Maurice, at a glance, embraced the entire scene, and thought of what would follow.
In the centre of the hall lay the suicide, from whose breast the gendarme had just torn the weapon of destruction, fearing, probably, it might be used by some of the others.
Around him were several individuals mute with despair and scarcely heeding him, inscribing in their pocket-books some disconnected words, or pressing one another's hands; some repeating, without any intermission, a cherished name, or bathing with tears a portrait, a ring, or tress of hair; some venting imprecations against tyranny, a state of affairs cursed by all, ay sometimes even by the tyrants themselves. In the midst of these unfortunates, Sanson, oppressed less from his fifty years than his melancholy office,—Sanson, as mild, and as much their con[Pg 506]soler as his terrible vocation permitted him to be, to this one offered advice, to that one some sad consolation or encouragement, finding some Christian responses to their accents of despair as well as to their bravado.
"Citizeness," said he to Geneviève, "I must remove your scarf, and cut off your hair, if you please."
Geneviève began to tremble.
"Come, dear lady," said Lorin, softly, "take courage!"
"May I remove the lady's hair?" asked Maurice.
"Oh, yes," cried Geneviève; "I entreat you to permit him to do so, Monsieur Sanson."
"He may," said the old man, turning away his head.
Maurice first took off his necktie, and Geneviève, stooping, fell on her knees before the young man, presenting her charming head, appearing more beautiful in her grief than she had ever been in her days of sunshine and happiness.
When Maurice had completed the funereal operation, his hands were so tremulous and his countenance betrayed so much grief that Geneviève exclaimed,—
"Ah! I am courageous, Maurice."
Sanson turned round.
"Is it not so, sir?" said Geneviève; "am I not courageous?"
"Certainly, Citizen," replied the executioner, in a perturbed voice, "for yours is true courage."
In the mean time the first assistant had glanced over the list forwarded by Fouquier Tinville.
"Fourteen," said he.
Sanson counted the condemned.
"Fifteen, including the dead," said he; "why, how is this?"
Lorin and Geneviève counted after him, both struck by the same thought.
[Pg 507]
"You say there are only fourteen condemned, and that we are fifteen?" said she.
"Yes; the Citizen Fouquier Tinville must have made a mistake."
"Ah! you spoke falsely, then," said Geneviève, turning to Maurice; "you were not condemned."
"And why wait for to-morrow, when you die to-day?" said Maurice.
"My love," said she, smiling, "you reassure me; I am now convinced that it is easy to die."
"Lorin," said Maurice, "now for the last time—no one here can recognize you—say that you came to bid me adieu; say that you have been shut in by mistake; call the gendarme who saw you go out. I am the true criminal who ought to die. But you, my friend, we beseech you to live to love our memory. There is yet time, Lorin; we entreat you!"
Geneviève joined her hands in an attitude of prayer. Lorin took both her hands and kissed them.
"I have said no, and I mean no," said Lorin, in a firm voice; "say no more on the subject, or I shall think I am a bore to you."
"Fourteen," repeated Sanson, "and here are fifteen;" then elevating his voice, "Is there any one here who can protest against this?" said he; "is there any one here who can prove he is here by mistake?"
Perhaps some lips half-opened at this question, but closed again without uttering a single word; since those who felt inclined to lie were ashamed to do so, and those who would not lie were determined not to speak.
A silence of several minutes ensued, during which the assistants continued their mournful office.
"Citizens, we are ready," said old Sanson, in his deep and solemn voice. He was answered only by sobs and groans.
[Pg 508]
"Well!" said Lorin, "so be it!
No death is nobler, none more high,
Than for our native land to die.
Yes, to die for our native land; but decidedly I begin to think we do not die for her, but for the pleasure of those who witness our deaths. Faith! Maurice, I have adopted your opinion. I am disgusted with the Republic!"
"The call!" said a commissary, at the door.
Several gendarmes entered the hall, closing up the issues, thus placing themselves between life and the condemned, as if to prevent them from returning to it.
The death-roll was called.
Maurice, who had witnessed the trial of the condemned man who had destroyed himself, when his name was called answered in his stead. They then found that, excepting the dead man, the number was correct.
