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Monsieur The Viscount’s Friend
by
Monsieur the Viscount’s misgivings were just. Francois, on whose stupidity Antoine had relied, was (as is not uncommon with people stupid in other respects) just clever enough to be mischievous. Antoine’s evident alarm made him suspicious, and he began to talk about the too-elegant-looking young lawyer who was imprisoned “in secret,” and permitted by the gaoler to keep venomous beasts. Antoine was examined and committed to one of his own cells, and Monsieur the Viscount was summoned before the revolutionary tribunal.
There was little need even for the scanty inquiry that in those days preceded sentence. In every line of his beautiful face, marred as it was by sickness and suffering–in the unconquerable dignity, which dirt and raggedness were powerless to hide, the fatal nobility of his birth and breeding were betrayed. When he returned to the ante-room, he did not positively know his fate; but in his mind there was a moral certainty that left him no hope.
The room was filled with other prisoners awaiting trial; and, as he entered, his eyes wandered round it to see if there were any familiar faces. They fell upon two figures standing with their backs to him–a tall, fierce-looking man, who, despite his height and fierceness, had a restless, nervous despondency expressed in all his movements; and a young girl who leant on his arm as if for support, but whose steady quietude gave her more the air of a supporter. Without seeing their faces, and for no reasonable reason, Monsieur the Viscount decided with himself that they were the Baron and his daughter, and he begged the man who was conducting him for a moment’s delay. The man consented. France was becoming sick of unmitigated carnage, and even the executioners sometimes indulged in pity by way of a change.
As Monsieur the Viscount approached the two they turned round, and he saw her face–a very fair and very resolute one, with ashen hair and large eyes. In common with almost all the faces in that room, it was blanched with suffering; and, it is fair to say, in common with many of them, it was pervaded by a lofty calm. Monsieur the Viscount never for an instant doubted his own conviction; he drew near and said in a low voice, “Mademoiselle de St. Claire!”
The Baron looked first fierce, and then alarmed. His daughter’s face illumined; she turned her large eyes on the speaker, and said simply, “Monsieur le Vicomte?”
The Baron apologized, commiserated, and sat down on a seat near, with a look of fretful despair; and his daughter and Monsieur the Viscount were left standing together. Monsieur the Viscount desired to say a great deal, and could say very little. The moments went by, and hardly a word had been spoken.
Valerie asked if he knew his fate.
“I have not heard it,” he said; “but I am morally certain. There can be but one end in these days.”
She sighed. “It is the same with us. And if you must suffer, Monsieur, I wish that we may suffer together. It would comfort my father–and me.”
Her composure vexed him. Just, too, when he was sensible that the desire of life was making a few fierce struggles in his own breast.
“You seem to look forward to death with great cheerfulness, Mademoiselle.”
The large eyes were raised to him with a look of surprise at the irritation of his tone.
“I think,” she said, gently, “that one does not look forward to, but beyond it.” She stopped and hesitated, still watching his face, and then spoke hurriedly and diffidently:–
“Monsieur, it seems impertinent to make such suggestions to you, who have doubtless a full fund of consolation; but I remember, when a child, going to hear the preaching of a monk who was famous for his eloquence. He said that his text was from the Scriptures–it has been in my mind all to-day–‘There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest.‘ The man is becoming impatient. Adieu! Monsieur. A thousand thanks and a thousand blessings.”