"Truly," said Lorin, "it is dreadful to see this poor girl sacrificed thus."
"The more so since it was my safety that has entailed her death. But after all, Lorin, we have one consolation. She was a conspirator."
"Goodness!" said Lorin, "does not every one conspire nowadays? She has done no more, poor girl, than every one else does."
"Grieve for her neither too much, nor too loudly, my friend," said Maurice, "for we have to bear our share in this trouble. Believe me, we are not so fully cleared from the accusation of being her accomplices, that no stain remains behind. To-day, at the section, I was termed 'Girondin,' by the Captain of the Chasseurs of Saint Leu; and I, at the same time, found it necessary to convince him by a stroke from my sword that he was mistaken."
"Then that was the reason you returned so late?"
"Just so."
"But why did you not inform me?"
"Because in affairs of this nature you cannot restrain yourself, and the thing had to be concluded immediately, that it might make no noise."
"And that scum called you 'Girondin,' Maurice,—you, a thoroughbred Republican?"
"By Jove, he did! and this will convince you that another adventure of this nature and we become unpopular; and you well know, Lorin, in these times unpopular is a synonymous term for suspected."