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It became still worse when she reached the threshold of the vestibule and saw the great crowd waiting in the court。 Then her face worked convulsively； and crouching down； as though she would bury her feet in the earth； she addressed the doctor in words both plaintive and wild： 〃Is it possible that； after what is now happening； M。 de Brinvilliers can endure to go on living？〃
〃Madame；〃 said the doctor； 〃when our Lord was about to leave His disciples； He did not ask God to remove them from this earth； but to preserve them from all sin。 'My Father；' He said； 'I ask not that You take them from the world； but keep them safe from evil。' If； madame； you pray for M。 de Brinvilliers； let it be only that he may be kept in grace； if he has it； and may attain to it if he has it not。〃
But the words were useless： at that moment the humiliation was too great and too public； her face contracted； her eyebrows knit； flames darted from her eyes； her mouth was all twisted。 Her whole appearance was horrible； the devil was once more in possession。 During this paroxysm； which lasted nearly a quarter of an hour； Lebrun； who stood near； got such a vivid impression of her face that the following night he could not sleep； and with the sight of it ever before his eyes made the fine drawing whichis now in the Louvre； giving to the figure the head of a tiger； in order to show that the principal features were the same； and the whole resemblance very striking。
The delay in progress was caused by the immense crowd blocking the court； only pushed aside by archers on horseback； who separated the people。 The marquise now went out； and the doctor； lest the sight of the people should completely distract her； put a crucifix in her hand； bidding her fix her gaze upon it。 This advice she followed till they gained the gate into the street where the tumbril was waiting； then she lifted her eyes to see the shameful object。 It was one of the smallest of carts； still splashed with mud and marked by the stones it had carried； with no seat； only a little straw at the bottom。 It was drawn by a wretched horse； well matching the disgraceful conveyance。
The executioner bade her get in first； which she did very rapidly； as if to escape observation。 There she crouched like a wild beast； in the left corner； on the straw； riding backwards。 The doctor sat beside her on the right。 Then the executioner got in； shutting the door behind him； and sat opposite her； stretching his legs between the doctor's。 His man； whose business it was to guide the horse； sat on the front； back to back with the doctor and the marquise； his feet stuck out on the shafts。 Thus it is easy to understand how Madame de Sevigne； who was on the Pont Notre…Dame； could see nothing but the headdress of the marquise as she was driven to Notre…Dame。
The cortege had only gone a few steps； when the face of the marquise； for a time a little calmer； was again convulsed。 From her eyes； fixed constantly on the crucifix； there darted a flaming glance； then came a troubled and frenzied look which terrified the doctor。 He knew she must have been struck by something she saw； and； wishing to calm her； asked what it was。
〃Nothing； nothing；〃 she replied quickly； looking towards him； 〃it was nothing。〃
〃But； madame；〃 said he； 〃you cannot give the lie to your own eyes； and a minute ago I saw a fire very different from the fire of love； which only some displeasing sight can have provoked。 What may this be？ Tell me； pray； for you promised to tell me of any sort of temptation that might assail you。〃
〃Sir；〃 she said； 〃I will do so； but it is nothing。〃 Then； looking towards the executioner； who； as we know； sat facing the doctor； she said； 〃Put me in front of you； please； hide that man from me。〃 And she stretched out her hands towards a man who was following the tumbril on horseback； and so dropped the torch； which the doctor took； and the crucifix； which fell on the floor。 The executioner looked back； and then turned sideways as she wished； nodding and saying； 〃Oh yes； I understand。〃 The doctor pressed to know what it meant； and she said； 〃It is nothing worth telling you； and it is a weakness in me not to be able to bear the sight of a man who has ill… used me。 The man who touched the back of the tumbril is Desgrais； who arrested me at Liege； and treated me so badly all along the road。 When I saw him； I could not control myself； as you noticed。〃
