Maurice quickly placed his hand on the arm of his colleague.
"One moment, my dear colleague," said he; "leave me to speak to the citizeness, I am a little bit of a lawyer."
"Go on then; but do not stand on ceremony with her, morbleu!"
"You have concealed a letter, Citizen," said Maurice, austerely; "now it is necessary we should see this letter."
"But what letter?"
"The letter that Tison's daughter brought you, and which the citizeness, your daughter" (Maurice alluded to the young princess), "picked up with her pocket-handkerchief."
The three females looked at each other with terror.
"But, Monsieur, this is worse than tyranny," said the queen; "we are women! women!"
"Do not mistake," said Maurice, with firmness; "we are neither judges nor executioners, we are overseers,—that is to say, your fellow-citizens,—commissioned to guard you. We have our order; to violate it is treason. Citizeness, I pray you to give me the letter you have concealed."