Beadle's Dime Library No. 157 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= aw + OP et i bi, Py OOOO — ~ a . 8 OE Em will aS on - - a | a. -_——————_—- -- ce ee ee _——--. ee ——__— -_—< e ——— = — — luxurv‘ No, to- arms, citizens. battalious, and march on till their impure blood gluts our sewers.” Citizen Soneva effort was rewarded with a burst of howls, and the whole club roared the Marseillaise chorus, from which he had made so apt a quotation, till he waved his hand for silence, and proceeded: Form your ey Ne | Saye * A ° ; i were they fairly out of hearing than Citizen Gigot burst into an impassioned speech on the intamy of concealed aristocrats sneaking into the clubs of the sovereign ee gs and tj cer that a formal vote of expulsion should be taken at once on “the two cowards who had just departed.” he vote seemed likely to follow the speaker, ‘* These aristocrats have a banquet in the very | for the Guillotine Club’s spirit was up in arms, next street, and 1 have a big stone ready for them. Here it is.” He showed a huge cobble-stone tied up in a napkin, and in a moment every man in theclub except the president and Citizen Georges started up with a similar stone. ‘‘ Now put it to the vote, Citizen President,” cried Gigot excitedly, ‘‘and let, us see who in this club will oppose the will of the sovereign people in this matter.” very one looked at Citizen Georges, but he | sat still and said nothing. ‘‘Has Citizen Georges any opposition now?” asked Gigot sneeringly. ‘* No,” answered the other, dryly. ‘‘I see it is nouse. But I warn you that you will have to do your own fighting in case the ‘ Whites’ turn the tables on you.” His remark produced an uneasy silence broken at last by the president. ‘* Does the citizen think the ‘ Whites’ know of our plan to break their windows?” Citizen Georges shrugged his shoulders. ‘* You have inade enough noise about it, and { heard, up at the Tuileries, that they had ap- plied for a guard to-night.” ‘* Ah, bah, the guard won’t shoot,” said Gigot eeamcen 4 ‘The Directors wink at these things. It would be different, indeed, if that little devil Bonaparte were here, bad one.” ‘* How do you know he will not be here very soon?” asked Georges. ‘‘ He will never come back. The Turks have wled the butcher, “‘ and I picked his bones,” was too stuck-up for me, He was a am glad of it, for He did not own his master, the people. The president rapped on the table. ‘We are not discussing General Bonaparte, who is moreover, an excellent republican. The uestion is, shall we break the windows of the auphin club to-night.” ‘“* Yes, yes!” shouted the members wildly, and just at that moment the door opened and Citi- zen Gascon made his appearance, with a smile on his swarthy face, and cried out: ‘“What is the question? I wish to vote. I have just spoiled the fencing of one of the ‘* Whites” for six months—Baron Grognard— split hisswordarm open. What’s the question?’ The president ed it, and Citizen Gas- con brought down his fist on the table with a ‘*No, parbleu, no!” he cried. ‘Do you sup- we came here to have you pick quarrels ér us, you accursed pack of scullions! When I took you up, sacrebleu, you were the butt of Paris, making our grand Revolution a farce with your cowardice and boasting. You break windows indeed! Why, do you know if you dare to think of such a thing, I'll go to the Daupbin Club myself, and tell them to sally out on you, sword in hand? These men wear swords, I tell you, and know how to use them. lf you break their windows, you do it alone. My comrade and I will leave the club.” And as Citizen Georges left his place and came and stood beside his friend, the club began to hesitate, and the president cried: ‘* Let us have the noes, then.” Georges and Gascon cried out “no” loudly, and then, one by one, the members of the Guil- lotine Club laid aside their cobble-stones and sat down, each saying ‘‘no,” in the feeblest of audi- ble tones. “The proposition is lost,” proclaimed Citizen Ji.cquot, with as much dignity as though he had not srg favored it. ‘* Any other pro- position is now in order.” fF aaj Gascon in a moment. ‘* Very well, citizens,” he cried. ‘‘ Since you have listened to reason, my comrade and I have a proposition to make. We will all goin a body to the Dauphin Club, sword in hand, and make them sing the Marseillaise. Who dares follow us?” There was a dead silence, and then Citizen Gigot got up and said decidedly: ee vote ‘no.’ The citizens of the re- public pay the soldiers to do their fighting. If ever an enemy marches on Paris, my bl will be the first to be shed at the barricades; but to en in a brawl like this is an offense against the majesty of the people. I will not coun- tenance such an outrage.” Citizen Gascon laughed, and turned to his friend, who was smiling slightly. ‘*Come, comrade,” he said, briskly, ‘‘ there is no fun for us here. I have fought my last duel for thisclub. Thespirit of ninety-three is dead, and you are right.” Citizen Georges got up and bowed low to the president, observing: ‘I told You that you were only brave enough to break windows and run away. ‘Good-night.” Then the two friends strolled carel<ssly out of the rocm amid adead silence, and no sooner | when President Jacquot said: ‘* | think that our brother Gigot overlooks the fact that these two men are expert with all sorts of weapons. Let us mg sg the debate till to-morrow night, and break the windows of the Dauphin Club to-night.” This proposition was received with cheers, and the Guillotine Club proceeded to execute its plan, so far as leaving the room was con- cerned, but, once in the street, a strange hesi- tancy, not to say timidity, disclosed itself. They did not march ina y as usual, sing- ing the Marseillaise and ‘‘ Ca Ira,” ‘* No,” said citizen Gigot, ‘*to succeed in our lorious undertaking, we must be wary and iscreet. Let us advance silently one at a time, so that the patrol may not notice a gathering, and collect under the windows of the accursed aristocrats in half an hour. Then strike for _ liberty!” The proposition was so wise and full of subt- lety that the Guillotine Club dispersed in si- lence, very much like a gangof thieves. Half an hour later the gentlemen of the Dauphin Club, over their wine, were startled by a single stone crashing in at the window, and rushed down the stairs, sword in hand, to find a tall apo holding a small bandy-legged tailor y the collar. ‘‘ This is the ruffian, citizens,” he said. ‘‘ He was running away when Icaught him. I know him well; it is Jacquot the tailor.” ‘* What shall we do to him?” asked one of the revelers, jestingly. ‘“* Kill me, aristocrats,” cried the little man in a dramatic tone. ‘“‘ Lead me to the scaffold, I am ready to die.” ‘*'You are not worth the killing,” retorted the tall gendarme; ‘‘ shall I kick him and let him Orne prem iti ted with appla e p on was gree with applause, Jacquot was duly kicked and Rinaiiaed, and, of the valiant Guillotine Club, not a mem- ber made his appearance again that night. CHAPTER XVII. MOURAD’S RETURN. WA8ILE the President of the Guillotine Club— its only courageous member perhaps—was try- ing to break tre windows of the aristocrats at the Dauphin Club, the two friends, who were of course our two adventurers, were hurrying along the streets to an obscure quarter of Paris where they had lodgings. ‘“ Well,” asked Lafangere as they went on, ‘have you heard any news?” ‘‘Yes. The report of the general’s death is false.” ‘“Of course. I never believed it. I have onl seen him in one battle, but that man is not made to be killed by the Turks.” ‘*So I told madame.” ‘Was she frightened?” “Very much.” ‘* And how did you bear the news?” ‘‘ By my channel of communication.” Lafangere laughed. ‘* You have a good head, St, George.” “ Why?” ‘* Oh, you have a good head.” ‘But why do you say so?” ’ Cm ha bave the impudence of the devil. To think that you should have been able to make friends with old Rewbell and make love to his daughter, after we had robbed him, it is too rich for belief. Yet you did it.” “Do you know how?” ‘My faith, no. It has always been es idea that a soldier who is over curious is not fit for his pusition.” ‘* Nevertheless you are curious,” “ Well, yes.” ‘‘ Very good. I have used to gain over this Monsieur Rewbell, two things.” ‘What are they?” ‘*Wear and avarice.” “* Ah, how do you do it?” ‘“‘Simply enough. In the first place this Rew- bell is a thief.” ‘* So are the others.” ‘““Granted: but he has a daughter, and it is for her that he steals.” ‘“* How does that make a difference?” ‘In this way. Monsieur Rewbell was a poor man before the Revolution.” ‘“*So was I.” “So were a good many. But he was very poor, and yet had a taste for luxury. “So have I.” ‘‘Let me tell my story. Don’t interrupt.” ‘(jo on, my friend. I am all attention.” ‘* In those days Rewbell—he has told me so— saw his wife die of want, and was unable to re- lieve her. His daughter was only saved from starvation by the Sisters at the Foundling Hos- pital, He was a beggar when the Revolution arose, Yet he was a man of education.” OULdaAU, LUE WLAINeELUKE. | | 7 ————— —_—— i i eee ‘*Poor devil! I never felt the need of any education since I learned to fence.” ‘* In the Revolution he saw his chance and come to the top. Ever since that he has had a morbid horror of poverty. He pinched and hoarded in the Reign of Terror, and buried his money in the earth. At the fall of Robespierre he brought it out and became a financier. The money he had stolen became a means to make more and put him into a situation where he bad control of the eat ‘* Well, this is all matter o report. How does it affect your position with him?’ ‘*Youshall hear. Monsieur Rewbell is in that position now that his colleagues on the Directory are scandalized at the public stories about him, and it is settled that be is to go out in the fall of the year. Hecannot bere-elected. He isafraid that, after he is a private citizen, inquiries will be made as to how he got his money, and, if so, he can hardly escape trial.” ‘** Very probable,” returned Lafangere, dryly. ‘* In fact, it seems to me that—” ‘That what?’ “That this Monsieur Rewhell is an infernal rascal, who ought to be tried.” ‘*Possibly, if France did not suffer under worse evils just now.” ‘* What evils?’ “Treachery, disorder, the enemy on her frontiers, and the only man who can save her away in the Kast.” ‘Well, go on. What has that to do with Monsieur Rewbell?” ‘This: that if there be a change of govern- ment in France—not merely a change of Di- rectors—the man who helps it on will deserve a. full pardon for all offenses.” Lafangere started. ‘* And this Rewbell ?” “Ts our fast friend, on the promise of Madame Bonaparte that he shall not be disturbed if the general comes back and the people choose him— as they will—Dictator.” The maitre darmes uttered a loud whistle, and then burst out: ‘*] said you had a good head, and you have. But Madame is no fool, neither.” ‘‘ When a woman loves,” observed the creole, sententiously, ‘‘ she becomes as cunning as a fox to defend those she loves.” “Then it was she who arranged all this fine scheme, was it?” ‘*She gave me the hint, and I went to Rew- bell. I admit I had some trouble, but I had an ally in the house.” “You mean mademoiselle. How did you manage there, St. George?” The creole suddenly became cold and reserved in his manner. ‘I cannot answer that, even to you, com- rade. The fact is, I love Mademoiselle Rew- bell, and, if the general permits, we shall be wed when he returns.” Lafangere said nothing for a little while as they walked on, but at last he broke out: ‘Do ieee know it is very won Boe the general that he has us two for bis friends here?” ‘“No! three. You forget Mourad.” “True. It is anexcellent partnership. Each does something the other cannot do. Now I, for instance, would be out of place in the saloon of the Tuileries, but you seem to be quite at home there in the court. I suppose it is your confounded aristocratic blood—I beg pardon, comrade, no offense. And then you would be nowbere in the Faubourg St. Antoine. They would suspect youinaninstant. ButI, with my rough way, they tell me everything, and I see one thing, that the wildest of them are getting sick of the feeble and dishonest Directory. Even those asses of the Guillotine Club hate the Gov- ernment for letting the nobles come back, to live like other people.” ‘* Ay, but what would be the use of our know- ing all this, if the general did not know it too?’ ‘True, and there is where I say the general is a lucky man; for Mourad comes in to make our trio complete. What a lucky thing the Turks took him, ten years ago, so that he can pass for a Turk hi f and take passage freely, even in an English or a 3 “Yes. To say truth, I am not sure but that Mourad is the most useful member of our trio, Lafangere.” ‘* No, no, one is as good as the other. To- gether, we can do anything. Alone we are nothing. Hallo, what’s that? A light in our window? I wonder who is there?’ They went up to their humble lodging, ex- pecting to find a prying landlady; when they were astonished by the sight of Mourad, in his full Mameluke dress, smoking a chibouque, sit- ; ting crosslegged on the floor. “Salaam aleikoum,” he said, gravely, and they were so much astonished that Lafangere could only ejaculate: ‘* But, heavens, how came you here?” Mourad made no answer but a silent — which implied that some one was listening, and motioned to them to lock the door of the ante- chamber and the room in which they were at the time. Then he said in a low tone: ‘Come near. The walls must not hear us,” EOPMIE DOO KS (E