In exitu Israel : $b an historical novel, volume 2 (of 2) — John Shaqi
In exitu Israel : $b an historical novel, volume 2 (of 2)Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
In exitu Israel : $b an historical novel, volume 2 (of 2)
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction
'Come!' said the jailer to the peasant-girl, 'it is time for you to be
out of this. Come with me.'
'See her safely through the gates, Lassimotte.'
'Ay, sir!'
'Beast!' shouted Madame Berthier, before the door closed, glaring upon
her husband, and swinging the yellow cat above her head; 'did you want
me to dash my head against the walls, and spatter them with blood and
brains?'
'Certainly,' answered the Intendant, mockingly, as he bowed with his
hand on his heart.
'Or that I should strangle myself with my garters, slung to that
stanchion?'
'Let me assure you that you have quite caught my idea;' with another
bow, and a step back towards the door.
'Or you would have me hack through my throat with a broken potsherd?'
'Delighted,' exclaimed Berthier, standing on the threshold and throwing
his arms apart, and raising himself.
'Then begone,' she screamed. 'I will not see you again, I swear, till
I have your life. If you come to see me here, I will hide my face
from you. Take that to remember me by--go, Gabriel! avenging angel!'
She flung the yellow cat in his face. The beast lit upon his cheeks,
with every claw extended, screaming with fear, and clinging with all
its might, hung there one instant, then dropped, and darting to its
mistress bounded to her shoulder and set up its back and tail, hissing
and swearing.
Madame Plomb saw her husband recoil,--saw lines of crimson streak his
face, heard his yell of pain, followed by a volley of blasphemous
oaths, then the door was shut with a bang, double locked, and she was
left to silence and reflection.
Gabrielle in the meantime had been hurried by the jailer to the gates.
As she issued from them into the street, she saw that it was full of
people in a condition of intense excitement. Every eye was directed
towards the towers, with a look of threatening hate. A deep murmur rose
from the throng, not loud, but intensely earnest.
Corporal Deschwanden caught Gabrielle's arm. He had been waiting for
her.
'Is all right?' he asked, anxiously.
'I fear not,' she answered; and then told him what had occurred.
'Herr Je!' exclaimed the soldier; 'that will never do. If Berthier
knows of your plan, he will take effectual means to stop its execution.
What is to be done? You are not safe. Potts tausend! I must think of
it.'
That evening, an express was sent to Versailles, and at day-break the
Marquis de Sade was removed to Charenton. He was the last prisoner
to leave the Bastille. He had been confined for horrible crimes of
impurity. Being only a moral, not a political offender, he had been
treated with a consideration never met with by those who had roused
the suspicions of Government. He was allowed the walk on the towers
interdicted to others, was permitted to carpet and hang his room with
arras, and to have excellent meals, which he paid for out of his
well-stocked purse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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