“I am she, Monsieur,” she replied; “what do you desire of me?”
“I am ordered, Mademoiselle, to conduct you to the citadel.”
“Ah!” exclaimed Maurice, in a ferocious tone; “so they imprison women also!”
The worthy corporal struck himself a heavy blow upon the forehead.
“I am an old stupid!” he exclaimed, “and express myself badly. I meant to say that I came to seek mademoiselle at the request of one of the condemned, a man named Chanlouineau, who desires to speak with her.”
“Impossible, my good man,” said one of the officers; “they would not allow this lady to visit one of the condemned without special permission——”
“Well, she has this permission,” said the old soldier.
Assuring himself, with a glance, that he had nothing to fear from anyone present, he added, in lower tones:
“This Chanlouineau told me that the cure would understand his reasons.”
Had the brave peasant really found some means of salvation? The abbe almost began to believe it.