This Laurent was ideally handsome.

He was one of seventy-two Companions of Jehu who have lately been tried at Yssen-geaux.

Seventy were acquitted; he and one other were the only ones condemned to death.

The innocent men were released at once, but Laurent and his companion were put in prison to await the guillotine.

But, pooh! Master Laurent had too pretty a head to fall under the executioner's ignoble knife.