Mimi turned as pale as death. Her lips parted. She would have spoken, but could say nothing.
"Come," cried the priest, "come, hasten, fly! It may be only for a few weeks--a few weeks only--think of that. There is more at stake than you imagine. Boy, you know not what you are risking--not your own life, but the lives of others; the honor of your family; the hope of the final redemption of your race. Haste--fly, fly!"
The priest spoke in tones of feverish impetuosity. At these words Claude stood thunder-struck. It seemed as though this priest knew something about his family. What did he know? How could he allude to the honor of that family, and the hope of its redemption?
"O, fly! O, fly! Haste!" cried Mimi, who had at last found her voice. "Don't think of me. Fly--save yourself, before it's too late."
"What! and leave you at his mercy?" said Claude.
"O, don't think of me," cried Mimi; "save yourself."
"Haste--come," cried the priest; "it is already too late. You have wasted precious moments."
"I cannot," cried Claude, as he looked at Mimi, who stood in an attitude of despair.
"Then you are lost," groaned the priest, in a voice of bitterest grief.
[Illustration: "Mimi Suddenly Caught Claude By The Arm."]
Further conversation was now prevented by the approach of a company of soldiers, headed by the commandant. Mimi stood as if rooted to the spot, and then suddenly caught Claude by the arm, as though by her weak strength she could save him from the fate which was impending over him; but the priest interposed, and gently drew her away.
The soldiers halted at the entrance to the garden, and the commandant came forward. His face was clouded and somewhat stern, and every particle of his old friendliness seemed to have departed.
"I regret, monsieur," said he, "the unpleasant necessity which forces me to arrest you; but, had I known anything about your crime, you would have been put under arrest before you had enjoyed my hospitality."
The commandant turned, and said, severely, "I trust that the Countess de Laborde will see the impropriety of her presence here. Monsieur L'Abbé, will you give the countess your arm into the house?"
Père Michel, at this, led Mimi away. One parting look she threw upon Claude, full of utter despair, and then, leaning upon the arm of the priest, walked slowly in.