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beautiful flame like a vivid lightning about them。 And it was
lightning！ Each thought of the last ten years of misconception； and
they blamed themselves only。 Michu stood motionless； his elbow on his
gun； his chin on his hand； lost in deep reverie。 Such a moment in a
man's life makes him willing to accept the saddest moments of a
painful past。
Marthe； agitated by the same thoughts as those of her husband； was
also troubled in heart by the danger of the Simeuse brothers； for she
now understood all； even the faces of the two Parisians； though she
still could not explain to herself her husband's gun。 She darted
forward like a doe； and soon reached the road to the chateau。 There
she was surprised by the steps of a man following behind her； she
turned； with a cry； and her husband's large hand closed her mouth。
〃From the hill up there I saw the silver lace of the gendarmes' hats。
Go in by the breach in the moat between Mademoiselle's tower and the
stables。 The dogs won't bark at you。 Go through the garden and call
the countess by the window； order them to saddle her horse； and ask
her to come out through the breach。 I'll be there； after discovering
what the Parisians are planning； and how to escape them。〃
Danger； which seemed to be rolling like an avalanche upon them； gave
wings to Marthe's feet。
CHAPTER IV
LAURENCE DE CINQ…CYGNE
The old Frank name of the Cinq…Cygnes and the Chargeboeufs was
Duineff。 Cinq…Cygne became that of the younger branch of the
Chargeboeufs after the defence of a castle made； during their father's
absence； by five daughters of that race； all remarkably fair； and of
whom no one expected such heroism。 One of the first Comtes de
Champagne wished； by bestowing this pretty name； to perpetuate the
memory of their deed as long as the family existed。 Laurence； the last
of her race； was； contrary to Salic law； heiress of the name； the
arms； and the manor。 She was therefore Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne in her
own right； her husband would have to take both her name and her
blazon； which bore for device the glorious answer made by the elder of
the five sisters when summoned to surrender the castle； 〃We die
singing。〃 Worthy descendant of these noble heroines； Laurence was fair
and lily…white as though nature had made her for a wager。 The lines of
her blue veins could be seen through the delicate close texture of her
skin。 Her beautiful golden hair harmonized delightfully with eyes of
the deepest blue。 Everything about her belonged to the type of
delicacy。 Within that fragile though active body； and in defiance as
it were of its pearly whiteness； lived a soul like that of a man of
noble nature； but no one； not even a close observer； would have
suspected it from the gentle countenance and rounded features which；
when seen in profile； bore some slight resemblance to those of a lamb。
This extreme gentleness； though noble； had something of the stupidity
of the little animal。 〃I look like a dreamy sheep；〃 she would say；
smiling。 Laurence； who talked little； seemed not so much dreamy as
dormant。 But； did any important circumstance arise； the hidden Judith
was revealed； sublime； and circumstances had； unfortunately； not been
wanting。
At thirteen years of age； Laurence； after the events already related；
was an orphan living in a house opposite to the empty space where so
recently had stood one of the most curious specimens in France of
sixteenth…century architecture； the hotel Cinq…Cygne。 Monsieur
d'Hauteserre； her relation； now her guardian； took the young heiress
to live in the country at her chateau of Cinq…Cygne。 That brave
provincial gentleman； alarmed at the death of his brother； the Abbe
d'Hauteserre； who was shot in the open square as he was about to
escape in the dress of a peasant； was not in a position to defend the
interests of his ward。 He had two sons in the army of the princes； and
every day； at the slightest unusual sound； he believed that the
municipals of Arcis were coming to arrest him。 Laurence； proud of
having sustained a siege and of possessing the historic whiteness of
her swan…like ancestors； despised the prudent cowardice of the old man
who bent to the storm； and dreamed only of distinguishing herself。 So；
she boldly hung the portrait of Charlotte Corday on the walls of her
poor salon at Cinq…Cygne； and crowned it with oak…leaves。 She
corresponded by messenger with her twin cousins； in defiance of the
law； which punished the act； when discovered； with death。 The
messenger； who risked his life； brought back the answers。 Laurence
