"Madam," said he to the lady who had been so kindly assisted by
one of the highwaymen, "which of these men was it who tendered
you such thoughtful attention?"

This unexpected form of interrogation confused her ideas. It
is probable that she believed the facts to be known, and saw
in this a means of modifying the fate of the man who interested
her.

"It was that gentleman," said she, pointing to Lepretre. The
four accused, who were included in a common alibi, fell by this
one admission under the executioner's axe. They rose and bowed
to her with a smile.

"Faith!" said Hyvert, falling back upon his bench with a burst
of laughter, "that, Captain, will teach you to play the gallant."

I have heard it said that the unhappy lady died shortly after
of chagrin.

The customary appeal followed; but, this time, there was little
hope. The Republican party, which Napoleon annihilated a month
later, was in the ascendency. That of the Counter-Revolution was
compromised by its odious excesses. The people demanded examples,
and matters were arranged accordingly, as is ordinarily the custom
in strenuous times; for it is with governments as with men, the
weakest are always the most cruel. Nor had the Companies of Jehu
longer an organized existence. The heroes of these ferocious
bands, Debeauce, Hastier, Bary, Le Coq, Dabri, Delbourbe and
Storkenfeld, had either fallen on the scaffold or elsewhere. The