peered out. The street was deserted save forte Robespierre's
berline and his impatient postillion. Between them Duhamel and
Maximilien assisted Caron to the door of the carriage. The moving
subjected him to an excruciating agony, but he caught his nether
lip in his teeth, and never allowed them to suspect it. As they
raised him into the berline, however, he toppled forward, fainting.
Duhamel hastened indoors for a cordial, and brought also some
pillows with which to promote the young man's comfort on the
journey that was before him - or, rather, to lessen the discomfort
which the jolting was likely to occasion him.

Caron recovered before they started, and with tears in his eyes
he thanked old Duhamel and voiced a hope that they might meet again
ere long.

Then Robespierre jumped nimbly into the berline. The door closed,
the postillion's whip cracked briskly, and they set out upon a
journey which to La Boulaye was to be as the passing from one
life to another.




PART II

THE NEW RULE

Allons! Marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!