The soldiers laughed heartily.
'Madeleine,' said Nicholas, 'will you come to Gabrielle?'
'No,' said the girl, 'I shall remain with my mother; at any rate, at present. What street are you in?'
'We are immediately opposite the opening into the Rue des Recollets, in the Rue du Vieux Versailles, with M. le Curé Lindet lodging in the house of the widow Maupied.'
'I shall see you to-morrow, Nicholas,' said the corporal. 'I will take good care of these two madcaps. You know that to-morrow my time of service is out. I shall be on duty early in the morning at the grand staircase, and that is the last office I shall perform for his gracious majesty. Then, huzza! we shall be off to the brave Switzerland, to the mountains and lakes! to the land of Werner Stauffacher, Erni of Melchthal, and Walter Fürst.'
'Never!' cried madame.
'We shall see,' said the corporal.
'We shall see,' said madame; 'a woman has a will of her own, and it is a stubborn one.'
'Good night!' said Nicholas.
At five in the morning, before daylight, a crowd was already prowling about the streets, and crossing the Place d'Armes, armed with pikes, spits, and scythes. Seeing some of the obnoxious body-guard as sentinels at the iron gates, they forced the national guards to fire on them; the latter obeyed, taking care not to hit them.