While this decision was forming against him, Maurice had returned to the Temple, where the following billet awaited him,—
Our guard being violently broken up, I shall not be able, in all probability, to see you before to-morrow morning. Come then and breakfast with me; during that meal you shall give me a true and particular account of the plots and conspiracies discovered by Simon.
A pink the culprit was,—
So honest Simon does depose;
But I shall information seek
This morning from a lovely rose.And to-morrow, in my turn, I shall lay before you all Arthémise's answers to my questions.
Yours faithfully,
Lorin.
Maurice replied,—
There is nothing new; so sleep in peace to-night, and breakfast without me to-morrow, as, on reviewing the incidents of the day, I find I shall not, in all probability, be able to leave till noon.
I should like to be a zephyr to waft a kiss to the rose of which you speak.
I give you leave to whistle at my prose as much as I do at your verse.
Yours faithfully,
Maurice.P.S. For the rest, I believe the conspiracy was only a false alarm, after all.
Lorin had indeed left at one o'clock with the whole of his battalion, thanks to the brutal conduct of the shoemaker; he however consoled himself with a quatrain, and went to visit Arthémise.
Arthémise was delighted to see Lorin. The weather, as we have said, was magnificent; she therefore proposed a walk along the quay, to which Lorin of course assented. They had walked some distance, discoursing on politics, Lorin recounting his expulsion from the Temple and vainly endeavoring to divine the cause, when, on reaching the vicinity of Rue des Barres, they perceived a flower-girl, who, like themselves, was walking up the right bank of the Seine.
"Ah, Citizen Lorin!" said Arthémise, "I hope you are going to present me with a bouquet?"
"Two, if you wish it," said Lorin; and they both redoubled their speed to overtake the flower-girl, who walked at a rapid pace.