PAGE 3
Solange
by
“I am all attention.”
“You observed all that took place to-night?”
“Yes. I saw that you had powerful influence.”
“I regret my power is not very great. However, I have friends.”
“I made the acquaintance of one of them.”
“And you know he is not one of the least powerful men of the times.”
“Do you intend to enlist his influence to enable my father to escape?”
“No, I reserve him for you.”
“But my father?”
“I have other ways of helping your father.”
“Other ways?” exclaimed Solange, seizing my hands and studying me with an anxious expression.
“If I serve your father, will you then sometimes think kindly of me?”
“Oh, I shall all my life hold you in grateful remembrance!”
She uttered these words with an enchanting expression of devotion. Then she looked at me beseechingly and said:
“But will that satisfy you?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Ah, I was not mistaken. You are kind, generous. I thank you for my father and myself. Even if you should fail, I shall be grateful for what you have already done!”
“When shall we meet again, Solange?”
“When do you think it necessary to see me again?”
“To-morrow, when I hope to have good news for you.”
“Well, then, to-morrow.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
“Here in the street?”
“Well, mon Dieu!” she exclaimed. “You see, it is the safest place. For thirty minutes, while we have been talking here, not a soul has passed.”
“Why may I not go to you, or you come to me?”
“Because it would compromise the good people if you should come to me, and you would incur serious risk if I should go to you.”
“Oh, I would give you the pass of one of my relatives.”
“And send your relative to the guillotine if I should be accidentally arrested!”
“True. I will bring you a pass made out in the name of Solange.”
“Charming! You observe Solange is my real name.”
“And the hour?”
“The same at which we met to-night–ten o’clock, if you please.”
“All right; ten o’clock. And how shall we meet?”
“That is very simple. Be at the door at five minutes of ten, and at ten I will come down.”
“Then, at ten to-morrow, dear Solange.”
“To-morrow at ten, dear Albert.”
I wanted to kiss her hand; she offered me her brow.
The next day I was in the street at half past nine. At a quarter of ten Solange opened the door. We were both ahead of time.
With one leap I was by her side.
“I see you have good news,” she said.
“Excellent! First, here is a pass for you.”
“First my father!”
She repelled my hand.
“Your father is saved, if he wishes.”
“Wishes, you say? What is required of him?”
“He must trust me.”
“That is assured.”
“Have you seen him?”
“Yes.”
“You have discussed the situation with him?”
“It was unavoidable. Heaven will help us.”
“Did you tell your father all?”
“I told him you had saved my life yesterday, and that you would perhaps save his to-morrow.”
“To-morrow! Yes, quite right; to-morrow I shall save his life, if it is his will.”
“How? What? Speak! Speak! If that were possible, how fortunately all things have come to pass!”
“However–” I began hesitatingly.
“Well?”
“It will be impossible for you to accompany him.”
“I told you I was resolute.”
“I am quite confident, however, that I shall be able later to procure a passport for you.”
“First tell me about my father; my own distress is less important.”
“Well, I told you I had friends, did I not?”
“Yes.”
“To-day I sought out one of them.”
“Proceed.”
“A man whose name is familiar to you; whose name is a guarantee of courage and honor.”
“And this man is?”
“Marceau.”
“General Marceau?”
“Yes.”
“True, he will keep a promise.”
“Well, he has promised.”
“Mon Dieu! How happy you make me! What has he promised? Tell me all.”
“He has promised to help us.”
“In what manner?”
“In a very simple manner. Kleber has just had him promoted to the command of the western army. He departs to-morrow night.”
“To-morrow night! We shall have no time to make the smallest preparation.”
“There are no preparations to make.”
“I do not understand.”
“He will take your father with him.”
“My father?”
“Yes, as his secretary. Arrived in the Vendee, your father will pledge his word to the general to undertake nothing against France. From there he will escape to Brittany, and from Brittany to England. When he arrives in London, he will inform you; I shall obtain a passport for you, and you will join him in London.”