The sympathies of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe were equally aroused for their friends. Mr. Monroe determined that something must be done, or that death would soon end the lives of these martyrs to the cause of freedom. Fortunately, the star of destiny of America was rapidly ascending, which enabled her representatives to assume a loftier attitude in their demands for the recognition of the rights of men. Mr. Monroe, intensely aroused, made haste to try to relieve Marquis and Madame La Fayette. Mrs. Monroe co-operated enthusiastically in the plans for their relief, one of which was for Mrs. Monroe to visit Madame La Fayette in prison. With a brave heart, she went to the prison, and was successful in seeing Madame La Fayette, her inhuman captors being afraid to refuse the request of Mrs. Monroe, who was almost overcome with the wretched condition of that brave lady when she was brought into her presence, supported by the guards who watched her day and night. The day Mrs. Monroe called Madame La Fayette had been expecting the summons to prepare for her execution, and naturally was greatly alarmed when a gendarme commanded her to follow him. More dead than alive, she was ushered into the presence of her rescuer. After a few assuring words of encouragement to Madame La Fayette, in tones loud enough for those in her presence to hear, Mrs. Monroe assured the unhappy woman that she would see her on the morrow. Mrs. Monroe departed to speedily assist in the deliverance of her persecuted friend, which was consummated next day. Madame La Fayette left Paris under the protection of an American passport to join her unhappy husband who, through the intervention of George Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte, was also liberated. It was subsequently learned that the very afternoon of Mrs. Monroe's visit Madame La Fayette was to have been beheaded. To the day of her death Mrs. Monroe regarded the saving of the life of Madame La Fayette as her most gratifying achievement.
