She started and shivered violently. Was she to endure two proposals within the hour, from such revolting creatures, and at what violence would their outrages end?
"Come," he said, offering to embrace her. She started back in terror.
"Do not tremble," he went on patronisingly; "you have nothing to fear from me, everything to expect. I am able to give you whatever you ask--mansions, carriages, jewels, pleasures, unlimited wealth, unlimited power. These are in my hands. I rule Paris--yes, France--and shall rule Europe. You shall sit by my side, and the whole world shall serve you. They shall fear or love you as you will, but I am able to see that they obey you or sink under my hand. Do not fear the squalor of these brutes whom I govern; you shall see nothing of them, for we shall sit upon the heights of the Revolution. Around us Paris shall always be gay and fascinating. Tell me your slightest wish, citizeness; it shall be yours."
"You will grant me a wish?" she exclaimed.
"Take me, then," said she, "to him you call Répentigny."
"Répentigny or Lecour?" he said, pointing to the name. "Citizeness, he is unworthy of you--totally unworthy."
"Keep your coolness, Madame; the man has long deceived you. The story that he is a plebeian is true. I can prove it."
"I asked you nothing of that sort; take me--only take me to him. Keep your promise."
"Very well, citizeness, there is but one condition. He is in the Conciergerie--in going to him you must, like him, be committed to be condemned."
"Gladly! gladly! Take me to him--take me to him--for the love of heaven."
"I love not heaven very much, citizeness, but, curse you, you seem fool enough to be granted what you ask. Look out of this door."
Obeying, she saw that a crowd of _Sans-culottes_ had filled the shop.
Carmagnoled and sabred, they lounged in slothful consultation and obscured the air with bad tobacco-smoke. On the Admiral opening the door, they rose in a disorderly way and made him a sort of salute.
"Arrest her," he ordered, beckoning the two foremost and waving his skinny hand back to Cyrène. They came forward and grasped her arms.
"To the Conciergerie!" he said, "and each of you answers for her with your head."
As terrified as she, the two guards tied her hands and marched her off through the Street of the Hanged Man.