoke 
 he rose and approached the bed.
 
 42 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " I have slept soundly, and, ma foi ! I had 
 need of it, for I was fairly exhausted by 
 that terrible leave-taking yesterday. Where 
 is Monsieur De Firmont, my good Clery T 
 
 " He lay down on my bed, sire." 
 
 " And you," continued Louis, as he threw 
 off the soiled bed clothes, and put one 
 shapely foot and leg out of bed, " how have 
 you passed the night V 
 
 " Seated on that chair by your bed-side, 
 sire," replied Clery. 
 
 " It was badly done, very badly done," 
 remarked Louis, cheerfully, as he laid his 
 hand on the old man's shoulder. " And 
 now help me to dress, Clery, for the last 
 time." 
 
 - But the king's toilet was not to proceed 
 quietly, for the door leading to the anti- 
 chamber was flung open, and the odour of 
 tobacco filled the room, while two of the
 
 THE TEMPLE. 43 
 
 delegates sat on the bed opposite, look- 
 ing in, joking, and laughing at the 
 prisoner. 
 
 The broad, tranquil, benevolent face 
 showed no signs of anger, but as he finished 
 his toilet, Louis slipped from the ring 
 a large gold seal, which he placed carefully 
 in his waistcoat pocket, then passing one 
 of the delegates who had entered and was 
 lounging lazily about the room, whistling, 
 he quietly deposited his watch, snuff-box, 
 and some other trinkets on the chimney- 
 piece. 
 
 "Clery," he said, as he again turned 
 from the fire-place and walked towards a 
 small closet adjoining the sleeping room. 
 "Clery, ask Monsieur De Firmont to come 
 to me.'' 
 
 The abbe chosen by the king to ad- 
 minister to him the last religious ofiices,
 
 44 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 obeyed the call, and the door of the closet 
 was closed, but first one and then another 
 of the delegates peered through the glass 
 let into the wood-work, in order that they 
 might not lose sight of their prisoner. 
 
 Meanwhile Clery, his face wet with 
 tears, was busy transforming the bed-room 
 into a chapel, the necessary furniture hav- 
 ing been allowed by the convention ; the 
 chest of drawers, dragged into the middle 
 of the room, forming the altar. A coarse 
 hassock served the king to kneel on, and 
 the Abbe Firmont proceeded with the cere- 
 mony, the door of the anti-chamber being 
 left open, the tobacco smoke mingling with 
 that of the incense, and the roll of the 
 Marseillaise from without breaking into the 
 murmured responses. Behind the king 
 knelt Clery, while from the street came 
 the distant roll of the drums, the neigh of
 
 THE TEMPLE. 4a 
 
 the cavalry horses, and the rumbling of the 
 guns. 
 
 The last words of the mass died away, 
 the king bending his head to receive the 
 usual blessing, and then, rising from the 
 hassock, he passed into the little closet 
 once more, followed by one of the delegates 
 on duty. 
 
 Loud voices were now heard on the 
 stone staircase, the clang of the iron gates 
 as they were swung heavily open, and in a 
 moment a strong detachment of the muni- 
 cipal guard filled the room. 
 
 Louis knew that the last moment was 
 near, as, emerging from the closet, followed 
 by his confessor, he walked towards a 
 group of men who were talking in loud 
 tones in the centre of the chamber. Hold- 
 ing a small packet of papers in his hand, 
 he spoke.
 
 46 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " I will ask you," he said, in a kind con- 
 ciliating tone, addressing the delegate 
 Jacques Lerroux, " a favour, sir. Will you 
 convey this document to the queen, my 
 wife, or to the dauphin, my son ?" 
 
 The man stared at the king, as though 
 surprised, then, with a laugh, he turned on 
 his heel. " It is none of my business," he 
 muttered as he walked away. " I am here 
 to see you guillotined, and I'll do it." 
 
 Without a sign of anger, Louis turned 
 to another of the delegates. It was 
 Gobeau. " Will you, sir," he said, '' do 
 me the favour ? You are perfectly wel- 
 come to read these documents, and, if you 
 choose, to lay them before the conven- 
 tion." 
 
 Gobeau hesitated. He evidently wished 
 to comply, but feared, knowing, as he did, 
 that any signs of compassion might con-
 
 THE TEMPLE. 
 
 demn him to death, and so he shook his 
 head, the king remaining with the packet 
 in his hand. 
 
 " Your bidding shall be done," exclaimed 
 the officer commanding the Municipal 
 Guard, as he took the papers. 
 
 " Thanks, De Brissac !" murmured the 
 king. '' Let them be laid before the Con- 
 vention," he added in a louder tone, "and 
 now I am ready." 
 
 " And who are you who dare undertake 
 this ?" demanded Lepeltier St. Fargaud in 
 an angry tone, addressing the officer. 
 " What business is this of yours ? You 
 were once in the service of these Bour- 
 bons." 
 
 De Brissac's eyes blazed with fury as he 
 confronted Lepeltier. " Yes," was his reply, 
 *' and w^hile you and others were leading a 
 life of pleasure in Paris, I fought for the
 
 48 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 republic in America under the gallant 
 Lafayette." 
 
 " You are a creature of Barras. This 
 shall be looked to," replied St. Far- 
 gaud. 
 
 '^ Silence !" thundered Sansterre. " Fall 
 back, St. Fargaud. Captain De Brissac, 
 you will answer for these papers before the 
 Revolutionary Tribunal ; and now fall in 
 your guard." 
 
 " Your coat, sire," exclaimed Clery. 
 
 " It is not worth while," answered Louis, 
 putting it aside with his hand ; " give me 
 my hat only, my good Clery." 
 
 The King's hand was in his waistcoat 
 pocket as he moved towards the door. 
 Well knowing why and how the former 
 captain of his Life Guards had been 
 nominated to his present post, he was 
 satisfied. A momentary bustle ensued as
 
 THE TEMPLE. 49 
 
 the delegates swept round him, and De 
 Brissac felt a hand touch his as Louis 
 passed on. A small paper packet remained 
 in his grasp, and the king's glance met 
 his. 
 
 A moment later, and the room was 
 nearly deserted. 
 
 " Where are you going to, you old 
 idiot V exclaimed St. Fargaud, addressing 
 Clery, who as the crowd closed in be- 
 hind him was attempting to follow the 
 king. 
 
 "To the scaffold," was the reply, " to 
 perform the last offices for my master." 
 
 "To the devil!" laughed St. Fargaud, 
 thrusting Clery back so violently that he 
 staggered backwards. " The hangman is 
 good enough for him." 
 
 Down the stone staircase of the Hubert 
 Tower the king took his way, and in a few 
 
 VOL. t. 4
 
 50 [THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 moments stood in presence of the people. 
 Pausing on the threshold, he glanced round 
 him, a mass of upturned faces meeting his 
 gaze. 
 
 Before the prison gates stood a carriage, 
 and as Louis entered it, the old Abbe De 
 Firmont took his place by his side. On 
 the opposite seat two gendarmes sat, their 
 cocked pistols in their hands, their eyes 
 fixed on the king, strict orders having been 
 given to shoot the prisoner dead if any 
 rescue v^ere attempted. 
 
 The king's first appearance had been 
 greeted v^ith a shout, gradually subsiding 
 into a dull confused roar ; and as the car- 
 riage moved slowly on, the sound would 
 rise and fall as the compact masses strug- 
 gled on towards the Place de Ja Revolu- 
 tion. 
 
 Sometimes piercing shrieks came^ from
 
 THE TEMPLE. ol 
 
 the crowd, which swayed to and fro, as a 
 fight for Hfe or death took place, and men 
 and women were ruthlessly trampled down ; 
 but the Place was reached at last, and, 
 despite all, the king never for a moment 
 lost the calm serenity which had hitherto 
 characterised his demeanour. 
 
 Three executioners advanced to receive 
 him as he alighted from the carriage, and 
 then, without a word, Louis proceeded to 
 undress. 
 
 A rope was produced, and for the first 
 time the king seemed moved. 
 
 '^ Bear even this, my son,'' whispered 
 the Abbe De Firmont ; "it but gives to 
 you a greater resemblance to Him who 
 died for you on earth, and in whose 
 presence you will so soon receive your re- 
 ward." 
 
 The words had their effect ; and then, 
 
 4—2 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 II-LINOI.S LIBRARY
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 his hands tied, the king turned to the people. 
 Below, he beheld the mass of upturned faces. 
 A strong force of artillery surrounded the 
 platform. Infantry corps, known for their 
 Republican zeal, were massed round. Men 
 of every grade crushed and struggled for a 
 place. Women were there, risking death 
 that they might hold up their children to 
 see the Republic baptised in the blood of 
 Royalty. 
 
 " Frenchmen," said the king, and his 
 voice rang clearly over the crowd — "French- 
 men, I die innocent of the crimes laid to 
 my charge. I pardon those who have com- 
 passed my death, and pray that the penalty 
 of my blood thus innocently shed may not 
 fall on France. Frenchmen " 
 
 But Santerre raised his hand, and the 
 rattle of the drums drowned the kings 
 voice. Slowly Louis turned, and as he
 
 THE TEMPLE. 53 
 
 kneeled to place his head on the block, a 
 quiet smile played over his face. 
 
 " Son of St. Louis," murmured De Fir- 
 mont, as he leant over him — " Son of St. 
 Louis, go to meet thy God." 
 
 A dull heavy thud, and for a second 
 deep silence fell upon the dense crowd. 
 Then came a strange sound, like a strong 
 wind rustling through the forest branches, 
 as each individual drew a long breath. 
 The drums rattled, the guns boomed out. 
 From house to house, from street to street, 
 from square to square, the tidings flew. 
 Louis the Sixteenth was no more, and 
 France was free. 
 
 The crowd seemed suddenly seized with 
 madness. The barriers were thrown down. 
 The ranks of the different corps were 
 broken. Men swarmed over the useless 
 guns, dashed between the legs of the ex-
 
 54 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN, 
 
 cited horses, fighting, struggUng, shouting, 
 as each strove to dip a handkerchief, a pike- 
 head, a hand — anything — in the blood that 
 dripped from the platform. 
 
 " Vive la Bepublique ! So perish ty- 
 rants !" was the cry which rang out, passing 
 from man to man, and gradually swelhng 
 into one prolonged shout, while foremost 
 among the struggling crowd came Philip 
 De Brissac, fighting his way inch by inch 
 towards the platform. Thrust down one 
 moment, he again struggled forward. He 
 uttered not a word, but savagely, morosely, 
 regained the ground he had lost. His 
 shako was gone ; a man behind seized him 
 by the hair. He felt it not, as he reached 
 forward. His object was attained, and as 
 he thrust the stained handkerchief into his 
 bosom, he leaped from the platform right 
 into the centre of the crowd, careless whom
 
 THE TEMPLE. 
 
 he crushed. Men struck at him, women 
 cursed him, but he heeded them not, as he 
 fought his way out of the press, and gained 
 the Rue St. Honore.
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE l'cEILLET. 
 
 TN the Rue des Quatre Fils stood a 
 ruinous-looking house, whose back 
 windows looked into the gardens of the 
 old Hotel de Soubise. Towards the street 
 the place seemed even more deserted than 
 the dilapidated houses around ; and yet 
 there was a sign above the door telling 
 that this was the Hotel des Quatre Fils, 
 and offering hospitality in the name of its 
 proprietor. Grass grew in the street ; the 
 steps which led up to the door were 
 broken, the staircase itself was so rotten as
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE LGEILLET. 57 
 
 to seem dangerous ; but these once passed, 
 the rooms lookmg on the garden were 
 better than might have been expected. 
 
 " I wonder what can have detained him. 
 I hope no accident has happened, Fon- 
 taine." 
 
 The speaker was standing at one of the 
 windows of a room on the first floor of the 
 hotel, watching apparently the showers of 
 leaves which a strong wind was tearing 
 from the trees and chasing along among the 
 grass-grown garden walks, the shutters of 
 the neglected mansion swinging to and fro 
 with a creaking noise. A bright wood fire 
 blazed on the hearth, the crackling logs 
 sending out a clear flame, while the dinner- 
 table was neatly laid for three. 
 
 " Oh, De Bougeville can take care of 
 himself," listlessly replied the man ad- 
 dressed. " He was to see De Brissac to-
 
 58 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 day, and our plans were to be settled. Ill 
 tell you what, Michonis/' and the speaker 
 left the fire-place, before which he had been 
 standing, and joined his companion at the 
 window, "if we succeed, the Knight of the 
 Pink will rival those of St. Louis." 
 
 *' Aye, if we succeed,'' answered Michonis, 
 looking his companion gloomily in the face ; 
 '' but if we fail, what then, eh, Fontaine V 
 
 ''Ma foi, it will be the 'saut de carpe' 
 for some of us,'' replied Fontaine, shrug- 
 ging his shoulders, and beating time with 
 his fingers on the window-pane. 
 
 " Our society has its ramifications, not 
 only throughout France, but even in Ger- 
 many and Prussia. De Rouge ville is 
 known to be at its head, though De Bris- 
 sac is not suspected," continued Michonis, 
 drumming on the window. " We have been 
 singularly unfortunate as yet, and the
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE ECEILLET. 59 
 
 situation of the queen is nearly despe- 
 rate." 
 
 " Do you know De Brissac's history ?" 
 asked Fontaine, after a pause. 
 
 " Oh, yes/' replied Michonis. " Leaving 
 Normandy young, he took to military life, 
 rendered himself conspicuous by his roman- 
 tic attachment to the queen, fighting seve- 
 ral desperate duels on her account." 
 
 '' Aye, I remember that in which he ran 
 Caderousse through the heart," remarked 
 Fontaine, " and as he wiped the blood from 
 his sword, coolly said, * France is purified 
 now by one scoundrel the less."* " 
 
 Michonis nodded. "The quiet life of an 
 officer of the Life Guards did not suit him, 
 and he obtained permission to emigrate to 
 America.'' 
 
 "To America!" exclaimed Fontaine, 
 starting. " I knew his services had been
 
 <30 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 brilliant, but I had no idea he had served 
 abroad. He was not always, I fancy, the 
 gloomy man he is now." 
 
 " He served with Lafayette on the staff 
 of General Lee, and then under Washington 
 himself, subsequently returning to France. 
 Deeply attached to the queen, he was one 
 of the first to volunteer into the National 
 Guard, and, sustained by Barras, was ac- 
 cepted. It was thus he and De Rouge- 
 ville saved her majesty from the fury of 
 the mob when the Tuileries were stormed. 
 His great idea now is to effect the dau- 
 phin s escape." 
 
 " He is mad," observed Fontaine ; " but 
 hush ! there is some one coming," he con- 
 tinued, nervously, as the two, leaving the 
 window, walked towards the fire. 
 
 A voice below, a clear ringing laugh, 
 and then, without the ceremony of a knock.
 
 THE CHEVALIERS BE ECEILLET. Gl 
 
 the door was opened, and De Rougeville 
 entered. 
 
 " Good morning, gentlemen — citoyens, I 
 should say," he exclaimed. "Jean," he 
 continued, '' we are late. Serve the soup." 
 " Have you heard the fate of yonder old 
 pile T he asked, placing his hand on Fon- 
 taine's shoulder familiarly, and pointing to 
 the Hotel de Soubise. 
 
 '•' No," replied the other. " To no pur- 
 pose, I hope, that will preclude its gar- 
 dens growing our favourite flower T and 
 he pointed to the pink in his button- 
 hole. 
 
 "Ma foi, I dont know that. If . the 
 flower is to bloom for France, it's time 
 something were done for it. But here's 
 the soup. Come, Michonis — come, Fon- 
 taine." 
 
 When the first clatter of the knives and
 
 62 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 forks had subsided, Fontaine leaned back 
 in his chair. 
 
 " And St. Fargaud, have you seen him ?" 
 he asked, as he wiped his mouth with his 
 napkin. 
 
 " Ma foi, the Convention destines it for 
 the reception of the archives," repHed De 
 E/Ougeville, in a drawling tone. 
 
 '' Destine St. Fargaud for the archives ! 
 What do you mean ?" 
 
 " We were speaking of the hotel yonder, 
 were we not V^ returned the chevalier, 
 glancing at the old waiter, who was fidget- 
 ing about the room. " Fancy the old pa- 
 lace, once the residence of De Clisson and 
 of the House of Navarre, to say nothing of 
 brave old E-oche Guyon, made into an old 
 clothes-basket, to hold the musty parch- 
 ment of the Convention." 
 
 A bitter laugh from Michonis met
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE LCEILLET. 63 
 
 tlie sally, and once more the dinner pro- 
 ceeded. 
 
 " By-the-way," asked De Eougeville, 
 suddenly, "has anyone heard of Monseig- 
 neur d'Arles ? Did he escape from the 
 massacre of the Convent des Carmes ?" 
 
 " Heard of him ! I was present at the 
 affair," replied Michonis, laying down his 
 knife and fork, as he prepared to tell his 
 tale. 
 
 '' Stay, Michonis, don't spoil our dinner 
 \\dth your sensation tales. Just taste that 
 Haut Brion, the Quatre Fils is celebrated 
 for it. Jean," continued the chevalier, 
 magisterially, as he pushed his plate away, 
 " that poulet au chasseur wants just ten mi- 
 nutes more fire. Tell old Antoine I say so." 
 
 " What wine would the citoyens wish 
 for T asked the waiter, as he placed the 
 dessert on the table.
 
 64 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN, 
 
 Michonis was biting his lips with impa- 
 tience, and Fontaine fidgeting in his chair 
 nervously. The meeting was an important 
 one, and any moment might see it inter- 
 rupted. 
 
 " Let me see,'' said the chevalier, re- 
 flectively, as he crossed one leg over the 
 other. " We have grapes from Thomery, 
 pears from Burgundy, apples from Brit- 
 tany. Why, champagne, Jean. Three 
 bottles of champagne, and then take your- 
 self off." 
 
 The man obeyed, in no way hurrying 
 himself, De Eougeville humming a tune to 
 the utter disgust of his companions. 
 
 " Did these gentlemen require anything 
 more ?" asked Jean, as he placed the wine 
 on the table. 
 
 " Nothing whatsoever ; only, Jean,'' re- 
 plied the chevaher, '' don't let anyone dis-
 
 TILE CHEVALIEBS BE ECEILLET. 65 
 
 turb lis. Answer any call yourself; and, 
 Jean, don't forget to tell eld Antoine that 
 Le always makes the same mistake, and 
 does not allow time for his stews." 
 
 " Pardieu, De Eougeville," exclaimed 
 Michonis, rising, ^' let the man go, we did 
 not come here to discuss cookery." 
 
 ''And that," continued the chevalier, 
 slowly and dictatorially, " a poulet au chas- 
 seur, to be cooked to the point, should have 
 at least ten minutes more than " 
 
 " Sacre !" muttered Michonis, as he strode 
 to the door, pushed the waiter out, and 
 turned the key. " Kemember you are our 
 chief, De Piougeville. Our lives are at stake 
 while you prate about cookery. It is too bad." 
 
 The late captain of the Poyal Alle- 
 mand laughed, but the careless look left 
 his face. He became at once serious as he 
 started a champagne cork, filled his own 
 
 VOL. I. 5
 
 66 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 and his companions' glasses, and spoke in 
 an earnest tone which had a deal of sad- 
 ness in it. 
 
 '' Well, gentlemen, I saw St. Fargaud, 
 and he will do his part on his old condi- 
 tions ; that is to say, he will engage to place 
 the dauphin in our hands if the stipulated 
 sum be paid him, not in assignats, but in 
 gold. I cannot command it ; and he is in- 
 exorable. Have you any suggestions to 
 offer before we pass on to other matters ?" 
 
 A dead silence followed, the chevalier 
 picking the grapes from a bunch he held, 
 one by one, and gazing into the fire. 
 
 " I saw the queen yesterday," remarked 
 Michonis, breaking the silence. "As one 
 of the commissaries, my turn of duty began 
 last night." 
 
 " Is her majesty much changed ?" asked 
 Fontaine.
 
 THE CHEVALIERS BE L'(EILLET. G7 
 
 " Only that her hair has become grey. 
 But what think you, could not she pro- 
 cure the money ?" 
 
 '^ There is no time ; besides, how com- 
 municate with her V 
 
 " She would do anything to further the 
 dauphin's escape. My last ojBticial visit was 
 made with Madame Eichard, the jailer's 
 wife, who took with her the son of a rela- 
 tive. The lad was about the dauphin s age, 
 and very much resembled him.'^ 
 
 De Rougeville started. " Well ?" he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 ." The queen's surprise was great. She be- 
 came deadly pale, her limbs trembled, and 
 as she bent over the bed she sobbed as if 
 her heart would break. ' Oh ! if I could 
 but save the dauphin, I should die happy/ 
 she moaned. I repeat she would do any- 
 
 thing.'^ 
 
 .5—2
 
 68 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Again silence fell on the group of men. 
 They knew well they were playing their 
 last stake, and all were reflecting deeply. 
 
 The crackling of the blazing wood could 
 be heard in the room, together with the 
 steady drum of Fontaine's fingers on the 
 table. Then came the sharp ring of a 
 sword on the stairs, and the voice of Jean 
 outside. 
 
 " But, Citoyen, I tell you it is impos- 
 sible, despite your uniform." It was evi- 
 dent the man was endeavouring to stay some 
 one, and was speaking loudly on purpose. 
 
 Fontaine and Michonis sprang to their 
 feet in a moment. 
 
 "The window! there is yet time," ex- 
 claimed the latter. "Come, De Rouge- 
 ville, come !" 
 
 But the chevalier was gazing abstractedly 
 into the fire. Michonis's tale of the boy's
 
 THE CHEVALIERS BE HCEILLET. 09 
 
 resemblance had awoke a curious train of 
 thought in his mind, that was to bear its 
 fruit later. 
 
 " I tell you to go to the devil for a med- 
 dling fool," returned an angry voice, whose 
 owner was evidently stumbling up the 
 narrow dark stairs, and then the door han- 
 dle was impatiently tried. 
 
 " That room is already occupied," 
 pleaded the waiter ; " any other is at 
 your service." 
 
 " Out of my way, fool !" and then came 
 the noise of a struggle, followed by a fall 
 and a cry for help. 
 
 De Rougeville started up, and drawing a 
 pistol from his pocket, stood ready to fire. 
 The window was open now, and his two 
 companions prepared at any moment to 
 profit by it, when three peculiar knocks 
 were heard on the panelling of the door.
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN 
 
 The stern, determined look passed from 
 De E-ougeville's face. He replaced the 
 pistol, motioned to Fontaine to close the 
 window. 
 
 " It is one of our order," he said, as he 
 unlocked the door, and Philip De Brissac 
 entered. 
 
 To shut it with a loud bang and to 
 stride up to the table was the work of a 
 moment, and De Eougeville smiled as the 
 new comer seized a glass, filled it wdth 
 vv^ine, and then draining it to the last drop, 
 dragged a chair to the table, threw himself 
 into it, and looked round him from under 
 his bushy eyebrows. 
 
 '' Am I de trop V he asked, casting his 
 sword from him, and pitching his gloves 
 and shako after it. 
 
 " Monsieur is a master of politeness,"
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE LCEILLET. 71 
 
 grumbled Fontaine, whose glass he had 
 taken. 
 
 " And it is to be hoped he finds the wine 
 to his taste/' muttered Michonis. 
 
 "Well, and what news do you bring, 
 De Brissac T asked the chevalier, lazily, 
 as he stretched out his feet towards the 
 fire. 
 
 "I come to seek, not to give tidings," 
 replied the soldier, moodily. " If there is 
 nothing to be done, why condemn me to 
 wear this hated uniform any longer ?" and 
 De Brissac leaned his arms on the table, 
 gazing intently first at one, then at another 
 of the three men. 
 
 " But there is something to be done, old 
 friend, and something important too. Look 
 here, gentlemen ! The removal of the 
 queen to the Conciergerie means her trial, 
 and that in its turn means the guillotine.
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN 
 
 The attempt to free her must be made now 
 or never." 
 
 A long discussion followed ; project after 
 project being started, discussed, and aban- 
 doned. 
 
 The chevalier advocated physical force. 
 
 " I have at my command, as head of the 
 order, two thousand men belonging to the 
 National Guard. I have but to lift my 
 finger, and four thousand more concentrate 
 from the provinces. Once outside the 
 Conciergerie, and the queen is safe," he 
 observed. 
 
 Michonis shook his head. " Her majesty 
 can not be released by violence. What are 
 your six thousand men to the whole jDopu- 
 lation of France ?" he asked, bitterly. 
 
