按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s； 〃Have you not met near the Temple the White Lady？〃〃 What do you mean？〃 replied he。 〃Do you not know；〃 resumed the King with a smile； 〃that when a prince of our house is about to die； a female dressed in white is seen wandering about the palace？ My friends；〃 added he to his defenders； 〃I am about to depart before you for the land of the just； but there； at least； we shall be reunited。〃 In fact； his Majesty's only apprehension seemed to be for his family。ALISON。＇
〃All is lost；〃 he said to Clery。 〃The King is condemned。〃 The King； who saw him arrive； rose to receive him。
＇When M。 de Malesherbes went to the Temple to announce the result of the vote； he found Louis with his forehead resting on his hands； and absorbed in a deep reverie。 Without inquiring concerning his fate； he said： 〃For two hours I have been considering whether； during my whole reign； I have voluntarily given any cause of complaint to my subjects； and with perfect sincerity I declare that I deserve no reproach at their hands； and that I have never formed a wish but for their happiness。〃 LACRETELLE。＇
M。 de Malesherbes； choked by sobs； threw himself at his feet。 The King raised him up and affectionately embraced him。 When he could control his voice； De Malesherbes informed the King of the decree sentencing him to death； he made no movement of surprise or emotion； but seemed only affected by the distress of his advocate； whom he tried to comfort。
On the 20th of January； at two in the afternoon； Louis XVI。 was awaiting his advocates； when he heard the approach of a numerous party。 He stopped with dignity at the door of his apartment； apparently unmoved： Garat then told him sorrowfully that he was commissioned to communicate to him the decrees of the Convention。 Grouvelle； secretary of the Executive Council； read them to him。 The first declared Louis XVI。 guilty of treason against the general safety of the State； the second condemned him to death； the third rejected any appeal to the people； and the fourth and last ordered his execution in twenty…four hours。 Louis； looking calmly round； took the paper from Grouvelle； and read Garat a letter； in which he demanded from the Convention three days to prepare for death； a confessor to assist him in his last moments； liberty to see his family； and permission for them to leave France。 Garat took the letter； promising to submit it immediately to the Convention。
Louis XVI。 then went back into his room with great composure； ordered his dinner； and ate as usual。 There were no knives on the table； and his attendants refused to let him have any。 〃Do they think me so cowardly；〃 he exclaimed； 〃as to lay violent hands on myself？ I am innocent； and I am not afraid to die。〃
The Convention refused the delay； but granted some other demands which he had made。 Garat sent for Edgeworth de Firmont； the ecclesiastic whom Louis XVI。 had chosen； and took him in his own carriage to the Temple。 M。 Edgeworth； on being ushered into the presence of the King； would have thrown himself at his feet； but Louis instantly raised him； and both shed tears of emotion。 He then； with eager curiosity； asked various questions concerning the clergy of France； several bishops； and particularly the Archbishop of Paris； requesting him to assure the latter that he died faithfully attached to his communion。The clock having struck eight； he rose； begged M。 Edgeworth to wait； and retired with emotion； saying that he was going to see his family。 The municipal officers； unwilling to lose sight of the King； even while with his family； had decided that he should see them in the dining…room； which had a glass door； through which they could watch all his motions without hearing what he said。 At half… past eight the door opened。 The Queen； holding the Dauphin by the hand； Madame Elisabeth； and Madame Royale rushed sobbing into the arms of Louis XVI。 The door was closed； and the municipal officers； Clery； and M。 Edgeworth placed themselves behind it。 During the first moments； it was but a scene of confusion and despair。 Cries and lamentations prevented those who were on the watch from distinguishing anything。 At length the conversation became more calm； and the Princesses； still holding the King clasped in their arms； spoke with him in a low tone。 〃He related his trial to my mother；〃 says Madame Royale； 〃apologising for the wretches who had condemned him。 He told her that he would not consent to any attempt to save him； which might excite disturbance in the country。 He then gave my brother some religious advice； and desired him； above all； to forgive those who caused his death； and he gave us his blessing。 My mother was very desirous that the whole family should pass the night with my father； but he opposed this； observing to her that he much needed some hours of repose and quiet。〃 After a long conversation； interrupted by silence and grief； the King put an end to the painful meeting； agreeing to see his family again at eight the next morning。 〃Do you promise that you will？〃 earnestly inquired the Princesses。 〃Yes； yes；〃 sorrowfully replied the King。〃
