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distinguished young advocate Deseges。 To those three men was
committed the trust of defending the king against the dreadful
charge of treason to his country； to be substantiated by hundreds
and hundreds of letters and documents。
After the preliminary investigations were closed； the public charge
was made in the Convention； which still held its sessions in the
Manage。 To this building； situated near the Tuileries； the king；
accompanied by his three defenders and two municipal defenders； and
surrounded by National Guards； was conducted from the Temple。 The
people danced around the carriage with wild shouts of joy and curses
of the king。 Within the vehicle sat Louis； completely calm and self…
possessed。
〃This man must be filled with a singular fanaticism；〃 said
Colombeau； one of the leading officials； in the report which he gave
to the Convention of the ride。 〃It is otherwise inexplicable how
Louis could be so calm； since he had so much reason to fear。 After
we had all entered the carriage； and were driving through the
streets； Louis entered upon conversation； which soon turned upon
literature； and especially upon some Latin authors。 He gave his
judgments with remarkable correctness and insight； and it appeared
to me that he took pleasure in showing his learning。 One of us said
that he did not enjoy Seneca； because his love for riches stood in
marked contrast with his pretended philosophy； and because it could
not easily be forgiven him that before the senate he apologized for
the crimes of Nero。 This reflection did not seem to affect Louis in
the least。 When we spoke of Livy； Capet said that he seemed to have
taken satisfaction in composing great speeches which were never
uttered to any other audience than that which was reached from his
study…table； 'for；' he added； 'it is impossible that generals really
delivered such long speeches in front of their armies。' He then
compared Livy with Tacitus； and thought that the latter was far
superior to the former in point of style。〃 ＇Footnote： See
Beauchesne； vol。 i。； p。 396。＇ The king went on talking about Latin
authors while the carriage was carrying him through the roaring mob
to the Convention； which Desege addressed in his defence in these
courageous words： 〃I look for judges among you； but see only
accusers。〃
The king was completely calm； yet he knew that his life was
threatened； and that he was standing before a tribunal of death。 As
on the day when he was first taken to the Convention； he requested
Malesherbes to forward a note to the priest whose attendance he
desired； and who he believed would not deny his presence and
attentions。 His name was Edgewarth de Pirmont。 The time was not
distant when not the services of advocates were wanted by the king；
but exclusively those of the priest。
The sentence of death was pronounced on January 26； 1793。 Louis
received it calmly； and desired merely to see his family； to have a
confessor come to him； and to prepare himself for his death。
During these dreadful weeks Marie Antoinette was separated from her
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
vengean