. She
found all these efforts unavailing. Still, she gave way to no
despondency, and uttered no murmurs. Most of her time she employed in
writing historic notices of the scenes through which she had passed.
These papers she intrusted, for preservation, to a friend, who
occasionally gained access to her. These articles, written with great
eloquence and feeling, were subsequently published with her memoirs.
Having such resources in her own highly-cultivated mind, even the
hours of imprisonment glided rapidly and happily along. Time had no
tardy flight, and there probably might have been found many a lady in
Europe lolling in a sumptuous carriage, or reclining upon a silken
couch, who had far fewer hours of enjoyment.

One day some commissioners called at her cell, hoping to extort from
her the secret of her husband's retreat. She looked them calmly in the
face, and said, "Gentlemen, I know perfectly well where my husband is.
I scorn to tell you a lie. I know also my own strength. And I assure
you that there is no earthly power which can induce me to betray him."
The commissioners withdrew, admiring her heroism, and convinced that
she was still able to wield an influence which might yet bring the
guillotine upon their own necks. Her doom was sealed. Her heroism was
her crime. She was too illustrious to live.

CHAPTER X.

FATE OF THE GIRONDISTS.

1793

Fate of the Girondists.--Their heroic courage.--The Girondists in
the Conciergerie.--Their miserable condition.--Youthful hopes cut
short.--State of Paris.--Books and friends.--Anecdote of
Vergniaud.--Sentiments of the Girondists inscribed on the prison
walls.--La Source and Sillery.--Their evening dirge.--The day
of trial.--The misnamed Halls of Justice.--Precautions of
the Jacobins.--Demeanor of the prisoners.--The trial and
condemnation.--Death of Valaze.--Various emotions.--Return to the
Conciergerie.--The Girondists exultingly sing the Marseillaise
Hymn.--The Girondists prepare for the last scene.--Brutal
decree.--Last feast of the Girondists.--Strange scene.--The
Abbe Lambert.--His memoranda.--Vergniaud presides at the
feast.--Unnatural gayety.--Last thoughts.--Religion, philosophy, and
infidelity.--Eloquence of Vergniaud.--Argument for immortality.--Last
preparations.--Arrival of the executioners.--Souvenirs to friends.--The
carts of the condemned.--Enthusiasm of the Girondists.--The last
embrace.--The execution.--Fortitude of Vergniaud.--Burial of the
b