The Works of Alexandre Dumas Volume 36 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XL. THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JANUARY. Monsieur Edgeworth De Firmont was Madame Elizabeth's confessor. Nearly six weeks prior to this time the king, foreseeing the sentence of death which had just been pronounced upon him, asked his sister's advice in regard to the selection of a spiritual adviser, and Madame Elizabeth had tearfully recommended her brother to send for Abbe Firmont. That worthy priest, who was of English origin, having escaped the September massacre, had retired to Choisy-leRoi, where he had been living under the name of Essex. Madame Elizabeth knew his alias, and having written to him at Choisy, hoped that he would come to Paris as soon as the king's fate was decided. She was not mistaken. The abbe' was not a man to shrink from a duty, however dangerous. On the 21st of December, he wrote to one of his friends in England: -- "My unfortunate master has selected me as the spiritual adviser to prepare hiui for death, if the fury of the people leads them to parricide. "I too am preparing for death; for I am convinced that the fury of the populace will not permit me to survive the terrible scene a single hour; but I am resigned. I count my life but as dross; and if by sacrificing it, I could save the king, I would gladly do so, and feel that I had not died in vain." The king ushered the abbe' into his cabinet, and closed the door; and the two remained closeted together until eight o'clock in the evening, when Louis asked to be conducted to his family. "That is impossible; but they can see you here, if you wish," was the reply. "So be it, provided I can see them alone, and without witnesses," replied the king. "You doubtless have heard that the Convention has given orders to that effect." "We have arranged the matter with the...