Rosalie was busy serving at the moment, and a shrill argument over the price of cabbage was in process. She stepped closer, and spoke very low. "Citizen Dangeau said I might trust you, Citizen." "Indeed you may; I am his friend and yours." Even then the colour rose a little at this linking of their names. The impulse towards confidence increased. "I am in trouble, Citizen, or I should not have asked your help. There is a man who follows, insults me, threatens even, and I am without a protector." "Not if you will confide that honour to me," said Cléry quickly. She smiled faintly. "You are very good." "But who is it? Tell me his name, and I will see that you are not molested in future." "It is the Citizen Deputy Hébert," faltered Aline, all her terror returning as she pronounced the hateful name. Clary’s brows drew close, and a long whistle escaped his lips. "Oho, Hébert," he said,—"Hébert; but there, Citoyenne, do not be alarmed, I beg of you. Leave it to me"; after which he made his adieux without conspicuous haste, leaving Rosalie much annoyed at having missed most of the conversation. Two days later, Hébert came foaming in on Thérèse. When he could speak, he swore at her. "See here, Thérèse, if you ’ve a hand in setting Cléry at me, let me warn you. I ’ll take foul play from no woman alive, without giving as good as I get, and if there ’s any of your damned jealousy at work, you she-devil, I ’ll choke you as soon as look at you, and with a great deal more pleasure!" Thérèse stepped up to him and fixed her great black eyes on his pale, twitching ones. "Don’t be so silly, Hébert," she said steadily, though her colour rose. "What is it all about? What has young Cléry done to you? It ’s rather late in the day for you to start quarrelling." "Did you flatter yourself it was about you?" said Hébert brutally. "Not much, my girl; I’ve fresher fish to fry. But he came up to me an hour ago, and informed me he had been looking for me everywhere to tell me my pursuit of that pattern of virtue, our good Dangeau’s mistress, must cease, or I ’d have him to reckon with, and what I want to know is, have you a hand in this, or not?" Thérèse was heavily flushed, and her eyes curiously veiled. "What! Cléry too?" she said in a deep whisper. "Dangeau, and you, and Cléry. Eh! I wish her joy of my cast-off clouts. But she shall pay—Holy Virgin, she shall pay!" Hébert caught her by the shoulder and shook it. "What are you muttering? I ask you a plain question, and you don’t answer it. What about Cléry—did you set him on?" She threw back her head at that, and gave a long, wild laugh.