The Forty-Five Guardsmen

ncilors

said the king, "is

jesty to promise life to the criminal; he has revelati

we not obt

s that enough fo

ostpone the execution, if the culprit will sign a confe

and you can let the

ty has noth

on in the confessions, or I withdra

he names of the co

ll the

hey are of

hose of my near

as your maj

als shall be brought to the prisoner, and he wil

may p

es, pr

d the council

ueen; "and your majesty will pard

; "he is seeking som

y brother, the very Catholic king. Yes, seek, wait; do you believe that there

at the order for punishment was about to be given, and it was then that he

one of those who had promise

ind them. As they passed the corner of the Rue St. Vannerie, a handsome young man, whom we have seen before, was pushed forw

w yourself into the opening, t

ifled; you are mad,

mperiously. "Keep close to the hors

there, you will b

nd me, on

rses wi

the last; a horse never ki

orse, while the page clung to him. And thus, through the crowd, waving like the sea, leaving here a piece o

?" asked the you

swered Ernanton, "

nnot

befo

yet. What are

ots at the ends

what is

ho

conde

incessantly fro

the feet and hands of the criminal to the harness. Salcede

ly, "will it please you to address the people?" and a

at him, as though to re

abandon you. There is no other hop

e, with a sigh, "I

signed confession t

, and give me a pen

stood near with writing materials placed them before him

e who have forgotten me;" but as he

, cried, "Monsieur, take me in your arms, I beg you, and raise

insatiable,

e; I must see the con

ated, he cried, "For pity's s

we have said, he saw this young lad above the crowd, with two fingers placed on his lips. An indescribable joy spread itself instantaneously over the face of the condemned m

s!" cried

" exclaimed

d the king, "and

d, who repeated the signal. He wrote on, then stopp

inished?" a

-"Then

oung man. "For the king alone," said he, and he ga

sed all," said Tanc

ed now to put down the page, who made no opposition. With him disappeared all that

e ans

king holds the pa

re was no

unfolded

e, "if they have deceived me! Y

first lines, than he called ou

s it, m

onfessed nothing; and he declares that

atherine, "if

!" cried

been calumniated: the judges, in their zeal, may

I heard them myse

, my

s,

w s

tioned, I was behind a curt

will have it, order

urged by violent blows, started off in opposite directions. A horrible cracking, and a terrible cry was heard. The

"I will speak, I will te

rd above everything, b

ried Catherine,

ore to where he had seen the page, and then expired. Tanchon gave some rapid orders to

e to Ernanton. "For pity's sake

do you

not see that it

are you

h, save me!

the corner of the Rue du Mouton, toward an open door. Into this door she entered; and she seemed to have been expected, for it closed behin

was standing up in he

ou would do well to change your

you mean,

d only one draw,

was too sens

ust as he was about to accuse those who let him die. Let a doctor examine him, and

th flashing eyes; "my cousin of

ll only be laughed at, for onc

said the king; "one can reckon on nothing in this wo