 " Richard and his wife are ours. Coralie 
 Lamoriliere has been placed with them on 
 purpose. It would be easy to introduce
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE ECEILLET. 73 
 
 disguises, and it is very tempting," re- 
 marked Fontaine. 
 
 And so it was determined that the trial 
 was to be made. 
 
 " Suppose the queen freed from prison, 
 what then ?" asked Michonis. 
 
 " Ah !" answered De Rouge ville, with a 
 deep sigli of rehef " Two hundred picked 
 men, every one sworn to die, if need be, in 
 her cause, will be under arms at the 
 Chateau de Livry." 
 
 " A carriage shall be waiting near the 
 prison, relays posted, and with two thou- 
 sand such swords as ours around her, who 
 is to stay us, before the Austrian frontier 
 is reached ? and now to work." 
 
 The chevalier's sanguine nature gained 
 the ascendancy. Paper was called for, and 
 the scheme embodied in writing so as to 
 prepare the queen for the attempt, and so
 
 74 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 exquisitely fine was tlie chevalier's hand, 
 that the microscopic letter was easily con- 
 cealed in a bouquet of flowers, which De 
 Rougeville was to convey to her next 
 day. 
 
 " And what ahout the dauphin ?" sud- 
 denly asked De Brissac, speaking almost 
 for the first time. 
 
 " The queen, once free, will easily pro- 
 cure the money," replied Michonis : "let 
 us concentrate all our energies on her." 
 
 "fiut the plan of his escape — what is 
 it ?" persisted De Brissac. 
 
 " Simple enough," replied De Bougeville. 
 " St. Fargaud, for a stipulated sum in gold, 
 will deliver the dauphin, substituting some 
 one in his place. The difficulty has been 
 to find the substitute. The boy you men- 
 tioned, Michonis, will do." 
 
 Both Michonis and Fontaine started.
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE LOnLLET. Vo 
 
 "But lie is deaf and dumb," objected 
 the latter. 
 
 "All the better/' returned De Eouge- 
 ville, laughmg; "he will keep our secret. 
 And now, gentlemen, one more bumper 
 before parting, to the success of our 
 scheme. How now, old comrade," he con- 
 tinued, as the empty glasses were replaced 
 on the table — "you will neither drink nor 
 speak ; what is wrong with you, Philip ?" 
 and he laid his hand on the man's shoulder 
 as he spoke. 
 
 " Too many are aware of your attempt, 
 and it will fail !" exclaimed De Brissac, 
 looking up. " You say the dauphin's safety 
 can be purchased. How much ?" 
 
 The chevalier shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 " Only the bagatelle of three hundred 
 thousand francs, payable on the spot, in 
 gold. Are you ready, mon capitaine V
 
 TEE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 '* Where, and when must it be paid?" 
 asked Philip, fixing his dark, restless eyes 
 earnestly on the other's face. 
 
 " Oh ! you may choose your banker,^' 
 returned De Rougeville, la-ughing, as he 
 turned away. " And now, gentlemen, we 
 must separate." 
 
 " Stay, De Rougeville !" exclaimed De 
 Brissac, springing suddenly to his feet. 
 *' I will find the money." 
 
 The chevalier's hand had been on the 
 door-handle, but now he returned, walking 
 towards the fire. 
 
 " I told you he was half mad," observed 
 Fontaine, with a smile. 
 
 " I repeat, I will find the sum : and for 
 you. Messieurs," continued Philip, "re- 
 member I will ]Dnt up with no joking." 
 
 His face was stern and forbidding as De 
 Brissac spoke, but at the same time there
 
 THE CHEVALIERS DE ECEILLET. 77 
 
 was such intensity of purpose in the quick 
 restless eyes, that the smile passed from 
 Fontaine's lips. 
 
 " Remember, my friend," said the cheva- 
 lier at last, speaking slowly and clearly — 
 *' remember, the queen can procure the 
 sum the moment she is freed ; but, if I 
 agree with St. Fargaud, and you fail, not 
 only do you risk his life — not only do you 
 expose him to the guillotine, but you peril 
 that of the dauphin." 
 
 *' I repeat, I will carry it out — and more 
 than that, I will guarantee Lepeltier from 
 the guillotine !" exclaimed De Brissac, as 
 he stooped, gathering up the shako and 
 sword he had thrown from him with dis- 
 gust. " Now, do your part," he continued, 
 as, opening the door, he passed out, and 
 his heavy tread v/as heard on the stairs. 
 
 For a fe^A' moments the chevalier seemed
 
 78 THE LIFE GUAP^DSMAN. 
 
 rooted to the spot witli astonishment, then, 
 snatching up his hat, and throwing his 
 cloak round him, he left the room without 
 speaking, just catching sight of the sol- 
 dier's uniform as he turned into the street. 
 " Meet me at the Cafe Corazza to- 
 morrow night. I shall have seen the 
 queen, and, if I fail, then you can try." 
 
 The place was deserted, the night dark 
 and cold, the narrow street dimly lighted 
 by an oil lamp, suspended from a cord 
 stretched from house to house. De Brissac 
 turned, grasping the chevalier's hand. 
 
 " Agreed ! Tell St. Fargaud full pay- 
 ment waits him. Fix place and day, and I 
 will redeem the pledge," he said, in a low, 
 concentrated tone, as he turned and walked 
 slowly up the street. 
 
 De Ptougeville gazed after him for a 
 moment.
 
 THE CIIEYALIEES DE ECEILLET. 79 
 
 " If I fail, it is our only chance/' lie mut- 
 tered, as he drew his cloak round him, and 
 turned into one of the narrow streets 
 running in the direction of the Seine.
 
 CHAPTER y. 
 
 LA CONCIEKGERIE. 
 
 A HEAVY fog was rising from the 
 river, so that the blazing logs, 
 heaped up in the fireplace of Madame 
 Richard's room in the prison of the Con- 
 ciergerie, looked cheerful enough. It was 
 the day after the meeting at the hostelry 
 of the Quatre Fils, and two women were 
 seated near the fire. The elder might be 
 about thirty-five years of age, and her 
 short, sturdy, thick-set figure was set ofi* 
 by a sombre-coloured serge dress, her dark 
 hair being bound round with a bright-
 
 ZA CONCIERGEBIE. 81 
 
 coloured handkerchief. This was Madame 
 Richard, the wife of the jailer, and her 
 broad, good-humoured face, and large 
 mouth, w^ell garnished with white teeth, 
 gave her a more benevolent look than 
 mJght have been expected from the wife of 
 such an official during the time of the 
 E evolution. 
 
 " We shall have to keep a sharp look-out 
 to-night, Coralie/' she remarked, as she 
 stretched her hands over the blaze. 
 
 " Why so ?" replied the girl, looking up 
 as she spoke. " What is there more than 
 usual to-night T 
 
 Madame Richard stooped to lift the lid 
 of the earthen jiir, in which a great piece 
 of beef was boiling, a cloud of fragrant 
 steam escaping as she did so, while the 
 bright blaze danced over the carved ceiling, 
 over the massive table, the bed in the 
 
 VOL. I. 6
 
 82 THE LIFE GUARD^SMAN. 
 
 alcove, with its white counterpane, and 
 glinted from the steel-work of the arms 
 hanging over the chimney-piece. 
 
 " You've a word for every one, Coralie, 
 with your laughing blue eyes, and tall 
 lithe figure. Art thou sorry to have 
 entered our service ?" asked Madame 
 Bichard, without replying to the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 Coralie smoothed down the bands of 
 auburn hair, and smiled. 
 
 " Well, it's not very gay here," she an- 
 swered. " I liked my service with Madame 
 De Beaulieu better." 
 
 '^ Then, why did you leave her ?" asked 
 Madame Eichard, sharply. 
 
 " I did not leave her voluntarily," an- 
 swered the girl, sinking her voice, " but 
 she grew old and infirm ; and when the 
 king was executed, I thought she would
 
 LA CONCIERGERIE. 83 
 
 have gone mad. Do you know, I think, 
 Madame Richard, she died of grief and 
 rage. I was with her and heard her last 
 words." 
 
 " What were they ? why do you make 
 me ask so many questions V 
 
 " They were these : — ' Oh, unjust and 
 barbarous nation, the day will come when 
 bitter tears shall be shed over the grave of 
 a good king.' " 
 
 The words seemed to affect both. 
 Neither spoke for a time, though the mur- 
 mur of voices from the neighbouring guard 
 room could be heard. Both seemed to 
 have something on their mind, and neither 
 liked to trust the other. 
 
 " Madame Dablemont, the celebrated 
 milliner, has consented to receive me," re- 
 marked Coralie at last. 
 
 6—2
 
 84 TUB LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " That is St. Fargaud's doings ; and 
 when are you to be married ? By the 
 way," continued Madame Kichard, without 
 waiting for a reply, '^by the way, how do 
 you reconcile your Koyalist tendencies 
 with your love for the Republican St. 
 Fargaud ?" 
 
 The girl was pale enough now, for to be 
 accused of Royalist leanings was a serious 
 charge. 
 
 . " Well, well, you have nothing to fear 
 from me. Do you know where Richard is 
 to-niofht ?" 
 
 " Yes, he went about an hour since to 
 the Cour de la Ste. Chapelle to see Ber- 
 taud. The Convention has granted the 
 queen's prayer for a new wooden bed, and 
 mattress." 
 
 " The queen ? There, didn't I say you 
 were Royalist at heart? Well, Bertaud
 
 LA CONCIL'IIGEIUK 85 
 
 will be here with the things, and Coralie, 
 ^nd " 
 
 " Hush !" she exclaimed, as a loud 
 knocking was heard. '' There, keep your 
 eyes open, and that saucy tongue of yours 
 quiet to-night, if you care to wake with 
 a head on your shoulders." 
 
 " Bon soir, Citoyen Bertaud !" exclaimed 
 Madame Bichard, suddenly changing her 
 tone, as the man named, followed by his 
 two aides, entered the great stone hall of 
 the prison. 
 
 " Bon soir, citoyenne," replied the man, 
 who seemed in a very bad humour as he 
 turned to rate his men for their clumsiness, 
 " and pray what is the meaning of this ? 
 What luxuries will you want next in the 
 conciergerie V 
 
 "Luxury, you call it, bon homme, do 
 you ?" retorted Coralie, wlio seemed already
 
 86 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 to have forgotten the good advice given 
 her. " A wooden bed, a mattress stuffed 
 with straw — that's your idea of luxury, 
 
 is it r 
 
 Again the clang of the outer gates was 
 heard, and a short, thick-set, strongly built 
 man, with an air of authority on his face, 
 entered, seating himself in the large arm- 
 chair, which constituted the jailer's throne 
 in the great stone hall of the concier- 
 gerie. 
 
 " Now, Bertaud !'' exclaimed Richard, 
 for it was the head jailer in person, " look 
 sharp. One of your men only can pass 
 with you, that's the prison rule, so choose 
 while I send to warn the commissary on 
 duty. Who is it, wife ?" 
 
 "It is Michonis, and he is never 
 very particular," returned his helpmate, 
 turning into her own room as though
 
 LA COXCIERGERIE. 
 
 the scene had not any mterest for 
 her. 
 
 " The wood- work Is heavy, Richard, and 
 both my men are strangers to me. They 
 engaged themselves an houi' since/' grum- 
 bled the man. 
 
 " All the same, you don't pass those 
 gates with more than one of them," re- 
 plied the jailer in a sharp decided tone. 
 " Here, Antoine," he continued, to one of 
 the many employes who were coming and 
 going, " warn the commissary of the 
 night." 
 
 One of Bertaud's men seemed a smart 
 fellow at all events, his brown moustache 
 and auburn hair suiting well the clear 
 olive complexion. His back was turned 
 as Michonis came up, for he had already 
 established a flirtation with the girl 
 Coralie, who, nothing loath, was admmng
 
 88 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 a small bunch of flowers worn just 
 where the blouse showed the well-shaped 
 neck. 
 
 The second man was a heavy, ill-con- 
 ditioned fellow, who, seated on the wood- 
 work of the bed, was already fast asleep, 
 with his mouth open. 
 
 " I can only admit one of your people," 
 said Michonis, who looked pale and nervous. 
 *' Antoine, let no one pass save the Citoyen 
 Bertaud, and yonder man/' 
 
 Grumbling as he took np the lighter 
 part of the wood- work, Bertaud called to 
 his aide, who, after kissing the tips of his 
 fingers to Coralie, obeyed ; the iron gate 
 clanging to after them, as the party passed 
 out of the great stone hall. Along a dark 
 passage, lighted by a single oil lamp ; 
 down some steps ; and then where the wall 
 of massive grey stone, down which the wet
 
 LA C02sClEliGElUE. 89 
 
 was filtering, stopped the way, Antoine 
 paused, took a heavy key from his pocket, 
 and opening a door on his left, threw it 
 back. 
 
 A small cell, sixteen feet wide, seven 
 high, and fom^teen long. The floor of red 
 tiles much worn, the roof and walls of 
 grey stone. Opposite the entrance a win- 
 dow, before which a sentry passed to and 
 fro, sometimes pausing in his walk to 
 assure himself of the prisoner's presence. 
 On the right a screen partially concealed a 
 bed, one leg of which was broken. A jug 
 and basin in common yellow earthenware, 
 two chairs, and a worm-eaten table, formed 
 the furniture. 
 
 Against the wall a crucifix was nailed, 
 whose carving stamped it as a work of 
 high art ; before it a woman kneeling in 
 prayer, a face more distingue-looking than
 
 90 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 beautiful. The nose aquiline, the forehead 
 high and well developed, showing^ a line 
 dividiDg it into two parts, said to have 
 been a peculiarity to the descendants of 
 the royal house of Austria. 
 
 The hair was grey, combed back from 
 the forehead, and the firm proud lines of 
 the mouth, together with the large blue 
 eyes, gave a look of command to Marie 
 Antoinette's countenance, as she rose from 
 the floor and faced the party, who had 
 paused at the door of her cell. Dressed in 
 a coarse black gown, with a white handker- 
 chief thrown over her shoulders, and 
 pinned in front, she stood waiting for the 
 commissary to speak. 
 
 /'The Convention has granted your re- 
 quest, and the furniture of your cell is to 
 be changed," said Michonis, as he motioned 
 to the men to enter, he remaining to post
 
 LA CONCIERGEEIE. 91 
 
 two gendarmes in the passage. " Take 
 the old bed to pieces, Bertaud, and I will 
 receive what is left behind, and pass it on 
 to you," he directed. 
 
 The queen, to whom a fresh face was an 
 unexpected pleasure, watched the proceed- 
 ings with interest. Suddenly she started, 
 flushed, and the perspiration stood on her 
 forehead in large beads. Carelessly whist- 
 ling as he came along the passage, the 
 wood- work piled on his shoulders, a Avork- 
 man turned into the cell ; his foot slipping 
 as he did so, the planks and w^ooden up- 
 rights fell to the ground, he himself rolling 
 almost to the queen's feet, and seeming 
 stunned by the fall. In that moment 
 Marie Antoinette recognised in the work- 
 man her faithful friend the Chevalier De 
 Rougeville. 
 
 Stammering out his excuses, the man
 
 92 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 stooped to gather together the scattered 
 articles. The moment was favourable. 
 
 " Don't scold, friend Michonis/' exclaimed 
 the queen, as her fingers closed over the 
 bouquet of flowers. '' You are* not hurt, I 
 hope V 
 
 The bed was unscrewed, the new one put 
 in its place, but it took some time, for the 
 pieces fitted badly. The queen seemed to 
 have lost all interest in the matter, and sat 
 with her back towards the men, partly con- 
 cealed by the screen, while the sentry out- 
 side, seeing the cell filled with people, and 
 the two gensd'armes at the door, passed and 
 re-passed the window without looking in. 
 
 " Keep up your spirits, lady," she read — 
 '' keep hope for yourself and your son. 
 Your friends have not abandoned you, and 
 have the means of reaching both. Michonis, 
 though seemingly harsh, is faithful. Dis-
 
 LA COXCTERGERIE. 04 
 
 guises will be furnished. Be ready, we 
 ask, in God's name, to free you both. 
 Follow any one who shows the pink." 
 
 '' You had better let Coralie finish the 
 job/' said Bertaud, as he rose from his 
 knees. " There's the bed put together, 
 there's the mattress, and so give me a 
 receipt, and let me go." 
 
 Marie Antoinette was pricking a small 
 paper with a pin point. 
 
 ''" I'll give it as you pass the lodge. Take 
 up the old bed, and come along. Your 
 man will have to make two journeys. Here, 
 Gilbert," continued Michonis, calling to the 
 gend'arme in the passage, '^call the cito- 
 yenne Coralie. We can't have all this 
 litter." 
 
 " And why not ?" grumbled the surly 
 Bertaud, who had been wholly unconscious 
 of the trick played on him. " If the
 
 5)4 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Veuve Capet can't make her own bed, it's 
 time she learned." 
 
 De Rougeville passed out, and as he did 
 so was almost knocked down by the gend'- 
 arme Gilbert, who dashed into the cell, 
 breaking through the ^roup of men, and 
 knocking them right and left. The unfor- 
 tunate queen had in her eagerness for- 
 gotten the sentry, who had seen her 
 pricking the paper with a pin, and given 
 the alarm. 
 
 Nearly six feet high, and of powerful 
 frame, Gilbert grasped the queen by the 
 shoulder, the heavy hand crushing into the 
 delicate flesh. 
 
 " Treason !" he shouted — " Treason to 
 the Republic, one and indivisible ! Richard 
 Michonis ! Dufresne !" he cried — " in the 
 name of the Republic, help !'' 
 
 At the door of the cell, his sword diawn,
 
 LA CONCIERGERIE. 95 
 
 stood the gendarme Dufresne, while at the 
 window the sentry gazed into the room. 
 
 " Help, in the name of the Republic !" 
 shouted Gilbert. 
 
 "Why what madness is this? what do 
 you mean V asked Michonis, whose face 
 was deadly pale. 
 
 Her left hand firmly clenched, her right 
 still holding the scrap of pin-marked paper, 
 Marie Antoinette stood, with flashing eyes 
 and head erect, her thin nostrils dilated, 
 and a look of command on her features. 
 
 " Take your hand off, sir !' she ex- 
 claimed, looking full in the gend'arme's face. 
 " You forget I am a Avoman, and that you 
 hurt me." 
 
 " Are you mad, Gilbert ? loose your 
 hold !" said Michonis, who was nearly 
 paralysed with fear. 
 
 *' The letter ! — take it from her ! In the
 
 96 THE LIFE aVAIWSMAX. 
 
 name of the Republic, seize it !" cried the 
 excited gend'arme. 
 
 Marie Antoinette looked full in the 
 man's face. 
 
 '^ Take off your hand, sir !" she repeated, 
 in a quiet calm tone, but her voice and 
 look full of proud command. " Your grasp 
 is unnecessarily cruel." 
 
 Awed for a moment Gilbert obeyed, and 
 in a second the queen raised the hand 
 which held the crumpled letter, and before 
 the defeated gend'arme could interfere, the 
 paper had disappeared for ever, as with a 
 convulsive movement of the throat Marie 
 Antoinette swallowed it, thereby saving 
 Michonis's head from the guillotine ; and 
 then, turning her proud, severe, pale face 
 towards the astonished group around her — 
 
 " You have done your work, gentlemen 
 — I would be alone," she said.
 
 LA CONCIERGERIE. 
 
 Michonis once more breathed freely : 
 the letter bearing his signature was gone 
 for ever ; but there, on the floor, lay the 
 pin- marked paper. The queen had saved 
 others, but lost herself 
 
 '' In the name of the Republic, citizens," 
 he exclaimed, his voice having recovered 
 its usual firmness, "I, as its delegate, order 
 this cell to be cleared. Gilbert, pick up 
 that paper — Dufresne, arrest the false 
 workman." 
 
 It was too late : Coralie had opened the 
 wicket-gate long before, and, with his usual 
 luck, De Rougeville had escaped ; but, half- 
 an-hour later, a man low in stature, wearing 
 the tri-coloured scarf showing his office, sat 
 in the courtyard of the Conciergerie. The 
 guard was under arms, and the light of the 
 torches gleamed over Marat's coarse heavy 
 face. Hichard and his wife, Michonis, 
 
 VOL. I. 7
 
 98 THE LIFE GUARDS MAX. 
 
 Dufresne, and Bertaud, were there, closely 
 guarded. The crowd outside was agitated. 
 Strange rumours were flying about Paris, 
 which were confirmed, when the whole per- 
 sonnel of the Conciergerie was changed, 
 and the prisoners were marched, by Marat's 
 orders, before the Eevolutionary Tribunal 
 for instant examination.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE CAFE CORAZZA. 
 
 y~\E PvOUGEVILLE had signally failed 
 once more, and, well-arranged as 
 were the details of the plot, which now be- 
 came known not only throughout Paris, but 
 over the whole of France, as that of the 
 Chevaliers De L'CEillet, the vigilance of 
 the sentry had brought it to an end disas- 
 trous for all those concerned in it except 
 himself The attempted release of Marie 
 Antoinette became the principal topic of 
 conversation. Groups gathered in the 
 streets, men talked mysteriously together 
 
 1—^1
 
 100 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 in the cafes and restaurants, as tliey sipped 
 their petit verre, or drank their wine. The 
 prisoners, it was said, had confessed ; they 
 were found to be furnished with Enghsh 
 gold. — Yes, Pitt and the infamous Enghsh 
 were at the bottom of the mischief. — 
 De Kougeville had escaped, as usual, and 
 was moving heaven and earth to excite 
 the Austrian monarch against France. 
 These, and a thousand such rumours, were 
 abroad, believed one moment, contradicted 
 the next ; but, agitated as it was, Paris 
 looked light and gay as usual, more particu- 
 larly the Palais National, whose houses and 
 shops were a blaze of light. Its cafes and 
 restaurants were crowded, and the city, 
 which all Europe looked upon as given over 
 to gloom, desolation, and death, was filled 
 with men and women, eating, drinking, and 
 pleasure-seeking. Still, strange rumours
 
 THE CAFE CORAZZA. 101 
 
 were abroad, and the Cafe Corazza being 
 frequented by members of the Convention, 
 a small crowd had gathered round its 
 doors. 
 
 The restaurant was briUiantly Hghted, 
 and every place was occupied. Most of 
 the guests seemed to know each other, 
 talkinsf across their tables, and sometimes 
 even exchanging plates and dishes in a 
 free and easy way. 
 
 The waiters louno-ed about, and often 
 seated themselves, obeying orders as they 
 pleased, while every now and then, a noisy 
 band of students or workmen would pass 
 the door thundering out the Marseillaise. 
 Men walked in and out, asking, or giving 
 news, conducting themselves in a free and 
 easy way. 
 
 There was one exception, however, to 
 the general air of fraternity and careless
 
 102 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 good humour, for at a table on the far left, 
 as the restaurant was entered, sat De 
 Brissac. He had not cared to unbuckle his 
 sword, but his shako and gloves lay on the 
 floor at his feet, and he glared about him 
 fiercely from time to time, swallowing glass 
 after glass of \^ Ido hastOy, and apparently 
 without tasting it. Addressing none, he 
 replied curtly if spoken to, glancing from 
 under his eyebrows continually at the door, 
 as if he were expecting some one, and 
 starting nervously when any new comer 
 entered. 
 
 For all this he had nearly finished his 
 meal, and had no excuse to prolong his 
 stay, when the man he expected entered. 
 Dressed in the top boots and knee 
 breeches of the day, his neck and chin 
 almost buried in the voluminous folds of a 
 white handkerchief, the new comer threw
 
 THE CAFi: CORAZZA. 103 
 
 himself into a chair just vacated, and 
 taking no notice of any one, carelessly 
 leaned back, crossed one leg over the other, 
 and beckoned the waiter. It must be De 
 Eougeville, he thought, though the auburn 
 hair was a brilliant black, as well as the 
 once brown moustache. There he sat, 
 however, quite composed, and as the 
 waiter did not choose to come, the cheva- 
 lier began chatting carelessly with those 
 near him. 
 
 " The Austrians, it was said, were march- 
 ing on Paris to free the queen ;" observed 
 a short, stout, plethoric-looking Eepublican, 
 who was feeding grossly. 
 
 The chevalier laughed. 
 