＇But when we were gone；〃 says his daughter； 〃he requested that we might not be permitted to return； as our presence afflicted him too much。〃＇
At this moment the Queen held him by one arm； Madame Elisabeth by the other； while Madame Royale clasped him round the waist； and the Dauphin stood before him； with one hand in that of his mother。 At the moment of retiring Madame Royale fainted； she was carried away； and the King returned to M。 Edgeworth deeply depressed by this painful interview。 The King retired to rest about midnight； M。 Edgeworth threw himself upon a bed； and Clery took his place near the pillow of his master。
Next morning； the 21st of January； at five； the King awoke； called Clery； and dressed with great calmness。 He congratulated himself on having recovered his strength by sleep。 Clery kindled a fire；； and moved a chest of drawers； out of which he formed an altar。 M。 Edgeworth put on his pontifical robes； and began to celebrate mass。 Clery waited on him； and the King listened； kneeling with the greatest devotion。 He then received the communion from the hands of M。 Edgeworth； and after mass rose with new vigour； and awaited with composure the moment for going to the scaffold。 He asked for scissors that Clery might cut his hair； but the Commune refused to trust him with a pair。
At this moment the drums were beating in the capital。 All who belonged to the armed sections repaired to their company with complete submission。 It was reported that four or five hundred devoted men； were to make a dash upon the carriage； and rescue the King。 The Convention； the Commune； the Executive Council； and the Jacobins were sitting。 At eight。 in the morning； Santerre； with a deputation from the Commune； the department； and the criminal tribunal； repaired to the Temple。 Louis XVI。； on hearing them arrive； rose and prepared to depart。 He desired Clery to transmit his last farewell to his wife； his sister； and his children； he gave him a sealed packet； hair； and various trinkets； with directions to deliver these articles to them。
＇In the course of the morning the King said to me： 〃You will give this seal to my son and this ring to the Queen； and assure her that it is with pain I part with it。 This little packet contains the hair of all my family； you will give her that； too。 Tell the Queen； my dear sister； and my children； that； although I promised to see them again this morning； I have resolved to spare them the pang of so cruel a separation。 Tell them how much it costs me to go away without receiving their embraces once more！〃 He wiped away some tears； and then added； in the most mournful accents； 〃I charge you to bear them my last farewell。〃CLERY。＇
He then clasped his hand and thanked him for his services。 After this he addressed himself to one of the municipal officers； requesting him to transmit his last will to the Commune。 This officer； who had formerly been a priest； and was named Jacques Roux； brutally replied that his business was to conduct him to execution； and not to perform his commissions。 Another person took charge of it； and Louis； turning towards the party； gave with firmness the signal for starting。
Officers of gendarmerie were placed on the front seat of the carriage。 The King and M。 Edgeworth occupied the back。 During the ride； which was rather long； the King read in M。 Edgeworth's breviary the prayers for persons at the point of death； the two gendarmes were astonished at his piety and tranquil resignation。 The vehicle advanced slowly； and amidst universal silence。 At the Place de la Revolution an extensive space had been left vacant about the scaffold。 Around this space were planted cannon； the most violent of the Federalists were stationed about the scaffold； and the vile rabble； always ready to insult genius； virtue； and misfortune； when a signal is given it to do so； crowded behind the ranks of the Federalists； and alone manifested some outward tokens of satisfaction。
At ten minutes past ten the