the lamplighter failed to recognize him。
Simon； who was summoned to give evidence； asserted the same thing；
and affirmed that he recognized little Capet in the sick boy； and
that his wife had cut off his hair only the day before。 He brought
the hair as a complete proof of the identity； and it was seen to
agree perfectly with that of the sick child。
Yet some of the officials still doubted； and their doubts were
increased when on the same day the servant of Count Frotte reported
to the Safety Committee that his master had made a sudden and secret
journey； accompanied by a boy； whom the count had treated with great
deference。
This boy might be the dauphin； whom Count Frotte； in conjunction
with Toulan； might have spirited out of the Temple in some secret
way； and who must be followed at all hazards。 At the same time the
government were informed that the Count de St。 Prix had left Paris
in company with a boy； and had taken the road to Germany。
Chazel； a member of the Convention； was sent secretly to Puy to
arrest Frotte and the boy there； and Chauvaine； another member； was
ordered to follow the road to Germany； and； if possible； to bring
back Count St。 Prix。
After a while both of them returned； with nothing accomplished。
Chazel had； indeed； arrested Count Frotte and the boy in Puy； but
the count had given such undeniable proofs that the boy was not the
dauphinhe had summoned so many unimpeachable witnesses from Paris；
who recognized the boy as the son of M。 de Gueriviere； who was in
Coblentz with the princes； that nothing more remained but to release
the count and his comrade。
Chauvaine had not been able to arrest the Count de St。 Prix； and had
only learned that in company with a boy he had crossed the Rhine and
entered Germany。
It was of no use； therefore； to undertake farther investigations；
and the conclusion must be firmly held to that the boy in the
Temple； whose sickness increased from day to day； was the real
Capet； the son of Louis XVI。 The suspicion which had been aroused
must be kept a deep secret； that the royalists should not take
renewed courage from the possibility that the King of France had
been rescued。 ＇Footnote： Later investigations in the archives of
Paris have brought to light； among other important papers relative
to the flight of the prince； a decree of the National Convention；
dated Prairial 26 （June 14）； 1704； which gave all the authorities
orders 〃to follow the young Capet in all directions。〃 The boy who
remained a prisoner in the Temple； died there June 8； 1798； a
complete idiot。＇
But the secret investigations； and the efforts to draw something
from Toulan； caused the authorities to postpone his fate from week
to week； from month to month。 On the 20th of January he was arrested
and taken to the Conciergerie； and not till the month of May did the
Convention sentence him to death。 The charge was this： that he had
accepted presents from the Widow Capet； in particular the gold
salt's…bottle； and had made frequent plans to release the Capet
family from prison。
On the same day Madame Elizabeth； the sister of Louis XVI。； was
sentenced to death； on the charge of conducting a correspondence
with her brothers； through the agency of Toulan； having for its end
the release of the royal family。
When the sentence was read to Madame Elizabeth； she smiled。 〃I thank
my judges that they allow me to go to those I love； and whom I shall
find in the presence of God。〃
Toulan received his sentence with perfect composure。 〃The one；
indivisible； and exalted republic is just as magnanimous； is it not；
as the monarchy was in old times； and it will grant a last favor to
one who has been condemned to death； will it not？〃
〃Yes； it will do that； provided it is nothing impossible。 It will
gladly grant you a last request。〃
〃Well；〃 said Toulan； 〃then I ask that I may be executed the same day
and the same hour as Madame Elizabeth； the sister of the king； and
that I may be allowed to remain by her side at her execution。〃
〃Then you have only till to…morrow to live； Citizen Toulan；〃 replied
the presiding officer of the court； 〃for Elizabeth Capet will be
executed to…morrow。〃
Early the next morning three cars drove away from the Conciergerie。
In each of these cars sat eight persons； men and women of the
highest aristocracy。 They had put on their most brilliant court
attire for that day； and arranged themselves as for a holiday。 Over
the great crinoline the ladies wore the richest silks； adorned with
silver and gold lace； they had had their hair dressed and decorated
