France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction
From that moment he was a prisoner, accused of treason against the
Republic, and obviously his mock trial would be hurried through by his
triumphant enemies, whilst the temper of the people was at boiling point
against him.
Complete silence had succeeded to the raging tumult of the past few
moments. Nothing now could be heard in the vast room, save
Foucquier-Tinville's hastily whispered instructions to the clerk nearest
to him, and the scratch of the latter's quill pen against the paper.
The President was, with equal rapidity, affixing his signature to
various papers handed up to him by the other clerks. The few remaining
spectators, the deputies, and those among the crowd who had elected to
see the close of the debate, were silent and expectant.
Merlin was mopping his forehead as if in intense fatigue after a hard
struggle; Robespierre was coolly taking snuff.
From where Déroulède stood, he could see Juliette's graceful figure
silhouetted against the light of the petrol lamp. His heart was torn
between intense misery at having failed to save her and a curious,
exultant joy at thought of dying beside her.
He knew the procedure of this revolutionary tribunal well--knew that
within the next few moments he too would be condemned, that they would
both be hustled out of the crowd and dragged through the streets of
Paris, and finally thrown into the same prison, to herd with those who,
like themselves, had but a few hours to live.
And then to-morrow at dawn, death for them both under the guillotine.
Death in public, with all its attendant horrors: the packed tumbril; the
priest, in civil clothes, appointed by this godless government,
muttering conventional prayers and valueless exhortations.
And in his heart there was nothing but love for her--love and an intense
pity--for the punishment she was suffering was far greater than her
crime. He hoped that in her heart remorse would not be too bitter; and
he looked forward with joy to the next few hours, which he would pass
near her, during which he could perhaps still console and soothe her.
She was but the victim of an ideal, of Fate stronger than her own will.
She stood, an innocent martyr to the great mistake of her life.
But the minutes sped on. Foucquier-Tinville had evidently completed his
new indictments.
The one against Juliette Marny was read out first. She was now accused
of conspiring with Paul Déroulède against the safety of the Republic, by
having cognisance of a treasonable correspondence carried on with the
prisoner, Marie Antoinette; by virtue of which accusation the Public
Prosecutor asked her if she had anything to say.
"No," she replied loudly and firmly. "I pray to God for the safety and
deliverance of our Queen, Marie Antoinette, and for the overthrow of
this Reign of Terror and Anarchy."
These words, registered in the "Bulletin du Tribunal Révolutionnaire"
were taken as final and irrefutable proofs of her guilt, and she was
then summarily condemned to death.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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