perceived that the danger of getting in was as great as ever, so I
determined to walk up and down till night, hoping the darkness would come
to my aid; but one of the patrols soon gave me to understand that my
prowling about had aroused suspicion, and ordered me either to go on to
the city, in which by all accounts there was small chance of safety for
me, or back to the village; where certain death awaited me. A happy
inspiration flashed across my mind, I would get some refreshment, and
seeing an inn near by, I went in and ordered a mug of beer, sitting down
near the window, faintly hoping that before the necessity for a final
decision arrived, someone who knew me would pass by. After waiting half
an hour, I did indeed see an acquaintance--no other than M______, whom I
had left in the vineyard. I beckoned him, and he joined me. He told me
that, being too impatient to await my return, he had soon made up his
mind to follow me, and by joining a band of pillagers was lucky enough to
get safely through Saint-Just. We consulted together as to what we had
better do next, and having applied to our host, found he could supply us
with a trusty messenger, who would carry the news of our whereabouts to
my brother-in-law. After an anxious wait of three hours, we saw him
coming. I was about to run out to meet him, but M____ held me back,
pointing out the danger of such a step; so we sat still our eyes fixed on
the approaching figure. But when my brother-in-law reached the inn, I
could restrain my impatience no longer, but rushing out of the room met
him on the stairs.

"'My wife?' I cried. 'Have you seen my wife?'

"'She is at my house,' was the reply, and with a cry of joy I threw
myself into his arms.

"My wife, who had been threatened, insulted, and roughly treated because