husband； alone with her children； who no longer were able to smile；
but who sat day after day with fixed eyes and silent lips。 The queen
knew that the king had been accused； had made a private reply to the
charges brought against him； and had been brought before the
Convention。 But not a word； not a syllable of the trial which
followed； reached her。 Madame Tison； the female dragon who guarded
her； watched her too well for any tidings to reach her。
At last； however； the word was brought which the heart of the queen
had so long anticipated tremblingly； for which she had prepared
herself during the long nights with tears and prayers； and which now
filled her with grief； anger； and despair。 The king was condemned to
death！ He wanted only to see his family； to take his leave of them！
The Convention had granted this privilege to him； and had even gone
so far in its grace as to permit the family to be without the
presence of witnesses。 The meeting was appointed； however； in the
little dining…room of the king； because a glass door led into the
adjoining room； and the officials could then look in upon the royal
family。 The functionary had withdrawn in order to conduct the queen；
the children； and the king's sister from the upper tower。 The king
was awaiting them； walked disquietly up and down； and then directed
Clery； who was arranging the little room； to set the round table；
which was in the middle of the apartment； on one side； and then to
bring in a carafe of water and some glasses。 〃But；〃 he added；
considerately； 〃not ice…water； for the queen cannot bear it； and she
might be made unwell by it。〃
But all at once the king grew pale； and； standing still； he laid his
hand upon his loudly…beating heart。 He had heard the voice of the
queen。
The door opened and they came inall his dear ones。 The queen led
the dauphin by the hand； Madame Elizabeth walked with the Princess
Theresa。
The king went toward them and opened his arms to them。 They all
pressed up to him and clasped him in their midst； while loud sobs
and heart…rending cries filled the room。 Behind the door were the
officials； but they could not look in upon the scene； for their own
eyes were filled with tears。 In the king's cabinet； not far away；
the Abbe Edgewarth de Firmont was upon his knees； praying for the
unfortunates whose wails and groans reached even him。
Gradually the sobs died away。 They took their placesthe queen at
the left of her husband； Madame Elizabeth； his sister； at his right；
opposite to him； his daughter； Maria Theresa； and between his knees
the dauphin； looking up into his father's face with widely…opened
eyes and a sad smile。
Louis was the first to speak。 He told them of his trial； and of the
charges which they had brought against him。 But his words were
gentle and calm； and he expressed his pity for the 〃poor； misled
men〃 who had condemned him。 He asked his family； too； to forgive
them。 They answered him only with sobs； embraces； tears； and kisses。
Then all was still。 The officials heard not a word； but they saw the
queen； with her children and sister…in…law； sink upon their knees；
while the king； standing erect in the midst of the group； raised his
hands and blessed them in gentle； noble words； which touched the
heart of the Abbe Edgewarth； who was kneeling behind the door of the
neighboring cabinet。
The king then bade the family rise； took them again in his arms； and
kissed the queen； who； pale and trembling； clung to him； and whose
quivering lips were not able to restrain a word of denunciation of
those who had condemned him。
〃I have forgiven them；〃 said the king； seriously。 〃I have written my
will； and in it you will read that I pardon them； and that I ask you
to do the same。 Promise me； Marie； that you will never think how you
may avenge my death。〃
A smile full of sadness and despair flitted over the pale lips of
the queen。
〃I shall never be in a situation to take vengeance upon them；〃 she
said。 〃But；〃 she added quickly； 〃even if I should ever be able； and
the power should be in my hands； I promise that I will exact no
vengeance for this deed。〃
The king stooped down and imprinted a kiss upon her forehead。
〃I thank you； Marie； and I know that you all； my dear ones； will
sacredly regard my last testament； and that my wishes and words will
be engraven on your hearts。 But； my son〃and he took the dauphin
upon his knee； and looked down into his face tenderly〃you are
still a child； and might forget。 You have heard what I have said；
but as an oath is more sacred than a word； raise your hand and swear
to me you will fulfil my wish and forgive all our enemies。〃
The boy； turning his great blue eyes fixedly on the king； and his
lips trembling with emotion； raised his right hand； and even the
officials in the next room could distinctly hear the sweet child's
voice repeating the words： 〃I swear to you； papa king； that I will
forgive all our enemies； and will do no harm to those who are going
to kill my dear father！〃
A shudder passed through the hearts of the men in the next room；
