Jane Feather - Charade by Unknown (howl and other poems .TXT) 📕

in Paris butalso in the countryside. There are many who still keep to theirestates, but the villagers will move against them sooner or later.D'Evron, you will go?"

"D'accord."

The chevalierinclined his head.

"And you also,

comte

? It isbest if those of us who are nativeFrenchmen go amongst our people. We

will be more convincing." Shesmiled an apology to the young Englishmen.

"Danny, you are not intending . . .?"

"No, Jules." She interrupted him swiftly. "Not unless it is necessary.Whilst Justin is away, I must keep myself safe for Nicky for as long asI am able." She rose to her feet. "That reminds me of my promise

totake him for a drive this afternoon. Comte, you will discuss plans withthe chevalier,

n'est-ce pas?"

"Certainement."

He stood upwith the rest of the men and bowed to hishostess. "We will gather together the names and then formulate a plan.At this stage, it is necessary simply to warn."

"Yes." She agreed. "It may be necessary to facilitate their escapelater. But if they are sensible now ..." Her light shrug spoke all herlack of conviction in such an idea. "We shall see,

messieurs. Au revoir."

*  *  *

St. Estephe and the chevalier went to France within a few days. Whilethe chevalier sedulously performed his mission, the

comte

reported tohis masters in minute detail, handing over the lists of names, urgingtheir immediate proscription and imprisonment.

The chevalier was in the house of the Levandou when a detachment ofNational Guard burst through the front door, muskets at the ready. Thefamily were taking tea with their guest in the salon. The

due

spoke indignified protest at this assault on his household as D'Evron wasseized roughly, his hands bound behind his back and the accusation oftreason proclaimed in ringing accents. He made no attempt to resist hiscaptors although he pleaded energetically the innocence of his friends.To no purpose, however; the entire family from the youngest child tothe elderly grandmother were bundled into the unmarked coaches waitingoutside and hauled before the tribunal where their guilt asconspirators against the constitution was declared and proven.

D'Evron was taken to the Chatelet where, for a while, he had moneyenough to pay for a mattress beneath him as he slept. But when hisresources dwindled to nothing, he joined the majority of the fivehundred inmates and slept on filthy straw. The Levandoux fared betterduring their imprisonment in the aristocratic Abbaye where all hadmattresses, there were only six prisoners to a room, and with their onemeal came a bottle of wine a day. But on Sunday, September 2, 1792,they all shared the same fate. Carters, carpenters, cabinetmakers; hatmakers and jewelers; cobblers and watchmakers with clubs, swords, andpikes massacred the inmates of the nine main prisons in Paris. Somethirteen hundred prisoners died in the violence inspired by the fearthat the political prisoners would break free and join

thecounter-revolutionary armies threatening the borders of France. But theoriginal motive for the mass murder was soon forgotten, and children,prostitutes, thieves, and debtors fell beneath the swords of the mob.

D'Evron died in the courtyard of the Chatelet where he had beendragged, a filthy, emaciated figure that Danielle would have haddifficulty recognizing. His last conscious thought was of herand of his failure to warn her of the traitor who had given evidencewith such complacence before the tribunal. The heavy club fell againand the chevalier found release in unconsciousness and mercifully feltnot the ripping stab of the pike that ended his life.

But that blood-soaked weekend was some months ahead. In the meantime,St. Estephe decided not to return to England once his reports were madeand his standing as a faithful adherent of the revolution confirmed. Hehad two reasons for this. There was much politicking to be done withthe fall of the Brissotin ministry and he could not afford to be absentas the wind changed. He also hoped that Danielle, in the absence ofnews from D'Evron and himself, would decide to take matters into herown charge. Once she made a definitive move on French soil, she wouldhave played into his hands and he could

have his revenge on the houseof Unton while removing a traitor from active duty.

Danielle waited until the end of June, until news came of the mob'sattack on the Tuileries. While D'Evron languished in the Chatelet andSt. Estephe insinuated himself among the power-holders, a crowd ofdemonstrators, now proudly bearing the name of sans-culottes, brokethrough the iron gates of the Tuileries intent on confronting theirking. They flourished their banners, an old pair of gentlemen'sbritches, and the bleeding heart of a calf—

le coeur d'aristocrat

—asthey poured into the courts at the rear of the palace. The royal familycowered in their apartments as they heard again the terrifying soundsof a mob attack—the wild shouts, the smash of doors, the pounding offeet coming ever closer. The Tuileries was under attack as Versailleshad been three years previously. Louis, behind a phalanx of a fewfaithful guardsmen, took what protection was offered in the deepembrasure of a window. The red bonnet of the revolution was placed uponhis head and he listened to the diatribe of a butcher and drank to thehealth of the nation as the mob gaped at this man who was their king,who, from the moment of their births had been deified, all powerful, apower given directly from God. But he was just a man, just like therest of them—legs, arms, blood, and water, andcapable of fear in spite of his apparent patient calm. In another roomthey found the queen—the hated Austrian— with her children and theking's sister. They stood behind a table and a group of guards, whilethe mob peered, would have poked and prodded had they been able to getclose enough, and wondered again at the simple flesh and blood of thisfamily who had known only riches beyond the dreams of avarice and theprivilege of the supremely powerful.

Six hours after the invasion began, the palace was cleared ofdemonstrators and the royal family safe

from the violence of thesovereign people. But it was