"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 it 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?"
196
