"By every means in my power," replied Blakeney, "save the insane. But I will help to get you all out of the demmed hole, when you have failed." "We'll not fail," asserted the other hotly. Sir Percy Blakeney went close up to his friend and placed his long, slender hand, with a touch of almost womanly tenderness upon the latter's shoulder. "Will you tell me your plans?" In a moment Déroulède was all fire and enthusiasm. "There are not many of us in it," he began, "although half France will be in sympathy with us. We have plenty of money, of course, and also the necessary disguise for the royal lady." "Yes?" "I, in the meanwhile, have asked for and obtained the post of Governor of the Conciergerie; I go into my new quarters to-morrow. In the meanwhile, I am making arrangements for my mother and--and those dependent upon me to quit France immediately." Blakeney had perceived the slight hesitation when Déroulède mentioned those dependent upon him. He looked scrutinisingly at his friend, who continued quickly: "I am still very popular among the people. My family can go about unmolested. I must get them out of France, however, in case--in case ..." "Of course," rejoined the other simply. "As soon as I am assured that they are safe, my friends and I can prosecute our plans. You see the trial of the Queen has not yet been decided on, but I know that it is in the air. We hope to get her away, disguised in one of the uniforms of the National Guard. As you know, it will be my duty to make the final round every evening in the prison, and to see that everything is safe for the night. Two fellows watch all night, in the room next to that occupied by the Queen. Usually they drink and play cards all night long. I want an opportunity to drug their brandy, and thus to render them more loutish and idiotic than usual; then for a blow on the head that will make them senseless. It should be easy, for I have a strong fist, and after that ..." "Well? After that, friend?" rejoined Sir Percy earnestly, "after that? Shall I fill in the details of the picture?--the guard twenty-five strong outside the Conciergerie, how will you pass them?" "I as the Governor, followed by one of my guards ..." "To go whither?" "I have the right to come and go as I please." "I' faith! so you have, but 'one of your guards'--eh? Wrapped to the eyes in a long mantle to hide the female figure beneath. I have been in Paris but a few hours, and yet already I have realised that there is not one demmed citizen within its walls, who does not at this moment suspect some other demmed citizen of conniving at the Queen's escape. Even the sparrows on the house-tops are objects of suspicion. No figure wrapped in a mantle will from this day forth leave Paris unchallenged." "But you yourself, friend?" suggested Déroulède. "You think you can quit Paris unrecognised--then why not the Queen?"