Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/262

 "And you know," rejoined Raoul, "my contempt for them and their sermons, but when men stand in our present awful extremity, it becomes them to look well about them; not that death alarms me; I care as little for it, as I do for this cup of water. You will see whether I dread merely leaving this world, M. Jules."

"Ah yes!" said Court to me, "you must come."

"I will do so, I promise you."

"Honour."

"I pledge you my honour, I will be present."

The day appointed for the execution I repaired to Versailles, it was ten o'clock in the morning when I entered the prison, the two unhappy men were deeply engaged with their confessors. They no sooner perceived me, than precipitately rising, they approached me.

, (taking my hand.) "You do not know what pleasure the sight of you affords me, my friend; we were just preparing to leave this world with a clear conscience."

. "Pray do not let me interfere with so sacred and important a duty."

. "You disturb us, M. Jules! surely you are jesting."

. "Our time draws to a close, we have but a poor ten minutes before us. (Turning to the ministers.) These gentlemen will excuse us."

. "Proceed, my son, proceed!"

. "There are but very few in the world like M. Jules; nevertheless he it was who caged us—but that is nothing."

. "If he had not done so, some one else would."

. "Yes, and some person, in all probability, who would not have treated us half so well."

. "Ah! M. Jules, I shall never forget all your kindness to me."

. "No friend could have done more."

. "And to come and witness the last concluding scene into the bargain."