France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction; Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Fiction
Four couriers, dressed in the national colors, preceded the carriage,
which was drawn by six white horses and uncovered in spite of the
threatening weather. Euloge was seated in it with his betrothed, who
was richly dressed and dazzling in her youth and beauty. His customary
escort, the black horsemen, the Hussars of Death, caracoled around the
carriage with drawn swords, with which they struck those who were
curious enough to approach too near. Behind them came a low cart, with
large wheels painted red, drawn by two horses decorated with the
tri-color ribbons, and loaded with planks, posts, and steps, painted red
like the rest. The two sinister-looking men in charge of it, with their
black trousers and the fatal "red bonnet" with its large cockade, were
exchanging rather doleful pleasantries with the Hussars of Death. The
rear of the procession was brought up by a small carriage, in which a
small, grave, thin man was sitting, at whom the people pointed
curiously, designating him simply as "Master Nicholas." The procession
was accompanied by a double row of men bearing torches.
Schneider was coming to present his betrothed to Saint-Just, who, as we
have seen, had gone out upon the balcony to meet them.
Saint-Just, calm, stern, and cold as the statue of Justice, was not
popular: he was feared and respected. So that when he appeared on the
balcony dressed as a representative of the people, with his plumed hat,
the tri-color sash round his waist, and the sword at his side which he
knew how to use with such good effect upon occasion, there were neither
cries nor cheers, but a cold whispering and a backward movement, which
left a great lighted circle in the midst of the crowd, into which the
carriage of the betrothed couple drove slowly, followed by the cart
bearing the guillotine and the cab with the executioner.
Saint-Just made a sign with his hand for the procession to stop, and the
crowd, as we have said, not only stopped, but drew back.
Every one thought that Saint-Just was about to speak first; and in fact,
after the imperative gesture which he made with supreme dignity, he had
intended to speak, when, to the astonishment of all, the young girl
opened the door of the carriage with a rapid movement, sprang to the
ground, closed the door, and, falling on her knees on the pavement,
cried suddenly in the midst of the solemn silence: "Justice, citizen! I
appeal to Saint-Just and to the Convention for justice!"
"Against whom?" asked Saint-Just, in his quivering, incisive voice.
"Against this man, against Euloge Schneider, against the special
commissioner of the Republic!"
"Speak; what has he done?" replied Saint-Just; "Justice listens to you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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