'Sire,' she cried. 'You say that an example must be made. There is
Toussac--!'
'Ah, if I could lay my hands upon Toussac!'
'He is the dangerous man. It was he and my father who led Lucien on.
If an example must be made it should be an example of the guilty rather
than of the innocent.'
'They are both guilty. And, besides, we have our hands upon the one but
not upon the other.'
'But if I could find him?'
Napoleon thought for a moment.
'If you do,' said he, 'Lesage will be forgiven!'
'But I cannot do it in a day.'
'How long do you ask?'
'A week at the least.'
'Then he has a respite of a week. If you can find Toussac in the time,
Lesage will be pardoned. If not he will die upon the eighth day. It is
enough. Monsieur de Laval, remove your cousin, for I have matters of
more importance to attend to. I shall expect you one evening at the
Pont de Briques, when you are ready to be presented to the Empress.'
CHAPTER XIII
THE MAN OF DREAMS
When I had escorted my cousin Sibylle from the presence of the Emperor,
I was surprised to find the same young hussar officer waiting outside
who had commanded the guard which had brought me to the camp.
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