Page:A French Volunteer of the War of Independence.djvu/262

238 Otherwise his story greatly resembled that of Figaro.

"Yes," he said to me, "I was, when you left France, proprietor of a cafe. I became what is called officier de paix, and had to guard the Tuileries. You may guess that I showed our unfortunate King and his august family every mark of devotion, and there was no advice likely to be useful for their safety or repose that I failed to give them. They did me the honour to receive me, and confide in me as a servant in whom they could trust. After the terrible day of the 10th of August, I was arrested, and brought to trial. I pleaded my own cause, I defended my head with courage and eloquence, and as I had the advantage of not being noble, but belonging to the people, they were forced to forgive me for having done my duty, and I was acquitted. I wore the livery of the Revolution, but nevertheless I carried in my heart a love of the Bourbons, and of all honest people. I have saved as many as I could from the scaffold; many know it, but many others do not suspect it, for I