The fear of detection was small, for the girls had now become accustomed to their thick shoes and rough dress; and indeed she thought that it would be safer to go out, for the suspicions of her neighbours might be excited if the girls remained secluded in the house.

Harry generally met them soon after they started, and accompanied them in their walk.
One morning he was walking with the two younger girls, while Marie and the old nurse were together a short distance in front of them.
They had just reached the flower-market, which was generally the main object of their walks--for the girls, having passed most of their time in the country, were passionately fond of flowers--when a man on horseback wearing a red sash, which showed him to be an official of the republic, came along at a foot-pace.

His eyes fell upon Marie's face and rested there, at first with the look of recognition, followed by a start of surprise and satisfaction.

He reined in his horse instantly, with the exclamation: "Mademoiselle de St.Caux!" For a moment she shrank back, her cheek paler even than before; then recovering herself she said calmly: "It is myself, Monsieur Lebat." "Citizen Lebat," he corrected.

"You forget, there are no titles now--we have changed all that.