Love and liberty : $b A thrilling narrative of the French Revolution of 1792Dumas, Alexandre
History
Love and liberty : $b A thrilling narrative of the French Revolution of 1792
Dumas, Alexandre
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction
The terror was such among the few members of the society present,
that one of them, anxious to escape, escaladed the gallery set aside
for women. Madame Roland made him ashamed of himself, and compelled
him to descend the way that he had come.
They asked me about Robespierre. I told them that I was not
authorized to inform them of his place of shelter, but only could
assure them that he was in a place of safety among people who would
die for him.
Madame Roland asked me to tell Robespierre that they would bring him
to trial—that is to say, accuse him that evening at the Feuillants.
In that certainty, she and her husband were going to M. Buzal, to
pray him to defend his colleague.
We separated at the top of the Pont Neuf—M. Roland and Madame to go
down the Rue du Roule. I to follow the Rue St. Honoré.
It was quite night when I arrived at Duplay’s. Félicién had rejoined
the family during my absence; they were at table, and he regarded
askance the new arrival, who took the place of honor between Madame
Duplay and Mademoiselle Cornelie. I told M. Robespierre all about the
fulfilment of my message, and reported to him his sister’s reply.
I told him also that M. and Madame Roland had paid a visit to his
house.
Here he interrupted, and repeated after me,—“Citizen Roland!
Citizeness Roland!”
He appeared so astonished at the visit, that he was some time asking
me the cause.
I took my place at the table.
“Monsieur,” said Robespierre, after a moment’s silence, with his
habitual politeness, “does it please you to serve me to the end?”
“Not only will it be an honor, and a pleasure,” replied I, “but a
duty.”
“Well,” said he, “this time you have only a few steps to go, and I
shall not have to write a letter. Go to the Rue St. Anne; on the
left-hand side, in going up the street, by the Boulevards, you will
see the Hotel de Berry; there you will inquire for a young man named
St. Just. He lives on the fourth floor, in a room overlooking the
court. If he be at home, tell him that I want him. My kind host, I
hope, will allow me to receive him here. At present, this young man
is of no account, but one day he will lead us all. If he be not at
home, well; you leave your name and the address of this house, where
I have found such good friends, and such noble protectors, and under
the address you write, ‘Urgent for the sake of the public safety.’
Whenever he returns, he will come straight here, you may be sure.”
I wished to leave the table, but, placing his hand on my shoulder, he
said, “Finish your supper. I am not in so great a hurry, and we have
all the night before us.”
Five minutes after, I was proceeding up the Rue St. Anne.
The Hotel de Berry led out of the Rue Neuve des Petits-champs and the
Rue Neuve St. Augustin.
I asked for Citizen St. Just.
The concierge threw his eyes over the keys hung on the wall, and saw
that of St. Just was not there.
“No. 19, fourth story, at the bottom of the corridor.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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