 " Oh, there's worse than that !'' he ex- 
 claimed gaily. " English gold is at work, 
 and Pitt's emissaries are among us. It 
 is said that they are furnished with fabu-
 
 104 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 lous sums to buy up all the coal, candles, 
 bread, and corn, so that Paris may be in 
 darkness when the Austrians arrive. 
 You're sure you are not an Englishman, 
 friend ?" continued De Rougeville, turning 
 quickly on the stout Eepublican, who was 
 •staring at him with his mouth open. 
 
 This raised a laugh, but De Brissac sat 
 fidgeting on his chair. He could not 
 understand the gay insouciance which 
 loved to trifle even with danger and death. 
 Pushing away his plate, he demanded his 
 bill in a loud tone, picking up his gloves 
 and shako from the ground at the same 
 time. 
 
 Negligently stretching out his legs, and 
 taking the wine list from the table, De 
 Rougeville yawned, and seemed as if his 
 whole attention was concentrated at that 
 moment on the delicate question as to
 
 THE CAFi: GORAZZA. 103 
 
 whether Macon or St. Julien would best 
 suit his palate that evening. 
 
 " Let it be St. Estephe, Auguste," he 
 said at last, as he took the pink from his 
 button hole, and deliberately pulled it to 
 pieces. 
 
 Then yawning once more, he threw the 
 broken flower carelessly at the soldier's 
 feet, and turning to the table, arranged 
 his napkin, as though impatient to 
 begin. 
 
 Disturbing those near him, De Brissac 
 rose, dashing down payment for what he 
 had consumed, with such evident ill- 
 humour, that some of the pieces rolled on 
 the floor ; then drawing his cloak about 
 him, he glared savagely round, as though 
 daring any one to speak to him, and 
 passing the door, strode out into the 
 night.
 
 106 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 *' Failed," he muttered to himself, as he 
 walked towards the Seine. " Failed, and 
 now comes my turn."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MARIE ANTOINETTE. 
 
 /"^ E,EY dawn was breaking over Paris, 
 ^^'^ but the great stone hall where sat 
 the Revolutionary Tribunal, knew nothing 
 as yet of the coming day, lighted, as it was, 
 only by the feeble glimmer of four candles. 
 In a chair at the upper end, wearing a suit 
 of grey cloth, breeches, and top boots, a 
 svn ord by his side, and a broad sash round 
 his w^aist, sat Armand Herman, the Presi- 
 dent of the Revolutionary Tribunal, while 
 lounging here and there, some seated, some 
 leaning against the wall, and a few fast
 
 108 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 asleep, having taken off their coats, were 
 ten members of the court. 
 
 There was a table before the president 
 littered with papers, among which lay- 
 several black pipes, one or two bottles of 
 wine, and a brace of pistols. Near the 
 entrance door stood two powerful men, 
 their shirt sleeves rolled up above the 
 elbows, the red Phrygian cap covering 
 their long hair, the points of their swords 
 turned to the ground, while a smell of 
 tobacco was heavy on the air, and the 
 features of the men who sat there looked 
 haggard and worn in the feeble light. 
 
 Between two gend armes, their swords 
 drawn, and surrounded by a peloton of the 
 Municipal Guard, stood a woman. Her 
 serge dress was a very coarse one, and 
 fastened by a girdle round the waist ; a 
 white handkerchief covered her shoulders.
 
 2IARIE ANTOINETTE. 109 
 
 and was pinned in front. The thick masses 
 of grey hair were as usual brushed from 
 the forehead, and though Marie Antoi- 
 nette's weakness was apparent, she w^as 
 left standing between the guards. People 
 cr^me and went, their steps echoing through 
 the hall. Doors were slammed, the noise 
 reverberating like low thunder, but the 
 only sign of weakness shown by the 
 prisoner, was a nervous glance cast from 
 time to time on either side. 
 
 " This twenty-first day of the first month 
 of the second year of the French Eepublic, 
 we, Armand Martial Joseph Herman, Pre- 
 sident of the Revolutionary Tribunal/' read 
 the greffier, " established and formed by 
 the law of the 10th March, 1793, without 
 recourse being had to the Court of Cassa- 
 tion ; and again by virtue of powers dele- 
 gated to this chamber by the law of the
 
 no THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 5th April, same year, assisted by Nicolas 
 Joseph Fabricius, clerk of the court, and 
 in presence of Antoine Fouquier Tinville, 
 public accuser, have directed Marie Antoi- 
 nette, Yeuve Capet, to be brought before 
 us. 
 
 " Prisoner," commenced the president, in 
 a dry harsh voice, as the greffier finished, 
 "your name, age, profession, and coun- 
 try?"' 
 
 " Marie Antoinette Lorraine, of Austria, 
 thirty-eight years old, and widow of the 
 King of France,'" came the bold reply. 
 
 " Your domicile before you were ar- 
 rested r 
 
 " I never w^as arrested," was the haughty 
 answer. " I was torn from the protection 
 of the National Assembly, and placed for 
 safety, not for trial, in the Temple." 
 
 Fouquier Tinville moved impatiently in
 
 MARIE ANTOINETTE. 1 1 1 
 
 his seat, for his tiger-like nature was be- 
 coming irritated by the woman's haughty 
 courage. 
 
 " Prisoner/' asked the president, " since 
 you left the Temple for the Conciergerie, 
 have you been cognisant of plots for your 
 release ? Have you not received flowers 
 containing a letter? Did you not your- 
 self pick up the flowers, and conceal the 
 letter ?" 
 
 The queen smiled, and her firm but gen- 
 tle voice sounded clearly above the noise as 
 she replied — 
 
 ^' Many people have come to see me, but 
 always accompanied by your own police. 
 Some I have thought I once knew, others 
 were strangers. Some flowers brought by 
 a workman as an offering to me, were 
 received." 
 
 There was a pause. The light was be-
 
 112 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 ooming stronger, and the great hall filling 
 with spectators. 
 
 " Did you not recognise," demanded 
 Fouquier Tinville, leaning forward, con- 
 trary to all practice, usurping unchecked 
 the functions of the president, " did you 
 not recognise in the person who dropped the 
 flowers a man who was at the Tuileries on 
 the famous 10th of August, and who stayed 
 by your side all that day ? Answer, wo- 
 man, and answer, truly, at your peril. Was 
 not that man the arch traitor De Eouge- 
 
 viiie r 
 
 The queen paused, in thought. " I do 
 not know his name," she replied, at last, 
 gently. 
 
 "It is dijB&cult to believe this," ob- 
 served the president, shaking his head. 
 " It will serve your purpose better to 
 answer truthfully. Did you reply to
 
 MARIE ANTOINETTE. 113 
 
 the communication De E-ougeville made to 
 you r 
 
 Marie Antoinette never seemed to hesi- 
 tate a moment where she herself was alone 
 concerned. 
 
 '' I tried to do so," she replied, " with 
 a pin and paper ; ]iot exactly to answer," 
 she added, after a pause, " but to ask the 
 person, whoever he was, not to run into 
 peril for me." 
 
 '' Would you know your handwork ?" 
 
 " I should." 
 
 Fumbling among the scattered papers 
 the greffier, a stout, heavy, bloated-looking 
 man, one cheek distended by tobacco, 
 walked towards the queen, showing her the 
 pin-marked paper, but not allowing it to 
 leave his hand. 
 
 '' Listen," he said, as he squirted the to- 
 bacco juice from his mouth preparatory to 
 
 VOL. I. 8
 
 114 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 reading, some of it falling, a dark stain, on 
 the queen's dress. 
 
 " * I beg of you not to come here again. 
 Impossible to hide anything from my 
 jailers. Work so that I am helped from 
 without, and save my ' " 
 
 The greffier paused, but Marie Antoi- 
 nette simply bowed her head in token of 
 assent. 
 
 " You picked up the flowers," continued 
 the judge, as the official returned to his 
 seat, "you read the letter, you replied to 
 it. Now what did it contain, and whose 
 were the signatures V 
 
 The silence was intense in the hall. 
 Would the weaker nature triumph, would 
 she purchase safety by denouncing others ? 
 Fouquier Tinville leaned forward eagerly. 
 The queen seemed to think for a moment, 
 her eyes cast down on the floor.
 
 MAMIE ANTOINETTE. 115 
 
 '^ I have forgotten its contents/' she re- 
 plied gently. 
 
 A murmur ran through the crowd as 
 Fouquier Tinville brought down his 
 clenched fist on the desk before him with 
 an oath. 
 
 ''Where is that letter?" asked the pre- 
 sident. 
 
 Marie Antoinette drew herself up to her 
 full height, looking straight at Fouquier 
 TinviUe. 
 
 " I knew your tiger nature," she said 
 bitterly. " I knew your thirst for blood, 
 and I swallowed it sooner than betray into 
 your hands those who would then have 
 died for me/' 
 
 Slowly Fouquier Tinville rose, his grey 
 eyes gleaming with rage, his words seeming 
 to come too quickly, and to jostle each other 
 on their way. As he spoke his eyes be- 
 
 8—2
 
 IIG THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 came bloodshot, the foam of passion stood 
 on his lips, and he pointed to the prisoner, 
 denouncing the Austrian. He painted in 
 gloomy colours the misery of the country ; 
 he attributed it all to the wiles of the wo- 
 man before him ; he showed how the Ee- 
 public was thus daily, hourly, menaced 
 through her by royalist plotters like the 
 infamous De Eougeville. He called upon 
 the tribunal to end these constant menaces, 
 to give to France the quiet she so needed. 
 
 The queen's trial was ordered, the guard 
 swept round, and in a few minutes the 
 gates of the Conciergerie once more closed 
 upon her.
 
 CHAPTER YIIL 
 
 DE BRISSAC'S VOW. 
 
 T)AULT, the new jailer of tlie Concier- 
 ~^^^ gerie, was by trade a butcher. 
 Throwing open the door of the cell, he 
 motioned to the queen to enter. Marie 
 Antoinette glanced disconsolately around, 
 for the bed was unmade, and the place in 
 confusion. 
 
 " Let Coralie come to me," she mur- 
 mured, as she sank on the bed. " Water, 
 I am faint." 
 
 '•' Coralie!" replied Bault, who was dressed 
 in the republican carmagnole, his hairy
 
 118 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 breast and arms partly bare, " she was 
 bundled out this mormng. I am your 
 femme de chamhre now, citoyenne." 
 
 Summoning her remaining strength the 
 queen rose and motioned back the man as 
 he advanced towards her, but it was use- 
 less, and the flush of anger paled on her 
 cheek, as weak and exhausted she sank back. 
 
 " Send for Madame Harel," exclaimed 
 De Brissac, whose turn of duty had come 
 round, as the deadly paleness of ihe queen's 
 face became more apparent. 
 
 " Go for her yourself," was the brutal 
 reply. 
 
 With a strong effort at self-command the 
 captain of the guard strode up to the jailer, 
 who was humming a tune as he swung a 
 heavy bunch of keys to and fro. The man 
 winced under the muscular grasp laid on 
 his shoulder.
 
 BE BRISSAG'S VOW. 119 
 
 " Fool !'* hissed De Brissac from beneath 
 his clenched teeth. " Fool ! if she dies 
 now, your head will answer for it. Call 
 Madame Harel, I will stay here. Quick, 
 it is life or death for both." 
 
 The jailer stared for a moment ; the 
 thought of danger to himself moved, while 
 the queen's deadly paleness alarmed him. 
 Locking the door after him with an oath, 
 and trying it before he did so, he moved 
 away. 
 
 The next moment, partly concealed by 
 the screen, Philip had thrown himself on 
 his knees beside her. 
 
 " Rouse yourself, Queen of France," he 
 exclaimed, in deep earnest tones, '' the mo- 
 ments are short. It is of the dauphin I 
 would speak." 
 
 The colour came slowly to the queen's 
 face as De Brissac told his tale. How the
 
 120 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 loyal peasants of Brittany but waited the 
 signal to rise. How St. Fargaud had 
 covenanted to betray his trust for gold. 
 How Barras favoured the scheme. 
 
 The tears came into Marie Antoinette's 
 eyes, and her hand rested on De Brissac s 
 shoulder. 
 
 *' But we need gold. Can you give us 
 gold ?" he continued, in his low earnest 
 tones, as he looked up into the queens 
 face. 
 
 The distant clang of a door was heard. 
 
 '^ Give me the means to write, quick !" 
 she added, as De Brissac produced a 
 pencil. " That will do. I will give you an 
 order on the imperial treasury of Austria. 
 Too late ! too late !" she muttered, as a 
 step was heard coming along the pass- 
 age. 
 
 Tightening her grasp on De Brissac's
 
 DE BRISSAC'S VOW. 121 
 
 arm, Marie Antoinette seemed to raise him. 
 to his feet, as he gazed fascinated in her 
 face. 
 
 Brushing away the disordered hair 
 from her eyes, she snatched the crucifix 
 from the wall, then turned to him with 
 the old look of command on her features. 
 
 " De Brissac !" she exclaimed, speaking 
 quickly and nervously, " swear to me on 
 this crucifix to save my son." 
 
 " Or lose my head, my queen. So help 
 me heaven, as I keep my vow !" replied De 
 Brissac, and his lips touched the sculptured 
 Christ. 
 
 A smile passed over the queen's face. 
 
 " Your life belongs to France, De Brissac 
 — to France and to me now !" and Marie 
 Antoinette sank back once more on the 
 bed. 
 
 It was time, for there came the noise of
 
 122 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 a key grating in the lock, as the heavy 
 bolts flew back, and the next moment the 
 door opened and the jailer entered to find 
 the queen seated where he had left her, 
 bending over the crucifix in prayer, while 
 leaning against the wall, his arms carelessly 
 crossed over his breast, stood the captain 
 of the guard. 
 
 '^ I thought you had forgotten us, 
 Citoyen Bault,'' he remarked, quietly. 
 '' Where is Madame Harel ?" 
 
 " Closeted with Marat, and I dare not 
 disturb him. If the Veuve Capet needs a 
 femme de chamhre, these two arms must 
 serve her;" and the man laughed as he 
 showed his bare arms all covered with 
 black hair. 
 
 "I am better now, leave me to lie 
 down," said the queen, as she rose, fixing a 
 long wistful gaze on De Brissac's face.
 
 DE BRISSAC'S VOW. 123 
 
 " Youll find rouofher arms on the Place 
 de Greve, my dainty aristocrat," grumbled 
 the jailer, as he held the door opened for 
 De Brissac to pass out, then closed it, 
 turned the key twice in the lock, and 
 slipped the heavy bolts. "Ma foi, the 
 day's not far off," he added, as swinging 
 his keys he took his way to the great stone 
 haU.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ON GUARD. 
 
 rriHE next time Philip de Brissac's turn 
 of duty brought him to the Concier- 
 gerie, all Paris was on foot, and it was 
 with difficulty he made his way at the 
 head of his guard to the prison. It was a 
 fine warm October day, and all was bustle 
 and excitement in the streets. Hegiments 
 were falling in, crowds were gathering, and 
 every moment increasing in volume. The 
 line of quays, and the streets, were densely 
 filled, and every corner had its occupants. 
 At last he reached the great gates. A
 
 ON GUARD. 125 
 
 common cart was standing there. It was 
 foul with mud and dirt, a rough plank 
 thrown across from side to side to serve 
 apparently as a seat, and it was drawn by 
 one powerful grey horse. Before the gates 
 of the Conciergerie the river flowed on in 
 the sunshine ; the chimes from the many 
 churches came floating on the air, for there 
 was hardly any breeze. Every window, 
 every doorstep, was crowded with gaily- 
 dressed people, laughing, singing, and chat- 
 ting. Drums were beating, bugles and 
 trumpets sounding, and as the regiments of 
 cavalry and infantry moved loosely through 
 the crowd, the people joked or praised them 
 with freedom. 
 
 Soon De Brissac stood in the courtyard, 
 at the head of the guard, whose numbers 
 had been doubled that morning. The roar 
 of the people, who were becoming im-
 
 126 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 patient, came to his ears. Steps sounded 
 on the pavement, as dressed in a white 
 jacket and petticoat of the same colour, her 
 hau^ cropped closely, but covered with a 
 cap, her hands tied behind by a rope, the 
 other end of which was held by the execu- 
 tioner Sanson, who followed her closely, 
 came Marie Antoinette. 
 
 As she passed, the queen turned her face 
 full upon his. 
 
 Marie Antoinette was deadly pale, and 
 seemed nearly sinking from physical weak- 
 ness, but there was a proud haughty ex- 
 pression in her glance as she gazed upon 
 him, that told De Brissac how firmly her 
 woman nature relied on his promise. 
 
 A lump seemed to rise in his throat, and 
 he leaned heavily on his sword, as the 
 great gates were thrown open, and the 
 queen passed on. Then came a wave of
 
 ON GUARD. 127 
 
 people breaking the ranks of the guard. 
 A paper was thrust into his hand. He 
 tried to read it, but the rush of blood to 
 his head prevented him, so that thrusting 
 it into the breast of his uniform coat, he 
 fought his way to the guard-room. 
 
 For a moment the uproar around him 
 ceased, as the queen took her place in the 
 cart, and looked down upon the upturned 
 faces. To the last Marie Antoinette re- 
 membered she was the widow of a king, 
 and as the shouts and execrations again 
 rang round her, her lips parted. 
 
 " My woes are near their end now," she 
 murmured, ''but }^ours — yours, my people, 
 are but beginning." 
 
 Slowly, and amid the shouts of the 
 populace, the cart moved away, passing the 
 church of St. Roch, and the trees in the 
 gardens of the Tuileries. The captain of
 
 128 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 the Conciergerie Guard remained alone, 
 for, with the loose discipline of- the day, 
 his men had broken away, and there he 
 sat, his face buried in his hands. 
 
 " Trusting in my oath," he muttered, 
 " she has gone to her doom. I have some- 
 thing to live for !" he exclaimed, starting 
 to his feet, and pacing with rapid strides 
 the floor of the room. " Nothing — no, 
 nothing shall turn me aside !'' 
 
 Then he bethought himself of the paper 
 he had received. He stopped. — " Rue St. 
 Jacques, to-morrow night. St. Fargaud,'' 
 were the few words written on it. 
 
 As he read, there rose on the breeze the 
 distant roar of the crowd. Again and 
 again the mighty roll of human voices 
 came to his ear. His frame shook as with 
 an ague fit. He staggered to a seat, and 
 once more buried his face in his hands, as
 
 ON GUARD. 129 
 
 with one sudden burst of silvery sound 
 every church bell in Paris rang out a glad 
 peal, and he knew the guillotine had done 
 its work, and Marie Antoinette was no 
 more. 
 
 De Brissac raised his head as the chimes 
 died away. His face was livid, and the 
 lines of the mouth twitched nervously. 
 There was a strange concentrated fire in 
 the eyes, as he muttered — 
 
 " Rue St. Jacques at nine, to-morrow 
 night," then drew his sword-belt tighter, 
 and passed from the guard-room into the 
 deserted courtyard, the great gates of which 
 were again closed. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SIMON THE COBBLER. 
 
 A BRIGHT fire was burning in tlie 
 apartment which had served as a 
 prison for Louis the Sixteenth, for the 
 Temple was even yet used for the ' same 
 purposes, though much of its former rigour 
 was relaxed. The rooms were better 
 furnished, too, and the perfume of coffee 
 spread through them, for it was a day of 
 reception. There sat the mistress of the 
 apartment, a strongly-built, coarse-featured 
 little woman, with small sparkling black 
 eyes, a large mouth, white teeth, not a very
 
 SIMON THE COBBLER. 131 
 
 high forehead, but an abundance of coarse 
 black hau-, carefully oiled. Madame Simon 
 was proud of her hair. 
 
 A boy was amusing himself at the far 
 end of the room with some coarsely-painted 
 pictures. 
 
 " Who gave you those, Louis ?" asked 
 Madame Simon, as she turned towards the 
 lad. 
 
 " Laurenz gave them to me, M^re 
 Simon," was the reply. 
 
 " Come here, and show them me." 
 
 The boy obeyed, slowly and timidly. 
 About nine years of age, tall, and delicate- 
 looking, his large blue eyes, with their long 
 chestnut lashes, gave him a girlish look, 
 rather increased by the way the hair was 
 worn, in wavy masses falling on his 
 shoulders. His clothes were ragged, and 
 had evidently been made for a bigger boy 
 
 9—2
 
 132 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 than himself ; his hands and face were none 
 of the cleanest, and so, with the tears 
 starting to his eyes, the young dauphin, the 
 descendant of a line of kings, stood 
 trembling before the wife of Simon the 
 cobbler, just as a knock at the outer door 
 was heard, and three women entered. 
 
 " Only see, Madame Crevassin, what 
 that fool of a Laurenz has been giving 
 young Capet." 
 
 Madame Crevassin was a widow, a very 
 old friend of Madame Simon's, and she and 
 Madame Menager were in the habit of 
 holding counsel together as to the educa- 
 tion of the boy Louis. 
 
 Coralie, who was the third visitor, stooped 
 over the child as he stood, looking first at 
 one, then at another, evidently afraid ; she 
 smoothed his long fair hair, and kissed his 
 forehead.
 
 SIMON THE GOBBLER. 133 
 
 " Pictures of saints/*' remarked Madame 
 Crevassin, as she sat down before the fire, 
 placed her feet on the low fender, and 
 tucked her gown so as to get the greatest 
 amount of warmth for her stout legs. 
 " Why Simon w^ill murder the boy if he 
 sees these." 
 
 " And I am expecting him every mo- 
 ment/' replied Madame Simon. "But 
 there, that will make matters right/' and 
 she threw the rude daubs on the fire as she 
 spoke. 
 
 Louis followed his blazing treasures with 
 his eyes, but was much too thoroughly 
 cowed to make any resistance. 
 
 " And now go to bed, you young idiot ! 
 at all events, you'll be out of harm's way 
 there." 
 
 Mechanically the boy obeyed, and Madame 
 Simon busied herself with the coffee-cups.
 
 134 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " How did Simon get the appointment V 
 asked Madame Crevassin, as slie sat 
 stirring the coffee and enjoying the 
 warmth. 
 
 " Yes, tell us that, Mere Simon. I have 
 often wondered how that came to pass/' 
 added Coi'alie. 
 
 " Who ever heard of a girl of eighteen 
 who was not full of curiosity ! Take care 
 what you are about, Coralie ! That was a 
 narrow escape you had when Richard and 
 his wife came to grief Take care, I say," 
 remarked Madame Simon. 
 
 Coralie laughed. " Well, I'm better off 
 with Madame Dablemont, the first milliner 
 of the quarter, and as Lepeltier will bring 
 my basket of dresses, I can stay here till 
 he comes ; so now for your tale, good 
 Mere Simon."
 
 SIMON THE COBBLER. 135 
 
 " Where you are, one may be sure 
 Lepeltier St. Fargaud is not far ofF/' 
 grumbled Madame Menager, who was old 
 and stout. 
 
 " Indeed," retorted Coralie, whose bright 
 eyes danced with fun, and who with diffi- 
 culty suppressed a sharp retort. " Tell the 
 sentry there to let him pass with my 
 dresses, Mere Simon, or they mil be 
 tumbling them over in search of pictures 
 of saints." 
 
 " Simon will be here presently, and I'll 
 tell him. They mind Simon. It was 
 Marat got the appointment for him. Five 
 hundred francs a month, and that's better 
 than cobbling old shoes. The only thing I 
 don't like is that we must never both be 
 absent together. The young viper must 
 never be left alone. Now, how am I to
 
 136 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 see the Austrian dance her last dance ? 
 Tell me that, Mere Crev^assin.'' 
 
 Before the woman could reply, steps were 
 heard on the stone staircase, the swinging 
 of the iron door followed, and a man en- 
 tered. The dark, sun-burnt features were 
 flushed, and the small, bead-like eyes 
 seemed. wild with drink. His speech was 
 thick, and his gait unsteady. 
 
 "Tiens, Simon! you are late; now you are 
 come just call to the guard to let St. Far- 
 gaud pass with Coralie's basket of dresses. 
 While you give the order," continued 
 Madame Simon, " 111 pour out your 
 coffee." 
 
 "And I'll dash it with cognac, Simon," 
 added Coralie. 
 
 With a drunken leer at the girl, Simon 
 did as he was bid, then slamming the door, 
 he cast himself into the well-stuffed chair
 
 SIMON THE COBBLER. 137 
 
 reserved for him, stretched out his feet 
 towards the blaze, sipped the coffee, and 
 felt himself master in the Hubert Tower. 
 
 " ril tell you a good joke, wife," he ex- 
 claimed. " I've been dining with Robes- 
 pierre, and St. Just and Barrere were there 
 too. The list of the executed this day was 
 brought as usual with the dessert, and only 
 fancy two of them were known Re- 
 publicans." 
 
