Produced by An Anonymous Project Gutenberg Volunteer THE TRAMPLING OF THE LILIES By Rafael Sabatini CONTENTS PART I THE OLD RULE CHAPTER I. MONSIEUR THE SECRETARY II. LORDS OF LIFE AND DEATH III. THE WORD OF BELLECOUR IV. THE DISCIPLES OF ROUSSEAU PART II THE NEW RULE V. THE SHEEP TURNED WOLVES VI. THE CITIZEN COMMISSIONER VII. LA BOULAYE DISCHARGES A DEBT VIII. THE INVALIDS AT BOISVERT IX. THE CAPTIVES X. THE BAISER LAMOURETTE XI. THE ESCAPE XII. THE AWAKENING XIII. THE ROAD TO LIEGE XIV. THE COURIER XV. LA BOULAYE BAITS HIS HOOK PART III THE EVERLASTING RULE XVI. CECILE DESHAIX XVII. LA BOULAYE'S PROMISE XVIII. THE INCORRUPTIBLE XIX. THE THEFT XX. THE GRATITUDE OF OMBREVAL XXI. THE ARREST XXII. THE TRIBUNAL XXIII. THE CONCIERGERIE PART I. THE OLD RULE These are they Who ride on the court gale, control its tides; *** Whose frown abases and whose smile exalts. They shine like any rainbow--and, perchance, Their colours are as transient. Old Play CHAPTER I. MONSIEUR THE SECRETARY It was spring at Bellecour--the spring of 1789, a short three months before the fall of the Bastille came to give the nobles pause, and make them realise that these new philosophies, which so long they have derided, were by no means the idle vapours they had deemed them.