The Chevalier De Maison Rouge Read Online Free Page A

eyes.' "
    '"Louis," said Maurice, "a truce to Dorcit, to Parny, 18 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.
    and to Gentil Bernard, 1 pray you. Speak seriously ;
    will you, or will you not, give me the password ? "
    " That is to say, Maurice, you place me in this situa-
    tion : I must either sacrifice my duty to my friend, or
    my friend to my duty ; but I fear, Maurice, my duty will
    fall the sacrifice."
    "Decide, then, for one or the other, mon ami ; but, in the name of Heaven, decide quickly ! "
    " You will not abuse it ?"
    " I promise you."
    "That is not sufficient ; swear."
    ' Upon what ?"
    " Swear upon the altar of your country."
    Louis pulled off his hat, presenting to Maurice the side
    with the cockade, and Maurice, finding the affair very
    simple, took, without smiling, the oath required upon
    this extemporary altar.
    " .Now," said Louis, " this is the password : France and Lutece ; perhaps you would say, France and Lucretia ;
    but let that pass, it is Eoman, all the same."
    " Citoyenne," said Maurice, "I am at your service.
    Thanks, Louis."
    " Bon voyage," cried he, replacing on his head "the altar of the country," and, faithful to his anacreontic taste, departed, singing :
    "Eleonora, Eleonora !
    Now I've taught you how to love,
    Tell your passionate adorer,
    Does the lesson weary prove ? "
    CHAPTER III.
    LA UTE DES FOSSES ST. VICTOK.
    MAURICE, finding himself alone with the young woman,
    felt for the moment deeply embarrassed. The fear of
    being duped, attracted by her marvelous beauty, troubled
    his conscience as a pure and exalted Republican, and
    caused him to hesitate when about to offer her the sup-
    port of his arm.
    THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 19
    " Where are you going, citoyenne ? " said he.
    " Alas ! monsieur, a long way from here," replied she.
    11 But how far ?"
    " By the side of the Jardin des Plantes."
    " It is some distance ; let us proceed on our way."
    "Ah, mon Dieu ! monsieur," said the unknown, "I plainly perceive I am a constraint upon you ; but indeed
    it is no ordinary danger that I incur. Believe me, I will
    not abuse your generosity."
    " But, madame," said Maurice, who, during his tete-a-tete, had totally forgotten the language imposed by the
    Republican vocabulary, and returned to the language of
    a gentleman, " how is it, in all conscience, that at this hour you are found in the streets of Paris, where, with
    the exception of ourselves, you do not see a single indi-
    vidual ? "
    " Monsieur, I have told you ; I had been paying a visit to the Faubourg clu Roule. Leaving home at midday,
    and knowing nothing of what had taken place, I returned,
    of course, in equal ignorance, all my time having been
    spent in deep retirement."
    " Yes," murmured Maurice, "in some retired house, the resort of the aristocrats. Confess, citoyenne, while
    publicly demanding my protection, you laugh in your
    sleeve at my egregious folly."
    " Why should Tact thus"? "
    " You are aware that a Republican acts as your guide.
    Well, this Republican betrays his cause, that is all/'
    " But, citizen," quickly rejoined the unknown, "I, as well as you, love the Republic ; you labor under a mistake concerning me."
    " Then, citoyenne. if you are a good patriot, you can
    have no cause for concealment. Where do you come
    from ? ''
    " Monsieur, excuse me."
    There was in this ''monsieur " so much sweetness and
    modesty of expression, that Maurice believed it to be
    founded on some sentiment concealed.
    20 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.
    "Surely," said he, "this woman is returning from some rendezvous d'arnour."
    At this moment, without knowing why, he felt deeply
    oppressed at this thought, and for a short time he re-
    maiiied silent.
    When these two noctural promenaders had reached La
    Rue de la Verrerie, after having encountered three or
    four patrols, who, thanks to the password, allowed them
    free passage, an officer at length appeared inclined to
    raise some difficulties. Maurice here found it necessary
    to give his name and also his