Romances Le chevalier de Maison-Rouge Author:Alexandre Dumas 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: CHAPTER III. LA KUE DBS FOSSES ST.-VICTOR. Maurice, finding himself alone with the young woman, felt for the moment deeply embarrassed. The fear of being d... more »uped, attracted by her marvellous beauty, troubled his conscience as a pure and exalted Republican, and caused him to hesitate when about to offei her the support of his arm. " Where are you going, citizen? " said he. "Alas, monsieur! a long way from here," replied she. "But how far?" "By the side of the Jardin des Plantes." "It is some distance; let us proceed on our way." "Ah, man Dieu, monsieur!" said the Unknown, "I plainly perceive I am a constraint upon you; but indeed it is no ordinary danger that I incur. Believe me, I will not abuse your generosity." "But, madame," said Maurice, who during his tete-a- tete had totally forgotten the language imposed by the Republican vocabulary, and returned to the language of a gentleman, "how is it, in all conscience, that at this hour you are found in the streets of Paris, where, with the exception of ourselves, you do not see a single individual?" "Monsieur, I have told you: I had been paying a visit to the Faubourg du Roule. Leaving home at mid-day, and knowing nothing of what had taken place, I returned, of course, in equal ignorance; all my time having been spent in deep retirement." "Yes," murmured Maurice, "in some retired house, the resort of the aristocrats. Confess, citoyenne, while publicly demanding my protection, you laugh in your sleeve at my egregious folly." " Why should I act thus? " " You are aware that a Republican acts as your guide. Well, this Republican betrays his cause; that is all." "But, citizen," quickly rejoined the Unknown, "I, as well as you, love the Republic; you labour under a mistake concerning me." "Then, c...« less