Seats of the Mighty | Page 9

to be lived for, and fought for, and
died for. Ay, be honest in your loves. Be true."
And there I took an oath, my hand clenched beneath the table, that
Alixe should be my wife if better days came; when I was done with
citadel and trial and captivity, if that might be.
The evening was well forward when Doltaire, rising from his seat in the
drawing-room, bowed to me, and said, "If it pleases you, monsieur?"
I rose also, and prepared to go. There was little talk, yet we all kept up
a play of cheerfulness. When I came to take the Seigneur's hand,
Doltaire was a distance off, talking to Madame. "Moray," said the
Seigneur quickly and quietly, "trials portend for both of us." He nodded
towards Doltaire.
"But we shall come safe through," said I.
"Be of good courage, and adieu," he answered, as Doltaire turned
towards us.
My last words were to Alixe. The great moment of my life was come.
If I could but say one thing to her out of earshot, I would stake all on
the hazard. She was standing beside a cabinet, very still, a strange glow
in her eyes, a new, fine firmness at the lips. I felt I dared not look as I
would; I feared there was no chance now to speak what I would. But I
came slowly up the room with her mother. As we did so, Doltaire
exclaimed and started to the window, and the Seigneur and Madame

followed. A red light was showing on the panes.
I caught Alixe's eye, and held it, coming quickly to her. All backs were
on us. I took her hand and pressed it to my lips suddenly. She gave a
little gasp, and I saw her bosom heave.
"I am going from prison to prison," said I, "and I leave a loved jailer
behind."
She understood. "Your jailer goes also," she answered, with a sad
smile.
"I love you! I love you!" I urged.
She was very pale. "Oh, Robert!" she whispered timidly; and then, "I
will be brave, I will help you, and I will not forget. God guard you."
That was all, for Doltaire turned to me then and said, "They've made of
La Friponne a torch to light you to the citadel, monsieur."
A moment afterwards we were outside in the keen October air, a squad
of soldiers attending, our faces towards the citadel heights. I looked
back, doffing my cap. The Seigneur and Madame stood at the door, but
my eyes were for a window where stood Alixe. The reflection of the
far-off fire bathed the glass, and her face had a glow, the eyes shining
through, intent and most serious. Yet how brave she was, for she lifted
her handkerchief, shook it a little, and smiled.
As though the salute were meant for him, Doltaire bowed twice
impressively, and then we stepped forward, the great fire over against
the Heights lighting us and hurrying us on.
We scarcely spoke as we went, though Doltaire hummed now and then
the air La Pompadour et La Friponne. As we came nearer I said, "Are
you sure it is La Friponne, monsieur?"
"It is not," he said, pointing. "See!"
The sky was full of shaking sparks, and a smell of burning grain came

down the wind.
"One of the granaries, then," I added, "not La Friponne itself?"
To this he nodded assent, and we pushed on.

II
THE MASTER OF THE KING'S MAGAZINE
"What fools," said Doltaire presently, "to burn the bread and oven too!
If only they were less honest in a world of rogues, poor moles!"
Coming nearer, we saw that La Friponne itself was safe, but one
warehouse was doomed and another threatened. The streets were full of
people, and thousands of excited peasants, laborers, and sailors were
shouting, "Down with the palace! Down with Bigot!"
We came upon the scene at the most critical moment. None of the
Governors soldiers were in sight, but up the Heights we could hear the
steady tramp of General Montcalm's infantry as they came on. Where
were Bigot's men? There was a handful--one company--drawn up
before La Friponne, idly leaning on their muskets, seeing the great
granary burn, and watching La Friponne threatened by the mad crowd
and the fire. There was not a soldier before the Intendant's palace, not a
light in any window.
"What is this weird trick of Bigot's?" said Doltaire, musing.
The Governor, we knew, had been out of the city that day. But where
was Bigot? At a word from Doltaire we pushed forward towards the
palace, the soldiers keeping me in their midst. We were not a hundred
feet from the great steps when two gates at the right suddenly swung