"Bah," said La Liberté with a shrug; "you are very heroic, but, Robert Tournay once out of danger, you would not give yourself up to the committee. In your place, I should not do it, and I will not trust you." "I give you my promise to appear before Robespierre himself." "Your promise," repeated La Liberté, "you ask me to accept your simple word?" "The word of a de Rochefort," said Edmé with quiet dignity. "The word of an aristocrat," continued La Liberté slowly. "You aristocrats vaunt your devotion to honor." "And will you not trust it when Colonel Tournay's life is at stake?" asked Edmé. "Yes, I will," La Liberté burst forth in fierce energy. "I _will_ trust your word, and test your honor." "Then for twenty-four hours you will let me go free? You will not have me watched nor interfered with in any way?" "I give you _my_ word," said La Liberté, drawing herself up, "and my word is as good as that of the proudest aristocrat." Then changing her manner she asked quickly: "How do you propose to save Robert Tournay? What can you do?" Edmé had no intention of imparting her plan to La Liberté, yet she did not wish to antagonize her by refusing to confide in her. "There is not time to go into the details of it now. First help me to get away from here. Those clerks may return." "I will prevent that," said La Liberté quickly. "I know where they sup. I will go there and delay their return. They are convivial youngsters and never refuse a glass or two. In the meantime you must see to it that those three files of warrants do not retain the slightest appearance of having been handled. Be sure that every object in the room is just as you found it." By this time La Liberté was outside the door. Looking back into the room, she said: "When you have done that, go down this staircase, cross the street, and wait for me in the shadow of the building opposite. I will then conduct you to my house," and La Liberté's feet sprang nimbly down the stairs. Quickly Edmé picked up the pieces of torn warrant, intending to take them away and burn them. Then she turned her attention to the documents on the table, and in a few minutes had them arranged just as she found them. She placed the chairs in a natural position before the table, and stepped back for a final survey to assure herself that she had not left a trace which might arouse the suspicion of the clerks. No, there was nothing that Hanneton or even Clément would be likely to notice. She had been none too rapid in the arrangement of these details. The door of the adjoining chamber was unlocked and some one entered. Edmé could tell by the footfalls that the person was traversing the room with measured tread. Then came the sound of a chair being drawn up to a desk. Then a dry cough echoed through the deserted hall as a man cleared his throat.