"For God's sake, do not speak so loudly!" whispered Simon, casting an anxious look around. "But why do you yourself not go away with the boy and leave Paris, where you are constantly in danger?"
"I cannot," answered Toulan, solemnly.
"Cannot! what forbids you?"
"The vow that I gave to Marie Antoinette, to rescue her children from the Temple or to die."
"Well, but to-morrow you hope to fulfil your vow, and then you can go."
"I shall fulfil to-morrow but the half of my vow. I shall, if you help me, and my plan succeeds, release the son of the queen, but the daughter will remain behind in prison. You see, therefore, that I cannot leave Paris, for the daughter and sister-in-law of the queen are still prisoners, and I must release them."
"But I should rather that you would go away with the boy, and never come back to Paris," said Simon, thoughtfully.
"How so? Do you not trust me?"
"I trust no one," replied Simon, gloomily. "You might some day, when it might suit your humor, or in order to save yourself, betray me, and report me to the Committee of Safety."
"What, I! And ought I not to fear too? Could not you betray me as well?"