CHAPTER XV.
Detected.
The opening and shutting of the door roused them both from their dreams.
Anne Mie, pale, trembling, with eyes looking wild and terrified, had glided into the room.
Deroulede had sprung to his feet.

In a moment he had thrust his own happiness into the background at sight of the poor child's obvious suffering.

He went quickly towards her, and would have spoken to her, but she ran past him up to Madame Deroulede, as if she were beside herself with some unexplainable terror.
"Anne Mie," he said firmly, "what is it?
Have those devils dared ..." In a moment reality had come rushing back upon him with full force, and bitter reproaches surged up in his heart against himself, for having in this moment of selfish joy forgotten those who looked up to him for help and protection.
He knew the temper of the brutes who had been set upon his track, knew that low-minded Merlin and his noisome ways, and blamed himself severely for having left Anne Mie and Petronelle alone with him even for a few moments.
But Anne Mie quickly reassured him.
"They have not molested us much," she said, speaking with a visible effort and enforced calmness.

"Petronelle and I were together, and they made us open all the cupboards and uncover all the dishes.

They then asked us many questions." "Questions?
Of what kind ?" asked Deroulede.
"About you, Paul," replied Anne Mie, "and about maman, and also about -- about the citizeness, your guest." Deroulede looked at her closely, vaguely wondering at the strange attitude of the child.