"And you know," rejoined Raoul, "my contempt for them and their sermons, but when men stand in our present awful extremity, it becomes them to look well about them; not that death alarms me; I care as little for it, as I do for this cup of water. You will see whether I dread merely leaving this world, M. Jules."
"Ah yes!" said Court to me, "you must come."
"I will do so, I promise you."
"Honour."
"I pledge you my honour, I will be present."
The day appointed for the execution I repaired to Versailles, it was ten o'clock in the morning when I entered the prison, the two unhappy men were deeply engaged with their confessors. They no sooner perceived me, than precipitately rising, they approached me.
Raoul, (taking my hand.) "You do not know what pleasure the sight of you affords me, my friend; we were just preparing to leave this world with a clear conscience."
Myself. "Pray do not let me interfere with so sacred and important a duty."
Court. "You disturb us, M. Jules! surely you are jesting."
Raoul. "Our time draws to a close, we have but a poor ten minutes before us. (Turning to the ministers.) These gentlemen will excuse us."
Raoul's confessor. "Proceed, my son, proceed!"
Court. "There are but very few in the world like M. Jules; nevertheless he it was who caged us—but that is nothing."
Raoul. "If he had not done so, some one else would."
Court. "Yes, and some person, in all probability, who would not have treated us half so well."
Raoul. "Ah! M. Jules, I shall never forget all your kindness to me."
Court. "No friend could have done more."
Raoul. "And to come and witness the last concluding scene into the bargain."
