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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 once there arose a movement in this dreadful hedge of armed
men； through which the carriage was passing。 Two young men cried：
〃To us； Frenchmento us； all who want to save the king！〃
But the cry found no response。 Every one looked horrified at his
neighbor； and believed he saw in him a spy or a murderer； fear
benumbed all their souls； and the silence of death reigned around。
The two young men wanted to flee； to escape into a house close by。
But the door was closed； and before the very door they were cut down
and hewn in pieces by the exasperated sans…culottes。
The carriage of the king rolled on； and Louis paid no more attention
to objects around him； in the prayer…book which he carried in his
hands he read the petitions for the dying； and the abbe prayed with
him。
The coachman halted at the foot of the scaffold； and the king
dismounted。 A forest of pikes surrounded the spot。 The drummers beat
loudly； but the king cried with a loud voice； 〃Silence！〃 and the
noise ceased。 On that； Santerr