If she could only see him once again, oh, what a cordial to the heart of the unhappy mother!
There was yet another motive.
"My sister," Madame Elizabeth had said to her, "you know we found in the corridor a straw standing upright in a corner of the wall. In the language of our signs this desires us to be watchful, as a friend is coming near us."
"That is true," replied the queen; who, regarding her sister and child with pity, would not on their account permit herself to despair of their ultimate safety.
The duties of the service accomplished, Maurice was then highest in authority in the keep of the Temple, since chance had elected him as guard during the day, and the other municipals, Agricola and Mercevault, as guards during the night.
The municipals had left, after laying their procès-verbal before the Council of the Temple.
"Ah, Citizen Municipal," said the woman Tison, coming forward to salute Maurice, "you bring company, then, to see our caged pigeons? It is only I who am condemned no more to see my poor Sophie."
"They are friends of mine," said Maurice, "who have never yet seen the Widow Capet."
"Ah! well, they will see admirably behind the partition."
"Assuredly," said Morand.