"Ah! Citizen, another desperate conspiracy."
Maurice merely shrugged his shoulders.
"A conspiracy enough to make the hair of one's head stand upright," continued Agesilaus.
"Indeed!" replied Maurice, like a man accustomed to hear daily of thirty conspiracies at this epoch.
"Yes, Citizen," replied Agesilaus; "it drives me to frenzy, you see. The very thought of it makes a good patriot's flesh creep."
"Let us hear this conspiracy," said Maurice.
"The Austrian has all but escaped."
"Nonsense!" said Maurice, beginning to listen with greater attention.
"It seems," continued Agesilaus, "that the Widow Capet was in communication with the girl Tison, who is to be guillotined to-day. She has not escaped that fate, unfortunate creature!"
"How had the queen communication with this girl?" demanded Maurice, who felt the perspiration exuding at every pore.