In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster BoyHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
History
In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction; Historical fiction
"It is still three or four minutes before the time we agreed upon,
Victor," Harry said in a loud voice, for at this moment one of the
other doors opened, and a woman came out with a basket in her arms.
"I have been looking about as usual, but without luck so far. I
suppose you have had no better fortune in your search for work?"
He had by this time unlocked his door, and the two entered together.
"I must call you by your Christian name, count, and will do so, if
you don't mind, when alone as at other times, otherwise the title
might slip out accidentally. Will you, on your part, call me Henri?
As you know the marquis and his family called me Harry, which is
the ordinary way in England of calling anyone whose name is Henry,
that is unless he is a soft sort of fellow; but I must ask them to
call me Henri now, Harry would never do here."
"Have you seen them?" was the count's first question.
"I have just left them, Victor, and if you look out from that window
into the street you will in a few minutes see them also; they are
just going for a ramble towards St. Denis, and we will follow them.
I thought it safer not to attract attention by going to the house,
and I also thought that it would be more pleasant for you to talk
to Mademoiselle de St. Caux out there in the fields, than in a
little room with us present.
"Much more pleasant; indeed, I was wondering whether I should get
an opportunity for a few minutes' talk alone with her."
They both took their places at the open window and leaned out
apparently chatting and carelessly watching what was passing in
the street.
A quarter of an hour later they saw Louise Moulin and the girls
come out of their house.
"We had better come away from the window now," Harry said; "Virginie
might look up and nod, we can't be too careful."
They waited three or four minutes to allow the others to get well
ahead and then started out after them; they walked fast until they
caught sight of the others, and then kept some distance behind
until the party had left the town and were out among the fields
which lay between Paris and St. Denis. They then quickened their
pace and were soon up with them.
The greeting between the lovers was a silent one, few words were
spoken, but their faces expressed their joy at meeting again after
the perils through which they had passed; there was a little pause,
and then Harry, as usual, took the lead.
"I will stroll on to St. Denis and back with Jeanne and Virginie;
Madame Moulin can sit down on that log over there, and go on with
her knitting; you, Victor, can ramble on with mademoiselle by that
path through the field; we will agree to meet here again in an
hour."
This arrangement was carried out; Jeanne and Virginie really enjoyed
their walk; the latter thought their disguise was great fun, and,
being naturally a little mimic, imitated so well the walk and
manner of the country children she had seen in her walks near the
chateau that her sister and Harry were greatly amused.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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