 " How was that, Simon T asked Coralie. 
 
 '' Why they bore the same name as the 
 condemned ; but it will be all right to- 
 morrow." 
 
 *' Nonsense, Simon ; even Robespierre 
 can't bring the dead to life," remarked his 
 wife. 
 
 " Who asks him T retorted the man, 
 " but he can send the real aristos to the 
 guillotine, can't he ?"
 
 138 TEE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " And will La Veto die to-morrow T 
 asked Coralie, as she filled Simon's cup 
 once more. 
 
 " There will be no mistake as to her," 
 replied Simon, quickly, pouring brandy 
 into his coffee with an unsteady hand. 
 '^ There ain't two of her name in 
 France." 
 
 " She will never go to the guillotine," 
 remarked Madame Crevassin. 
 
 " No, never," added Madame Menager. 
 
 Simon glared from one to another, his 
 face purple with drink and anger. 
 
 *' Won't she?" he sneered, *'and pray 
 why ?" 
 
 " Because she is beautiful," replied 
 Madame Simon, arranging her hair. 
 
 " Because she can speak well," added 
 Madame Menager. 
 
 " And, because her beauty and her mis-
 
 .S'/i¥OiV THE COBBLER. 139 
 
 fortunes will toucli the people's hearts," 
 summed up Madame Manager. 
 
 Simon glared at the speakers. " Justice 
 is incorruptible," he exclaimed, in thick 
 husky tones. " Justice is incorruptible, La 
 Veto will die, and I shall be there to see. 
 Tiens, now I think of it, rouse up the 
 young Capet, wife. Here, viper — Capet — 
 canaille !" he shouted. 
 
 The little bed could be seen in the ad- 
 joining closet. Louis had been lying there 
 at first only to avoid his tyrant, but had 
 gradually sunk into a doze. Roused by 
 the call, to which he was accustomed, the 
 boy looked round with a bewildered stare 
 as he prepared to obey. 
 
 " You obstinate mule, why don't you 
 come ?" exclaimed the drunken Simon. 
 " I'll teach you better," and as he spoke, 
 he stooped, and taking the heavy wooden
 
 140 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 sabot from his right foot hurled it with an 
 oath at the lad, the heel striking him on 
 the side of the head. 
 
 Coralie gave a sharp cry, as the blood 
 welled from the wound, but Louis, used to 
 such treatment, only put his hand to his 
 forehead, and obeyed the call. 
 
 " You young brute, that will teach you 
 obedience. Wife, fetch me the carmagnole 
 and a pair of scissors,'' said Simon. 
 
 Rising from his chair as the lad ap- 
 proached hesitatingly, Simon, whose face 
 now blazed with drink and fury, seized him 
 by the throat, dashing him back on the 
 stone floor. 
 
 " Come here, wife, bring the scissors, 
 now cut," he cried, pointing to the long 
 curls of fair hair. 
 
 Louis struggled fiercely, filling the room 
 with his shrieks, but it was no use. He
 
 SIMON THE COBBLER. 141 
 
 was powerless under tlie grip of the strong 
 man, who, as his wife obeyed, laughed 
 savagely. 
 
 Coralie, frightened, hid herself behind a 
 large wooden screen which stood in a corner 
 near the alcove, and the two old women 
 thinking murder would be done, shuffled 
 out of the room. 
 
 A knock at the door was unheard, 
 and next moment St. Fargaud entered, 
 bearing under his arm a long wicker 
 basket, in which some light dresses were 
 loosely spread full length so as not to crease 
 them. 
 
 For a second Lepeltier paused on the 
 threshold, then realizing the scene, he 
 crossed the room quickly, deposited the 
 basket and dresses behind the screen, and, 
 laying hold of Simon's collar, dragged him 
 bodily from the floor.
 
 142 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " Who are you ?" exclaimed the drunken 
 man as he rose to his feet. 
 
 " Would you kill the boy, Simon ?" asked 
 Lepeltier. " Sit down, man, sit down, and 
 leave him alone. '^ 
 
 " 111 not," replied Simon, roughly. 
 " Here, you spawn of the evil one ! put that 
 on," and he threw a red Phrygian cap to 
 him. 
 
 Louis had risen, his face was swollen, 
 and streaked with blood. On the floor lay 
 the wavy masses of hair, while the Mere 
 Simon, stooping, picked up the red cap, 
 and drew it over the disfigured head. He 
 was too cowed to resist. Simon burst out 
 laughing at the sight. 
 
 *^ At last, Capet, you are a republican," 
 he exclaimed ; " and now be off to bed," he 
 continued, dealing the child a heavy kick
 
 SIMO^' THE COBBLER. 143 
 
 " Get out of my sight, or 111 kill you," and 
 Simon sank into his easy chair. 
 
 ''Justice is incorruptible. More brandy, 
 wife. Come, St. Fargaud, come. Join me." 
 
 But drink and rage were at last too 
 much for him. Gulping down the un- 
 diluted spirit, he muttered to himself, then 
 staggered to his bed, shaking his clenched 
 fist in the direction of the closet where 
 Louis was sobbing himself to sleep. 
 " Justice is incorruptible, and La Yeto shall 
 die," he repeated, and then sinking back, 
 fell instantly into heavy sleep. 
 
 " Give me a cup of cofPee, and tell me 
 how all this came about," said St. Fargaud, 
 drav/ing his chair to the fire. 
 
 " Easier said than done," replied Madame 
 Simon, " seeing that the coffee-pot is up- 
 set."
 
 144 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " Never mind," remarked Coralie, cheer- 
 fully, " 111 soon make some more, and then 
 we must be going, Lepeltier." 
 
 The girl bustled about the room, while 
 8t. Fargaud conversed with Madame 
 Simon, her husband's stertorous breath- 
 ing mixing with the low hum of conver- 
 sation. 
 
 The coffee made, Coralie poured out a 
 small cup full, adding twenty drops from a 
 phial she took from her pocket, then first 
 ascertaining that Simon was asleep, carried 
 it to Louis, who thanked her between 
 his sobs. 
 
 She smoothed the dirty sheets of the 
 bed, arranged the boy's pillow, and then 
 stooping over him, kissed his dirt-grimed 
 lips. 
 
 Unused to kindness, Louis broke into a 
 deluge of tears, then the sobs gradually
 
 SIMOX THE COBBLER. 145 
 
 ceased, and in a few minutes he was sound 
 asleep. 
 
 "It is very bitter your coffee, Coralie 
 child," exclaimed Mere Simon as she 
 drank. " You have put too much chicory 
 in it." 
 
 "Never mind," remarked Lepeltier, 
 who had occupied Madame Simon's atten- 
 tion, but had not failed to see Coralie 
 using the little phial a second time. 
 " Never mind, dash it with a little brandy 
 as I do, and leave it to me to make Coralie 
 into a good housewife. Five hundred 
 francs a month isn't much for you. Mere 
 Simon ; I must speak to Barras about it." 
 
 " I am very, very sleepy, Lepeltier," 
 said Madame Simon, " bitter or not I must 
 have more coffee to keep me awake ;" and 
 suiting the action to the words, the 
 woman, whom the opium was beginning to 
 
 VOL. I. 10
 
 14() THE LIFE GUAUDSMAN. 
 
 affect, drank off what remained of the 
 drugged coffee. 
 
 She fought against the influence, but in 
 vain. A low hum came to her ears. She 
 leaned back, settled herself in her chair, 
 while opposite sat St. Fargaud, his eyes 
 fixed on her. Her hands were crossed 
 over her bosom, her jaw dropped ; Lepel- 
 tier passed the candle before her eyes, but 
 she w^as fast asleep. 
 
 Rising, he walked across the room, 
 Coralie following him on tiptoe towards 
 the bed, where lay the form of the in- 
 sensible cobbler, the light of the candle 
 showing the swollen bloated features, and 
 the hard dry lips. It was evident nothing 
 was to be feared from Simon or his wife. 
 
 Lepeltier took Coralie by the hand, 
 drawing her behind the screen. 
 
 " See," he said, in a low tone, as he
 
 SIMON THE COBBLER. 147 
 
 removed the dresses, and showed a boy 
 asleep. " See, what a wonderful likeness. 
 He is deaf and dumb too, and can't betray 
 us." 
 
 "The eyes are brown, not blue," re- 
 marked Coralie, bending over the boy. 
 '' Oh, Lepeltier, be quick, I feel as if I 
 should faint." She was trembling with 
 fear. 
 
 St. Fargaud smiled. 
 
 " Even the queen," he said, " was 
 nearly deceived by the likeness. It was 
 De Eougeville told me. Three hundred 
 thousand francs — and every precaution 
 taken. A fainting fit would spoil all, 
 CoraHe." 
 
 " The hair, you must cut it, Lepeltier," 
 returned Coralie, in a whisper. 
 
 "Well thought of," repHed St. Fargaud. 
 " Fetch me the scissors." 
 
 10—2
 
 148 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 They lay on the table where Madame 
 Simon had left them. Coralie's face was 
 very pale as she took them up, and her 
 hand trembled terribly. Just at that 
 moment the drunken man turned, mutter- 
 ing in his sleep, and Coralie could barely 
 suppress the scream that rose to her 
 lips. 
 
 She remained standing like a statue, 
 staring at the bed, while, from behind the 
 screen, a dark face looked out, and the 
 gleam of steel was seen, but Simon never 
 w^oke. Lepeltier easily effected the ex- 
 change, and a few minutes later, Coralie, 
 escorted by her lover, who naturally 
 carried her basket, on which the light 
 fabrics from Madame Dablemont's shop 
 were heaped, j)assed out from the Hubert 
 Tower. 
 
 " You had better look to him," said
 
 SIMON THE GOBBLER. 149 
 
 Lepeltier to the sergeant, as he paused to 
 tell him of Simon s state. 
 
 '' Oh, hie's used to it," replied the man, 
 laughing, as he held the wicket gate to 
 enable the two to pass out, '^ he'll be all 
 right. He has frightened you, citoyenne," 
 he continued, turning to Coralie, whose 
 face looked pale enough by the light of the 
 guard-room lantern. *' Good-night.''
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 CORALIE. 
 
 T ATE in tlie evening, in a small room, 
 looking on the Rue St. Jacques, 
 Philip De Brissac sat waiting for St. 
 Fargaud to keep his appointment. He 
 had, apparently, only just returned from a 
 long walk, and looked worn and tired. 
 He still wore the uniform of his rank, but 
 his face was haggard-looking and anxious, 
 as he sat, his elbows on the table, and his 
 head leaning on his hands. Beside him 
 lay a scrap of paper, the same received 
 when on guard at the Conciergerie. Near
 
 GORALIE. 151 
 
 it stood a leathern bag, the mouth of 
 which Avas open, disclosing a mass of 
 yellow coin, crisp English bank-notes, and 
 treasury bonds bearing Pitt's signature. 
 It was nearly dark, for the Rue St. 
 Jacques was narrow, the overhanging eaves 
 of the houses almost touching one an- 
 other. 
 
 " The last of the old De Brissac acres 
 gone, to make up the sum," muttered 
 Philip, as his hand fell heavily on the 
 leathern sack, " every friend taxed to the 
 utmost, and I a beggar. If he will only 
 be content with it, for after all it's little 
 more than half the sum ! Not a word of 
 De Rougeville either, and he must have 
 reached Vienna." 
 
 A low knock at the door startled him. 
 Covering the gold with his shako, he tore 
 the scraj) of paper into small pieces, and
 
 152 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 tossed them on to the fire ; then, striding 
 to the door, turned the key, and throwing 
 it open, bade the new comer enter. The 
 light rustle of a dress was heard on the 
 landing. 
 
 " You are come for the money, Coralie," 
 remarked Philip, as the girl entered. " I 
 thought to have met Lepeltier himself, this 
 time." 
 
 " He has never appeared in the affair, 
 Philip," replied the girl, as she sat down 
 and drew aside the thick veil which con- 
 cealed her features ; " besides, he dare not 
 stir now." 
 
 Stretching out his hand, De Brissac 
 removed the shako, showing the gold, and 
 then covered it again. 
 
 " I repeat," he said, as he seated him- 
 self, '' that I had expected to meet Lepeltier. 
 This is a serious business, and I must
 
 CORALIE. loa 
 
 make sure that this gold is fairly earned 
 before I part with it." 
 
 " It has been fairly earned, Philip,"" 
 replied the girl, leaning back in her 
 chair. 
 
 " The sum yonder, Coralie, represents 
 the daily bread of many a poor noble, 
 starving now in another land. The last 
 penny I have in the world is in it. You 
 used to have influence with St. Fargaud — 
 can you not induce him to be contented 
 with what lies yonder T 
 
 The girl slowly shook her head, mur- 
 muring the word '' Impossible !" 
 
 " Well, then, to give time, at least, for 
 the remainder, Coralie. De Eougeville 
 has made good his escape. He is in 
 Vienna, and there can be no doubt as to 
 the money. Try, Coralie, and you must 
 succeed."
 
 154 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 The tears stood in Coralie's eyes — but 
 once more she shook her head. 
 
 "Then," answered De Brissac in a low- 
 tone, " I must, at all events, tell you what 
 I have seen, before even that sum passes 
 into your hands. Now listen, Coralie. 
 
 " When I came off guard this morning, 
 strange rumours were abroad. It was said 
 another plot had been discovered, this time 
 to free the dauphin, that it had succeeded, 
 and that Simon had been killed." 
 
 "Well?" asked Coralie, as Philip 
 paused, gazing at her as though he would 
 read her very heart. De Brissac con- 
 tinued : — 
 
 "I found myself among a crowd, the 
 sweepings of Paris. The dauphin, it was 
 said, had escaped, Simon was poisoned, 
 and the people were eager to know the 
 truth."
 
 CORALIE. 155 
 
 '' Well/' exclaimed Coralie, " and you 
 went to the Temple, saw Simon, I fancy, 
 and were assured of young Louis' safety ?" 
 
 '' The gates were thrown open," con- 
 tinued De Brissac, slowly, " and all doubts 
 dispelled, for there I myself saw walking 
 on the terrace, holding Simon's hand, the 
 dauphin, calmly enduring the indignities of 
 the crowd, as though he neither heard nor 
 saw them." 
 
 " Perhaps he did not," answered Coralie, 
 a malicious smile lighting up her face. 
 " How was he dressed, Philip T 
 
 " He wore the republican carmagnole, 
 and his head was covered with the red cap 
 of liberty," replied her companion. 
 
 Coralie drew a long breath. 
 
 " Their policy, then," she said, speaking 
 as if thinking aloud, "their policy is to 
 deny his escape. All the better for us — it
 
 156 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 makes ours sure. Now listen, De Brissac," 
 and Coralie, drawing her chair close to his, 
 told how Simon's drunkenness had so mar- 
 vellously aided the substitution. " A few 
 minutes before twelve o'clock," she con- 
 tinued, " the dauphin shall be handed over 
 to you, and ^yq minutes later St. Fargaud 
 on his way to the frontier." 
 
 There was a pause, for both were think- 
 ing deeply. 
 
 " In that paper," resumed Coralie, '^ you 
 will find all particulars as to time and 
 place. Will they suit you ?" 
 
 " Between eleven and twelve, in the 
 
 Palais National," read Phillip aloud. "Yes," 
 he added, " the place will be deserted at 
 that hour, and I look to the river as my 
 high road to safety." 
 
 " It will, at all events, show no trace," 
 returned Coralie. "So be it, then. Here,"
 
 CORALIE. 157 
 
 and she gave him a second paper, "here 
 you will find a circumstantial account of the 
 whole transaction, properly signed and 
 attested." 
 
 " Good," replied De Brissac ; " with 
 these papers, the seal, and documents given 
 me by the king, there will be ample proof 
 of identity, should it ever be needed." 
 
 " Just so," remarked Coralie, methodi- 
 cally, as though she were transacting the 
 most ordinary business, " and you will see 
 we are acting straightforwardly with you. 
 Remember, the gates close at twelve." 
 
 De Brissac rose, gazing at the girl in- 
 tently. 
 
 " Coralie," he said, as he once more un- 
 covered the gold, "I have told you that 
 this money represents the bread of scores 
 of starving royalists. Corahe, by the wo- 
 man's heart which beats in your bosom, by
 
 158 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 the memory of the mother who loved you, 
 let the payment suffice. Don't push me 
 further/' 
 
 Philip's tones were very earnest, and his 
 hand rested on the bag. 
 
 The tears stood in Coralie's eyes, for she 
 was deeply moved. 
 
 '' Oh, gladly would I do it if I could," she 
 exclaimed, clasping her hands together as 
 she spoke, *' but it is impossible. Philip, 
 I have risked more in this cause than you 
 know of" 
 
 "Take the gold, Coralie," pleaded De 
 Brissac, pushing it over to her; " take it, 
 but let the payment stop, or give me time 
 to hear from De Eougeville. I only ask a 
 little time." 
 
 A bright flush dyed the girl's cheeks. 
 Rising, she took the heavy bag, concealing 
 it under the folds of her shawl.
 
 CORALIE. 159 
 
 "It is impossible, Pliilip. One word of 
 this from my lips, and Lepeltier would, 
 break off tlie whole. It is too late ; and, 
 Philip," continued the girl, laying one 
 hand on De Brissac's arm, and looking up 
 into his face, hers all a-glow in the fire- 
 light, — " and, Philip, he will marry me, he 
 said so, when I bring him all the gold." 
 
 De Brissac's strong frame trembled. 
 Stooping, he imprinted a kiss on the girl's 
 forehead. 
 
 " Better for him he did it without," he 
 murmured. '' And now, Coralie, good 
 night. I will be exact, and I have many 
 preparations to make." And so the girl 
 passed out into the darkness, Philip watch- 
 ing her from the window until the last 
 sound of her footsteps, the last flutter of 
 her dress, died away. 
 
 Then sighing wearily, he spread the
 
 160 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 papers Coralie had left him on the table, 
 and read them carefully. A minute detail 
 of the substitution had been given. Cer- 
 tain personal marks for future identifica- 
 tion were noted. The history and parent- 
 age of the boy who had taken Louis' place 
 was set down, all so amply detailed as to 
 admit of easy verification. To these De 
 Brissac added a succinct statement of the 
 part he had taken and intended to take, 
 signed the document, appendiog to it the 
 receipt for the money paid, and the note 
 that morning received. The whole he care- 
 fully sewed up in a leathern bag, which 
 had served to hold money, placing it next 
 his heart, then leaning his head on his 
 hands, he waited patiently. 
 
 Hour after hour passed, the neighbour- 
 ing churches ringing them out, but Philip 
 never moved. But for the nervous twitch-
 
 CORALTE. 16J 
 
 ing of his moutli from time to time as the 
 iire-hght played on it, he might have been 
 asleep. At length he raised his head just 
 as the clock from the nearest church besfan 
 striking. Seeming to listen attentively, he 
 counted eleven ; then rising, belted on his 
 swoi'd. Pausing on the threshold, with his 
 hand on the lock, he looked round on the 
 different articles of furniture so familiar to 
 him, then passed out, closing and locking 
 the door. 
 
 His face was very pale as he moved 
 along under the flickering lamps, but his 
 step was firm, and he tightened his sword- 
 belt, and strode quickly on towards the 
 Seine. For all that some of the lamps were 
 already extinguished as he reached the 
 Pont Neuf, and leaning over the parapet, 
 gazed down into the river. 
 
 "Are you meditating suicide, friend?" 
 
 VOL. I. 11
 
 162 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 asked a passer-by. " Ma foi, in these days 
 it is hardly worth the trouble." 
 
 " Mind your own business, and go to the 
 devil, who is waiting for you," was the 
 surly reply. 
 
 " Thanks for your civility, friend, but I 
 should be sorry to take precedence of you," 
 was the careless answer, and the light tone 
 jarred on De Brissac's mood, as with a 
 deep oath he passed on, elbowing and jost- 
 ling all in his way. 
 
 Some turned in anger to look after the 
 man, but resumed their course, shrugging 
 their shoulders, others cursed him loudly, 
 but he heeded none, looking neither to 
 the right or left ; and once when he found 
 himself the centre of a group of young re- 
 publicans, merry with the wine they had 
 drunk, laughing, singing, and shouting, he 
 drew his sword, and so terrible was the
 
 CORALIE. 163 
 
 look in his eyes, so savage his demeanour, 
 that they, reckless and daring as they 
 were, opened their ranks, calling to their 
 comrades to let the madman pass. 
 
 11—2
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 henriot's max hunt. 
 
 QIMON the cobbler looked humble 
 ^''^ enough as he stood leaning against 
 the wall in his own room in the Hubert 
 Tower of the Temple. 
 
 In a chair near sat his wife, crying 
 bitterly, her hair disordered, and her eyes 
 swollen. 
 
 In Simon's particular arm-chair, drawn 
 up to the table, tali^mg eagerly to two 
 others, sat Robespierre. He held a rose 
 in his hand, and the lace frill or jabot he 
 wore, was spotless. An odour of scent
 
 HENTdOrS MAN HUNT. 165 
 
 hung about his faultlessly cut clothes, a.nd 
 richly embroidered waistcoat. 
 
 The Guards had been doubled, and 
 though it was midnight, Robespierre, 
 Marat, and Chabot, were yet in earnest 
 conversation. 
 
 "I repeat," said Robespierre, as he 
 twirled the rose in his hand, " St. Fargaud 
 cannot escape us. I repeat, kill the three 
 — man, woman, and boy. Take no 
 prisoners, and then what ha,ve we to dread 
 from yonder idiot T and he pointed with 
 the flower to the bed in the adjoining 
 closet. 
 
 "Let us raise the hue and cry, rather," 
 repHed Marat. " Proclaim the fraud. All 
 France will aid us. Not a peasant 
 throughout the length and breadth of the 
 land will dare give them refuge. Send 
 yonder drunken rascal to the guillotine,
 
 166 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 and call on the country to help the Re- 
 public." 
 
 " Hush, Marat !" exclaimed Chabot. 
 " Hush ! that's Henriot's voice on the 
 stairs. He has tidings." 
 
 The clank of a heavy cavalry sabre on 
 the stone staircase, the jingle of accoutre- 
 ments, and then the door was violently 
 opened, and, his cavalry uniform splashed 
 with mud, Henriot entered. It was 
 evident he had been engaged in some 
 scene of violence, for his dress was dis- 
 ordered, one of his top boots was torn by 
 the rowels of the long spurs, and the per- 
 spiration stood heavily on his broad fore- 
 head, and coarse features. 
 
 " An assassination has been committed in 
 Paris !" he exclaimed, striding up to the 
 table, and addressing E-obespierre, as the 
 sentry closed the door after him.
 
 HENRIOT'S MAN HUNT. 167 
 
 '* It was hardly worth while disturbing 
 us with your paltry news," answered 
 Marat, frowning. " You worship Bacchus 
 too much, Henriot." 
 
 ^^Do IT replied the other. "Had it 
 been one of you now, in place of St. Far- 
 gaud — " 
 
 /* What !'' exclaimed Kobespierre, spring- 
 ing up, " who did you say was killed ?'• 
 
 '^ Oh, it's hardly worth disturbing you 
 with my paltry news. Good-night, cito- 
 yens," sneered Henriot, but Robespierre 
 knew his man. 
 
 "Have you any brandy, Simon? if not, 
 give us wine," he asked. " Sit down, 
 Henriot." 
 
 Simon moved sullenly to the cupboard, 
 and the silence was so deep, as only to be 
 interrupted by Madame Simon's sobs. 
 Henriot seemed in no hurry ; taking a
 
 168 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 deep draught, of which indeed he was in 
 need, then brushing the dirt from his 
 uniform. Suddenly he caught Robes- 
 pierre's eye fixed on him, and the green 
 light flashing from it startled him. 
 He knew the look of old, for it was 
 that of the tiger crouching for the 
 spring. 
 
 " There is a man I have long suspected, "^ 
 he began, coming straight to the point. 
 "About two hours since, I learned the 
 Citoyen De Brissac was in the Palais 
 National, waiting, evidently for some one. 
 I had him watched." 
 
 "Well?" asked Marat, as the other 
 paused. 
 
 " This some one came, accompanied by a 
 woman and a boy." 
 
 The group at the table seemed uneasy, 
 and even Simon moved up to it, his face
 
 HENRIOTS MAN HUNT. 169 
 
 losing its apathetic look as he listened 
 eagerly. Henriot continued : — 
 
 " De Brissac's voice was one of entreaty ; 
 the other man, who was St. Fargaud, 
 sternly refused to listen to him, demand- 
 ing gold. I was fast moving up to sweep 
 up the whole gang, when the municipal 
 saved me the trouble." 
 
