Harry determined that he would not leave Paris until the issue was decided one way or the other, and when with the girls he discouraged any idea of an immediate flight.

This was the more easy, for the news from the provinces showed that the situation was everywhere as bad as it was at the capital.
The Commune had sent to all the committees acting in connection with them in the towns throughout the country the news of the execution of the enemies of France confined in the prisons, and had urged that a similar step should at once be taken with reference to all the prisoners in their hands.

The order was promptly obeyed, and throughout France massacres similar to those in Paris were at once carried out.

A carnival of murder and horror had commenced, and the madness for blood raged throughout the whole country.

Such being the case, Harry found it by no means difficult to dissuade the girls from taking instant steps towards making their escape.
He was, however, in a state of great uneasiness.