Read The Dedalus Book of French Horror: The 19th Century for Free Online Page B

half an hour at this spot, and nobody has come by the whole time.’
    ‘Why not let me go up to your apartment; or why should you not come to me at mine?’
    ‘Because, were you to visit me, you would implicate the worthy people who have afforded me an asylum; because, were I to go and call upon you, I should run you into the same danger.’
    ‘Well, be it so; I will borrow the card of one of my female relatives.’
    ‘Yes, that she may one day be guillotined, should I chance to be arrested.’
    ‘You are right: I will bring you a card in the name of Solange.’
    ‘Excellent! You will find that Solange will become my only true name after all.’
    ‘At what time shall we meet?’
    ‘At ten tomorrow evening.’
    ‘At ten; be it so, dear Solange.’
    ‘At ten, dear Albert.’
    I offered to kiss her hand – she presented her lovely brow.
    The following night, at half-past nine, I was in the street.
    At a quarter to ten Solange opened the door.
    We had each anticipated the hour.
    I hastened to join her.
    ‘I see you have good news in store for me,’ said she, smiling.
    ‘Capital news; and, first of all, here is your card.’
    ‘No; my father first.’
    She pushed back my hand.
    ‘Your father is saved, if he will.’
    ‘If he will, you say. What must he do?’
    ‘He must confide in me.’
    ‘That is already achieved.’
    ‘Have you seen him?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘You exposed yourself again!’
    ‘How could I help it? It was inevitable; but God is above us!’
    ‘And did you tell your father every thing?’
    ‘I told him you saved my life yesterday, and would perhaps save his tomorrow.’
    ‘Tomorrow! You have guessed it – tomorrow, if he will, I can save his life.’
    ‘How so? Speak. What a fortunate meeting I shall have had, should all this turn out well!’
    ‘There is one thing, however,’ said I, hesitating.
    ‘What?’
    ‘You cannot go with him.’
    ‘As to that, I believe I told you my resolution was taken.’
    ‘Besides, by and by, I am sure I shall be able to get you a passport.’
    ‘Let us first settle about my father; we will speak of me afterwards.’
    ‘Well! I told you I had friends, did I not?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘I called upon one of them this morning.’
    ‘Go on!’
    ‘A man whom you know by name, and whose name is a warrant for courage, loyalty, and honour.’
    ‘And that name is –’
    ‘Marceau.’
    ‘General Marceau?’ 4
    ‘The same.’
    ‘You are right; if that man has made a promise, he will keep it.’
    ‘Well! he has promised.’
    ‘My God! how happy I am! Tell me what it is he has promised?’
    ‘He has promised to serve us.’
    ‘In what manner?’
    ‘In a very simple one. Kleber has just had him appointed commander-in-chief of the army in the west. He leaves Paris tomorrow night.’
    ‘Tomorrow night! We shall have no time to make preparations.’
    ‘We have none to make.’
    ‘I don’t understand you.’
    ‘He will take your father with him.’
    ‘My father?’
    ‘Yes – as his secretary. On arriving in La Vendée, your father will pledge his word to Marceau not to serve against France; and, after gaining some Vendean camp by night, he will pass over to England. When once he is settled in London, he will send you notice; I will procure a passport for you, and you shall join him in London.’
    ‘Tomorrow!’ cried Solange. ‘Is my father to depart tomorrow?’
    ‘There is no time to be lost.’
    ‘My father has had no notice.’
    ‘You can give it him.’
    ‘Tonight?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘But how, at so late an hour?’
    ‘You have got your card, and here is my arm.’
    ‘True – my card.’
    I then gave it her; she put it in her bosom.
    I offered her my arm, and we set off.
    We went as far as the Place Taranne; that is to say, the spot where I had met her the day before.
    ‘Wait for me here,’ said she.
    I bowed assent.
    She disappeared at the corner; then, a quarter of an hour after, she returned.
    ‘Come,’ said she, ‘my father wishes to