What a child she looked, standing there, with her hands behind her back, wearing a simple country-made frock of some dark material, a white fichu crossed over her breast and fastened behind at the waist. Her auburn hair was tied back by a green ribbon, and a little white cap, the "bonnet" of the period, similar to that worn by Marie Antoinette in David's celebrated picture, rested lightly upon her small, girlish head. There was nothing of the convicted criminal about her appearance, save the slight shade of pallor which these last few days of captivity had left upon her cheek; there was nothing of the prisoner in her bearing, save that her hands were bound behind her. Her wide gray eyes, fresh from the dazzling sunshine of the street, seemed to open wider still in an endeavor to pierce the prison gloom into which she was returning. But, as she saw the old warder's homely figure, standing there in a kindly attitude of welcome, an expression of relief, almost of happiness, illumined her face. Two soldiers, who had accompanied her as far as the entrance, withdrew as soon as their prisoner had crossed the threshold, and the door closed upon them. The old warder advanced to meet his captive. "So you are back again, citizeness?" he said, with an assumed cheerfulness which he was far from feeling. "Ah, my good friend," replied the girl, in a low voice, which bore signs of the long and fatiguing cross-examination to which she had just been subjected, "I shall not trouble you much longer." Richard shrugged his shoulders, as though to deny that any trouble was involved in the care of so well-behaved a prisoner. [Illustration: "'I KISS THE TIPS OF YOUR WINGS,' HE SAID"] "I will tell the wife of your return," he said. "You promised to take your supper with us, you remember." "I fear I must break my promise," said Charlotte, with a sad smile. "There will be no time for supper to-night." "But my little Jean is so looking forward----" "Poor little Jean," she interrupted; "I am so sorry to disappoint him. But he will forgive me, I know. And by the by," she continued, "I am expecting a visitor this evening. Will you please see that he is admitted the moment he arrives?" Chabot, who up to this time had been sitting unperceived in the corner of the cell, gave vent to a low chuckle. Charlotte looked about at the sound, and as her eye fell upon the sinister figure of the ex-priest, she could not repress a shudder. "You!" she exclaimed, starting back suddenly. Chabot advanced toward her, with mock politeness, which the expression on his face belied. "At your service!" he said, with a low bow. "But why are you here? What do you want with me?" asked the frightened girl. "I am here to see you, on a little matter of--er--business. I want a few moments' conversation with you."