And following his gesture we saw two boats loaded with armed men just slipping into the shadows of the farther shore.
M. le Comte stared at them for a moment, then down at the frenzied crowd on the terrace, and grew white to the lips. At last he turned to his wife.
“Come, madame,” he said, in a voice strangely calm, “do you and Charlotte descend to the floor below, where you can at least sit down. If I had only thought to bring a candle!”
“I have one,” said Pasdeloup; and produced from his pocket a piece of candle some six inches in length, together with flint and steel. In a moment the candle was alight.
“Good!” cried his master. “Now you can feel almost at home, madame. Perhaps you may even succeed in getting an hour’s sleep. Certainly you will be far more comfortable than on this exposed platform. Let me light the way.”
He took the candle from Pasdeloup’s hand and started down the stair. Madame followed him without a word, but her companion paused and glanced at me. I was at her side in an instant.
“What is it?” she questioned, in a whisper. “Why are we banished. There is no danger?”
“Oh, no, mademoiselle,” I assured her. “There is not the slightest danger at present. I hope that you will really get some sleep.”
“Sleep!” she echoed scornfully. “For what do you take me?”
“For the loveliest woman in the world!” I said. “In that, at least, I am not mistaken.”