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His humour was one of pitying patience for a girl that had not the wit to see that to ask him the most noble d'Ombreval to die that La Boulaye might live was very much like asking him to sacrifice his life to save a dog's. It wanted but a few minutes to noon as the condemned of the day were being brought out of the Conciergerie to take their places in the waiting tumbrils.
Then a flush spread on his face. "Ma foi, Mademoiselle," said he, in a quivering voice, "your words betray thoughts that would be scarcely becoming in the Vicomtesse d'Ombreval." "That, Monsieur, is a point that need give you little thought. I am not likely to become the Vicomtesse." He bestowed her a look of mingling wonder and anger. Had he, indeed, heard her aright?
And now, my friend, I have another task for you, which you can discharge on your homeward journey. You will make a slight detour, passing into Artois and riding to the Chateau d'Ombreval, which is situated some four miles south of Arras.
"So, Citoyenne," said he, and so cold was his voice that it seemed even tinged with mockery, "you are come at last." "I could not come before, Monsieur," she answered, trembling. "They would not let me." Then, after a second's pause: "Am I too late, Monsieur?" she asked. "No," he answered her. "The ci-devant Vicomte d'Ombreval still lies awaiting trial. Will you not be seated?"
Should he at the end of that time be disposed to tell them where the ci-devant Vicomte d'Ombreval was to be found, let them reconsider his case. On the other hand, should he still continue obdurate by the noon of to-morrow, then let the sentence be consummated. There was some demur, but Robespierre swept it fiercely aside with patriotic arguments.
And now, on the eve of departure, he must needs pause to give a fete at once of farewell and in honour of his daughter's betrothal to the Vicomte Anatole d'Ombreval. This very betrothal at so unpropitious a season was partly no more than contrived by the Marquis that he might mark his ignoring and his serene contempt of the upheaval and the new rule which it had brought.
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