"He put a gold piece in the book, tied a string round it, and threw it out of the window. The Parish Priest found it and picked out a sturdy fellow among his flock, to whom he said:
"'Leave twelve francs with your family who are without bread. With the other twelve go carry this book to Paris, to a poor boy whose father has been taken away from him because he loves the people too well.' The young man got in yesterday at noon: he handed me the book and thus I knew of the arrest."
"Good, this makes me friends with the priests again!" exclaimed Billet. "A pity they are not all built on this pattern. What about the peasant?"
"He went back last evening, hoping to carry his family the five francs he had saved on the journey."
"How handsome of him," said Billet. "Oh, the people are good for something, boy."
"Now, you know all: you promised if I told you, to restore me my father."
"I said I should or get killed. Now show me that book."
The boy drew from his pocket a copy of Rousseau's "Social Contract."
Billet kissed where the doctor's hand had traced the appeal.
"Now, be calm," he said: "I am going to fetch your father from the Bastile."