iful Lucile trembled all over as she embraced her young friend''s waist. "Everything is unfolding just as I feared! Their lives hang in the balance! The revolution is doomed!"

Edith patted Lucile''s shoulder, trying her best to console her. "At least Citizen Desmoulins shares a camaraderie with Robespierre in the Committee of Public Safety, doesn''t he? Isn''t that reassuring, dear Lucile?"

"Yes, camaraderie! But in times of such chaos, friendship is unreliable! Maximilien has been blinded by the slanderous words of the rats within the Committees! Yet perhaps he will remember the old ties that bind; there may still be hope for Camille''s life!" Lucile became somewhat gibbering. "Ah, why can''t I be in the Convention? Why can''t we be in the Convention? If it is a right solely assigned to men by nature, why let me see everything so clearly? If we are granted such wisdom, why not grant us the same liberty? Ah, if only I were an illiterate countrywoman! No, why am I saying these things? Now my Camille can only rely on me, can''t he?"

Suddenly, she released Edith, took a ”deep breath, and calmly and swiftly gave her instructions. "But Citizen Saint-Clemont must leave. His past noble status magnifies his present danger; he hasn''t associated with Georges and them for long, he should not be implicated! You must make him go, make him leave quickly, Edith!"

"Is it really... to this extent?" Edith murmured to herself.

"Do not waste lives! Urge him to flee, hurry, to Caen, to Toulon, wherever!" Lucile firmly looked into the girl''s eyes.