The lady rose terrified, calling for help.
"Stand aside, Geneviève; stand aside!" cried the voice of Dixmer, "stand aside that I may kill him!"
And Maurice saw the carbine levelled at him.
But scarcely had the woman looked at him than she uttered a frightful cry, and instead of standing aside, as desired by her husband, rushed between him and the barrel of the gun.
This movement concentrated all Maurice's attention on the generous woman, whose first impulse was to protect him from danger and death.
In his turn he uttered a cry of astonishment.
It was the unknown whom he had so eagerly sought.
"You!" he exclaimed, "you—"
"Silence!" cried she.
Then, turning toward the assassins, who, variously armed, approached the window,—