The Argosy for May — page 75: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

262 With a sudden wrench, my blade slid down his, and jerked it from his hand. His sword flew across the room, and struck the far wall. Starting back, as I disarmed him, De Grieux’s foot caught in a crumpled rug, and he fell heavily to the floor. The impact of his head on the polished boards momentarily stunned him, and he lay motionless. But, as though in echo to the sound of his fall, a second crash sounded from the other side of the room. The bolted outer door flew open, with a rending of rotten wood, and through the gaping aperture poured uniformed men. “In the name of the Republic of France!’ roared the foremost. A glance told me these were not mere gendarmes, drawn thither by the sound of fighting. They wore the National Guard uniforms, and their leader’s chest was crossed by the dreaded insignia of the Committee of Public Safety. And then I knew. Word must some- how have reached the government that the Comte de Grieux, proscribed aristo- crat, had ventured back to Paris. His whereabouts being known, a squad of guardsmen had been sent to arrest him here in his insecure hiding- place. Hence the unheralded assault upon the room, designed in order to give the prey no time nor chance to escape. Every hotel, every lodging-house had its government spies in those days. De Grieux’s love must indeed have been strong, thought I, to lure him here al- most to certain capture. But the French aristocrats ever lacked forethought. Had they not, there need have been no French revolution. De Périer and Elise alike understood, even as had I, the cause of the intru- sion. The lieutenant in command strode toward us. “Which is the emzgré Grieux?” he asked sternly, looking in doubt from my- self to the man on the floor, who now began to stir feebly. So! The guillotine was to finish what I had begun! Well, it was de- cidedly no affair of mine. I shrugged my shoulders, and slipped my sword back into its sheath. | “Which is Citizen Grieux?” repeated THE ARGOSY. the lieutenant more harshly. ‘ Answer in the name of the—” As ill luck would have it, his eye fell on Elise this time. The. question was addressed to her. Like a little child, afraid, her eyes turned to me in what I read for the very sublimity of appeal. And then I committed my crowning act of folly. “Tam the Comte de Grieux, at your service, my man,” said I in an offensively haughty tone. ‘“ What do you wish of me?” Elise drew in her breath sharply. De Perier stared unbelieving. At hear- ing my admission, the lieutenant had drawn a paper from his belt. “Citizen Grieux,” he declaimed in a nasal, singsong.tone, “in the name of the French Republic, represented by the Committee of Public Safety, I arrest you. Fall in!” he ordered his men. Two of them stood on either side of me. ‘Citizen Grieux,” resumed the lieu- tenant, in the same singsong, “ you are charged—”’ ‘Did you address me?” came a dazed, muddled voice from the floor behind us. De Grieux had risen on one elbow. Still but half-conscious, and uncertain as to where he was, -he had dimly caught the repetition of his own name, and had replied to it. I must act quickly. Be still!” I shouted to him in af- fected contempt, ‘or must my sword teach you. another lesson, American? It is lucky you come in force, lieutenant,”’ I went on braggingly, ‘‘ or I should serve you as I served that fellow Braith there, who dogged me to this room, and sought to arrest me in the same name of your upstart republic. “Come,” I added, ‘“‘if I am to be jailed for the crime of being better born than scum like yourselves, let us be moving. There is no need to read me the list of my offenses. I have no wish that this lady and her father should be further distressed on my account. I forced my way in here upon them, hoping to borrow money for my needs. But they are so foolish as to be attached to that same rag-bag republic of yours, and they ordered me away. Come! We waste time.” =~ March 2? ordered the lieutenant, COMMCOOCKKS.ECO