“We have to get out of here. Now!”

“There’s no one to save her,” I said. “Is anyone even trying?” But I knew he was right. Most of the crowd seemed to be staying, some shouting, others watching wide-eyed with their hands on their mouths. Imlay steered me through, with as much courtesy as he could, but I could feel the force of his hand, and when some of the crowd started to turn and flee, he stepped up his pace. I was panting and frightened, fearful for Théroigne, whom we were abandoning to her fate.

“Please tell me!” I yelled. “What were they doing to her?”

“Just hurry, Wollstonecraft. Can you walk faster?”

I tried to keep up with him, holding my skirt with one hand, but I tripped over someone else’s feet and nearly went down. I felt Imlay catch me under the arm; he pulled me closer and quickened to a run. When we were finally well clear of the crowd, we found a bench and he sat me down on it. My lungs were fanning, but I couldn’t catch my breath. Standing in front of me, as if keeping watch, he wiped his forearm across his brow.

“You’re pale as a sheet. Are you all right?”

“I feel dizzy and faint,” I said, with both hands on my hair. “And I’ve lost my hat.” I didn’t care about the hat, but it made me feel vulnerable.

“Better your hat than your head. Here, put it between your legs.”

He sat beside me as I began to find my breath again, patted my back with touching concern.

“It’ll be better soon. Is it better?”

I nodded, but I couldn’t get the image out of my mind, Théroigne, so vivid and brave a person I’d met just days ago, standing on the terrace like a wounded child trying to grasp what was happening.

“Deep breaths,” said Imlay.

“What were they doing to her?” I said. “You have to tell me.”

“Just breathe.”

Finally I sat up. I had to know. He could see it in my eyes.

“They were tearing off her clothes,” he said. I saw his Adam’s apple rise and fall in his throat. He gripped his hat in his hand. “And smashing her skull with stones.”

My chest collapsed. I covered my eyes with my hands, but it didn’t take the image away.

“I know,” he said. “I know.”

“We are lost,” I said. “She was right.”