The corpse was removed from the hall; but if the man's identity had been established, and he had been recognized as one condemned, he would have been guillotined with the rest, though already dead.
The survivors were pushed toward the outlet, in order that as each passed before the wicket his hands might be tied behind his back. For the space of ten minutes not a word was exchanged between these unfortunates; the executioners alone seemed endowed with life or motion.
Maurice, Geneviève, and Lorin, not being any longer able to retain their hold of each other, crowded together that they might not be separated.
When the condemned were removed from the Conciergerie into the court, the scene became truly appalling. Several grew faint at the sight of the carts, and the turnkeys were compelled to assist them to mount the steps of these vehicles of death. Behind the still closed doors[Pg 509] was heard the confused murmur of the crowd; and it might be inferred from the sound that the concourse was immense.
Geneviève courageously ascended the car; Maurice at her side sustained her; he sprang in rapidly after her.
Lorin did not hurry himself, but carefully selected his seat at the left of Maurice.
The doors opened, and foremost in the crowd stood Simon. The two friends immediately recognized him; indeed, the recognition was mutual. He was standing upon a fence near which the cars must pass, for there were three of them. The car containing our three friends moved first.
"Ah! good-day to you, my brave grenadier!" said Simon to Lorin; "you are going to try the effect of my leather-cutting machine, I suppose?"
"Yes," said Lorin; "and I will be careful not to notch it, that it may be ready when your turn comes."
The two remaining cars followed the direction of the first. And now commenced a terrific tempest of cries, shouts, groans, and maledictions, surrounding and following the condemned.
"Courage! Geneviève, take courage!" murmured Maurice.
"Oh!" replied the young woman, "I do not wish for life since I die with you. I regret only that my hands are tied, so that I cannot embrace you before I die."
"Lorin," said Maurice, "feel in my waistcoat pocket, there you will find a knife."
"Zounds!" said Lorin, "a penknife is the very thing needed; I should be ashamed to die, garroted like a calf."
Maurice placed his pocket on a level with his friend's hands; Lorin found the knife, which between them they[Pg 510] succeeded in opening. Maurice then placed it between his teeth, and severed the cord which bound Lorin's hands, who, the moment they were free, performed the same office for Maurice.
"Make haste!" said the young man; "Geneviève is fainting."
In fact, to accomplish this operation Maurice had for a moment turned from Geneviève, when, as if all her strength had been derived from him, her eyes closed, and her head sank upon her breast.
"Geneviève, open your eyes, my love," said Maurice; "we have only a few minutes more to see each other in this world."
"The cords wound me," murmured the young woman.
Maurice unbound them. She immediately re-opened her eyes, and rose, radiant with almost celestial beauty. She threw one fair arm around Maurice's neck, and with the other hand took that of Lorin; and thus, all three standing in the cart, with two more victims lying at their feet wrapped in the stupor of anticipated death, they gazed toward heaven with a look of ardent gratitude for having been permitted to support and console each other, while those who had outraged and insulted them previously were now perfectly silent. The scaffold was in sight. Maurice and Lorin beheld it. Geneviève did not; she saw naught but her lover. The car stopped.
"I love thee!" said Maurice to Geneviève; "I love thee!"
"The woman first! the woman first!" shouted a thousand voices.
"Thanks, good people," said Maurice; "who then can call you cruel?"
He took Geneviève within his arms, pressed his lips fondly upon hers, and delivered her to Sanson.
[Pg 511]
"Courage!" cried Lorin; "courage!"
"I have it!" said Geneviève; "I have it!"
"I love thee!" murmured Maurice; "I love thee!"
They were no longer victims about to be slaughtered, but friends making a festival of death.
"Adieu!" cried Geneviève to Lorin.
"Farewell, till we meet again!" replied he.
And Geneviève disappeared under the fatal drop.
"After you," said Lorin.
"After you," replied Maurice.
"Hark! she calls you."
At this moment Geneviève uttered her last cry.
"Come!" said she.
A furious uproar took place in the crowd. The fair and graceful head had fallen.
Maurice rushed forward.
"It is exactly correct," said Lorin; "let us follow logic. Do you hear me, Maurice?"
"Yes."
"She loved you, and they have murdered her first; you are not condemned, and therefore die the second; and I, who have done nothing, being the greatest criminal of the three, die the last.
