Let me give way a little, weep without restraint in your arms. Do not believe because I weep that my courage weakens. I have promised you to live; I shall keep my word. But I must always feel your heart beating close to mine. I must be sustained by your love. We must have courage. We must have an almost superhuman energy. As for me, I can only summon my whole strength to bear all the tortures which await me. Good-night and kisses. ALFRED. * * * * * _Thursday, noon._ My Darling: They have informed me that the supreme humiliation is set for the day after to-morrow. I expected it; I was prepared for it; but in spite of that the blow was terrible. I shall stand fast, as I promised you I would. I shall draw the force I still need for that awful day from the deep well of your love, from the affection of you all; from the memory of our dear children; from the supreme hope that some day the truth will come to light; but on every side I must feel the warmth of the affection that you all bear me. I must feel that you are struggling with me. Search always; let there be no truce, no rest. I hope to see you soon, to gather strength from your loving eyes. Let us sustain each other through everything and against everything. Your love is necessary to my life; without it the mainspring of my being would be broken. When I am gone persuade them all that they must not stop their efforts. Take measures at once, so that you may be able to come to see me on Saturday and the following days at the prison of la Santé. It is there, above all, that I must feel that I am sustained. Find out also what I asked you yesterday--when I am to leave, how I am to go, etc. We must be prepared for everything; we must not let ourselves be surprised. Until the blessed moment, soon to come, when I shall see you, I embrace you. ALFRED. * * * * * _4:15 P. M._ Since four o’clock my heart has been beating to bursting. You are not yet here, my darling. The seconds seem hours to me. My ear is listening--perhaps they come to call me. I cannot hear; I am waiting. * * * * * _5 o’clock._ I am more calm; the sight of you has helped me. The rapture of having held you in my arms has done me immense good. I could not wait for the moment. I thank you for the joy that you have given me. How I love you, my good darling! Let us hope that some time all this sorrow is to end. I must husband all my energy. A thousand kisses more, my darling. ALFRED. _Thursday, 11 o’clock in the evening._ My Darling: The nights are long; it is to you that I turn again and again; it is in your eyes that I look for all my strength. It is in your profound love that I find the courage to live. Not that the struggle makes me afraid, but truly fate is too cruel to me. Could one imagine a situation more awful, more tragic, for an innocent man? Could there be a martyrdom more fraught with sorrow?