"There is no mistake, your name is here."
"I say, there must be some mistake. My arrest was a mistake. I was promised"—
"Into the line with you," was the gruff interruption. "Many would claim there was a mistake if it would avail them to say so."
"But in my case it is true," pleaded de Lacheville. "Send word to Robespierre; he promised"—
"Into the line, I tell you!" cried the exasperated gendarme. "There is no mistake; your name is written here. You go with the rest."
"One moment, one little moment," implored the wretched marquis in an agony of fear. "Oh, messieurs the gendarmes, if you will but hear me, I have an important communication to make." All this time he was fighting desperately as the two officers of the law dragged him toward the door.
"Silence, idiot!" yelled the angry captain, "or I will have you bound and gagged. Take example from these women who put you to shame."
"Idiot that I was," cried de Lacheville, "why did I ever return from a place of safety? None but a fool would have trusted the word of Robespierre."
"Bind him," ordered the captain.
With a strength no one would have believed that he possessed, de Lacheville threw off those who held him.