Danville hurried to it, and looked out eagerly. "I have not
hastened my return without reason. I wouldn't have missed this
arrest for anything!" thought he, peering into the night.
The stars were out, but there was no moon. He could not recognize
either the coach or the persons who got out of it, and he turned
again into the interior of the room. His wife had sunk into a
chair, her brother was locking up in a cabinet the book which he
had promised to take care of for her. The dead silence made the
noise of slowly ascending footsteps on the stairs painfully
audible. At last the door opened softly.
"Citizen Danville, health and fraternity!" said Lomaque,
appearing in the doorway, followed by his agents. "Citizen Louis
Trudaine?" he continued, beginning with the usual form.
Rose started out of her chair; but her brother's hand was on her
lips before she could speak.
"My name is Louis Trudaine," he answered.
"Charles!" cried his sister, breaking from him and appealing to
her husband, "who are these men? What are they here for?"
He gave her no answer.
"Louis Trudaine," said Lomaque, slowly, drawing the order from
his pocket, "in the name of the Republic, I arrest you."
"Rose, come back," cried Trudaine.
It was too late; she had broken from him, and in the recklessness
of terror, had seized her husband by the arm.
"Save him!" she cried.
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