they drew back from the door with pale faces。 It seemed to them as
if they had heard the voice of an angel； and a feeling of
inexpressible pain and regret passed through their souls。
Within the king's room all now was still； and the abbe in the
cabinet heard only the gentle murmuring of their prayers； and the
suppressed weeping and sobs。
At last the king spoke。 〃Now； go； my dear ones。 I must be alone。 I
need to rest and collect myself。〃
A loud wail was the answer。 After some minutes； Clery opened the
glass door； and the royal family were brought into the view of the
officials once more。 The queen was clinging to the right arm of
Louis； they each gave a hand to the dauphin。 Theresa had flung her
arms around the king's body； his sister Elizabeth clung to his left
arm。 They thus moved forward a few steps toward the door； amid loud
cries of grief and heart…breaking sobs。
〃I promise you；〃 said Louis； 〃to see you once more tomorrow morning；
at eight o'clock。〃
〃At eight！ Why not at seven？〃 asked the queen； with a foreboding
tone。
〃Well； then；〃 answered the king； gently； 〃at seven。 Farewell；
farewell！〃
The depth of sadness in his utterance with which he spoke the last
parting word； doubled the tears and sobs of the weeping family。 The
daughter fell in a swoon at the feet of her father； and Clery；
assisted by the Princess Elizabeth； raised her up。
〃Papa； my dear papa；〃 cried the dauphin； nestling up closely to his
father； 〃let us stay with you。〃
The queen said not a word。 With pale face and with widely…opened
eyes she looked fixedly at the king； as though she wanted to impress
his countenance on her heart。
〃Farewell； farewell！〃 cried the king； once more； and he turned
quickly around and hurried into the next room。
A single cry of grief and horror issued from all lips。 The two
children； soon to be orphans； then clung closely to their mother；
who threw herself； overmastered by her sobbing； on the neck of her
sister…in…law。
〃Forward！ The Capet family will return to their own apartments！〃
cried one of the officials。
Marie Antoinette raised herself up； her eye flashed； and with a
voice full of anger； she cried： 〃You are hangmen and traitors！〃
＇Footnote： Beauchesne； vol。 1。； p。 49。＇
The king had withdrawn to his cabinet； where the priest； Abbe
Edgewarth de Firmont； addressed him with comforting words。 His
earnest request had been granted； to give the king the sacrament
before his death。 The service was to take place very early the next
morning； so ran the decision of the authorities； and at seven the
king was to be taken to execution。
Louis received the first part of this communication joyfully； the
second part with complete calmness。
〃As I must rise so early；〃 he said to his valet Clery； 〃I must
retire early。 This day has been a very trying one for me； and I need
rest； so as not to be weak to…morrow。〃 He was then undressed by the
servant； and lay down。 When Clery came at five the next morning to
dress him； he found the king still asleep； and they must have been
pleasant dreams which were passing before him； for a smile was
playing on his lips。
The king was dressed； and the priest gave him the sacrament； the
vessels used having been taken from the neighboring Capuchin church
of Marais。 An old chest of drawers was converted by Clery into an
altar； two ordinary candlesticks stood on each side of the cup； and
in them two tallow candles burned； instead of wax。 Before this altar
kneeled King Louis XVI。； lost in thought and prayer； and wearing a
calm； peaceful face。
The priest read the mass； Clery responded as sacristan； and even
while the king was receiving the elements； the sound of the drums
and trumpets was heard without； which awakened Paris that morning
and told the city that the King of France was being led to his
execution。 Cannon were rattling through the streets； and National
Guardsmen were hurrying on foot and on horse along the whole of the
way that led from the Temple to the Place de la Concorde。 A rank of
men； four deep and standing close to one another； armed with pikes
and other weapons； guarded both sides of the street； and made it
impossible for those who wanted to liberate the king during the
ride； to come near to him。 The authorities knew that one of the
bravest and most determined partisans of the king had arrived in
Paris； and that he； in conjunction with a number of young and brave…
spirited men； had resolved on rescuing the king at any cost； during
his ride to the place of execution。 The utmost precautions had been
taken to render this impossible。 Through the dense ranks of the
National Guard； which to…day was composed of mere sans…culottes； the
raging； bloodthirsty men of the suburbs drove the carriage in which
was the king； followed and escorted by National Guardsmen on
horseback。 The windows were all closed and the curtains drawn in the
houses by which the procession passed； but behind those curtained
windows it is probable that people were upon their knees praying for
the unhappy man who was now on his way to the scaffold； and who was
once King of France。
All at onc