〃Madame；〃 said the doctor； 〃I have heard of him； and you yourself spoke of him in confession； but the man was sent to arrest you； and was in a responsible position； so that he had to guard you closely and rigorously； even if he had been more severe； he would only have been carrying out his orders。 Jesus Christ； madame； could but have regarded His executioners as ministers of iniquity； servants of injustice； who added of their own accord every indignity they could think of； yet all along the way He looked on them with patience and more than patience； and in His death He prayed for them。〃
In the heart of the marquise a hard struggle was passing； and this was reflected on her face； but it was only for a moment； and after a last convulsive shudder she was again calm and serene； then she said：
〃Sir； you are right； and I am very wrong to feel such a fancy as this： may God forgive me； and pray remember this fault on the scaffold； when you give me the absolution you promise； that this too may be pardoned me。〃 Then she turned to the executioner and said； 〃Please sit where you were before； that I may see M。 Desgrais。〃 The man hesitated； but on a sign from the doctor obeyed。 The marquise looked fully at Desgrais for some time； praying for him； then； fixing her eyes on the crucifix； began to pray for herself： this incident occurred in front of the church of Sainte…Genevieve des Ardents。
But； slowly as it moved； the tumbril steadily advanced； and at last reached the place of Notre…Dame。 The archers drove back the crowding people； and the tumbril went up to the steps； and there stopped。 The executioner got down； removed the board at the back； held out his arms to the marquise； and set her down on the pavement。 The doctor then got down； his legs quite numb from the cramped position he had been in since they left the Conciergerie。 He mounted the church steps and stood behind the marquise； who herself stood on the square； with the registrar on her right； the executioner on her left； and a great crowd of people behind her； inside the church； all the doors being thrown open。 She was made to kneel； and in her hands was placed the lighted torch； which up to that time the doctor had helped to carry。 Then the registrar read the 'amende honorable' from a written paper； and she began to say it after him； but in so low a voice that the executioner said loudly； 〃Speak out as he does； repeat every word。 Louder； louder！〃 Then she raised her voice； and loudly and firmly recited the following apology。
〃I confess that； wickedly and for revenge； I poisoned my father and my brothers； and attempted to poison my sister； to obtain possession of their goods； and I ask pardon of God； of the king； and of my country's laws。〃
The 'amende honorable' over； the executioner again carried her to the tumbril； not giving her the torch any more： the doctor sat beside her： all was just as before； and the tumbril went on towards La Greve。 From that moment； until she arrived at the scaffold； she never took her eyes off the crucifix； which the doctor held before her the whole time； exhorting her with religious words； trying to divert her attention from the terrible noise which the people made around the car； a murmur mingled with curses。
When they reached the Place de Greve； the tumbril stopped at a little distance from the scaffold。 Then the registrar M。 Drouet； came up on horseback； and； addressing the marquise； said； 〃Madame； have you nothing more to say？ If you wish to make any declaration； the twelve commissaries are here at hand； ready to receive it。〃
〃You see； madame；〃 said the doctor； 〃we are now at the end of our journey； and； thank God； you have not lost your power of endurance on the road； do not destroy the effect of all you have suffered and all you have yet to suffer by concealing what you know； if perchance you do know more than you have hitherto said。〃
〃I have told all I know；〃 said the marquise； 〃and there is no more I can say。〃
〃Repeat these words in a loud voice；〃 said the doctor； 〃so that everybody may hear。〃
Then in her loudest voice the marquise repeated
〃I have told all I know； and there is no more I can say。〃
After this declaration； they were going to drive the tumbril nearer to the scaffold； but the crowd was so dense that the assistant could not force a way through； though he struck out on every side with his whip。 So they had to stop a few paces short。 The executioner had already got down； and was adjusting the ladder。 In this terrible moment of waiting； the marquise looked calmly and gratefully at the doctor； and when she felt that the tumbril had stopped； said； 〃Sir； it is not here we part： you promised not to leave me till my head is cut off。 I trust you will keep your word。〃
〃To be sure I will；〃 the doctor replied； 〃we shall n