Beauty and the Jacobin Author:Booth Tarkington Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: I came back to Paris for you and Anne, and had to lie hid in a stable, every hour in greater danger because you would not be persuaded to join us, was I not pati... more »ent? And when you finally did consent, but protested every step of the way, pouting and— Eloise [stung]. "Pouting!"] Louis. And when that stranger came posting after us so obvious a spy— Eloise [scornfully]. Pooh! He is nothing. Louis. Is there a league between here and Paris over which he has not dogged us? By diligence, on horseback, on foot, turning up at every posting-house, every roadside inn, the while you laughed at me because I read death in his face! These two days we have been here, is there an hour when you could look from that window except to see him grinning up from the wine-shop door down there? Eloise [impatiently, but with a somewhat conscious expression]. I tell you not to fear him. There is nothing in it. Louis [looking at her keenly]. Be sure I understand why you do not think him a spy! You believe he has followed us because you— Eloise. I expected that! 'Oh, I knew it would come! [Furiously.] I never saw the man before in my life! Louis [pacing the floor]. He is unmistakable; his trade is stamped on him; a hired trailer of your precious "Nation's." Eloise [haughtily]. The Nation is the People. You malign because you fear. The People is sacred! Louis [with increasing bitterness]. Aren t you tired yet of the Palais Royal platitudes? I have been patient with your Mericourtisms for so long. Yes, always I was patient. Always there was time; there was danger, but there was a little time. [He faces her, his voice becoming louder, his gestures more vehement.] But now the Jeune Pierrette sails this hour, and if we are not out of here and on her deck when she leaves the quay, ...« less