In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster BoyHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
History
In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction; Historical fiction
Crossing the river he found a vast crowd gathered in front of the
Hotel de Ville. The news of the wholesale arrests which had been
made during the night had filled the populace with joy, and the air
was full of shouts of "Down with the Aristocrats!" "Vive Danton!
Vive Marat! Vive Robespierre!" Hawkers were selling, in the crowd,
newspapers and broadsheets filled with the foulest attacks, couched
in the most horrible language, upon the king, the queen, and the
aristocracy.
At various points men, mounted upon steps or the pedestals of
statues, harangued the mob while from time to time the crowd opened
and made way for members of the city council, who were cheered or
hooted according to their supposed sentiments for or against the
cause of the people. After remaining there for some time Harry
made his way to the entrance to the Assembly. A crowd was gathered
here, and a tremendous rush was made when the doors were opened.
Harry managed to force his way in and sat for some hours listening to
the debate, which was constantly interrupted by the people in the
galleries, who applauded with frenzy the speeches of their favourite
orators, the deputies of the Mountain, as the bank of seats occupied
by the Jacobin members was named, and howled and yelled when the
Girondists ventured to advocate moderation or conciliation.
It was late in the evening before the sitting was over, and Harry
was unable to leave his place earlier. Then he went and had supper
at a wineshop, and after sauntering on the Boulevards until the
streets began to be deserted he again crossed the river and made
his way to the mansion. Not a light was to be seen in the windows
and all was still and quiet. The great door stood open. The work
of destruction was complete; the house was stripped of everything
that could be carried away.
Harry made his way up to the bedroom of the marquis. The massive
bedstead still stood in its place, having defied the efforts
of destruction which had proved successful with the cabinets and
other furniture. Sitting down on the floor Harry counted the boards
beneath the bed, and then taking out a strong knife which he had
purchased during the day he inserted it by the side of the middle
board and tried to raise it. It yielded without difficulty to his
effort.
As soon as it was lifted he groped in the cavity below it, and his
hand soon came in contact with the heavy bag. Taking this out and
putting it beneath his blouse he replaced the board and made his
way downstairs. He felt too fatigued to walk across Paris again,
and therefore made his way down to the river and curled himself
up for the night at the foot of the wood pile where the girls had
found shelter in the morning, and, in spite of the novelty of his
situation, fell instantly asleep.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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