“You’ll be where your friend is if you eat many of those this time of year, young citizen,” the man said.
Lisle made a face, but said nothing, holding out some cherries to the man, who accepted two or three. It was Vivi’s friend, Georges Fardou, who came on duty at half past five.
He waved his hand. “Go on with you,” he said, and Lisle drove through.
“So, citizens, you are leaving the gay city—what?” Georges Fardou examined the passports of Humphrey and Dian critically, holding his lanthorn close up to them, for it was dark under the frowning shadow of the walls. He had had many a friendly chat with both of them at odd times, there at the gates, and had often sat next to Dian at meetings of the sections.
“Yes, and the children would come just a pace with us. It’s a good hour before the gates close, and they’ve followed us about all day,” Dian said simply, nodding toward a group of three laughing children, a boy and two girls, who were throwing mud at each other, and every now and then at passers-by.
“Vivi and I are good comrades, I was with the poor father when he died,” Humphrey said, not as though he were pleading for her to go through, but just stating a fact in his quiet way.
Georges nodded. “That was a bad thing. I’d like to see all of the aristos get the hit he got, poor devil. Well, many a one is getting hit at the back of the neck, good luck to the guillotine!” He glanced at the children who had come up to them. “It’s too late for you brats to go through the gates, and it’s against orders,” he said.
Then out of her eagerness and her love for those dear to her who were in peril, Marie Josephine spoke, and her very earnestness gave her courage. It was so dark there in the shadow of the wall that only her eager eyes seemed to show in her dark face as she looked up at the guard.
“I may not see the shepherd again. He has been kinder to me than any one since my father died, him and Humphrey, the funny farmer man,” Marie Josephine spoke in a hoarse, almost harsh voice.
Georges Fardou shook his head. “It’s too late,” he said again.