Page:History of the Empress Josephine (3).pdf/6

 my almost certain belief. One morning the jailer entered the chamber, which served as a bed room for the duchess d'Aiguillon, myself and two other ladies, telling me that he came to take away my flock bed, in order to give it to another captive. 'How give it?' eagerly interrupted Madame d'Aiguillon; is then Madame de Beauharnois to have a better? 'No no, she will not need one,' replied the wretch, with an atrocious laugh; 'she is to be taken to a new lodging, and from thence to the guillotine. At these words, my companions in misfortune set up a loud lamentation. I consoled them in the best manner I could. At length wearied with their continual bewailings, I told them that there was not even common sense in their grief; that not only should I not die, but that I should become queen of France. 'Why then, do you not appoint your household?' asked Madame d'Aiguillon, with some thing like resentment. 'Ah! that is true-I had forgotten. Well my dear, you shall be maid of honour; I promise you the sitnation.'Upon this the tears of the ladies flowed more abundantly: for they thought on seeing my coolness at such a crises that misfortune had affected my reason.

The death of Robespierre, and the reprieve, at least of his victims, was announced to the prisoners next morning. Josephine thus states the circumstances :-"Madame d'Aiguillon, feeling herself ill from the thoughts of my approaching execution, she abruptly communicated, I drew her towards the window, which I opened in order to admit air. I then perceived a woman of the lower class, who was making many gestures to us, which we could not understand. Every moment she caught and held up her gown, without our finding it possible to comprehend her meaning. Observing her to persevere I cried out. 'Robe' (a gunn), on observing which she made a sign of affirmation. Then, taking