Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-17

army, what would he say when de clincd his offer of a commission in the navy? And now that De GeX's fate was decided I had resolved, the next time the subject should be preached, to re- fuse pOint-blanlI and without any sort of compromise This resolution was, however, compatible with a desire tc put off the evil day as long as might be. l was in no hurry to return to prison, and l meant, if possible, to get out ot the country before Bonaparte called on me for a decision.
 Fortunately. he had not asked for my parole, either from inadvcrtence or be- cause he thought to win me over to his purpose by a show of confidence.
 In any case, my respite was not like ly to be long. and it behOoved me tC act promptly. As yet, however, I could think of no feasible plan. I had nc papers, and even though I might get out of Paris without them, should cer- tainly never reach the coast. And if reached the coast, how was to cross the sea? But that was not part o1 the problem which called for immedi ate solution. It would be quite tint enough to think about crossing the sea when got there.
 What between revolving plans of es cape, each more impossible than the other, and thinking about De Gex and wondering whether he had been in :ormcd of his impending fate, passed q drCam-hauntcd and well-nigh sleepless night.
 At five o'clock I got up, dressed, sailor fashion, in the dark, and let myself quietly out of the house. It was dis. mal morning; fine rain was falling, the narrow streets were slushy and slip pery, the lamps all gone out, lights in the windows few and far between, and If I had not been blessed with keen vision and a good eye for locality should have lost myself before turned the second corner. But managed to find my way without asking questions (which might have been dangerous), and at six o'clock saw looming before me the great Gothic gateway of the Abbaye prison.
 The people inside were already astir, and had no difficulty in obtaining ad. | mission.
 I found Carmine in his office
 "You are early" he said. "Yes; I heard last night that poor Gex was to be shot at ten this morning ' 'At ten! He is to be shot as soon as | it is light. The fring-party will be here at seven."
 "Seven! Good heavensl But 1t is inn | possible! There is surely some mistake. Barras told me distinctly that the exc cution would take place at ten." '"Hhere is no mistake in my order. | Here are the very words: The detenu Gex will be shot at dawn The firing party will be on the ground at seven o'clock Citizen Barras has been mak- ing g. mauvaise plaisanterie at your ex- pcnse. It is like him"
 "The malicious scoundreli He lied to me, then," I muttered between my teeth. 'Pardieu, if I were my own master would be even with him. Does Gex know?''
 Not yet l was just going to inform him. Win you accompany me? Allons there is no time to lose"
 As we opened the door of his room De Gex, who was still abed, raised him self on his elbow.
 Roy! Carmine! What is it?' he ex claimed. But need not ask. I car read my fate in your faces. When?- how soon?"
 At dawn; in about an hour," an swered Carmine.
 And which is 1.-the ax or tn, platoon?"
 1.-The platoon"
 "Thank God! We'll, I shall be ready. And with that the chevalier threw of the bedclothes and began to dress.