 " Don't keep us all night !" exclaimed 
 Marat, impatiently. " Come to the point, 
 man." 
 
 " Like lightning, De Brissac's sword 
 passed into the other's back, as dragging 
 away the boy, he turned to fly. With one 
 wild cry St. Fargaud threw up his arms 
 — but he was dead before his head 
 touched the flags — the woman's shrieks 
 ringing out as she threw herself on the 
 body." 
 
 "But the boy? what about the boy?"
 
 170 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 demanded Robespierre, impatiently stamp- 
 ing his foot. 
 
 '' Seizing him, De Brissac swung him 
 over his shoulder, then ran for his life. A 
 man was putting out the lights, he tried to 
 stop him, but went down like a log, before 
 a straightforward blow between the eyes. 
 The murderer made for the river. "" 
 
 " You don't mean to say you let the 
 fellow escape ?" asked Chabot. 
 
 "You should have drawn a cordon of 
 cavalry round the place, Henriot. Speak, 
 what came of him T asked Marat, 
 eagerly. 
 
 Henriot laughed, as he took a pull at 
 the brandy, then dashing the wet from his 
 moustache : 
 
 " I did better, I let loose two of Cou- 
 thon's blood-hounds on him. Oh, but it 
 was a glorious hunt," he contmued, " as
 
 HENRIOrS MAN HUNT, 171 
 
 - 
 
 dodging in here, dashing wildly away 
 there, the staunch hounds followed their 
 prey. Once we nearly lost him, 
 though." 
 
 " Cut it short, Henriot ; how did it 
 end ?" asked Chabot, eagerly. " Cut it 
 short, man." 
 
 " He crept into a pigsty on the 
 Carousel, and turned the unclean animals 
 out on the scent, then dashed at the 
 river." 
 
 " Well, well r asked Marat, while 
 Robespierre listened intently, his brows 
 firmly knit. 
 
 " He actually reached the parapet of the 
 Seine as the dog pinned him by the throat. 
 Even then, he gripped Couthon's favourite 
 and fiercest hound so roughly, that the 
 brute relaxed his hold ; but it gave me 
 time, and this sabre," Henriot drew it and
 
 172 THE LIFE GUARDSMAK 
 
 tossed it down, all stained, on the table, as 
 he spoke, "passed through his back." 
 
 " There was retribution in that. You 
 avenged St. Fargaud," muttered Marat. 
 
 " Well r 
 
 " Hound, boy, and man, went tumbling 
 into the Seine. Dog and soldier died 
 mute, but not so the young Capet ; but 
 before we could reach the spot with a boat, 
 his cries had ceased. And now, citoyens, 
 what think you of my worthless tale ?" 
 asked Henriot, laughing coarsely, re- 
 turning the heavy sabre to its sheath, 
 and wiping the perspiration from his 
 brow. 
 
 " You have saved the Convention,- 
 Henriot. Had those two escaped, Brit- 
 tany and Normandy would have been in a 
 blaze," said Marat, as the four men looked 
 eagerly into each other's faces.
 
 HENRTOTS MAN HUNT. 173 
 
 " Aye, and England/' replied Henriot. 
 '* See, my masters, what think you of 
 that V He produced the leathern sack of 
 notes and gold as he spoke, placing it on 
 the table. " Look, Chabot ! look, Marat ! 
 English gold as usual." 
 
 " I thought so," exclaimed Robespierre, 
 dashing down his fist on the table with an 
 oath, and unmindful of his costly lace ruf- 
 fles. " The infamous Pitt !" 
 
 There was a silence. Marat broke 
 it. 
 
 " This changes matters, Robespierre. 
 The people are satisfied. It was a good 
 thought that walk of the young Capet on 
 the terrace, and now yonder dumb idiot 
 must carry on the deception. You can 
 pass it off as obstinacy, Simon." 
 
 The man nodded, things were taking a 
 better turn for him, but Robespierre was
 
 174 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 thinking deeply, plucking out his hair, as 
 was his wont on such, occasions. 
 
 " What about the woman, Henriot ?" he 
 asked, sharply ; " what about the woman 
 who was with them ?" 
 
 '•' I had Coralie sent to the prison of the 
 Madelonettes. She was still senseless when 
 she reached it." 
 
 " Good. Now mark me. Marat, we 
 must give St. Fargaud a public funeral. 
 He must be thought the victim of a royalist 
 plot, nourished with Enghsh gold. Simon, 
 give me writing materials," he added. 
 
 Robespierre wrote rapidly, while the 
 others talked in a low tone. 
 
 " The woman's name ?" he asked, sud- 
 denly looking up. " You said Coralie. 
 Coralie what V 
 
 " Lamoriliere," replied Henriot, tersely. 
 
 *' There," exclaimed Robespierre, tossing
 
 HEN RIOTS MAX HUNT. 
 
 him a written paper ; " there is the order 
 for her execution at daybreak.- See she 
 speak to no one. See to it yourself, Hen- 
 riot. You hear, before daybreak ; sooner, 
 if necessary." 
 
 Henriot nodded, and went out accom- 
 panied by Chabot. 
 
 " Marat, look to St. Fargaud's funeral. 
 Let the report go abroad at once. Take 
 these bank-notes, and bring them before 
 the Convention. They will prove the case, 
 and establish St. Fargaud as a martyr. 
 Remember, he died for refusing them." 
 
 Marat gripped Robespierre's hand, and 
 taking the money, turned to leave the 
 Hubert Tower. 
 
 " But," exclaimed Simon, stopping him, 
 " what about yonder boy T 
 
 " You say he is dumb — call it obstinacy, 
 Simon. He can't betray us ; and you" —
 
 176 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Marat laughed as lie passed out — " you 
 dare not." 
 
 But Simon's was one of those dogged 
 brutal natures which never hesitate desig- 
 nating an action, however evil, by its name. 
 Raising his eyes, he encountered Robes- 
 pierre's gaze fixed on him. 
 
 " If I must speak, is yonder cub to live 
 or die ? Either is easy," he said. 
 
 " Friend," answered Robespierre, letting 
 fall each word slowly as he raised the flower 
 to his nostrils, and looked intently at him 
 over it. "Friend, you use ugly words. 
 What, kill the last of the Capets, the son 
 of the Well-beloved ? No, educate him, 
 Simon ; educate him as a child of the 
 people. Let him know misery — want — 
 hunger. Those often kill, Simon ; you un- 
 derstand," and Robespierre passed out of 
 the Temple.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 
 
 A SOUTH-WESTERLY breeze was 
 blowing, not exactly strong enough 
 to amount to a gale, but quite sufficient to 
 cause the sea to get up even in the shel- 
 tered road of Havre de Grace. At times 
 the light of the moon would stream out on 
 the tumbling sea, lighting up the old tower 
 of Francis the First and the shipping in 
 the harbour ; but the scud was flying fast, 
 and though the wind was not cold, for 
 winter had given way to spring, yet the 
 few wayfarers in the streets of Havre hur- 
 VOL. I. 12
 
 178 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 ried homewards, for they looked for a dirty 
 night. Showers came drifting along, the 
 big drops being dashed into the faces of 
 the belated people, pattering against the 
 carefully closed shutters, then careering 
 away to seaward, where the crested waves 
 were tumbling about in wild confusion, 
 illuminated every now and then by the blue 
 lightning. 
 
 Under the shelter of the high land which 
 runs away towards Cape La Heve, lay a 
 heavy cutter riding easily at single anchor, 
 her long, low hull looking like a black S230t 
 on the darkness ; but when the moon broke 
 out from the masses of flying scud, it 
 showed her white deck, smart run, and 
 bright coppers as she rolled lazily to the 
 send of the sea. The Wyvern was a smug- 
 gling craft, and there was not a smarter or 
 more successful ever sailed. She had
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SA UYAGE. 170 
 
 hardly any bulwarks ; and tliough her lines 
 A\ere so fine and her bows like a wedge, 
 yet she show'ed great breadth of beam. If 
 she had a fault, it was that she was over- 
 masted, her long, tapering topmast seeming 
 more fitted for a racing yacht than a craft 
 that had to face all weather, and often look 
 for a dark night and howling gale to land 
 her cargo. At that moment, as she lay 
 under the shelter of the cliffs, her crew, 
 consisting of eighty men, were all below 
 save the anchor watch, but when the moon- 
 Hght streamed out, her decks showed a 
 battery of six guns of a side. 
 
 While the cutter lay waiting for the 
 turn of the tide, two men were seated in 
 the parlour of a little cabaret near the port. 
 The tiled floor of the room was sprinkled 
 w^ith red sand, and a few chairs were 
 ranged round its walls, which were not 
 
 12 2
 
 180 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 papered, but merely painted yellow. A 
 deal table, scrupulously clean but without 
 any cloth, and two arm-chairs, drawn to 
 the fire, composed the furniture, while on 
 shelves around, a quantity of plates and 
 dishes were ranged, evidently for ornament, 
 not use. Lazily thrown back each in his 
 leather chair near the fire the two men sat 
 smoking, while between them asleep before 
 the blaze lay a large cat. 
 
 " Your last venture, say you, if success- 
 ful, Monsieur Leslie ?" remarked an old, 
 thin, withered-looking man, with white 
 hair and straight nose, as he removed the 
 short pipe from his mouth, blowing out a 
 cloud of smoke. "I'm quite used to that 
 sort of thing, I am." 
 
 An English seaman the other every inch 
 of him, with his broad square chest, pro- 
 fusion of reddish whiskers, good-humoured
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 181 
 
 face, wide mouth, well garnished with white 
 teeth, and short powerful frame. 
 
 "And yet, friend Duval, it's said you 
 were a smuggler, nay, at times, something 
 worse," replied Leslie, stretching his legs, 
 cased in long leather boots, to the blaze. 
 
 " Well, and what then V asked the old 
 man, sharply. 
 
 "Why, here you are, the landlord of the 
 well-known Cabaret du ' Chat Sauvage,' '' 
 replied the other, good-humouredly. 
 
 " But you said the same thing," re- 
 marked the landlord, contemptuously, " the 
 day you got into that scrape about the two 
 emigres. You like getting into scrapes." 
 
 " Likely," laughed the other, " for the 
 fun of getting out of them. But it's the 
 last time you will see me, Armand Duval. 
 I've a mind to turn honest, and honest 
 men ain't wanted at the Chat Sauvage, so
 
 182 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 give us something to eat, a glass of wine, 
 and I'll top my boom." 
 
 "It's a dirty night," remarked Duval, 
 as the rain dashed against the shutters, 
 and the logs blazed and sparkled on the 
 hearth. 
 
 '^ The better for me," said the captain of 
 the Wyvern, as old Armand hammered on 
 the table, with his tumbler, and a stout 
 Norman girl, with bare red arms, rosy 
 cheeks, and a white cap, bustled in at the 
 call. 
 
 " There's a man in the kitchen wants 
 something to eat, Pere Duval," said Marie 
 Hose, as she bustled about in the quick, 
 cheerful manner of her countrywomen ; but 
 before the landlord could answer, the door 
 was gently pushed open, and the man in 
 question entered, leading a boy by the hand. 
 The sallow complexion was paled by illness
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT ^AUVAGE. 1S3 
 
 and suffering, the cheeks were hollow and 
 sunken, the restless black eyes seemed 
 supernaturally bright. Thin, worn, and 
 emaciated, Philip De Brissac wore the 
 blouse and coarse trowsers of a bargeman 
 of the Seine. Pale and sickly-looking, 
 the boy's clothes were much too big for 
 him, while over the left eye a livid scar 
 yet showed the mark of Simon's heavy 
 sabot. 
 
 The captain of the Wyvern continued 
 smoking, but old Armand seemed thunder- 
 struck, staring at the new-comer as though 
 he were not an innkeeper. 
 
 " We seek shelter for the night, and are 
 nearly starving. Can we have food and a 
 place to sleep in ?" asked the man, while 
 the boy looked wistfully at the blazing 
 logs. 
 
 " No, you can't. My house was not
 
 184 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 intended for tramps," replied Armand, 
 surlily. 
 
 The bargeman turned, moving towards 
 tlie door with feeble steps, while Louis 
 began to cry. 
 
 Leslie had noticed the man's weakness, 
 nor had the lad's wistful look at the fire 
 passed unseen. 
 
 " Stay," he asked, '* what's the last news 
 from Paris ?" 
 
 Philip turned, and just then a fresh 
 gust of wind rattled the wooden shutters, 
 driving the rain pattering against them, 
 while a peal of thunder grumbled over 
 head. 
 
 " I have been lying at Eouen," said De 
 Brissac, " unable to work for more than six 
 months. Some heavy timber fell on me. 
 I can pay for what we ask in moderation," 
 he added, hesitatingly.
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SA WAGE. 18J 
 
 " I'm so tired," murmured the boy, "and 
 so hungry." 
 
 LesHe pushed a chair with his foot. 
 
 " Sit down, my man, sit down. Here, 
 take some of this brandy. You shall 
 have some dinner, my little one, and I'll 
 pay " 
 
 " For the love of the Virgin take care 
 what you are doing," said old Armand, in 
 querulous tones. " Go on your way, my 
 friend, the times are too perilous to allow 
 of trifling." 
 
 But Leslie had made up his mind, and 
 taking no notice of the landlord's fears, 
 ordered Marie Rose to make the necessary 
 addition, the bargeman looking wistfully at 
 the sailor s frank open face. 
 
 " You've a nice little chap there," re- 
 marked Leslie, pointing with the end of 
 his pipe. "Is he your son ?"
 
 186 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " His father and mother are dead/' re- 
 phed PhiHp. 
 
 " Poor Kttle beggar ! What's that scar 
 on his forehead ?" 
 
 " He was badly hurt at the same time 
 as myself. We were both knocked into 
 the water half killed, and then all but 
 drowned." 
 
 " What's the youngster's name ?" asked 
 Leslie, as he rapped the head of the pipe 
 on the table to clear it of tobacco. 
 
 " Louis," replied the boy, frankly, walk- 
 ing up to the sailor. " Louis, and I am so 
 hungry." 
 
 Leslie laughed, and turned to the table, 
 where old Armand was ladling out the 
 smoking soup, grumbling all the while, but 
 the smuggler was too good a customer to 
 be lightly offended. 
 
 Next came the national dish of Calvados.
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 187 
 
 Tripe and calves' feet stewed for hours with 
 onions and fragrant herbs, and there was 
 no time for talking then. Marie Rose sat 
 herself down at the same table, and laughed 
 to see the two strangers come again and 
 again to be helped ; but it was over at last, 
 and the things were cleared away by old 
 Armand and the girl ; the smuggler captain 
 and seeming bargeman drew their chairs 
 to the fire, Leslie lighting his pipe, while 
 the boy Louis, coiled u|) before the cheerful 
 blaze, beside the cat, fell fast asleep. 
 
 •'Get to know the man's history by the 
 time I come back,'' whispered old Armand, 
 as he passed behind Leslie's chair and left 
 the room. 
 
 Philip seemed sunk in reverie, while the 
 smuggler smoked vigorously, the wind 
 soughing down the narrow street, and rat- 
 tling the tiles on the roof
 
 188 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " You are bound for England," sud- 
 denly broke out Philip, with character- 
 istic straightforwardness. *' You have 
 given us a dinner, will you give us a pas- 
 sage ?" 
 
 ''That depends, my hearty,'' replied the 
 sailor. ''Where do you hail from? Who 
 are you ?" 
 
 " The Englishman has a kind honest 
 face," thought De Brissac ; " suppose I 
 trust him." 
 
 Kesolve was rapid with him, and the 
 other's Hunt mode of speech dovetailed 
 with his humour. 
 
 " You think I am compromised with the 
 present government," he began, rushing 
 into the middle at once. " I answer, yes — 
 deeply. You ask what that lad is. That's 
 his secret, not mine. Father and mother 
 have been murdered — foully murdered.
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 189 
 
 The same fate awaits liim if found. Will 
 you help us ?" 
 
 "What about being knocked into the 
 water, and half drowned ? That's for the 
 Marines, my friend, and I am a sailor ; say 
 smuggler, if you like it better." 
 
 " I got the wound in saving him. They 
 tracked us with blood hounds. I killed 
 the hound, but got this. Look." 
 
 Baring his neck and shoulders, he showed 
 his cicatrised wound. 
 
 " By good luck, the thrust given from 
 below passed upwards," said Philip. 
 
 The sailor, used to such things, merely 
 nodded his head. 
 
 " The hound had me by the throat, ' 
 Philip continued, and his eyes sparkled as 
 he spoke. " The blow knocked me into the 
 river, but when I rose, I was under one of 
 the bridges. Strength enough remained
 
 190 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 to me to seize a ring let into the stone, and 
 there in deep darkness we remained/' 
 
 '' And the boy V asked Leslie. 
 
 "He had fainted, then, and I was very 
 near it,'' was the reply. 
 
 " And did you float down the Seine on 
 your backs ?" remarked Leslie, laugh- 
 ing. 
 
 " No," replied Philip. " A raft of wood 
 bound for Rouen, came sweeping down. 
 The men were all at the far end, listening, 
 to the shouts and cries, for our pursuers 
 were getting boats to look for us. The 
 raft canted against the archway, and before 
 it could swing clear I gripped hold." 
 
 " You could not have held long," re- 
 marked Leslie, " with that hole in your 
 shoulder, and only one hand." 
 
 " Yes, I did though, for an hour, and 
 then I called but. I became insensible,
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. Kl 
 
 but the men believed my tale of robbery 
 and attempted murder. Tliey were kind 
 to us, and all trace has been lost now, for 
 many a month past. Will you give us a 
 jDassage ?'' 
 
 Leslie puffed out a volume of tobacco 
 smoke. 
 
 " How did you get that sabre cut across 
 the cheek ?" he asked, pointing to it with 
 the stem of his pipe. 
 
 " A scoundrel, who had sunned himself 
 for years in court favour, spoke evil words 
 of our queen in my presence." 
 
 " And you," said the sailor, his face 
 lighting up with chivalrous anger, "you 
 knocked the blackguard down, I'll 
 warrant.'' 
 
 " T ran the Duke of Caderousse through 
 the heart, and received this as 1 did so," 
 replied De Brissac.
 
 192 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " I'll give you a passage, my hearty," 
 €ried the sailor, jumping up, ''and the 
 boy too. Come along !" and in his ex- 
 €itement he pitched his favourite pipe into 
 the fire, and struck his open palm on De 
 Brissac's shoulder. 
 
 It was too . late. The noise of footsteps 
 was heard coming up the street, the light 
 of the torches flashed between the joints of 
 the ill-closed windows, and the clank of 
 steel could be heard. ^ 
 
 For a moment Leslie paused. 
 
 "That scoundrel, old Duval, has be- 
 trayed you !" he exclaimed. " Quick !" he 
 continued, snatching up the boy, still half 
 asleep, " quick, follow me." 
 
 A loud knocking was heard at the outer 
 door. 
 
 "It is useless," replied De Brissac, "I 
 am too weak, and should peril the boy.
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 193 
 
 Save him, and the blessing of the father- 
 less be with you." 
 
 But Leslie was a man used to hair- 
 breadth escapes, and hated the oJBficers of 
 the law, whether French or English. 
 
 " Both, or none,'' he replied quickly, 
 " both, or none. I'll not leave the man 
 who would strike in when a woman's 
 name was traduced, so heave ahead, my 
 heartie." 
 
 There were footsteps in the passage 
 now. The sailor sprang to the door,' and 
 slipped the bolt. 
 
 " That will stop them for a time ; 
 come." 
 
 Opening a side door, he passed up the 
 back stairs, leading to the bed-rooms, 
 threw open the window, and, the boy in his 
 arms, swung himself lightly on to the 
 
 VOL. I. 13
 
 194 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 pavement below. De Brissac followed 
 more slowly. 
 
 '' Halte la !" shouted a hoarse voice at 
 the window, as the two clattered down the 
 street into the deep darkness, heading 
 straight for the port, where a boat was 
 waiting. 
 
 The gendarmes were close behind them, 
 De Brissac being still very weak. 
 
 " I can go no further ; save the boy !" 
 he cried, as he staggered forward, not 
 twenty paces from the port. 
 
 " All right !" shouted Leslie, dashing 
 on, and the next moment gained the 
 boat. 
 
 To pitch the astonished Louis into it, 
 where he rolled at the bottom among 
 tarpaulins and salt water, was the work of 
 a moment. 
 
 ** Follow me, lads," he shouted, as he
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 195 
 
 snatched up the tiller, and dashed back 
 into the street. 
 
 The skirmish and rescue that followed, 
 were never for a moment doubtful, the 
 boat's crew, armed with their stretchers, 
 clearing a way at once ; then came a tough 
 pull, and a hoarse challenge. 
 
 " Heave short, Mr. Lloyd, and get under 
 weigh in less than no time ; there's been a 
 row !" exclaimed Captam Leslie, as he 
 stejDped over the Wyvern's side. " Rouse 
 him in with the boat, my lads, he has 
 fainted," he continued, as he passed down 
 below with the boy. 
 
 " Man the main - halyards. Sway 
 away," were the words of command on 
 deck as Leslie reached the little cabin, the 
 boy, utterly breathless and bewildered, in 
 his grasp. 
 
 13—2
 
 196 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 The heavy mainsail, close reefed, was 
 soon set, the anchor run up, and the 
 swish of the water heard, as the cutter 
 moved from her moorings. 
 
 " Here, Jerry," cried Leslie, wringing 
 the wet from his beard and whiskers. 
 " Here, Jerry, take charge of this young- 
 ster. Berth him, and give him something 
 warm." 
 
 The last words were spoken as the cap- 
 tain sprang up the hatchway just in time 
 to see the red light of a rocket rising in 
 the air from the jetty, repeated from the 
 signal station of La Heve, and answered 
 by a low deep boom far away to seaward, 
 telling of imminent danger. 
 
 " Man the jib-halyards, haul away !" he 
 shouted, as his foot touched the deck. 
 " Hard a-starboard ! Steady, so ! Mr. 
 Lloyd, send a hand aft to tend the boom
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 197 
 
 sheet. Meet her with the helm, Edwards. 
 Mr. Lloyd, get that poor devil out of the 
 boat, let him be carried below, and tell 
 black Jerry to look to his hurts." 
 
 " They are signalling from- shore, sir," 
 said the look-out, touching his hat. 
 
 But the Wyvern was heeling over to 
 the breeze now, plunging her sharp bows 
 into the black-looking waves ; the wind 
 howling through her rigging, while above, 
 the scud was flying wildly over the face 
 of the moon. Captain Leslie rubbed his 
 hands with satisfaction as he stepped 
 aft. 
 
 " A close thing," he muttered, '' a 
 deuced close thing, but they won't catch 
 the little Wyvern." 
 
 In the direction of the town, a dull red 
 glow could be seen, gradually increasing in 
 volume ; while far away in the offing, two
 
 198 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 thin lines of flame shot into the air, burst- 
 ing in a shower of sparks ; but the cutter 
 was now v/ell abreast of Cape La Heve. 
 
 "Lay her head nor'-nor'-west, Mr. Lloyd, 
 and get the foresail on her," were the 
 orders given as the Wy vern's captain dived 
 below. 
 
 With a dark night and a south-westerly 
 breeze, he was not the man to care for all 
 the signals in Havre. 
 
 " That fellow, Armand Duval, will catch 
 it, the sneaking French villain," he mut- 
 tered, as he went dow^n the hatchway, 
 "and serve him right." 
 
 The Life Guardsman lay in his berth, 
 still insensible, but the black steward had 
 stopped the bleeding, for the old wound 
 had broken out afresh. 
 
 " What have you done with the young- 
 ster, Jerry ?" asked the captain, after a
 
 LE CABARET UU CHAT SAUVAGE. 199 
 
 hasty glance at Philip ; and Jerry, a stout- 
 built black, with broad good-humoured 
 face, and thick lips, showed his white teeth 
 as he emerged from the pantry where his 
 glasses and crockery were stored. 
 
 " He fast asleep, yer honour. Give 
 picaninni some grog, he cry so/' 
 
 Sailors are always kind to children and 
 animals, and black Jerry, with his woolly 
 head, had a big heart of his own. He 
 had undressed the boy with all the care 
 and kindness of a woman ; done his best 
 to console him, and eventually finding it 
 impossible, had resorted to the sailor's 
 universal remedy, a glass of grog, which, 
 being sweet, but too strong, had sent him 
 off to sleep, and there he lay, his flushed 
 cheeks yet wet with tears, the coarse shirt 
 open in front, showing a thin black ribbon 
 hung round the neck.
 
