Section 9 Summary

"A Pawn Advances"

The quote at the beginning of this section is from an Arabic text dramatizing the sexual tension between a beautiful woman and the sensually distracted man with whom she's playing chess.

September, 1792. Camille (Germaine's ally, Section 7 Part 1) encounters the Bishop at the home of Robespierre, and tells him of the horrors that have taken place all over Paris that day. He assures him that Germaine is safe, but informs him there is little likelihood that either he or Mireille and Valentine (who neither man knows is dead) will be able to escape. Deeply concerned, the Bishop returns to his home where he discovers Mireille unconscious and wounded. As he and his valet nurse her back to consciousness, she becomes hysterically concerned for the safety of her suitcase and he learns that Valentine is dead. Later, after Mireille has recovered her...