Robespierre gallantly assisted the women to alight, amidst timid exclamations and flutters of fear and laughing protests of: "Oh! dear! How high! I shall never be able to get down!" followed by ripples of laughter and a whole babel of questions and chatter. "Have you slept well, _bon ami_? Ah! How well you look this morning!" "The joy of seeing you," replied Robespierre. They went into ecstasy over his slightest words. Oh, how good he was, how kind! And what a dream the place was, so joyous, so cool! Only he could have discovered such a spot! Mother Duplay had already commenced unpacking the provisions--slices of sausage, shrimp paste, cold chicken, a melon, watercress, Brie cheese, and buns. She called her daughters to help her, whilst Duplay unharnessed the horse and Lebas conversed with Robespierre, giving him the latest news from Paris. Wooden-legged Simon looked around for a convenient spot to spread the cloth, and the boy Maurice occupied himself in coaxing Blount to stand on his hind legs and beg for sugar. Suddenly all movement was suspended, and every ear strained to listen, for screams were heard coming from behind the clump of trees in the background. "It sounds like women's voices," said Cornélie anxiously. "You were right, they were women's voices," repeated Madame Lebas, who had advanced in the direction whence the sound came. Robespierre hastened to reassure them. "It is nothing!" he said calmly, and as every one looked at him questioning, he added indifferently, "They are only arresting two aristocrats!" "Oh, is that all?" said the two women, reassured. Duplay and Simon approached nearer the Incorruptible, scenting a story. Robespierre assumed an air of superior mystery. It was a good find.... He had tracked them down.... At this moment Didier appeared. "Is everything right?" asked Robespierre. "Everything is right, citizen," replied Didier. Apparently satisfied, the Incorruptible turned round, and went towards Cornélie, who had stooped to gather a daisy. A few steps off, on the other trunk, Robespierre had laid the bouquet of blue periwinkles gathered in his morning walk through the forest. He now offered it to her. "Oh, the pretty things!" she exclaimed, thanking him for the delicate attention. "It was the flower Rousseau loved," Robespierre observed. "You are as kind and good as he," the young girl replied, knowing she gave pleasure to the Incorruptible in thus comparing him to his master. Robespierre, pleased and flattered, fastened the flowers in the young girl's dress. A gentle breeze murmured through the leaves, fanning them as it passed. It had come from afar, laden with a scent of cultivated blossoms, the heavy perfume of roses that grew in Clarisse's garden. "Ah, life is sweet sometimes," sighed Cornélie. And Robespierre, inhaling deep draughts of the perfumed air, assented with a smile. CHAPTER V THE SON