 200 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " Ah/' muttered Leslie, as he stooped 
 over the boy, steadying himself by the 
 bulk head, "this may tell something,'' and 
 he drew a heavy ring from under the 
 shirt. 
 
 " The breeze 'as a-blowed itself out, and 
 is dying away fast, sir," said a voice at the 
 cabin door. " Shall we sbake a reef out ?" 
 
 " See here, Lloyd," replied Leslie, beckon- 
 ing his mate to approach, " this little chap 
 must be some one; look, this massive 
 signet ring bears the royal arms of 
 France." 
 
 But Lloyd, a rough old salt, was more 
 at home in a gale of wind than in heraldry. 
 He could only shake his head, and stare at 
 the signet. 
 
 " Jerry," called the captain, *' tumblers 
 and brandy. Just sit down, Lloyd, it's a 
 queer start, and I'll spin you the yarn right
 
 LE CABARET DU CHAT SAUVAGE. 201 
 
 off the reel ;" and so the two seamen sat 
 down, the lamp overhead swinging wildly 
 to and fro, as the cutter worked her way 
 through the heavy sea, with a freight on 
 board, which, if all went well, might alter 
 the destinies of Europe.
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE WYVERN. 
 
 rilHE breeze had died away, the sea had 
 gone down, and though the Wyvern 
 rolled heavily, yet, as morning dawned 
 over the ocean, there was every prospect of 
 a calm. Philip De Brissac had revived, 
 and though weak, and sea-sick besides, 
 was more at ease than he had been for 
 months. Louis was still sleeping heavily, 
 while on deck, Captain Leslie and his mate 
 were leaning over the slight bulwarks, 
 waiting anxiously for dawn. 
 " Sail, ho Y' shouted a seaman.
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE WYVEEN. 203 
 
 " I thought as much," ejaculated LesUe ; 
 for as the grey light crept over the waves, 
 two vessels were to be seen. 
 
 " Aye, I know them well ; those French 
 brigs," answered his mate. " They carry 
 long twelve-pounders, and here's the wind 
 failing us." 
 
 "Turn the hands up, Mr. Lloyd, and 
 load the guns. Look handy." 
 
 All was instantly bustle on board the 
 Wyvern, the guns were cast loose, ammu- 
 nition sent up from below, the fire screens 
 nailed up, and then breakfast was served 
 out. Leslie knew well his fate, and that 
 of his vessel, if he were captured, and 
 sent back to Havre ; but as the day wore 
 on, the wind died away, and the sea became 
 nearly calm. 
 
 " What are those ships ?" asked Louis, 
 who had found his way on deck.
 
 201 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 "Enemies, my lad, who will take us 
 back to where we came," answered Leslie, 
 taking the boy by the hand. 
 
 " And yonder patch of white T asked 
 the boy, pointing to the north. 
 
 " By Jove ! he's right, there s another of 
 them," exclaimed the mate ; " and as if that 
 was not enough, she's briDging a northerly 
 breeze with her." 
 
 It was nearly mid-day now, the sun was 
 shining brightly, and the faint outline of the 
 French coast could be seen astern. Not 
 half-a-dozen miles distant, in a position 
 which would place them dead to windward, 
 lay the two French brigs, either of them 
 more than a match for the Wyvern, while 
 a pyramid of white canvas was to be seen 
 in the northern board. Things looked 
 bad for the cutter. Nearer and nearer 
 came the blue line, showing where the
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE WYVEEN. 205 
 
 breeze was creeping along tlie sea, and the 
 two brigs, which, with the Wyvern, had 
 been lying becalmed, their sails flapping, and 
 the tri-colour hanging motionless, now filled, 
 their bows soon lying straight for the 
 cutter. 
 
 " Dead to leeward !" exclaimed Captain 
 Leslie, " with the land under our lee. If 
 that fellow yonder coming up so fast is a 
 Frenchman too, we are likely to see the 
 inside of a prison. Bring her to the wind, 
 luff you may, we've nothing for it but to 
 cross their bows and trust our legs," con- 
 tinued the captain, as the breeze struck the 
 Wyvern and her sails filled. " Get the gafl* 
 topsail on her. Sharp's the word, my lads !" 
 
 Louis was busy with the sailors among 
 the guns ; and after the momentary bustle, 
 all was again silent on board, the cutter 
 running rapidly through the water, on a
 
 206 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 line which must carry her within a few 
 fathoms of the weathermost French brig. 
 If she escaped her and her consort, there 
 was the other stranger, who was doubtless 
 a Frenchman too, and who was coming down 
 rapidly, with the wind free. 
 
 "Show the Union Jack, Mr. Lloyd." 
 
 A puff of white smoke burst from the 
 Junon s bows as the English flag blew out 
 clear, but the shot fell short. For an hour 
 the position of the three ships did not 
 vary, save that they rapidly neared one 
 another. 
 
 " The third sail is a heavy brig, sir, 
 showing French colours," reported a sailor 
 from forward. " She is coming up hand 
 over hand." 
 
 " Aye, aye. Smith," answered Leslie, as 
 he stood beside the helm. " I misdoubted 
 it. Ill luck never comes singly."
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE WYVERN. 207 
 
 The Junon now opened her fire, her 
 consort keeping well to windward, discharg- 
 ing gun after gun, the Wyvern steadily 
 keeping her course, and the wind gradually 
 becoming stronger. 
 
 The fire of the French was too high ; and 
 though a few ropes had been cut away, 
 and a white streak or two in the low hull 
 showed where a ball had struck her, there 
 was no great damage done the cutter. 
 
 " Send that lad aft, it's no place for 
 him," cried Leslie, for Louis was, with 
 the little strength he had, helping at the 
 guns. " Here, Jerry, jump forward, and 
 take him below." 
 
 " Him father very savage, 'cos he not able 
 come on deck fight," replied Jerry, laugh- 
 ing, as he moved forward, showing his 
 white teeth ; but at that moment the brig- 
 let fly her broadside, and a ball, striking
 
 208 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 the main halyards, cut them in two, so 
 that the canvas came lumbering down on 
 deck, burying black Jerry in its fall, while 
 a second shot, striking the boom, sent the 
 splinters flying on every side, wounding 
 one or two of the men. 
 
 Captain Leslie's face was very stern as 
 he motioned to the man at the wheel to 
 keep her away, while a cheer from the 
 Frenchman came ringing over the sea. 
 
 " Look handy, my lads, splice away !" 
 shouted the mate ; but it was useless, for 
 quick as were the fingers of the busy 
 sailors, the Frenchman came sweeping up 
 in a cloud of smoke, the spattering fire of 
 the musketry added to the roar of the 
 gims, while her consort, well to windward, 
 edged away to close, firing her bow guns 
 as she neared the cutter. Then came a 
 heavy crash, as the Junon ranged up along-
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE WYVERN. 209 
 
 side, and, her captain heading the boarders, 
 they poured over the Wyvem's forecastle. 
 
 The English crew fought on gallantly, 
 but were gradually beaten back ; the short 
 cutlass, and pistol shot, replacing the thun- 
 der of the guns. A few minutes more, 
 and the Junon's consort would be upon 
 them. 
 
 " Lie down, my lads, lie down!" shouted 
 Leslie, as he slewed round a nine-pounder, 
 " down, for your lives !" 
 
 With a cheer the French sprang for- 
 ward just as the gun was fired, sweeping 
 the decks with its iron hail. 
 
 " Hurrah ! up and at them !" shouted 
 the mate, as he once more dashed for- 
 Avard. 
 
 " Purge her decks of the murderous vil- 
 lains !" shouted Leslie, his face black with 
 
 VOL. I. 14
 
 210 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 powder, and seamed with blood, as he rose 
 from beside the gun he had fired with such 
 effect. 
 
 Some one seized him by the arm. He 
 turned to strike — it was De Brissac, who, 
 pale and hardly able to stand, had dragged 
 himself on deck, and now pointed to sea- 
 ward. 
 
 In the excitement of the fight, all save 
 the imminent danger had been forgotten. 
 
 " Hurrah !" shouted Leslie, as he real- 
 ised the situation, " overboard with them, 
 the rascals ! An Englishman, by all that's 
 holy !" and as he spoke the eighteen gun 
 brig, Cruiser, opened her fire, having 
 already shifted her colours, the St. George's 
 ensign now waving from her gaff. 
 
 Gun after gun from the English brig, 
 bringing the breeze along with her, hulled 
 the Frenchman, whose consort was already
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE WYVERN. 211 
 
 making all sail possible back to Havre ; 
 while the Junon, drawing clear of the 
 cutter, spread a cloud of canvas, not even 
 replying to the Wyvern's guns, which fired 
 into her so long as they could reach. 
 
 " Cutter ahoy ! what cutter's that ?'' 
 hailed a gruff voice from the Cruiser as 
 she came surging along with the wind 
 over her quarter, all sail set to her 
 royals. 
 
 " The English hired cutter Wyvern,'' re- 
 plied Leslie. 
 
 " Do you want help ?" 
 
 '' No ; we re all right. Give it the 
 beggars. I wish we could join, but we 
 can't. " 
 
 His Majesty's brig surged past, the 
 boom of her guns ringing out as she 
 staggered along before the breeze, while on 
 
 14—2
 
 212 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 board the cutter all was bustle and activity. 
 Black Jerry was fished out from beneath 
 the heavy folds of the canvas, the main 
 halyards were spliced, the decks deluged 
 with water, fore and aft. De Brissac, once 
 more sent below, with Louis sitting be- 
 side his berth, talking over the late 
 fight with all a boy's enthusiasm, the 
 wounded were looked to. Five men killed, 
 and ten hurt, reported the mate, as he 
 stepped aft. 
 
 " There goes the Junon, at all events," 
 remarked Leslie, pointing to leeward, where 
 some five miles distant the French brig lay, 
 with her mainmast over the side, while 
 the Cruiser, sure of her capture, stood on 
 after her consort, who was crowding all sail 
 that would draw. 
 
 " There are two round shot in the main- 
 mast, sir," said the boatswain ; " she can't
 
 THE CEUISE OF THE WYVEMN. 213 
 
 bear the mainsail on her in a beat to wind- 
 ward." 
 
 " And we shall have a breeze soon," re- 
 marked the mate, as he looked to seaward, 
 pointing to the green waves tipped with 
 foam, in the offing. 
 
 " 111 tell you what, Lloyd, we will run 
 with the wind free, for St. Yalery !" ex- 
 claimed Leslie. 
 
 " And say we have been chased by 
 the Englishman ? Capital 1" assented the 
 
 mate. 
 
 " Give the Frenchman a sailor s dress ; 
 I see the youngster is more than half 
 one already. He's a plucky little 
 devil." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir^ our fellows want to 
 berth him forward among themselves, and 
 they Ve rigged him out among them." 
 
 An hour later, the Cruiser, having chased.
 
 214 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. ■ 
 
 the second brig under the batteries, tacked, 
 and, after having hove to and picked up 
 her prize, had time to look about 
 her. 
 
 Great was the surprise of her captain, at 
 seeing the EngHsh hired cutter, under all 
 sail, standing straight for the French 
 coast. Doubting not that a party of 
 Frenchmen had gained possession of her, 
 and vexed that he had been deceived, he 
 crov^ded sail after her. 
 
 The wounded state of the cutter s main- 
 mast prevented her carrying much canvas, 
 and the Cruiser neared her rapidly, but 
 eventually, the Wyvern gained the port of 
 St. Valery, the guns of the fort opening 
 on the English brig as she neared the 
 land. 
 
 Two days later, the Eattler gun brig 
 joined the Cruiser, and the- port of St. Valery
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE WYVERN. 215 
 
 was strictly blockaded, nineteen brigs, 
 eight luggers, besides the Wyvern, having 
 taken refuge there.
 
 CHAPTEE XV. 
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 
 
 "IVrOT far from the town of Bennes 
 stretches a vast forest, so dense 
 that the June sun, which was shining 
 brightly over the old oaks and beeches, 
 failed to penetrate the leafy screen. 
 
 Pushing their way between the stems of 
 the trees, and through the thick brush- 
 wood, two men were following a narrow 
 track leading into the centre of the forest. 
 One was evidently a peasant. The garb 
 he wore told that, for a broad-brimmed 
 straw hat covered his head, while the goat-
 
 TEE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 217 
 
 skin jacket, very short trousers, and 
 clumsy wooden shoes, were the everyday 
 atth'e of the poor classes in this part of 
 Brittany. The second man was attired in 
 the dress of an English sailor, which his 
 tall sinewy figure and springy step belied. 
 
 " Have we far to go ?" asked Philip De 
 Brissac, pausing as if fatigued. 
 
 " Three quarters of a league, yet. We 
 can sit down and rest," replied the peasant, 
 unslinging the short blunderbus he carried, 
 and seating himself at the foot of an old 
 oak tree. 
 
 " Count Joseph De Puisaye is at present 
 at the cave of Fougeres — you are sure of 
 it?" asked Philip, as he followed his ex- 
 ample. *' IVe come far to see him." 
 
 The taciturn peasant nodded. 
 
 " How did the present movement get
 
 218 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 the name of Chouannerie ?" remarked Philip, 
 after a pause. 
 
 His companion laughed. 
 
 " There were once four brothers, named 
 Cottereau," he answered. '' They were 
 smugglers. Thoroughly acquainted with 
 the vast forests of Brittany, they easily 
 carried on their trade ; but when the 
 Hepublic was proclaimed, the high duties 
 were done away with, and smuggling was 
 at end." 
 
 "Well, and what became of the Fr^res 
 Cottereau T. asked Philip. 
 
 " They were ruined, naturally, and being 
 staunch Royalists, took refuge in the 
 forests of Pitre and Guerche, where they 
 lived the lives of outlaws, under the green- 
 wood tree." 
 
 " But why call them Chouan T
 
 THE GHOUAN CHIEFS. 219 
 
 " Listen," answered the peasant. 
 
 He imitated the long wailing cry of the 
 screech owl, sending it floating among the 
 trees. It died away, and was taken up in 
 the distance. 
 
 " The chouette gave the name to the 
 movement because of that rallying cry. 
 We are a faithful race. Our fathers lived 
 under the rule of the Bourbons, and so 
 will we." 
 
 " And what became of the four brothers, 
 friend T 
 
 " One of them died in prison, two others 
 were first tortured, then shot, by the 
 blues." 
 
 " And the eldest, Jean Cottereau, whose 
 name is known for many a deed of blood 
 and daring ?" 
 
 "He is speaking to you," replied the 
 peasant quietly.
 
 220 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 A pause ensued, during which the cry 
 of the chouette was again heard among 
 the trees. 
 
 " Armed bands," said Jean; " are con- 
 verging on the rendezvous. Piquet 
 D'Aubigny, Bernard De Yilleneuve, Bois- 
 hardi, and all the proscribed nobles flying 
 from Paris, will . be yonder ;" and he 
 pointed with his gun toward the east. 
 
 " Come along, then !" exclaimed Philip, 
 rising. " I am nearly worn out. I have 
 been tracked for two days through the 
 forest, and have not tasted food. It's a 
 long journey from St. Yalery." 
 
 For nearly an hour the two made their 
 way in the same direction, then turning 
 suddenly to the left, Cottereau held back 
 the branches, motioning to his companion 
 to move on. Philip obeyed. 
 
 Before him lay an open space of grass-
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 221 
 
 land, and the refreshing sound of running 
 water came to his ears. To right and left 
 ran a forest glade, the trunks of the trees 
 standing far apart, and the June sunshine 
 lighting up the whole. Huge masses of 
 moss-grown rocks lay pitched here and 
 there. 
 
 "There is the entrance of the Cave of 
 Fougeres ; it has been for months the head- 
 quarters of Piquet D'Aubigny's Chouans," 
 said Jean Cottereau, giving out the cry of 
 the chouette as he pointed to a hole in the 
 face of a mass of rock right in front. 
 
 It was so narrow that a man of De Bris- 
 sac's stature was obliged to stoop, his 
 shoulders touching the granite at either 
 side as he entered. This kind of funnel 
 once passed, however, the cavern opened 
 out into a vast hall, blocks of stone lying 
 here and there, long stalactites hanging
 
 222 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 down from the granite roof, while under- 
 foot white shining sand crackled to the 
 triead. The extent of the cavern of Fou- 
 geres is probably to this day unknown, the 
 superstitious Breton peasants regarding it 
 as the abode of demons. 
 
 The transition from sunshine to the half 
 darkness was so startling that De Brissac 
 involuntarily paused. About twenty paces 
 from him a large fire, roughly piled with the 
 trunks of trees, was blazing, shedding a red 
 light on a group of men lying or sitting 
 around it. A guard, heavily armed, but 
 dressed in goat skins, protected the en- 
 trance, and as one of these men went to 
 report the new arrival, Philip could not 
 help being struck with the curious effect of 
 the firelight, men's figures assuming a 
 strange weird appearance as they came 
 within its influence, moving through it
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 223 
 
 silently, their footsteps not being heard, and 
 then suddenly vanishing into darkness. 
 
 " You are welcome. Your name is well 
 known to us through De Eougeville,'' said 
 a iQan, who, leaving the group near the 
 fire, advanced to meet him. " Welcome to 
 you also, Jean Cottereau." 
 
 " You ought to know me. La Massue," 
 replied Philip. " We fought side by side 
 at the siege of Granville." 
 
 " Ah, the gallant Life Guardsman, who 
 was the first to cross the moat the day we 
 stormed the citadel 1 Come along. Where 
 are you from last ?"• asked De Pui- 
 sayes' right-hand man, nicknamed La 
 Massue. 
 
 " I have found my way from St. Valery, 
 where the cutter, which was to have landed 
 me in England, took refuge. Dupouchet 
 gave me the news of the gathering here.
 
 224 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Where is Count Joseph? I have tidings 
 for him." 
 
 " Out in the direction of Eennes, where 
 he hopes to meet Le Hachois, Chantereau 
 and Dupouchet also/' answered a thin, wiry- 
 looking [man, whose grey moustache and 
 scarred cheek told its own tale. It was 
 the noted Chouan leader. Piquet D'Aubigny 
 himself 
 
 " I have been tracked through the forest 
 for twenty-four hours, and have had no- 
 thing to eat for more than that period. I 
 am hungry, thirsty, and tired.'' 
 
 " Mafoi, you must be in extremis. Here, 
 Jarry," cried La Massue ; " follow him, 
 De Brissac, and you'll find plenty to eat. 
 I'll call you when the chief arrives." 
 
 " You must, indeed, have been famish- 
 ing, friend," remarked Jarry, some five 
 minutes later, as he watched with astonish-
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 225 
 
 ment the huge pieces of venison rapidly 
 disappearing, while a large loaf had been 
 wofully diminished. " How came you on 
 board an English cutter ?" 
 
 " You are not sent here to examine 
 me, mon gars, but to look to my wants. 
 Fetch me some wine," replied Philip, 
 curtly. 
 
 '' You're a civil fellow, anyhow," said 
 the other, laughing, as he moved away. 
 
 Seated on a pile of fern in a corridor lead- 
 ing off the main cave, lighted only by the red 
 glare of a torch stuck between two rocks, De 
 Brissac was feeding greedily, now tearing 
 the venison with his teeth, now biting into 
 the loaf, and every now and then pausing 
 to listen. The noise of footsteps was 
 heard, and he grasped his knife firmly in 
 his hand. 
 
 " All right, friend," cried a voice, as the 
 
 VOL. I. 15
 
 22G THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 owner emerged out of darkness ; '^ sorry 
 to have kept you waiting/' said Jarry. 
 
 " Give it here, now you are come/' was 
 the short reply. 
 
 Jarry obeyed, handing a large skin 
 fashioned into the shape of a gourd, which 
 Philip took in one hand, raising it to the 
 height of his mouth. Without touching 
 the neck with his lips, he sent a fine thin 
 continuous stream down his throat. 
 
 " He'll surely choke," muttered Jarry, as 
 he watched the strange proceeding. 
 
 '^ Shall I ?" replied Philip, as he lowered 
 the skin to take breath. " Were you ever 
 in Spain, mon gars ?" 
 
 "Not I," replied the Chouan. "Brit- 
 tany, where folk can eat and drink like 
 Christians, does for me." 
 
 " Then go there now, and leave me to 
 sleep," said De Brissac, as he tossed the
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 227 
 
 empty skin from him, and threw himself 
 back on the heap of fern. 
 
 They were a rough set those honest 
 Chouan peasants, not much used to the re- 
 finements of society, so the new-comer's 
 surly brusqueness rather amused Jarry. 
 He picked up the well-polished bone, look- 
 ing at it before pitching it away. 
 
 " You're an amiable character, friend, 
 and certainly a good trencherman," he 
 said, laughing; but the hard breathing 
 showed that the wearied man slept al- 
 ready. 
 
 Hours passed by, the sun setting in the 
 west, and the moon rose over the oaks and 
 beeches of Fougeres. The screech of the 
 owls came floating over the tree tops, and 
 the bark of the fox was heard in the dis- 
 tance. 
 
 Groups of men pushed their way from 
 
 15—2
 
 228 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 time to time among the tangled brushwood, 
 to disappear eventually at the mouth of 
 the cave. 
 
 Inside the fire was burning brightly, and 
 Count Joseph De Puisaye was the centre of 
 a group of men, the accredited heads of the 
 different Chouan bands. 
 
 Tall, thin, and aristocratic-looking, despite 
 his peasant's dress, the dark, piercing grey 
 eyes, and the fine lines of a well-cut mouth 
 added to the incongruity. The high 
 polished forehead and delicate fingers still 
 further belied the dress. Count Joseph 
 was speaking earnestly. 
 
 " Quiberon Bay, with its safe anchorage, 
 will be the rendezvous of the English 
 fleet, gentlemen. The Eoyalist regiments 
 are fully armed and equipped, and there 
 will be nothing to prevent the landing," 
 he concluded.
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 229 
 
 " Except Fort Penthievre and Hoche's 
 corps/' remarked Forestier. 
 
 " We shall be strong enough to dispose 
 of both/' replied De Puisaye. " With the 
 Chouanerie arrayed on our side, a powerful 
 British fleet to back us up, and a score of 
 well-armed Poyalist regiments, composed 
 of the emigre nobles of France, disciplined 
 in England, I say, let us give the spotless 
 lilies to the breezes of Brittany, and cry 
 ^ViveleEoir^' 
 
 The words seemed to electrify his au- 
 dience. The Eoyalist leaders sprung to 
 their feet, closing round their chief. Their 
 swords flashed in the firelight. The cry 
 was taken up from every corner of the 
 cave, and " Vive le Hoi " rolled and 
 rumbled along the vaulted roof, until 
 it died away in the unknown depths of 
 the cavern of Fougeres.
 
 230 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 De Puisaye continued. 
 
 "The exact date I cannot give. I must 
 communicate with England first. All 
 minor risings must be put aside. Call 
 your sections together, gentlemen, and 
 impress this upon them, while I go to 
 hear the tidings De Brissac brings ; then 
 dismiss your followers secretly and quietly. 
 Wait for me yourselves here." 
 
 "He sleeps soundly, Le Hachois," said 
 De Puisaye, as he bent over the bed of 
 ferns, and laid his hand on De Brissac s 
 shoulder. 
 
 " Who wants me, why do you wake me. 
 Captain Leslie T exclaimed Philip, starting 
 up, confused for the moment by seeing two 
 men, one bearing a torch in his hand. 
 
 "You wanted to see me. I am Count 
 Joseph De Puisaye," replied the Chouan 
 leader — "not Captain Leslie."
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 231 
 
 " A moment, Count. I hear water 
 dropping yonder/' said Philip, at once 
 recovering his recollection ; "it will put 
 me to-rights. I have a strange tale to 
 tell," and De Brissac walked towards the 
 water. , 
 
 *' To your left," cried Le Hachois, as 
 he struck the pine-torch into a cleft of 
 the rock. 
 
 The wearied man was now himself 
 again. Food, wine,^ sleep, and a wash 
 in the cold water from the rock had 
 done wonders. 
 
 "I paced the Arcade of the Palais 
 National what seemed to me for hours," 
 he said, in low earnest tones, as he 
 finished his tale, '' almost wishing St. 
 Fargeau would not come. I begged, I 
 intreated for time, but was met with 
 taunts and reproaches. Even then it was
 
 !232 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 only when he turned away to leave 
 that a fit of rage came over me. 
 I remembered my oath, to save the 
 dauphin at any cost, and I plunged 
 my sword into the traitor's body." 
 
