"You have a short memory," she said; "others will not believe it is so short. When I say, as I shall say, that it was you that arranged Mlle Marguerite’s flight there will be plenty of people who will believe me." She paused, panting a little, and Mathieu, white with passion, stared helplessly at her. Jean Jacques, in the background, looked from one to the other, amazed to the point of wondering whether he were asleep or awake. Was this Madelon, who had been afraid of raising her voice in her father’s presence? And what was all this about Leroux and the escape? It was beyond him, but he opened ears and eyes to their widest. "There is no proof!" shouted Mathieu. "Ah, but yes," said Madelon at once; "you forget that Mlle Marguerite gave you her diamond shoe-buckles as a reward for helping her and M. le Chevalier to get away." "Shoe-buckles!" exclaimed Mathieu Leroux, his eyes almost starting from his head. "Yes, indeed, shoe-buckles with diamonds in them, fit for a princess; and they are hidden in your garden, my father, and when I tell the Commissioner that, and show him where they are buried, do you think that your patriotism will save you?" "It is not true," gasped Mathieu, putting one hand to his head, where the hair clung suddenly damp. "Citizen Brutus Carré will believe it," returned Madelon steadily. "Hell-cat! She-devil! You would not dare——" "Yes, I would dare. I will dare anything if you push me too far, but if you hold your tongue I will hold mine," said Madelon, looking at him over her baby’s head. She laid her free arm across the child as she spoke, and Leroux saw truth and determination in her eyes. Jean Jacques began to understand. Eh, but Madelon was clever. A smile came slowly into his broad face, and his hands unclenched. After all, there would be no strangling. It was much better so. Quarrels in families were a mistake. He conceived that the moment had arrived when he might usefully intervene. "It is a mistake to quarrel," he observed in his deep, slow voice. Mathieu swung round, glaring, and Madelon closed her eyes for a moment. There was a slight pause, during which Jean Jacques met his father-in-law’s furious gaze with placidity. Then he said again: "Quarrels in families are a mistake. It is better to live peaceably. Madelon and I are quiet people." Leroux gave a short, enraged grunt, and looked again at his daughter. As he moved she opened her eyes, and he read in them an unchanged resolve. "I don’t want to quarrel, I ’m sure," he said sulkily. "We don’t," observed Jean Jacques with simplicity. "Then it is understood. Madelon will tell no lies about me?" "I say nothing unless I am arrested. If that happens, I tell what I know." "But you know nothing," exploded Leroux. "The shoe-buckles," said Madelon. Leroux stared at her silently for a full minute. Then, with an angrily-muttered oath, he flung out of the room, shutting the door behind him with violence.