And the enrolled Volunteers and the National Guards embraced with warm enthusiasm. At this period the French people were as anxious to embrace as to behead one another.
"Let us now go," cried the two united troops, "to the corner of the Rue Thomas du Louvre."
"And we," said one of the wounded, in a plaintive voice, "do you intend to abandon us here?"
"Ah, well! yes," said Lorin, "abandon the heroes who have fallen bravely fighting for their country against patriots—it is true by mistake, but still true for all that; we will send you some wheelbarrows. Meanwhile you can sing the Marseillaise, it will divert you."
Then approaching Maurice, who was waiting for him, with the unknown, at the corner of the Rue du Coq, while the National Guards and enrolled Volunteers arm-in-arm retraced their steps toward the square of the Palais-Egalité,—
"Maurice," said he, "I promised you some counsel, and it is this. Be persuaded to accompany us, rather than compromise yourself by protecting this young woman, who, it is true, is very charming, and on that account not the less to be suspected; for charming women who run about the streets of Paris at midnight—"
"Sir," said the young woman, "judge me not from appearances, I implore you."
"In the first place, you say sir, and that is a great fault. Do you understand, Citizeness, what I say?"
"Of course I do, Citizen; but allow your friend to accomplish his kind action."