 "And you did well and nobly/' burst 
 from Le Hachois's lips. 
 
 "But the dauphin, what of him?" asked 
 Count Joseph, in deep hoarse tones ; 
 "where is he ?" 
 
 De Brissac told his tale, bringing it up 
 to the moment when the Wyvern gained 
 the port of St. Valery. 
 
 " Duponchet told me of your meeting 
 here, and thanks to Jean Cottereau, I 
 managed to reach Fougeres." 
 
 De Puisaye mused deeply. 
 
 " Where are the papers you mention ?" 
 he asked at last. " The dauphin should 
 have them.''
 
 THE CHOUAN CHIEFS. 233 
 
 " Knowing the danger of my journey 
 here, I placed the packet in his care, 
 hanging the bag round his neck/' 
 
 "Does the captain of the cutter know 
 of this ? Is the dauphin aware of his 
 birth t Is there any danger of the Wy- 
 vern sailing V^ asked Le Hachois quickly. 
 
 "Captain Leslie knows nothing save 
 what I told him. at Havre. The young 
 Louis, injured by the blow on the head, 
 never thoroughly remembers his past mis- 
 fortunes. The port of St. Yalery is strictly 
 blockaded by an English squadron,'' replied 
 De Brissac. 
 
 De Puisaye mused. 
 
 " My secretary, Pringuet, left this morn- 
 ing for London. Here is a duplicate copy 
 of our plans, and list of our chiefs, with 
 the number of men each can command. 
 Hejoin the Wyvern, De Brissac, hand
 
 234 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 these, with the dauphin, to the English 
 Minister Pitt. With him at the head of 
 the movement, in the place of Count 
 D'Artois, the Bepublic is swept from 
 French soil. When can you leave V 
 
 " This moment. Count," replied De Bris- 
 sac ; " but I shall want a guide." 
 
 " Le Hachois and La Massue shall 
 accompany you. You shall be passed care- 
 fully from house to house. Nothing shall 
 be left to chance.'' 
 
 Again there was a pause as the three men 
 reflected on the altered situation of affairs. 
 
 "Remember," resumed Count Joseph, 
 as he rose, "if, on your return to this 
 neighbourhood, you need shelter, that by 
 following the main cave for about two 
 hundred yards, you will find before 
 you a solitary mass of granite ; turn 
 sharply to your right. Count fifteen paces.
 
 THE GEOUAN CHIEFS. 235 
 
 and you will see at your feet a hole in 
 the flooring of the cavern. Let yourself 
 down without fear. Below is a second 
 cave few know of Wine and food are 
 stored there. Ha ! what is that ?" he 
 cried, as the long wailing cry of the 
 chouette rang through the cavern, fol- 
 lowed by the distant report of half a 
 dozen muskets. 
 
 Le Hachois had disappeared. 
 
 *'We are betrayed," cried Forestier, 
 dashing up, " the Blues are upon us ;" and 
 as he spoke a spattering irregular ex- 
 plosion was heard outside. 
 
 At the mouth of the cavern stood La 
 Massue, his great bulk looming still more 
 largely in the grey light of morning. One e, 
 twice, thrice, his sword descended, and 
 each time one of the Bepublican soldiers 
 went down.
 
 236 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Then came a sharp solitary report from 
 the brushwood, and tottering for a moment, 
 his great strength and size availing him 
 nothing, La Massue fell forward, a bullet 
 through his brain ; a wild cheer from the 
 soldiers greeting the giant's fall. 
 
 ^^Yive le Eoi, vive Louis XVII.," 
 shouted Le ' Hachois, as he sprang into 
 the vacant place, and De Puisaye and 
 his companions fired into the ranks of 
 the Republicans. 
 
 ''Draw, gentlemen," exclaimed De Pui- 
 saye, for the distant bugles of a second 
 infantry column were heard on the morn- 
 ing breeze. 
 
 "Piquet D'Aubigny, Bois Hardi, Fo- 
 restier, close round me ; De Brissac, re- 
 member your mission. Shoulder to shoul- 
 der, gentlemen, and vive Louis XVII." 
 But as they passed out into the open
 
 THE OHOUAN CHIEFS. 237 
 
 they stepped over Le Hachois's body. He 
 was lying on the greensward, the blood 
 welling from a bullet-wonnd in the left 
 side. " Vive le Eoi," he cried feebly, 
 as the little band passed into the grey 
 light of morning, and before the head 
 touched the ground again, Le Hachois 
 was dead.
 
 CHAPTEE XVI. 
 
 THE CAVERN OF FOUGERES. 
 
 T I iHERE was no quarter given, none 
 asked ; and the click of steel, the 
 heavy crunching blow, as the sharp sabre 
 cleft through flesh and bone, with the occa- 
 sional pistol-shot, marked the progress of 
 the fight in the forest glade of Fougeres. 
 
 Forestier was down, the blood spouting 
 from a bayonet- wound in the throat, while 
 the bugles of the advancing Republicans 
 rang out on the morning air. 
 
 " Vive Louis XVII." shouted De Brissac, 
 as his sword came down with a sweeping
 
 THE CA VERN OF FOUGKKES. 239 
 
 cut on the head of a E,epubUcan, who was 
 in the act of bayoneting Bois Hardi from 
 behind, the steel blade breaking with the 
 force of the blow. 
 
 '' Thanks, friend," cried the Chouan 
 leader, springing to De Puisaye's side ; 
 as De Brissac, seizing a blazing pine brand, 
 first dashed it full into the face of an 
 officer, who sank with a groan to the 
 ground, and then pitched it with a shout 
 right in the middle of a pile of cartridges, 
 incautiously left by the Eepublicans in the 
 hurry of the attack. A tremendous explo- 
 sion ensued, the burning particles being 
 blown right and left, setting fire to the 
 clothes of the wounded, whose screams of 
 agony added to the uproar. 
 
 " Sauve qui pent !" shouted De Puisaye, 
 taking instant advantage of the momentary 
 pause, and the Royalists dashed through
 
 240 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 the Eepublica,ii ranks, gaining the bush, 
 and, led by Piquet D'Aubigny, who knew 
 every path and rock, easily escaped. 
 
 Standing close to the pile of cartridges, 
 De Brissac was stunned by the explosion. 
 For a moment only, but that second left 
 him alone, in the middle of the enemy. 
 Then the remembrance of the inner cave 
 flashed upon him, and instantly he turned, 
 dashing back across the open. A spatter- 
 ing fire followed him, but next moment, 
 though breathless, he reached the cavern. 
 
 " A smart affair, mes enfants," cried 
 Captain De Yerneuil, as he wiped his sword 
 with a handful of green leaves. " Sergeant 
 Pimpernet, see if any of them be alive." 
 
 The sergeant obeyed his officer's orders 
 after a fashion of his own, deliberately 
 thrusting his sword into the bodies of the 
 fallen to see if they were dead, while three
 
 THE CAVERN OF FOUGERES. 241 
 
 or four soldiers turned their pockets inside 
 out. 
 
 " Here's one of them living at all events/' 
 said Pimpernet, as he came upon Forestier 
 and moved him with his foot. The old 
 dragoon lay on his face in a pool of blood. 
 
 "Stay," exclaimed the sergeant, arrest- 
 ing the arm of one of his men, who 'had 
 clubbed his musket to finish the dying 
 man. " Stay, it may be De Puisaye him- 
 self. Turn him on his back.'' 
 
 The face was seamed with blood, the 
 heavy moustache sodden with it. 
 
 "Water, water," moaned Forestier. 
 
 " Here, Lefebre, fetch some," ordered 
 Pimpernet. 
 
 The sergeant knelt down with the tin 
 pannikin in his hand. He let a few drops 
 of the clear cold water fall on the Chouan's 
 face. 
 
 VOL. I. 16
 
 242 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " Now give up the rendezvous, and it is 
 yours." 
 
 Forestier by a terrible effort raised him- 
 self on one arm, the blood welling from the 
 bayonet- wound in his neck, then fell heavily 
 back, as the officer in command. Captain 
 De Yerneuil, came up, and, leaning on his 
 sword, looked down on the Chouan chief. 
 
 " Water, indeed. You shall have cold 
 steel instead!" cried Pimpernet, *'you 
 obstinate mule." 
 
 " Stay, sergeant. It is Forestier," said 
 De Yerneuil. '' He who led the forlorn 
 hope at Granville. Old comrade, I'm sorry 
 we meet thus." 
 
 A ghastly smile passed over the dying 
 Chouan's face. 
 
 "Water, water, De Yerneuil," he mur- 
 mured. 
 
 The Republican took the pannikin, and
 
 THE CA VERN OF FOUGMES. 213 
 
 raising the man's head tenderly, poured it 
 carefully down his throat. Forestier drank 
 to the last drop, but his frame was at once 
 convulsed by spasms. 
 
 " De Verneuil," he muttered, "we have 
 fought side by side." 
 
 The officer looked at his men, who were 
 gathering round, leaning on their muskets. 
 No quarter was ever given or received. 
 
 He shook his head sadly. 
 
 ** It cannot be, Forestier." 
 
 " No, not quarter," muttered the Chouan. 
 " De Yerneuil, I am in agony — your pistol 
 — do me this last service, old comrade." 
 
 Again the spasmodic action of the muscles 
 convulsed him. 
 
 Beluctantly the Republican drew the 
 pistol from his belt, and cocked it. 
 
 " I do but as I would be done by," he 
 muttered. 
 
 16—2
 
 244 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Once more Forestier raised himself on 
 his arm. 
 
 "Vive le Eoi— Vive Louis XVII. /' he 
 muttered. " Eulalie, I join you at last !" 
 
 A solitary pistol-shot rang out on the 
 morning air. De Verneuil sprang to his 
 feet. " Give him decent burial, mes en- 
 fants !" he exclaimed, '' C'est un brave ; 
 and now for yonder fellow. He shall pay 
 for this !" and the Hepublican officer dashed 
 towards the cave, followed by his men. 
 
 De Brissac, who had thrown himself by 
 the fire, started up as the noise reached his 
 ear, and turned to fly. Snatching up a 
 blazing brand, he sped up the cavern. The 
 Republican, catching sight of him, uttered 
 a loud shout and followed instantly. It 
 was no easy task to keep the little dancing 
 torch in view. Large boulders of stone 
 lay strewed here and there, his feet sank
 
 THE CAVERN OF FOUGMES. 245 
 
 deeply in the sand, but still, sword in 
 hand, De Verneuil dashed on. Far ahead 
 of him glittered the guiding light ; then 
 the vault narrowed, and he was in total 
 darkness. The Republican paused, and 
 looked back. So straight had been his 
 course that he could see the fire near the 
 cavern mouth, a glowing red spark. Torches 
 were moving to and fro, telling of the 
 search that was going on, but only one man 
 was within call. 
 
 " Give me your torch, Eustace," he cried, 
 " and go back for another." 
 
 The man obeyed, a loud shout booming 
 up the cave quickening his movement. 
 The searchers had found the store of 
 wine. 
 
 " Ma foi," muttered De Verneuil, who 
 never for a moment thought of giving up 
 the chase, "yonder opening to the right
 
 246 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 seems the largest. Here goes !'' and the 
 distant light was once more seen, as he 
 turned the angle into the stone tunnel, 
 then it suddenly disappeared. 
 
 " Vive la Patrie !'' shouted the Repub- 
 lican, as he once more dashed incautiously 
 forward, stumbling heavily. 
 
 To jump to his feet, and recover his 
 weapon amid a volley of sacres, was the 
 work of a moment. But a new danger 
 waited him. Hundreds of bats^ disturbed 
 by the light, came flapjDing past, brushing 
 up against him, wheeling round, and 
 threatening to extinguish his torch. 
 
 He felt the necessity of caution, and, 
 holding up the pine branch, advanced more 
 slowly, digging his sword into the dark 
 nooks and crannies. The roar of falling 
 water came to his ears, a blast of cold air 
 struck upward from his feet, and, stooping,
 
 THE CAVEllN OF FOUGMES. 247 
 
 he found a circular hole in the flooring, the 
 cave abruptly ceasing. 
 
 De Yerneuil was alone, except for the 
 bats which still circled round him. He 
 knelt down and examined the trap. Yes, 
 a circular hole slightly narrowing, the sides 
 wet and slimy, showing the late passage of 
 a man's body. It might lead to some un- 
 known abyss — certainly there was a great 
 mass of water tumbling below. He pushed 
 the tangled hair from his brow, and shud- 
 dered. He thrust his torch down as far as 
 he could, and the cold blast extinguished 
 it. 
 
 " Ma foi, where a Chouan can pass — and 
 he has passed here — " muttered De Yer- 
 neuil,. "a Republican can follow," and he 
 let himself into the hole. 
 
 At the last moment he would have
 
 248 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 stopped, but it was too late. The clay 
 gave way beneath his fingers, and down he 
 went. His feet touched something, a light 
 flashed before his eyes, then came a stun- 
 ning blow, and he lay on his back — mo- 
 tionless. 
 
 " We have an account to settle together, 
 Citoyen De Yerneuil," muttered De Bris- 
 sac, as he bent over the senseless form ; 
 then secured the sword, placing it in a 
 corner, whence he drew some bread, cheese, 
 and wine, and seating himself began his 
 meal, never losing sight of De Yerneuil. 
 
 The bottle was half empty before the 
 latter gave signs of life. First came a 
 nervous twitching of the limbs, the eyes 
 opened, closed again, once more opened, 
 and became a fixed concentrated stare. 
 
 Next, De Verneuil raised himself on one 
 arm, still staring straight before him. The
 
 THE CA VERN OF FO UGMES. 249 
 
 human being blackened with the late ex- 
 plosion gazing at him, the continued roar 
 of the water tumbling over a shelf of rock 
 at the far end of the cave, the red light of 
 the solitary torch — puzzled him. 
 
 " Whether you are the Devil or not," he 
 exclaimed, his old recklessness returning, 
 ''you drink wine! Give me some, Im 
 faint." 
 
 De Brissac laughed, and sent the half- 
 emptied bottle rolling to the other's 
 feet. 
 
 A deep draught seemed to revive him. 
 
 '' I took you for the Devil," he said, 
 '' and thought I was dead. YouVe some- 
 thing to eat there ?" asked De Verneuil, 
 rising. 
 
 De Brissac made room for him on the 
 heap of straw, without speaking a word, 
 but there was an evil look in his eyes, as
 
 250 THE LIFE GUARD SMAF. 
 
 he drew out a second bottle of wine from 
 the Chouan store, and pushed the bread 
 and cheese towards his companion. 
 
 " Who are you V asked the RepubH- 
 can. 
 
 " Time enough to answer that later," 
 was the reply. " Eat and drink first." 
 
 The fare was poor, the cheese hard, the 
 bread stale, but De Verneuil had not eaten 
 since the day before, besides, the vin de 
 Beaujolais was excellent, and cool as 
 though iced, and so there they sat side by 
 side eating and drinking, aye, and enjoying 
 it too. 
 
 ''And now help me to make a fire," said 
 De Brissac, as the meal came to an end. 
 " Yonder torch won t last long." 
 
 They dragged out the dry wood stored 
 in one corner, heaping it in a pile in the 
 centre of the cavern. It was easily fired,
 
 THE CA VEEN OF FOUGMRES. 251 
 
 and the bright blaze danced up nearly to 
 tlie roof. 
 
 " You asked me who the devil I was, 
 just now," said Philijo, as he seated himself 
 by the fire. 
 
 " I ask you no longer," replied De 
 Verneuil. "I tracked you to take your 
 life. You had mine at your mercy, and 
 you have spared me." 
 
 Philip laughed scornfully. 
 
 " My friend, take service with us, and 
 I'll do more. I will ensure your promo- 
 tion, for I have influence with Hoche," 
 continued the Republican. 
 
 "What, serve under Monsieur De Ver- 
 neuil ? You see I know you, sir," replied 
 Philip, as the other started. " The man 
 who, an officer in De Lambesq's dragoons, 
 yet commanded the guard under San- 
 terre."
 
 252 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN, 
 
 De Verneuil remained silent. 
 
 " You, the ally of Robespierre ! You, 
 who boast yourself the right hand of 
 General Hoche !" continued Philip, his 
 eyes flashing, as he worked himself into a 
 rage. 
 
 De Yerneuil smiled and nodded. 
 
 " And what are you here for now ?" de- 
 manded De Brissac, glaring in the other s 
 face, his features distorted with passion. 
 '' Why, to drag before your butcher Hoche 
 the few who remain loyal to the king." 
 
 ""Again I ask, who the devil are you? 
 De Puisaye has escaped !" exclaimed the 
 Bepublican, '' and the second on the list 
 of your chiefs I sent to the Devil an hour 
 ago !" 
 
 ''Whom do you say you murdered?' 
 asked Philip, in a voice of concentrated 
 rage. " Whom T
 
 THE CA VERN OF FOUGMES. 253 
 
 De Verneuil laughed lightly. 
 
 " Only a poor devil who deserved better. 
 I sent Forestier to rejoin your idiot of a 
 King you are so proud to serve." 
 
 With a back-handed blow De Brissac 
 struck the Republican over the mouth, 
 then sprang to his feet and drew his 
 sword. 
 
 " You lie, you coward ! Draw and 
 defend yourself, for one of us remains 
 here !" he exclaimed fiercely. 
 
 De Yerneuil calmly wiped away the 
 blood which followed the blow. 
 
 " A very courageous act : first of all to 
 strike brutally a man wholly off his guard, 
 then to draw on, after having disarmed 
 him. Allow me to compliment you, Mon- 
 sieur De Brissac. You see I know you too. 
 I thoup'ht better of a Life Guardsman." 
 
 "I had forgotten," rephed Philip, as
 
 254 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 lie sprang to the spot where he had left it, 
 throwing the sword to his antagonist's 
 feet. 
 
 De Yerneuil stooped and picked up the 
 weapon with a sigh of rehef. He tried 
 the blade against the stone wall of the 
 cavern, and a smile came to his lips, for he 
 knew himself a master in swordsmanship. 
 The fire burned brightly, they were alone, 
 and the next moment the swords crossed, 
 and the click of the steel rang through the 
 cavern. 
 
 Philip had lost his temper : his face was 
 flushed, his temples throbbed, and a savage 
 thirst for blood was upon him. The Re- 
 publican's face was pale, and his teeth set, 
 while the play of the wrist was such, that 
 the point of his sword never seemed at 
 rest, save when the rapid thrust came. 
 
 A sharp stinging sensation in the
 
 THE CAVERN OF FOUGMES. 255 
 
 shoulder, and a stream of blood, taught 
 Philip who he had to deal with. Furious 
 at the check, with a desperate rally he 
 attacked his antagonist, lunge following 
 lunge, but in vain. Suddenly his foot 
 slipped on a round log which had rolled 
 from the fire, and he fell heavily at De 
 Verneuil's mercy.
 
 CHAPTEE XYIl. 
 
 THE DUEL A MORT. 
 
 " "D ISE, friend, and let that wound 
 teach you more civility to the next 
 gentleman you ask to breakfast/' said De 
 Vemeuil, dropping his sword point. 
 
 " I thank you/' replied Philip, rising ; 
 " but the words you have spoken must be 
 wiped out in blood." 
 
 " Well, we are even, Monsieur De Bris- 
 sac. You spared my life when I lay there 
 insensible, and I give you yours now," re- 
 marked De Yerneuil, as he wiped the blood 
 from his sword. " If you have another of
 
 THE DUEL A MORT. 2b1 
 
 those long corked bottles, bring it out be- 
 fore we set to work again." 
 
 " Ah ! that's good," gasped the Repub- 
 Hcan, as he drank a full half of the bottle 
 of beaujolais, " and now for your turn." 
 
 De Brissac, nothing loath, emptied the 
 flask, and then pitched it over the ledge 
 into the water below. 
 
 Philip had been deeply humiliated. He 
 who had sent the best swordsman of France 
 to his doom, to be foiled by a captain of 
 Heche's dragoons ; but he was cool enough 
 now as he picked up his sword. 
 
 " Take off that heavy jacket, and tie 
 your handkerchief round your arm," re- 
 marked De Yerneuil, as the two once 
 more stood opposite to one another. " Stay, 
 I'll help you," he continued, tossing down 
 his sword, and dexterously bandaging the 
 wound. 
 
 VOL. I. 17
 
 258 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " And now to see who gets his passport 
 to the other world," he exclaimed, gaily, as 
 the swords crossed once more. Slowly and 
 cautiously De Yerneuil drew out of the 
 fire-light, lunging rapidly from time to 
 time, his former experience making him 
 think too lightly of his adversary. Both 
 became excited as the steel glittered in the 
 fire-light, and the sparks flew from the sword 
 blades ; lunge and parry rapidly followed 
 each other. Unconsciously they shouted 
 as a deadly thrust was given, which, though 
 rapidly parried, once more drew blood, this 
 time from De Brissac's side. 
 
 They were getting savage now, but a 
 cold, stern, unflinching determination had 
 taken possession of Philip as he remem- 
 bered the papers on his person. He was 
 by far the more powerful man, and it 
 was telling. De Yerneuirs strength was
 
 THE DUEL A MORT. 259 
 
 giving way, his face was deadly pale, his 
 teeth set firmly, and the drops of perspira- 
 tion rolled from his brow. There were no 
 feints now. Every thrust was meant to be 
 deadly, and the deep-drawn sob of fatigue 
 mixed with the sharp click of steel. 
 
 De Verneuil did not see the blaze as he 
 was forced back upon it. His clothes 
 caught fire, but he made a desperate rally. 
 It was of no avail, for the Life Guardsman's 
 strength was telling fast. Foot by foot the 
 Republican was borne back towards the 
 ledge, De Brissac lunging savagely, and his 
 adversary parrying feebly. 
 
 Not a word was spoken, not a thought 
 of mercy flashed over the minds of either. 
 De Yerneuil was within a foot of the ledge, 
 and he knew it. Once more came a des- 
 perate rally, the rapidly circling steel giving 
 out a shower of sparks, then the Repub- 
 
 17—2
 
 260 TEE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 lican's weapon flew from his grasp, as with 
 a savage yell De Brissac passed his sword 
 into his antagonist's breast, and one long 
 shrill shriek of human agony rang through 
 the cavern. De Verneuil tottered for a 
 moment and then pitched bodily into the 
 abyss below. It was a last efibrt, for the 
 old wound had broken out again, and 
 marking his path with blood, De Brissac 
 staggered backwards, and then fell heavily 
 to the ground. 
 
 The roar of the cataract filled the cavern 
 as in all probability it had done for ages, 
 the crackle of the blazing logs was lost in 
 it, and just outside the circle of light lay 
 the body of the fallen Boyalist, a stream of 
 blood trickling from the wound caused by 
 Henriot's sword, the sand soaking it up 
 like a sponge. Hours passed, and the 
 blaze gradually subsided, mass after mass
 
 THE DUEL 1 MORT. 261 
 
 of the red charcoal becoming blacker and 
 blacker. 
 
 Philip had moved more than once, bat 
 every attempt at motion brought on a faint. 
 Once he raised himself, then fell back, and 
 this perhaps saved his life, for the sand 
 pressed against the vround and stopped the 
 haemorrhage. When he next woke to con- 
 sciousness all was darkness, but the sound 
 of distant voices struck him. He raised 
 himself this time into a sitting position, 
 brushed the matted hair from his forehead, 
 and tried to collect his thoughts. Yes, he 
 realised it at last, and the voices he heard 
 were those of the Bepublicans seeking for 
 De Verneuil. 
 
 " You say he turned here, Eustace,'' said 
 a loud voice above close to the mouth of 
 the passage. 
 
 "Yes, Pimpernet," answered a second.
 
 262 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " I gave him my torch, and when I looked 
 back its light was gone." 
 
 "We'll find him, mes enfants, never fear, 
 if we dig up the accursed Chouan hiding- 
 place foot by foot. AUons," and then the 
 voices receded. 
 
 The remembrance of the papers com- 
 mitted to his care came over him, but the 
 power of thinking seemed slipping from 
 Philip's grasp. Slowly and painfully he 
 dragged himself towards the fire. He 
 would burn them. 
 
