“Upon my word, Louison, you are a remarkably beautiful person, and have a power of eloquence I never dreamed of before. They tell me Theroigne de Mericourt is to appear at the Cordeliers; we must have you at the Jacobins. She is beautiful—so are you; she is eloquent, but in that I have just discovered we can more than match her. I have a thing on my mind which must be brought before the club with great caution—a woman can do it; for we accept and excuse anything from beautiful lips—and yours are blooming as roses, Louison.” A faint sneer curled the lips he praised. Did he think to use her as a blind instrument in behalf of the lady whose hand she had seen raised to his lips with such reverence? There was bitter satisfaction in the thought that she had this man’s secret in her keeping, and by it could read the very changes of his mind. She had come there to upbraid him, but the secretiveness of her nature rose uppermost, even in her jealous wrath; it prompted her to watch him, and if he proved treacherous, to fight her battle with his own weapons. “The time has come,” said Mirabeau, “when the women of France must make their influence felt in the nation. Theroigne will be received like a goddess by the Cordeliers.” If the demagogue thought to inspire Louison’s ambition, he only succeeded in uniting with that passion one more dangerous still. “It is said that this Maid of Liege has something besides the wrongs of France to avenge,” she said, dreamily. “Among the minions who swarm around that Austrian woman, is the man she loved—a noble, who plucked the soul from her life, and flung it away in haughty disdain. Yes, yes! it _is_ time that the women of France should test their power. Let Theroigne lead with the Cordeliers; as for me, in life or death, I stand by Mirabeau!” “That is a brave girl; and now let me tell you a secret.” Louison’s heart leaped in her bosom. Would he tell her all that she had learned? If so, that interview with Marie Antoinette might have only a political meaning. She listened breathlessly for his next words. They came to surprise and disappoint her. “Before the year is out, my friend, Mirabeau will be president of the Jacobin club; then Louison Brisot shall test her powers against those of the amazon of Liege.” “Yes,” said Louison; “she will test her powers then.” “The women of the markets are ardent and ignorant; they need leaders of their own sex. These women in their hearts love the queen.” “Ha!” “Did you speak, Louison?” “No, I did not speak, but listened. You think I might control these women?” “You have the power; they would look up to you as they never have to the queen. She is so far above them that they cannot understand her. But you——” “Oh, yes! I can make them understand me. I, too, am of the people,” said Louison, interrupting him. “But still, education and great natural talent has lifted you nearer to her.” “You think so? Well, perhaps it is true.” “You are brave.” “Yes, I am no coward.”