And thus you see how passing clear
Logic makes everything appear.
Good faith! Citizen Sanson, I promised you a quatrain; but you must be content with a distich."
"I did love thee!" murmured Maurice, lying on the fatal plank, and smiling at the head of his beloved,—"I did lo—" The knife cut short the last word.
"Now for my turn!" cried Lorin, bounding on the scaffold, "and be quick, or I shall lose my head! Citizen[Pg 512] Sanson, I owe you two verses, instead of which I offer you a pun."
Sanson placed him in his turn.
"Let us see," said Lorin,—"it is the fashion to cry long live something, when dying. Once it was, 'Vive le Roi,' but now there is no king; next the cry was, 'Vive la Liberté,' but there is no more liberty. Faith, Long live Simon! say I, who unites us all three."
And the head of the generous and noble-hearted young man fell near those of Maurice and Geneviève.
THE END.
THE Romances of Alexandre Dumas.
ROMANCES OF THE REIGN OF HENRY II.
I. The Two Dianas 3 vols.
II. The Page of the Duke of Savoy 2 vols.
THE VALOIS ROMANCES.
I. Marguerite de Valois 2 vols.
II. La Dame de Monsoreau 2 vols.
III. The Forty-Five 2 vols.
THE D'ARTAGNAN ROMANCES.
I. The Three Musketeers 2 vols.
II. Twenty Years After 2 vols.
III. The Vicomte de Bragelonne; or, Ten Years Later 6 vols.
THE REGENCY ROMANCES.
I. Le Chevalier D'Harmental 1 vol.
II. The Regent's Daughter 1 vol.
A ROMANCE OF THE REIGN OF LOUIS XV.
Olympe de Clèves 2 vols.
THE MARIE ANTOINETTE ROMANCES.
I. Memoirs of a Physician 3 vols.
II. The Queen's Necklace 2 vols.
III. Ange Pitou 2 vols.
IV. La Comtesse de Charny 4 vols.
V. Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge 1 vol.
THE NAPOLEON ROMANCES.
The Companions of Jehu 2 vols.
The Whites and the Blues 2 vols.
The Black Tulip 1 vol.
The Count of Monte Cristo 4 vols.
The She-Wolves of Machecoul }
The Corsican Brothers } 2 vols.
NEW SERIES.
Ascanio: A Romance of Francis I. and Benvenuto Cellini 2 vols.
The War of Women: A Romance of the Fronde 2 vols.
Black: The Story of a Dog 1 vol.
Tales of the Caucasus—The Ball of Snow, and Sultanetta 1 vol.
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Beautiful and uniform editions of these important Historical Novels translated into English unabridged, a large amount of matter heretofore omitted being supplied, and printed in handsome, clear type, in a style worthy of their merits.
LIST OF ROMANCES.
THE VALOIS ROMANCES.
Marguerite de Valois 2 vols
La Dame De Monsoreau 2 "
⁂ This story is also known under the name of "Chicot the Jester."
The Forty-Five 2 "
⁂ Sometimes called the "Forty-Five Guardsmen."
In all 6 vols., put up in box.
THE D'ARTAGNAN ROMANCES.
The Three Musketeers 2 vols
Twenty Years After 2 "
The Vicomte De Bragelonne 6 "
⁂ Portions of this powerful romance have sometimes been issued separately under the titles of "Bragelonne," "Louise de la Vallière," and the "Iron Mask." All three stories are included in the above, unabridged, and according to the author's own arrangement.
In all 10 vols., put up in box.
THE MARIE ANTOINETTE ROMANCES.
Memoirs of a Physician 3 vols
The Queen's Necklace 2 "
Ange Pitou 2 "
⁂ Sometimes called "Taking the Bastille."
Comtesse de Charny 4 "
⁂ Published according to the author's own arrangement. It has sometimes been issued as two separate stories, "Comtesse de Charny" and "Andrée de Taverney."
Chevalier de Maison-Rouge 1 vol
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The Count of Monte Cristo 4 vols
With illustrations by Edmund H. Garrett. Put up in box.
ROMANCES OF THE COURT OF HENRY II.
