Frederick[_4_]
November 7th 07, 07:24 AM
sympathy of the
Parisians in the approaching event, that thirty thousand copies were
disposed of, in Paris alone, in one day.
On the 20th of January the graves of the martyrs were opened, and all
the princes of the royal house who were present, knelt down at the edge
of the grave to mingle their prayers with those of the thousands who had
accompanied them to the church-yard.
But the king was right. This act, that appeared to some to be a mere act
of justice, seemed an insult to others, and reminded them of the dark
days of error and fanaticism, in which they had allowed themselves to be
drawn into the vortex of the general delirium. Many of those who in the
Assembly had voted for the death of the king, were now residing at
Paris, and even at court, as for instance Fouche, and to them the
approaching ceremony seemed an insult.
"Are you aware," exclaimed Descourtis, as he rushed into the apartment
of Cambaceres, who was at that moment conversing with the Count de Pere,
"have you already been informed that this ceremony is really to take
place to-morrow?"
"Yes, to-morrow is the fated day. To-morrow we are to be delivered over
to the daggers of fanatics."
"Is this the pardon that was promised us?"
"As for that," exclaimed the Count de Pere (a good royalist), "I was
not aware that there was an article in the constitution f
Parisians in the approaching event, that thirty thousand copies were
disposed of, in Paris alone, in one day.
On the 20th of January the graves of the martyrs were opened, and all
the princes of the royal house who were present, knelt down at the edge
of the grave to mingle their prayers with those of the thousands who had
accompanied them to the church-yard.
But the king was right. This act, that appeared to some to be a mere act
of justice, seemed an insult to others, and reminded them of the dark
days of error and fanaticism, in which they had allowed themselves to be
drawn into the vortex of the general delirium. Many of those who in the
Assembly had voted for the death of the king, were now residing at
Paris, and even at court, as for instance Fouche, and to them the
approaching ceremony seemed an insult.
"Are you aware," exclaimed Descourtis, as he rushed into the apartment
of Cambaceres, who was at that moment conversing with the Count de Pere,
"have you already been informed that this ceremony is really to take
place to-morrow?"
"Yes, to-morrow is the fated day. To-morrow we are to be delivered over
to the daggers of fanatics."
"Is this the pardon that was promised us?"
"As for that," exclaimed the Count de Pere (a good royalist), "I was
not aware that there was an article in the constitution f