She saw his bandaged arm, and looked at him with love. "Do you despise me very much?" she asked.
"No," he replied; "I would not marry a goddess."
"Nor I," she said, "a philosopher."
Then they kissed each other, and thenceforward their relationship was simple.
But in spite of the labours of the day Savrola had no time for rest. There was much to do, and, like all men who have to work at a terrible pressure for a short period, he fell back on the resources of medicine. He went to a little cabinet in the corner of the room and poured himself out a potent drug, something that would dispense with sleep and give him fresh energy and endurance. Then he sat down and began to write orders and instructions and to sign the pile of papers he had brought with him from the Mayoralty. Lucile, seeing him thus employed, betook herself to her room.
It was about one o'clock in the morning when there came a ringing at the bell. Savrola, mindful of the old nurse, ran down and opened the door himself. Tiro, in plain clothes, entered. "I have come to warn you," he said.
"Of what?"
"Someone has informed the Council that you have released the prisoners. They have summoned an urgency meeting. Do you think you can hold them?"
"The devil!" said Savrola pensively. Then after a pause he added, "I will go and join them."
"There are stages laid by road to the frontier," said the Subaltern. "The President made me arrange them in case he should wish to send Her Excellency away. If you decide to give up the game you can escape by these; they will hold them to my warrant."