M. Sibour, a Republican priest appointed Archbishop of Paris by General Cavaignac, was the true chief of the Church dreamed of by the liberal Catholicism of Arnauld de l’Ariege.  On behalf of the Archbishop, Arnauld de l’Ariege represented in the Assembly that Catholicism which M. de Montalembert perverted.  The democratic Representative and the Republic Archbishop had at times frequent conferences, in which acted as intermediatory the Abbe Maret, an intelligent priest, a friend of the people and of progress, Vicar-General of Paris, who has since been Bishop in partibus of Surat.  Some days previously Arnauld had seen the Archbishop, and had received his complaints of the encroachment of the Clerical party upon the episcopal authority, and he even proposed shortly to interpellate the Ministry on this subject and to take the question into the Tribune.

Arnauld added to the workman’s letter a letter of introduction, signed by himself, and enclosed the two letters in the same envelope.

But here the same question arose.

How was the letter to be delivered?

Arnauld, for still weightier reasons than those of the workman, could not take it himself.

And time pressed!

His wife saw his difficulty and quietly said,—­

“I will take charge of it.”

Madame Arnauld de l’Ariege, handsome and quite young, married scarcely two years, was the daughter of the Republican ex-Constituent Guichard, worthy daughter of such a father, and worthy wife of such a husband.

They were fighting in Paris; it was necessary to face the dangers of the streets, to pass among musket-balls, to risk her life.

Arnauld de l’Ariege hesitated.

“What do you want to do?” he asked.

“I will take this letter.”

“You yourself?”

“I myself.”

“But there is danger.”

She raised her eyes, and answered,—­

“Did I make that objection to you when you left me the day before yesterday?”

He kissed her with tears in his eyes, and answered, “Go.”

But the police of the coup d’etat were suspicious, many women were searched while going through the streets; this letter might be found on Madame Arnauld.  Where could this letter be hidden?

“I will take my baby with me,” said Madame Arnauld.

She undid the linen of her little girl, hid the letter there, and refastened the swaddling band.

When this was finished the father kissed his child on the forehead, and the mother exclaimed laughingly,—­

“Oh, the little Red!  She is only six months’ old, and she is already a conspirator!”

Madame Arnauld reached the Archbishop’s Palace with some difficulty.  Her carriage was obliged to take a long round.  Nevertheless she arrived there.  She asked for the Archbishop.  A woman with a child in her arms could not be a very terrible visitor, and she was allowed to enter.