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flashing eyes looked out into the empty space full of anger and
threatenings。
〃It must be；〃 he muttered at last； 〃it must be。 I should otherwise
not have a moment's peace； and always feel the knife at my throat。
One of us must be away from here； in order that he may disclose the
other。 I will not be that one； it must be Toulan。〃
He stood up with the air of one who had made a fixed； unchangeable
resolve； and stretched his bony； crooked limbs。 Then he threw one
last look at the stranger…child； that lay moaning and groaning on
his mattress； fell upon his bed； and soon his long…drawn； sonorous
breathing disclosed the fact that Master Simon was asleep。
On the next morning there reigned in the lower stories of the Temple
a busy； stirring life。 Master Simon was preparing to move； and all
his household goods were set out in the court； in order to be
transferred to the wagon that Commissioner Toulan had ordered。 Close
to the wagon stood one of the officials of the Public Safety； and
examined every article of furniture that was put into it； opening
even the bandboxes and pillows to look into them。 Not； as he said；
the Welfare Committee doubted the honesty of the faithful and
zealous servant of the republic； but only to satisfy the forms； and
to comply with the laws； which demanded that the authorities should
have a watchful eye on every thing that was at all connected with
the family of the tyrants。
〃And you will do me a great pleasure if you will examine every thing
with the utmost care。 In the republic we are all alike； and I do not
see why I should not be served to…day as another would be on the
morrow。 You know； probably； that I have been appointed collector at
Porte Macon； and after to…morrow I shall have to inspect the goods
of other people。 It is all fair that I should have my turn to…day。
Besides； you will not have much more to examine； we are almost
through； I believe there is only a basket with the soiled clothes
yet to come。 That is the sacred possession of my wife； and she was
going to bring it out herself； with the commissioner's help。 Yes；
there they come。〃
At that moment； Jeanne Marie appeared in the court； followed by
Toulan。 They brought along； by two ropes which served as handles； a
large and longish basket； whose half…opened cover brought to view
all kinds of women's clothes。
〃Room there；〃 cried Simon； with a laugh； 〃room for the Citoyenne
Simon and her costly dowry！〃
〃Come； no joking； Simon；〃 said his wife； threatening him with her
fist and laughing。 〃If my dowry is not costly enough； I will only
ask you to provide me with better things。〃
〃Your dowry is magnificent；〃 said Simon； 〃and there is not a single
article lacking to make it complete。 Come； I will help the
commissioner put the basket in the wagon； for it is too heavy for
you； my fairest one！〃
He took hold of the basket with his strong arm； and helped the
commissioner swing it into the wagon。
〃But let me look first into the basket； as my duty demands；〃 said
the official。 〃You are too quick！ You know； citizen； that I must
examine all your goods。 The law compels me to。〃
〃Then I beg you to climb up into the wagon and open the basket；〃
said Simon； calmly。 〃You cannot want us to take the heavy thing down
again for you to examine it。〃
〃I do not ask that； citizen； but I must examine the basket。〃
The official sprang into the wagon； but Jeanne Marie was quicker
than he； and stood close by the basket； whose cover was partly
opened。
〃Look in； citizen；〃 she said； with dignity。 〃Convince yourself that
only the clothing of a woman is in it； and then tell the republic
that you found it necessary to examine the basket of the famous
knitter of the guillotine； as if Jeanne Marie was a disguised
duchess； who wanted to fly from the hand of justice。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the official； 〃every one knows and honors
the knitter of the guillotine； but〃
〃But you are curious； and want to see some of my clothes。 Well； look
at them！〃 She raised those which lay at the top； and held them up to
the official with a laugh。
〃And down below？ What is farther down in the basket？〃
〃Farther down；〃 replied Jeanne Marie； with an expression of the
greatest indignation and the most outraged modesty； 〃farther down
are my dirty clothes； and I hope the republic will not consider it
necessary to examine these too。 I would at least oppose it； and call
every female friend I have to my help。〃 ＇Footnote： Madame Simon's
own words； reported from her own account； which she gave in the year
1810 to the Sisters of Mercy who cared for her in her last sickness。
The sisterhood of the female hospital in the rue Sevres publicly
repeated； in the year 1851； this statement of Jeanne Marie Simon；
who died there in 1819。 It was in the civil process brought against
the Duke de Normandy； who was accused of giving himself out falsely
as King Louis XVII。； and who could not be proved not to be he。＇
〃Oh！ you will not have to do that；〃 replied the official； with a
friendly nod of the head。 〃It would be presumptuous to go farther
with the examination of your goods； and the republic regards with
respect the mysteries of an honorable wife。〃
He jumped down from the wagon； while Jeanne Marie； still wearing an
angry look； laid the clothes back into the basket； and shut the
cover down。
〃Can we go now？〃 she asked； taking her seat on a low stool which
happened to be near the great basket。
〃Yes； if the official has nothing against it； we can go；〃 answered
Simon。 〃Our goods are all loaded。〃
〃Then go on； I have nothing against it； and I wish you and your wife
much happiness and joy in your new career。〃
The official waved them a last gracious adieu with the hand； and the
wagon started。 Alongside of the great； hard…mouthed and long…haired
horse that drew the cart； walked the commissioner； in order； once in
a while； when they had to turn a corner； to seize the bridle and
give it a powerful jerk。 At the side of the wagon strode Simon；
keeping a watchful eye upon his possessions； and carefully setting
every thing aright which was in danger of being shaken off upon the
pavement。 Above in the carriage near the great basket sat Jeanne
Marie； the former knitter of the guillotine。 Her naked brown arm
rested upon the basket； on whose bottom； covered with dirty linen
and Mistress Simon's clothes； was the son of Marie Antoinette； King
Louis XVII。； making his entrance into the world which should have
for him only sufferings and illusions； shattered hopes and dethroned
ideals。
This happened on the 19th of January； 1794； and on the very day in
which the unhappy King Louis XVII。 was leaving the Temple； his
sister Theresa； who was still living with her Aunt Elizabeth in the
upper rooms； wrote in her diary （known subsequently by the title
〃Recit des evenements arrives au Temple； par Madame Royale〃） the
following words： 〃On the 19th of January my aunt and I heard beneath
us； in the room of my brother； a great noise which made us suspect
that my brother was leaving the Temple。
We were convinced of it when； looking through the keyhole of the
door； we saw goods carried away。 On the following day we he