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longer a kingdom； but they are together； they can speak with looks
one to another； they can seek to comfort one another with smiles；
they can cheer each other up with a passing grasp of the hand； that
escapes the eye of the sentries！ We only suffer half what we bear in
common with others； and every thing seems lighter； when there is a
second one to help lift the load。
Perhaps the enemies of the king and queen have an instinctive
feeling of this； and their hate makes them sympathetic； in order to
teach them to invent new tortures and new sufferings。
Yes； there are unknown pangs still to be felt； their cup of sorrows
was not yet full！ The parents are still left to each other； and
their eyes are still allowed to rest upon their children！ But the
〃one and indivisible republic〃 means to rend even these bonds which
bind the royal family together； and to part those who have sworn
that nothing shall separate them but death！ The republicwhich had
abolished the churches； overthrown the altars； driven the priesthood
into exilethe republic cannot grant to the Capet family that only
death shall separate them； for it had even made Death its servant；
and must accept daily victims from him； offered on the Place de
Liberte； in the centre of which stood the guillotine； the only altar
tolerated there。
In the middle of October the republic sent its emissaries to the
Temple； to tear the king from the arms of his wife and his children。
In spite of their pleadings and cries； he was taken to another part
of the Templeto the great tower； which from this time was to serve
as his lodgings。 And in order that the queen might be spared no
pang； the dauphin was compelled to go with his father and be
separated from his mother。
This broke the pride； the royal pride of Marie Antoinette。 She wrung
her hands； she wept； she cried； she implored with such moving；
melting tones； not to be separated from her son and husband； that
even the heart of Simon the cobbler was touched。
〃I really believe that these cursed women make me blubber！〃 cried
he； angry with the tears which forced themselves into his eyes。 And
he made no objection when the other officials said to the queen；
with trembling voices； that they would allow the royal family to
come together at their meals。
One last comfort； one last ray of sunshine！ There were still hours
in these dismal； monotonous days of November； when they could have
some happinesshours for which they longed； and for whose sake they
bore the desolate solitude of the remaining time。
At breakfast； dinner； and supper； the Capet family were together；
words were interchanged； hands could rest in one another； and they
could delight in the pleasant chatter of the dauphin when the king
told about the lessons he had given the boy； and the progress he was
making。
They sometimes forgot； at those meetings； that Death was perhaps
crouching outside the Temple； waiting to receive his victims； and
they even uttered little words of pleasantry； to awaken the bright；
fresh laugh of the dauphin； the only music that ever was heard in
those dismal rooms。
But December took this last consolation from the queen。 The National
Assembly； which had now been transformed into the Convention；
brought the charge of treason against the king。 He was accused of
entering into a secret alliance with the enemies of France； and
calling the monarchs of Europe to come to his assistance。 In an iron
safe which had been set into the wall of the cabinet in the
Tuileries； papers had been discovered which compromised the king；
letters from the refugee princes； from the Emperor of Germany； and
the King of Prussia。 These monarchs were now on the very confines of
France； ready to enter upon a bloody war； and that was the fault of
the king！ He was in alliance with the enemies of his country！ He was
the murderer of his own subjects！ On his head the blood should
return； which had been shed by him。
This was the charge which was brought against the king。 Twenty
members of the Convention went to the Temple； to read it to him； and
to hear his reply。 He stoutly denied haying entertained such
relations with foreign princes； he declared； with a solemn oath；
that he had declined all overtures from such quarters； because he
had seen that； in order to free an imprisoned king； France itself
must be threatened。
The chiefs of the revolution meant to find him guilty。 Louis Capet
must be put out of the way； in order that Robespierre and Marat；
Danton； Petion； and their friends； might reach unlimited power。
There may have been several in the Convention who shrank from this
last consequence of their doings； but they did not venture to raise
their voices； they chimed in with the terrorism which the leaders of
the revolution exercised upon the Convention。 They knew that behind
these leaders stood the savage masses of the streets； armed with
hatred against monarchy and the aristocracy； and ready to tear in
pieces any one as an enemy of the country who ventured to join the
number of those who were under the ban and the sentence of the
popular hate。
Still there were some courageous； faithful servants of the king who
ventured to take his part even there。 Louis had now been summoned to
the bar as an accused person； and the Convention had transformed
itself into a tribunal whose function was to pass judgment on the
guilt or innocence of the king！
In order to satisfy all the forms of the law； the king should have
had an advocate allowed him； and the benefit of legal counsel。 The
Convention demanded that those who were ready to undertake this task
should send in their names。 It was a form deemed safe to abide by；
because it was believed that there would be no one who would venture
to enter upon so momentous and perilous a duty。
But there were such； nevertheless。 There were still courageous and
noble men who pitied the forsaken king； and who wanted to try to
save him； not willing to see him atone for the debts of his
predecessors； and bleed for the sins of his fathers。 And scarcely
had the consent of the Convention been announced； that Louis Capet
should have three advocates for his defence； when from Paris and all
the minor cities letters came in from men who declared themselves
ready to undertake the defence of the king。
Even from foreign lands there came letters and appeals in behalf of
the deposed monarch。 One of them； written in spirited and glowing
language； conjured France not to soil its noble young freedom by the
dreadful murder of an innocent man； who had committed no other
offence than that he was the son of his fathers； the heir of their
crown and their remissness。 It was written by a German poet；
Frederick Schiller。 ＇Footnote： Schiller's defence of the king is
preserved in the national archivesSee Beauchesue vol。 i。； p。 366。＇
From the many requests to serve as his advocates； Louis chose only
two to defend him。 The first of these was his former minister； the
philosopher Lamoignon des Malesherbes； then the advocate Trouchet；
and finally； at the pressing request of Malesherbes； the
distinguished young advocate Deseges。 To those three men was
committed the trust of