lived only； after the catastrophes at Troyes； for the triumph of the
royal cause。 After soberly judging Monsieur and Madame d'Hauteserre
（who lived with her at the chateau de Cinq…Cygne）； and recognizing
their honest； but stolid natures； she put them outside the lines of
her own life。 She had； moreover； too good a mind and too sound a
judgment to complain of their natures； always kind； amiable； and
affectionate towards them； she nevertheless told them none of her
secrets。 Nothing forms a character so much as the practice of constant
concealment in the bosom of a family。
After she attained her majority Laurence allowed Monsieur d'Hauteserre
to manage her affairs as in the past。 So long as her favorite mare was
well…groomed； her maid Catherine dressed to please her； and Gothard
the little page was suitably clothed； she cared for nothing else。 Her
thoughts were aimed too high to come down to occupations and interests
which in other times than these would doubtless have pleased her。
Dress was a small matter to her mind； moreover her cousins were not
there to see her。 She wore a dark…green habit when she rode； and a
gown of some common woollen stuff with a cape trimmed with braid when
she walked； in the house she was always seen in a silk wrapper。
Gothard； the little groom； a brave and clever lad of fifteen； attended
her wherever she went； and she was nearly always out of doors； riding
or hunting over the farms of Gondreville； without objection being made
by either Michu or the farmers。 She rode admirably well； and her
cleverness in hunting was thought miraculous。 In the country she was
never called anything but 〃Mademoiselle〃 even during the Revolution。
Whoever has read the fine romance of 〃Rob Roy〃 will remember that rare
woman for whose making Walter Scott's imagination abandoned its
customary coldness；Diana Vernon。 The recollection will serve to make
Laurence understood if； to the noble qualities of the Scottish
huntress you add the restrained exaltation of Charlotte Corday；
surpassing； however； the charming vivacity which rendered Diana so
attractive。 The young countess had seen her mother die； the Abbe
d'Hauteserre shot down； the Marquis de Simeuse and his wife executed；
her only brother had died of his wounds； her two cousins serving in
Conde's army might be killed at any moment； and； finally； the fortunes
of the Simeuse and the Cinq…Cygne families had been seized and wasted
by the Republic without being of any benefit to the nation。 Her grave
demeanor； now lapsing into apparent stolidity； can be readily
understood。
Monsieur d'Hauteserre proved an upright and most careful guardian。
Under his administration Cinq…Cygne became a sort of farm。 The good
man； who was far more of a close manager than a knight of the old
nobility； had turned the park and gardens to profit； and used their
two hundred acres of grass and woodland as pasturage for horses and
fuel for the family。 Thanks to his severe economy the countess； on
coming of age； had recovered by his investments in the State funds a
competent fortune。 In 1798 she possessed about twenty thousand francs
a year from those sources； on which； in fact； some dividends were
still due； and twelve thousand francs a year from the rentals at Cinq…
Cygne； which had lately been renewed at a notable increase。 Monsieur
and Madame d'Hauteserre had provided for their old age by the purchase
of an annuity of three thousand francs in the Tontines Lafarge。 That
fragment of their former means did not enable them to live elsewhere
than at Cinq…Cygne； and Laurence's first act on coming to her majority
was to give them the use for life of the wing of the chateau which
they occupied。
The Hauteserres； as niggardly for their ward as they were for
themselves； laid up every year nearly the whole of their annuity for
the benefit of their sons； and kept the young heiress on miserable
fare。 The whole cost of the Cinq…Cygne household never exceeded five
thousand francs a year。 But Laurence； who condescended to no details；
was satisfied。 Her guardian and his wife； unconsciously ruled by the
imperceptible influence of her strong character； which was felt even
in little things； had ended by admiring her whom they had known and
treated as a child；a sufficiently rare feeling。 But in her manner；
her deep voice； her commanding eye； Laurence held that inexplicable
power which rules all men；even when its strength is mere appearance。
To vulgar minds real depth is incomprehensible； it is perhaps for that
reason that the populace is so prone to admire what it cannot
understand。 Monsieur and Madame d'Hauteserre； impressed by the
habi