The shades of evening now were fast gathering in, and the lengthened shadows stretched out away, right across the street. The last rays of the sinking sun still tinged the roofs and chimney pots opposite with a crimson hue. But here, in the hallowed little trysting-place, the kingdom of night had already established its sway. The darkness lent an air of solitude and of security to this tiny refuge, and Régine drew a happy little sigh as she walked deliberately to its farthermost recess and sat down on the wooden bench in its extreme and darkest angle. Behind her, the heavy oaken door of the church was closed. The church itself, owing to the contumaciousness of its parish priest, had been desecrated by the ruthless hands of the Terrorists and left derelict, to fall into decay. The stone walls themselves appeared cut off from the world, as if ostracised. But between them Régine felt safe, and when Bertrand Moncrif somewhat reluctantly sat down beside her, she also felt almost happy. "It is very late," he murmured once more, ungraciously. She was leaning her head against the wall, looked so pale, with eyes closed and bloodless lips, that the young man's heart was suddenly filled with compunction. "You are not ill, Régine?" he asked, more gently. "No" she replied, and smiled bravely up at him. "Only very tired and a little dizzy. The atmosphere in Catherine Théot's rooms was stifling, and then when I came out----" He took her hand, obviously making an effort to be patient and to be kind; and she, not noticing the effort or his absorption, began to tell him about her little adventure with the asthmatic giant. "Such a droll creature," she explained. "He would have frightened me but for that awful, churchyard cough." But the matter did not seem to interest Bertrand very much; and presently he took advantage of a pause in her narrative to ask abruptly: "And Mother Théot, what had she to say?" Régine gave a shudder. "She foretells danger for us all," she said. "The old charlatan!" he retorted with a shrug of the shoulders. "As if every one was not in danger these days!" "She gave me a powder," Régine went on simply, "which she thinks will calm Joséphine's nerves." "And that is folly," he broke in harshly. "We do not want Joséphine's nerves to be calmed." But at his words, which in truth sounded almost cruel, Régine roused herself with a sudden air of authority. "Bertrand," she said firmly, "you are doing a great wrong by dragging the child into your schemes. Joséphine is too young to be used as a tool by a pack of thoughtless enthusiasts." A bitter, scornful laugh from Bertrand broke in on her vehemence. "Thoughtless enthusiasts!" he exclaimed roughly. "Is that how you call us, Régine? My God! where is your loyalty, your devotion? Have you no faith, no aspirations? Do you no longer worship God or reverence your King?"