Charny drew back, for he had offered himself as the scapecat for the officers' revelry of the First October and he did not want amnesty. Andrea took his hand and also stood back. Again those two had understood each other; and the Queen flashed her eye. With panting bosom she gasped in a broken voice:
"Another."
A guardsman obeyed who had not his captain's reasons. Lafayette led him out on the balcony, put his own tricolored cockade in his hat and shook his hand.
"Bravo, Lafayette! the Lifeguards are not a bad sort."
A few voices remonstrated, but they were drowned by the cheers.
"All is over and the fine weather sets in," said the general. "For the calm not to be broken again, one final sacrifice is necessary. Come to Paris."
"General, you may announce that I shall depart for the capital in an hour, with the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family."
This order seemed to remind Charny of something he had forgotten and he sprang away with alacrity. The Queen followed him, both guided by tracks of blood. The Queen shut her eyes and groping for support met the hand of Charny, which led her on. Suddenly she felt him shudder.
"A dead man," she shrieked, opening her eyes.
"Will your Majesty excuse me taking away my arm? I find what I sought: the remains of my brother Valence."