The Romance of Madame Tussaud'sTussaud, John Theodore
History
The Romance of Madame Tussaud's
Tussaud, John Theodore
Madame Tussaud and Sons' Exhibition; Tussaud, Marie, 1761-1850; Waxworks
Nor is this the only accommodation the desk provides. Some time after the
carriage had changed ownership it was found that an extra pull withdrew
the desk still farther from its aperture, and upon this being done a
secret compartment was discovered behind it, in which were found jewels
and money of great value.
On the right side of this desk, fitted into a narrow but deep recess,
there rests a long, wedge-shaped box made to hold a goodly supply of
those quills of which Napoleon was so uncommonly prodigal.
Below these fittings, and readily engaging attention, is a large
cloth-covered door, hinged to open towards the middle of the carriage,
so that when butting against the arm-rest of the seat it divides the
lower portion of the interior into two separate parts. When so placed it
exposes a large cavity constituting the lower part or foot of a sleeping
compartment, the seat of the coach serving for the head, and the space
between being bridged by a plank or board. In this cavity were found all
the necessary things for making up a complete and comfortable bed.
On the near side of the front interior, placed immediately under the
window, is a shallow rack made to take small things such as sealing-wax,
wafers, paper-knife, etc., the receptacle being furnished with a wooden
flap and catch to enclose it. Underneath this is a large and strongly
made drawer that pulls out endways. In it many things were discovered
which were in immediate use before the capture of the coach, among them
several pieces of a silver service containing articles of food remaining
from a meal.
Below this again there is an opening, which has never boasted of a door
to enclose it. At the bottom of it a brass-bound rest, or table, has been
fitted between grooves so that it may be drawn out, or pushed in, as
occasion required. This also forms a bridge to unite the recess with the
seat facing it, so as to provide a second sleeping compartment when found
necessary.
On the inside of the doors hang heavy cloth lapels covering large square
pockets, edged with broad gold-coloured gimp braid speckled with blue
spots. On the outer side of each seat is a deep hole, both of which
contained a loaded pistol ready at hand in case of emergency.
Well above and running across the back of the seats is a half-circle
recess serving as a gun-rack, forming a strange protrusion viewed from
the outside of the coach.
An oil lamp, which at best could have yielded but a feeble light, takes
up the customary position in the centre at the back of the carriage.
The interior is lined throughout with a dark-blue cloth, in colour and
texture similar to that used at the present day for the same purpose.
A fairly reliable inventory of things found in the carriage on the night
it was captured has been handed down to us, and the following is a copy:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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