Robert Tournay Part 55

"The populace is seething with excitement," said Gaillard. "Some quarters of the town are for the fallen tyrant; others are against him.

In the Faubourg St. Antoine, the stronghold of the Jacobins, Robespierre is openly denounced by some, yet his adherents are still strong there and are arming themselves. The convention stands firm as a rock. 'Down with the tyrant!' is the cry."

"There is work for us," exclaimed Tournay. "Father Ambrose," he continued, turning to the priest, "I must go out at once. I leave you to tell the news to Mademoiselle de Rochefort. Tell her to remain here in the strictest seclusion until I return and a.s.sure her that we can leave here in safety. I leave her in your keeping, Father Ambrose. Now, Gaillard, let us go."

In the streets, Tournay found that his friend had not exaggerated the popular excitement. As they walked along both he and Gaillard kept their ears alert to hear everything that was said.

Suddenly a noise caused them to stop and look into each other's faces with consternation.

"The tumbrils!" exclaimed Gaillard, in answer to Tournay's look.

"That looks bad for our party," said Tournay. "One would expect the executions to cease, or at least be suspended, on the day of Robespierre's arrest."

"There is no one to give a coherent order," replied Gaillard. "Some of the prison governors do not know which way to turn, or whom to obey. The same with the police. They need a leader."

As he spoke they turned into the Rue Vaugirard and saw coming toward them down the street two death carts, escorted by a dozen gendarmes. The street was choked with a howling ma.s.s of people, and from their shouts it was manifest that some were demanding that the carts be sent back, while others were equally vociferous in urging them on. Meanwhile, the gendarmes stolidly made their way through the crowd as best they could.

Many of the occupants of the tumbrils leaned supplicatingly over the sides of the carts and implored the people to save them.

The crowd finally became so large as to impede the further progress of the carts.

"My G.o.d!" cried Tournay, grasping Gaillard by the arm. "There is St.

Hilaire."

In the second cart stood the Citizen St. Hilaire. He held himself erect and stood motionless, his arms, like those of the rest of the prisoners, tightly pinioned behind him. But it could be seen that he was addressing the populace and exciting their sympathy. By his side was Madame d'Arlincourt, her large blue eyes fixed intently upon St.

Hilaire; she seemed unmindful of the scene around her, and to be already in another world.

In the rear of the cart, dressed in white, was La Liberte. Her face was flushed and animated, and she was talking loudly and rapidly to the crowd which followed the tumbril.

Tournay sprang to the head of the procession. He still wore his uniform, and the crowd made way for him.

"Why did you take these tumbrils out to-day?" he demanded of the gendarmes. "Do you not know that Robespierre is in prison and the executions are to be stopped?"

"I have my orders from the keeper of the Luxembourg. I am to take these tumbrils to the Place de la Revolution," replied the officer; then addressing the crowd, he cried, "Make way there, citizens, make way there and let us proceed!"

"No, no!" cried a great number of voices, while others cried out, "Yes, make way!" But all still blocked the pa.s.sage of the carts.

"The keeper of the Luxembourg had no authority to order the execution of these prisoners to-day. Take them at once back to the prison," ordered Tournay.

"Where is your authority? Show it to me and I will obey you," replied the police officer.

"This is not a day on which we present written authority," answered Tournay. "I tell you I have the right to order you back to the prison.

It is the will of the convention."

"I take my orders from the Commune," replied the gendarme stubbornly. "I must go forward."

Gaillard had meantime worked his way to Tournay's shoulder, and the latter said a few words in his ear. Gaillard plunged into the crowd and was off like a shot in the direction of the convention.

"Citizens, let us pa.s.s!" cried the gendarmes impatiently.

"Citizens," Tournay cried out in a loud voice, "it is the will of the convention that no executions take place to-day. These carts must not go. I call upon you to help me." As he spoke he ran to the horses'

heads. The crowd swept the gendarmes to one side, and in a moment's time the tumbrils were turned about.

Then a clatter of hoofs was heard, accompanied by angry shouts, and the crowd broke and scattered in all directions, as Commandant Henriot, followed by a troop of mounted police, rode through them.

"What is the meaning of this?" he roared out.

"Where shall we go, back to the Luxembourg or forward to the Place de la Revolution?" cried out the bewildered gendarmes who guarded the tumbrils.

"To the guillotine, of course, always the guillotine," answered Henriot.

"About, face! Citizens, disperse!"

The crowd had closed up and were muttering their disapproval, many even going so far as to flourish weapons.

"Citizens," cried Tournay fearlessly, "this man Henriot has been indicted by the convention. He should now be a prisoner with Robespierre."

"Charge the crowd!" yelled Henriot to his lieutenant. "I will deal with this fellow; I know him. His name is Tournay." And he rode his horse at the colonel.

The latter sprang to one side, and seizing a sword from a gendarme, parried the trust of Henriot's weapon. Catching the horse by the bridle, he struck an upward blow at the commandant. The animal plunged forward and Tournay was thrown to the pavement, while the crowd fled before the charge of the mounted troops.

Before Henriot could wheel his charger, Tournay was on his feet, and realizing the impossibility of rallying any forces to contend with Henriot's, he took the first corner and made the best of his way up a narrow and deserted street.

He was somewhat shaken and bruised from his encounter, and stopping to recover breath for the first time, he noticed that the blood was flowing freely from a cut over the forehead which he had received during the short melee.

As he stanched the wound with his handkerchief, he heard footsteps behind him, and turning, saw a man dressed in the uniform of his own regiment running toward him. Wiping the blood from his eyes, he recognized Captain Dessarts who had served with him for the past year.

"You are wounded, colonel!" exclaimed Dessarts, taking the hand which Tournay stretched out to him. "Can I a.s.sist you?"

"It is only a scalp wound, but it bleeds villainously. You can tie this handkerchief about my head if you will."

"I tried to help you rally the crowd, my colonel, but it was hopeless.

Yet with a few good soldiers behind his back, one could easily have cleared the streets of those hulking gendarmes. Do I hurt you?" he continued as he tied the knot.

"No," answered Tournay. "Tie it quickly and then come with me."

"I must go to the barracks, Colonel Tournay," replied Dessarts. "Your old regiment has been disbanded. I am here with my company, ordered to join another regiment and proceed to the Vendee."

"Where are your men quartered?" asked Tournay excitedly.

"Two streets above here."

"Will they obey you absolutely?"

"To the last man, my colonel."

"Will you follow me without a question?"

"To the death, my colonel."