 " Not a spark left," he muttered, as he 
 plunged his hands into the yet warm 
 embers. " My only hope is that I may be 
 left to die here undiscovered. A brilliant 
 future," he continued, as he dragged him- 
 self along like a crushed worm, and then 
 sank exhausted on his side, " a very brilliant 
 future, its brightest gleam of hope being
 
 THE DUEL A MORT. 263 
 
 that my body may rot undiscovered. And 
 the Wyvern, would they wait for him, and 
 how long V 
 
 His thoughts began to wander. He was 
 moving among the crowded galleries of 
 Versailles, he could hear the crash of the 
 band, the buzz of voices. No, it was Ser- 
 geant Pimpernet and his men searching. 
 
 The scene changed. He was at the 
 Tuileries with the musquetry ringing 
 around him as the Swiss Guards fell one 
 after another, and he hurried the queen 
 along the corridor. 
 
 " She must be saved at all risks, but 
 then that scoundrel De Yerneuil," and he 
 thrust his hand into his bosom for his 
 dagger. 
 
 The packet of papers met his grasp, and 
 the touch recalled his wandering senses 
 once more.
 
 264 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 All was silent now, the searchers above 
 had receded, and the roar of the water 
 struck him. What folly not to have 
 thought of that. There was safety at last, 
 and the wounded man smiled a feeble 
 smile. Placing the packet between his 
 teeth, he dragged himself slowly in the 
 direction of the ledge. How long it took 
 him he could not tell, when suddenly a 
 loud shout burst from above, and he paused 
 on his hands and knees to listen. 
 
 It was Eustace calling to his comrades. 
 " Here is the entrance. I told you. Ser- 
 geant Pimpernet, it was here I left him," 
 said the man, triumphantly. 
 
 Once more the desperate desire to die 
 kilhng took possession of De Brissac. The 
 ledge was narrow and slippery. He was 
 discovered now. What if he should wait ? 
 What if, feeble as he was, he could drag
 
 THE DUEL A MOllT. 205 
 
 one of the soldiers with him. No, he 
 would not die alone. 
 
 Loud bursts of laughter and coarse oaths 
 came from above. The Republicans were 
 well used to the Chouan hiding-places, and 
 they knew they had found one now ; but 
 who was to make the perilous descent, into 
 what they deemed the last refuge of the 
 Chouanerie. Then a dull red light flashed 
 from above as a blazing pine brand came 
 hissing and sputtering through the passage, 
 another and another following until they 
 lay in a heap on the floor. 
 
 Savagely the wounded man glared round 
 him. He realized it now, by the light of 
 the torches. Deceived by the echoes, he 
 had been dragging himself from the ledge, 
 not towards it. He strove to think, but all 
 power to do so had left him, a cold shiver 
 ran through his frame. " Was this death T
 
 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 he asked himself as the jaAvs collapsed, the 
 packet of papers dropped from his grasp, 
 and he fell forward on his face but a few 
 paces from the lighted fire, which could he 
 have reached it would have saved the 
 secrets contained in De Puisaye's docu- 
 ments. 
 
 *^ Stand clear," shouted Sergeant Pim- 
 pernet, as he dropped down the aperture, 
 reached the floor, and was followed one 
 after another by the Eepublican soldiers, 
 until the Chouans' cave was filled with their 
 enemies the Blues.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE OLD VANGUARD. 
 
 r I IHERE was a long heaving swell in 
 the English Channel, telling of a gale 
 which had blown itself out. Scarcely any 
 wind, but the sea fog was heavily packed 
 on the Wyvem's deck, as she lay rolling to 
 the send of the sea, her heavy mainsail 
 gybing to and fro, the water lapping up, 
 and swishing over her low bulwarks. 
 
 " I can't help thinking I heard a gun 
 away there to windward," remarked Mr. 
 Lloyd, stopping in his monotonous walk.
 
 268 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN, 
 
 '' Like enougH, sir," replied his com- 
 panion, Masters, who was a kind of boat- 
 swain and mate rolled into one. " WeVe 
 had no luck of late/' 
 
 "That we haven't: first that weary 
 blockade in the port of St. Yalery, with 
 nothing but salt herrings to eat ; and then, 
 as evil luck would have it, the crack frigate 
 of the British navy to chase us back to 
 Cherbourg." 
 
 While the two were thus conversing. 
 Captain Leslie was leaning over the weather 
 bulwark, gazing wistfully into the fog. At 
 his side stood Louis De Brissac, now a well- 
 built stripling, his face bronzed with ex- 
 posure to the weather, and the rough 
 teaching of a sailor's life having done away 
 with much of the effeminate look and pre- 
 cocious development inherent to early 
 training. Dressed as a sailor, he held his
 
 THE OLD VANGUARD. 269 
 
 cap — round which ran a narrow band of 
 gold lace — in his hand. 
 
 " The island of Alderney should lie over 
 yonder, Louis, some ten miles astern ; but, 
 close hauled as she is, and the breeze so 
 light, we make no way to speak of" 
 
 " I wish you would have let me leave 
 you for a time before we sailed from Cher- 
 bourg. Hark ! wasn't that the creaking of 
 a block V exclaimed Louis. 
 
 Leshe took no notice of the latter part 
 of the sentence. 
 
 " It would have not been of anv use, 
 Louis," he said, kindly. *' It is now nearly 
 three years since he left us. The sea is 
 swarming with English cruizers ; the expe- 
 dition he went to prepare, failed ; and 
 Quiberon lost the royal cause, for the time, 
 at least. It would have been useless 
 risk."
 
 270 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 " He perilled his life for me ; why should 
 not I for him ? Poor Philip " 
 
 " Aye, aye, my lad ! Never think twice 
 about the risk, but let there be something 
 to be gained by it. Philip De Brissac is 
 dead, and you have yourself to look to." 
 
 " Please your honour," said a rough, 
 black-muzzled sailor, wrapped in a yellow 
 tarpaulin — " Please your honour, there's 
 some heavy craft hereaway." 
 
 " Can you make her out, Matthews ?" 
 asked Leslie, carelessly. 
 
 " Leastways — no, sir !" replied the man, 
 touching his cap. " But I'm blessed if 
 there isn't !" 
 
 " Any signs of a breeze, Matthews ? If 
 we get that, we are all right." 
 
 " It's morning watch, sir, and if it 
 weren't for this here darned fog, we'd do well 
 enough," and Matthews took off his cap,
 
 THE OLD VANGUARD. 271 
 
 and, turning himself to windward, straddled 
 out his legs, so as to steady himself against 
 the roll of the cutter. " It's freshening 
 no\A', yer honour. Mind them puffs ; you'd 
 see them on the water — leastways, if a 
 fellow could see." 
 
 " Well, well ! Matthews, go below, and 
 tell Black Jerry to give you a nip — it will 
 drive the fog out of your locker." 
 
 " Aye, aye ! yer honour," answered the 
 man quickly, as he replaced the cap, and 
 dived below. 
 
 *^ Louis, my lad, step forward, and see if 
 you can make anything out with your 
 young eyes," and Leslie walked aft. 
 
 " Aye, aye, sir !" answered Louis, laugh- 
 ing, as he obeyed. " Leastways, if I can.'' 
 
 Leslie laughed too. 
 
 " Starboard a little ! keep her away, 
 Williams. Mr. Lloyd," and he beckoned
 
 272 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 to his mate, '' the fog is breaking ; look 
 yonder. Keep a sharp look-out !" 
 
 There was a rent in the fog-bank, and 
 the light was gradually stealing over the 
 sea. 
 
 " We shall see well enough, soon/' re- 
 marked the mate in reply—" and be seen 
 too." 
 
 " It's a bad life we're leading, Lloyd/' 
 said the captain, laying his hand on his 
 mate's arm. " 1 don't mean in a moral 
 sense — I'm too old a sinner for that. 
 After all, we are only spies." 
 
 " Spies ! how do you ma>ke that out ?" 
 asked Lloyd, quickly. 
 
 " Well, don't all smuggling craft fetch 
 and carry between the two countries ? If 
 we don't ourselves, our men do." 
 
 " That's tarring both with the same 
 brush," said the mate, laughing.
 
 THE OLD VANGUARD. 273 
 
 " Look at the fleet now fitting out, osten- 
 sibly to be for the invasion of England. 
 Don't you and I know better ! and yet we 
 daren't tell. I m sick of it, Lloyd — sick of 
 it, I say !" and Leslie brought his clenched 
 fist down on the cutter's rail. " Ha ! there's 
 the breeze," he exclaimed, as the Wyvern 
 heeled over, and the fog seemed all at once 
 to split and crack, showing the cold, leaden- 
 looking water below, then rolled in huge 
 masses across the waves, the dim pale light 
 of the rising sun dispersing it. 
 
 " Sail, ho !" shouted a shrill voice from 
 forward by the heel of the bowsprit ; and 
 there, like phantom ships among the fog 
 wreaths, lay the black hulls of a small 
 squadron, under all sail to their royals. 
 
 " Three liners, two frigates, and a sloop, 
 bound down Channel !" exclaimed Leslie. 
 
 "Why yen's the old Vanguard, leading 
 
 VOL. I. 18
 
 '2U TEE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 the line/' exclaimed Masters, bringing his 
 open palm with a thwack down on his 
 tlwh — " I'm blessed if it isn't 1" 
 
 It was indeed a noble sight, as the sun 
 acquired power, and drove back the fog, 
 which soon hung a yellow bank on the 
 horizon, for there lay the three seventy- 
 fours, moving through a sea which hardly 
 affected their great black hulls, supporting 
 a pyramid of canvas, Avhile the two frigates, 
 one having dropped to leeward about half- 
 a-mile, the other having worked about the 
 same distance to windward, were both, in 
 company with the sloop, about a mile ahead, 
 the latter dashing her bows into the waves, 
 and sending the spray flying over her fore- 
 castle. 
 
 A puff of white smoke, a deadened 
 report, and three small flags were seen 
 fluttering from the liner's masthead ; then
 
 THE OLD VANGUARD. 
 
 the weathermost frigate fell off from the 
 wind, her fore and main royals fluttering in 
 the breeze as they were sheeted home, and 
 she lay up for the cutter. 
 
 " She's setting her stunsels ;• that's a 
 smart craft, sir," remarked the mate ap- 
 provingly. 
 
 The cutter, meanwhile, steadily held her 
 way, slipping through the water on a, line 
 which would carry her astern of the 
 squadron. Her crew were all on deck. 
 Captain Leslie seemed in deep thought, 
 and twice his mate spoke to him, receiving 
 no reply. 
 
 " I'll do it," he muttered, as Louis came 
 up and stood in his usual place by his 
 side. -'I'll do it, if only for the lad's 
 sake." 
 
 Again the mate addressed him. 
 
 " The frigate's coming up like a race- 
 
 18—2
 
 276 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 horse, sir. Shall we set the gaff topsail V 
 he asked, 
 
 " No, sir, no ; show the Union Jack. 
 Port you may. Phillips, bring her to the 
 wind, steady so," replied the captain, his 
 face looking very hard and determined. 
 " A pull at the boom-sheets, my lads. 
 Flatten in forward." 
 
 The Wyvern now came sweeping up to 
 the wind, and in place of rolling lazily to 
 leeward, she dipped her bows into the long 
 swell, and sent it flying into the air in 
 bright spray, heading so as to lie well up 
 for the leading seventy-four, but still going 
 free. 
 
 "Down below, every man but the 
 watch !" called Leslie. " We've been in 
 worse scrapes than this, my lads ;" and he 
 began once more to pace the narrow 
 deck.
 
 THE OLD VANGUARD, 277 
 
 "There's in-stunsels on board the 
 frigate," muttered Masters, " she's bracing 
 up her yards. I'm blessed if this here 
 ain't a rum go." 
 
 The Httle squadron, which the Wyvern 
 was rapidly nearing, consisted of the Van- 
 guard, flying the broad pennant of Admiral 
 Nelson, the Alexander and Orion 
 seventy-fours, together with the Emerald 
 and Chloe frigates, and the Bonne Cito- 
 yenne sloop, bound down channel to rein- 
 force Earl St. Vincent, then blockading 
 Cadiz. 
 
 "Cutter ahoy! What cutter's that?" 
 came the hoarse hail from the Vanguard's 
 decks, as the Wyvern, who, when the breeze 
 failed, had set her gafi* topsail, hauled it 
 down, and luffing up in the liner's wake, 
 fore-reached on her. 
 
 The Chloe frigate, seeing the chase
 
 278 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 useless, had regained her position in 
 line. 
 
 "The Wyvern, with news for the 
 admiral," was the reply. 
 
 There was a momentary bustle on the 
 seventy-four's decks. Once more the signal 
 flags fluttered at her masthead, her top- 
 gallant sails were hauled, her lower sails 
 were soon hanging in the brails, her fore- 
 yard was squared, and she lay to under 
 her three topsails, jib and spanker, just 
 as the cutter's boat reached her side. 
 
 " I wonder what's the news V said 
 Captain John Ball, to his first lieutenant, 
 as he paced the Orion's quarter deck. 
 "The cutter has brought some of impor- 
 tance." 
 
 " There goes the Emerald's number," re- 
 marked the officer addressed. 
 
 " Aye, and there goes the Emerald's gig.
 
 THE OLD VANGUARD. 279 
 
 with Thompson in the stern sheets ; there's 
 work ahead," and the Orion's captain 
 rubbed his hands. 
 
 " Look out, Mr. Traill !" exclaimed the 
 first lieutenant, who seemed somewhat ex- 
 cited. " There's the flag ship showing, her 
 bunting again." 
 
 " Signal to heave to — captains command- 
 ing to rendezvous on board the flag ship, 
 sir," said the signal midshipman, touching 
 his cap. 
 
 The various ships of the squadron 
 obeyed, gathering round the Admiral. 
 On came the Alexander, surging lazily 
 over the seas, as she swept up not fifty 
 fathoms to windward of the Vanguard, 
 when she let fly her top-gallant sails, hove 
 her main topsail aback, and lay like a log 
 on the sea. 
 
 Next came the Orion, passing under the
 
 ■280 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 Vanguard's stern, and then, luffing up to the 
 wind, lay hove to about the same distance 
 to leeward, the Emerald and Chloe frigates, 
 and Bonne Citoyenne sloop, having already 
 obeyed the orders. 
 
 It was evident there were stirring 
 tidings, but none, as yet, knew what was 
 passing in the cabin, where Captain Berry 
 of the Vanguard, and Admiral Nelson, 
 were closeted with Captain Leslie of the 
 Wyvern.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ADMIRAL NELSON. 
 
 TN a chair in the seventy-four's cabin, 
 sat Admiral Nelson. At this period 
 of his life, he had not long returned from 
 the unfortunate expedition of Santa Cruz, 
 where he had lost an arm. 
 
 At that moment he was studying intently 
 a map of the Irish coast. Dressed in the 
 uniform of his rank, Nelson's figure was as 
 unlike that of a sailor as was well possible. 
 Short of stature, and very thin, almost 
 emaciated, his sallow complexion, sunken 
 eyes, and hair powdered according to the
 
 282 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 fashion of the day, gave him the appear- 
 ance of one physically unable to face even 
 the ordinary vicissitudes of a sailor's life, 
 and his grey eyes had in them a deep- 
 seated melancholy, which added to this. 
 
 The mouth, however, was large and 
 expressive, the muscles around it contract- 
 ing nervously when deep thought or ex- 
 citement moved him, as was the case at 
 that moment. 
 
 " The officer in command of the cutter, 
 sir," announced the lieutenant of the 
 watch, and Leslie entered, Louis, as usual, 
 by his side ; but so sunk was the admiral 
 in deep thought, that the noise even of the 
 door failed to rouse him, and Leslie, a 
 curious expression on his rough, good- 
 natured face, stood gazing at him. 
 
 Nelson looked up — started. i 
 
 " Who, and what are you ? How came
 
 ADMIRAL NELSON. 283 
 
 you here ? Who's that boy ?" he asked 
 quickly. 
 
 " I command the cutter alongside, sii% 
 am last from Cherbourg, and I'm a 
 smuggler, Admiral Nelson/' 
 
 " A smuggler, and have dared to place 
 yourself under the guns of my squadron !" 
 exclaimed Nelson, as he stretched his hand 
 towards the bell near him. 
 
 " Stay," replied Leslie ; " you were 
 poring over that chart ; what if the 
 smuggler could tell you that which you are 
 vainly trying to find out ?" 
 
 "I see, and so secure your safety." 
 
 '^ Well, do me the justice to remember, 
 Admiral, I placed myself voluntarily under 
 your guns ; you are trying to determine 
 the destination of the force collecting in 
 the various ports of France. I can put 
 you right."
 
 ^84 THE LIFE G UARDSMAN, 
 
 Nelson rang the bell. 
 
 " Tell Captain Berry I wish to see him 
 at once/' he said. Then turning to the 
 smuggler, '^ Be seated, sir/' and as Leslie 
 obeyed, the Admiral's eyes once more 
 became riveted on the map. Louis re- 
 mained standing beside the door, his eyes 
 'fixed on the little one-armed, emaciated 
 man, whose name, young as he was, he 
 so well knew. 
 
 '' Take a chair, Berry," said Nelson, as 
 a man, dressed in the uniform of a post- 
 captain, entered, his broad weather-beaten 
 face tanned to a mahogany colour, the short 
 thick-set frame, and the hard lines of the • 
 mouth, telling of the old-school seaman. 
 "Allow me to introduce the captain of 
 the smuggling craft alongside. Berry." 
 
 The old post-captain turned his quick 
 grey eyes full on Leslie, who returned
 
 ADMIRAL NELSON. 28:> 
 
 the gaze witli firmness, then glanced in- 
 quiringly at the Admiral, but did not 
 speak. 
 
 " To be serious, Berry ; he states him- 
 self to be the bearer of important tidings ; 
 but whether this prove so or not, he and 
 his craft are safe. I am not a revenue 
 cruiser, creeping for tubs." 
 
 Leslie bowed. " I expected no less from 
 Admiral Nelson," he replied ; " my tidings 
 are simply these : not only is a powerful 
 French fleet being collected at Toulon, but 
 at Civita Yecchia, Bastia, Genoa, and Mar- 
 seilles, transports are being concen- 
 trated.^' 
 
 " We know all this, and you might add 
 Boulogne, Ostend, Dunkirk, and Calais," 
 interrupted Berry, with some harshness. 
 
 " Hush, Berry, hush ! I could die happy 
 if I could get at that fleet," said Nelson,
 
 286 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 in a low tone, laying a hand on his cap- 
 tain's arm. 
 
 "Davoust's divisions at the northern 
 ports you have named, sir, are a blind," 
 continued Leslie, respectfully, though he 
 could not repress a smile. " The real fleet is 
 commanded by Brueys, while Yilleneuve, 
 Decres, Ganthueame, are under his orders. 
 It consists of thirteen sail of the line, 
 eight frigates, and two Venetian sixty- 
 foiu-s." 
 
 Nelson had risen, and was pacing to and 
 fro, the muscles of the mouth as usual 
 twitching. 
 
 " Four hundred sail of transports convey 
 an army of thirty-six thousand men under 
 such leaders as Kleber, Dessaix, Regnier, 
 and Buonaparte. These are grand tidings," 
 muttered Nelson ; "I may yet measure 
 myself with Brueys." Suddenly halting in
 
 ADMIPiAL NFLSOJV. 287 
 
 liis walk, he addressed Berry, " The Orient, 
 his ship, carries one hundred and twenty 
 guns. We'll have her, Berry, we'll have 
 her." 
 
 There was a pause, so deep that the 
 lap of the water could be heard against 
 the ship's side. 
 
 " Well, sir, well?" exclaimed Nelson, who 
 stopped, suddenly in his walk, turning to 
 the smuggler. 
 
 " The armaments fitting out in the 
 northern ports are, I repeat, a mere blind. 
 No operation is contemplated against Eng- 
 land. Egypt is the destination." 
 
 Captain Berry jumped from his chair 
 as though a wasp liad stung him, giving 
 utterance to a sailor's oath ; while Nelson 
 remained gazing at the smuggler with 
 an uninterrupted stare, though in reality 
 he never saw him. His quick apprehension
 
 288 TEE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 seized the whole movement now. Turning, 
 he pointed to a chart, "See, Berry; look, here 
 lies Toulon, that's head-quarters now. 
 From Marseilles, Brueys will rally that 
 division, then sailing past Genoa, Bastia, 
 and Civita Yecchia, pick up the different 
 contingents, and fall on Egypt like a 
 thunderbolt/' 
 
 " While we are cruising for him here, or 
 off the coast of Spain," muttered Berry. 
 
 '' It's only breaking orders once more," 
 said Nelson ; " signal the squadron to close. 
 Stay, what's your cargo, sir ?" 
 
 Leslie reddened to the roots of his hair. 
 " The old tale, sir," he replied; "brandy." 
 
 " Discharge it into the Vanguard. Cap- 
 tain Berry, let the purser have orders to 
 purchase it for the use of the fleet, and 
 signal the Chloe frigate to carry despatches 
 to England. Can I do anything more for
 
 ADMIRAL NELSOX. 280 
 
 you, sir ?" asked the Admiral, turning to 
 Leslie. 
 
 "Let me carry your despatches, Admiral," 
 asked the smuggler. 
 
 "We can ill spare a frigate, sir, under 
 the circumstances," put in Captain 
 Berry. 
 
 '' I've a crew of eighty hands, sir, every 
 man a j)icked seaman. The Wyvern is one 
 of the heaviest cutters sailing, and carries 
 twelve guns," pleaded Leslie. 
 
 " No, sir, no," replied Nelson, decisively ; 
 "and yet stay. What think you, Berry, 
 eh ?" 
 
 " We can't spare even the sloop, sir," 
 replied the Vanguard's captain, as he 
 passed out to execute his orders. 
 
 " Your son, I think you said," continued 
 Nelson ; " does he speak French ?" 
 
 " I am French, sir," rephed Louis, 
 
 VOL. I. 19
 
 290 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 boldly ; " niy father I believe to have 
 perished at the late affair of Quiberon." 
 
 " And left him in my charge, Admiral," 
 added Leslie, who briefly told the tale. 
 
 " Have you any objection to leave him 
 with me V said the Admiral; ''his French 
 may be "useful to me ; for it's a rare com- 
 modity on board my fleet." 
 
 "None whatever. Admiral; I promised 
 his father to deliver him to the English 
 Government, should he not return, and 
 intended to do so the moment I could.'' 
 
 " Captain Berry," said Nelson, as that 
 officer again entered the cabin. " Eate 
 the youngster as extra signal midshipman. 
 For you, sir, transship your cargo, and con- 
 sider your craft a hired cutter in the service 
 of government. Your despatches will be 
 ready in an hour." 
 
 Ten minutes later the news was known
 
 ADMIRAL NELSON. 291 
 
 to all on board the squadron. The Eme- 
 rald frigate was staggering through the 
 long seas with every rag of canvas she 
 could show set, with despatches for 
 Earl St. Vincent, then cruising before 
 Cadiz. Nelson's squadron had made sail 
 for Gibraltar, and everything was bustle 
 and excitement on board, while the Wy- 
 vern was literally flying through the 
 waves, burying her bows in the salt-brine, 
 which broke over her in showers of glitter- 
 ing spray ; a long, whip-like pennant 
 streaming from her mast-head, and a strong- 
 breeze over her quarter. 
 
 " Steady, Smith, steady — meet her with 
 the helm," said Captain Leslie, as a heavier 
 sea than common, striking the little craft on 
 her counter, seemed to check her way for 
 a moment, deluging her decks, fore and 
 aft. 
 
 19—2
 
 292 THE LIFE GUARDSMAN. 
 
 The captain of the Wyvern was in high 
 spirits as his cutter headed straight for 
 Falmouth. 
 
 "We might have done better in a 
 money point of view, Lloyd/' he said, 
 " but with such a craft and such a crew, 
 well soon make that up — and what a 
 career for the youngster ! Nelson will 
 make a man of him." And Leslie rubbed 
 his hands with delight. " Yes, Nelson 
 will make a man of him. Lloyd." 
 
 The scud was flying fast ; the long top- 
 mast was bending like a reed ; far as the 
 eye could see the green waves were crested 
 with foam, while in the west the sun was 
 dipping in the ocean, and a long line of 
 white cliffs was just visible ahead. 
 
 " All volunteered to a man, eh, Lloyd ! 
 It's been a good day's work." 
 
 And so the two dived below, with black
 
 ADIIIHAL NELSON. 293 
 
 Jerry's help, to empty a tumbler of steam- 
 ing grog to the success of His Majesty's 
 hired cutter, the Wyvern, in her new career 
 of honesty. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 BILLIKO, PBINTEB, OUILDFOBD.