with flowers and ribbons； and carried elegant fans in their hands。
The gentlemen wore velvet coats； brilliant with gold and silver；
while cuffs of the finest lace encompassed their white hands。 Their
heads were uncovered； and they carried the little three…cornered hat
under the arm； as they had done at court in presence of the royal
family。
All the aristocrats imprisoned in cells at the Conciergerie had
begged for the high honor of being executed on that day； and every
one whose request had been granted； had expressed his thanks for it
as for a favor。
〃What we celebrate to…day is the last court festival；〃 said the
prisoners； as they ascended the cars to be carried to the
guillotine。 〃We have the great good fortune of being present at the
last great levee； and we will show ourselves worthy of the honor。〃
All faces were smiling； all eyes beaming； and when the twenty…four
condemned persons dismounted from their cars at the foot of the
scaffold； one would believe that he saw twenty…four happy people
preparing to go to a wedding。 No one would have suspected that it
was death to whom they were to be united。
There were only two persons in this brilliant and select society who
were less elegantly adorned than the others。 One was the young girl；
with the pale angel face； who sat between the sister of Malesherbes
and the wife of the former minister； Montmorin； in a neat white
robe； with a simple muslin veil； that surrounded her like a white
cloud on which she was floating to heaven。 The other was the man who
sat behind her； whose firm； defiant countenance gave no token that
an hour before he had wept hot； bitter tears as he took leave of his
wife and only child。 But this was all past； and on that lofty；
thoughtful brow not the slightest trace remained of earthly sorrow。
The pains of each had been surmounted； and； even in death； Toulan
would do honor to the name which that woman had given himwhom he
had loved most sacredly on earth…and he would die as Fidele。
The ladies and gentlemen of this unwontedly solemn company； who were
collected here in view of the scaffold； had dismounted from the
cars。 Above stood the glistening instrument of death； and near it
the executioners。 They were all left free to decide in what order
they would ascend and place the head beneath the axe。 The Convention
had made the simple order that Madame Elizabeth should be the last
but one； and that Toulan should follow her。
Joyous and bright was the countenance of the princess； joyous and
bright was the aspect of the improvised court； whose master of
ceremonies was Death。
The gentlemen had begged the favor of preceding the ladies upon the
scaffold。 One after another they ascended the staircase； and in
passing by they greeted the princess with the same deep bow that
would have been given at court。 And Madame Elizabeth thanked them
with a smile that was not of this world。
When the heads of the twelve gentlemen had fallen； the bodies laid
on one side； and the scaffold cleansed a little from blood； the
ladies' turn came。 Every one of them asked the favor of embracing
Princess Elizabeth； and； with the kiss which she pressed upon their
lips； a heavenly joy seemed to spring up in their hearts。 With
smiles they ascended the scaffold； with smiles they placed their
heads beneath the axe。
The last of the ladies； the Marchioness de Crussol d'Amboise； had
received the parting kiss and ascended the steps of the guillotine。
Only Elizabeth and Toulan now remained at the foot。 〃Fidele；〃
whispered Elizabeth in gentle tones； 〃I shall soon be with my
brother and my sister。 Give me your hand； my brother。 You shall
conduct me to death； and I will give you my hand above； at the
opening of the new life； and conduct you to Marie Antoinette。
'Sister；' I will say to her； 'this is the one true and good heart
which beat on earth for you； and I bring it to you that you may
rejoice in it in heaven。' Toulan； there is only one title of honor
for all men； and that is Fidele。 It is sanctioned even by the word
of God： 'Be thou faithful unto death； and I will give thee a crown
of life。'〃
Just at that moment the axe rattled； there was a muffled sound； and
the head of the Marchioness Crussol d'Amboise fell into the basket。
〃Elizabeth Capet； it is your turncome up！〃
〃I come。〃
She ascended the scaffold。 Arrayed； as she was； in this white robe；
her transparent face was like that of an angel。 It seemed to Toulan
as if her foot no longer rested on the earth。 He followed her to the
scaffold； and as she was about to ascend the steps； he laid his hand
upon her arm。
〃Princess