CHAPTER VII 

The 2d of September 

Victor de Gisons was, as usual, waiting near the door when Harry left Louise Moulin's. 

"What is the news, Henri? Nothing suspicious, I hope? You are out sooner than usual." 

"Yes, for I have something to think of. Here have we been planning in vain for the last fortnight to hit upon some scheme for getting our friends out of prison, and Jeanne has pointed out a way which you and I never thought of." 

"What is that, Henri?" 

"The simplest thing in the world, namely, that we should seize one of the leaders of these villains and compel him to sign an order for their release." 

"That certainly seems possible," Victor said. "I wonder it never occurred to either of us. But how is it to be done?" 

"Ah, that is for us to think out! Jeanne has given us the idea, and we should be stupid if we cannot invent the details. In the first place we have got to settle which of them it had better be, and in the next how it is to be managed. It must be some one whose signature the people at the prison would be sure to obey." 

"Then," Victor said, "it must be either Danton or Robespierre." 

"Or Marat," Harry added; "I think he is as powerful as either of the others." 

"He is the worst of them, anyhow," Victor said. "There is something straightforward about Danton. No doubt he is ambitious, but I think his hatred of us all is real. He is a terrible enemy, and will certainly stick at nothing. He is ruthless and pitiless, but I do not think he is double-faced. Robespierre is ambitious too, but I think he is really acting according to his principles, such as they are. He would be pitiless too, but he would murder on principle. 
Was it an elaborate plan?
The simplest thing in the world