The Two Dianas 3 "
The Page of the Duke of Savoy 2 "
THE REGENCY ROMANCES.
The Chevalier D'Harmental 1 vol.
⁂ Sometimes called "The Conspirators."
The Regent's Daughter 1 "
HISTORICAL ROMANCES.
The Black Tulip 1 vol.
(Scene, Holland: Time, 1672.)
Olympe de Clèves 2 vols.
(Reign of Louis XV.)
The above ten volumes put up in box under the title of "Historical and Regency Romances."
THE NAPOLEON ROMANCES.
The Companions of Jehu 2 vols.
The Whites and the Blues 2 "
⁂ This story has also been issued under the title of "The First Republic."
The She-Wolves of Machecoul }
The Corsican Brothers } 2 vols.
⁂ "The She-Wolves of Machecoul" has also been issued under the title
of "The Last Vendée."
The set of six volumes put up in box, with twenty-four illustrations, including historical portraits and original pictures by E. Van Muyden, Felix Oudart, E.H. Garrett, and F.T. Merrill.
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Ascanio 2 vols.
The War of Women 2 "
⁂ "Ascanio" is a romance of the time of Francis the First and Benvenuto Cellini. "The War of Women" deals with events in the War of the Fronde, and the scene of the romance is Bordeaux.
Black, the Story of a Dog 1 vol.
⁂ In "Black," the author chose a new field and a new theme. It may well rank among his best works, although, strictly speaking, not an historical romance.
Tales of the Caucasus, comprising "The Ball of Snow" and
"Sultanetta" 1 vol.
⁂ The scenes and characters are as vividly Oriental as those of his historical novels are French.
The above six volumes, put up in a box, with six frontispieces by E. Van Muyden and Eugène Grivaz.
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HUGO. The Romances of Victor Hugo. With 28 portraits and plates by French artists. 14 vols. 12mo. Per volume, decorated cloth, gilt top, $1.50; plain cloth, gilt top $1.25; half calf or half morocco, extra, gilt top, $3.00.
In preparing this new and very handsome edition of Hugo's Romances no expense has been spared that would produce a really beautiful set of Hugo's world-famous works in type which it is a pleasure to read, and in volumes which can easily and comfortably be held in the hand. Important chapters and passages omitted in other editions are included.
LIST OF STORIES.
Les Miserables 5 vols.
Notre-Dame 2 "
Ninety-Three 1 vol.
The Man Who Laughs 2 vols.
Toilers of the Sea 2 "
Hans of Iceland 1 vol.
Bug-Jargal; Claude Gueux }
The Last Day of a Condemned } 1 "
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LIST OF THE VOLUMES.
THE CAXTON NOVELS.
The Caxtons 2 vols.
My Novel 4 "
What will he do with It? 3 "
NOVELS OF LIFE AND MANNERS.
Pelham }
Falkland } 2 vols.
The Disowned 2 "
Paul Clifford 2 "
Godolphin 1 vol.
Ernest Maltravers 1 "
Alice 1 "
Night and Morning 2 vols.
Lucretia 1 vol.
Kenelm Chillingly }
The Coming Race } 2 vols.
The Parisians 2 "
ROMANCES.
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The Pilgrims of the Rhine }
Zicci } 1 "
Zanoni 1 "
A Strange Story }
The Haunted and the Haunters } 2 vols.
HISTORICAL ROMANCES.
Devereux 2 vols.
The Last Days of Pompeii 1 vol.
Rienzi, the Last of the Roman Tribunes 2 vols.
The Last of the Barons 2 "
Leila and Calderon }
Pausanias, the Spartan } 1 vol.
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3. Fadette (La Petite Fadette). Translated from the French by Jane Minot Sedgwick. Printed at the De Vinne Press. With frontispiece, embodying an original design and a portrait of George Sand, drawn and etched by E. Abot.
4. The Master Mosaic Workers (Les Maîtres Mosaïstes). Translated from the French by Charlotte C. Johnston. Printed at the University Press. With a portrait of Titian, etched by W.H.W. Bicknell.
Limited Edition. Seven hundred and fifty numbered sets on Windsor hand-made paper. 4 vols. 16mo. Boards, gilt top, $6.00 net.
The noblest mind of our epoch.—Edmond About.
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