tter
to their friends, or give directions concerning the few articles that
remained at their disposal. Some had ordered choice viands and rare
wines, not wishing to die before they had again enjoyed the pleasures of
the table, in default of something better; while coming and going in the
midst of them, were the clerks of the Tribunal, the executioner's
assistants and the turnkeys of the prison, who hung about, hoping the
condemned would bestow some gratuity upon them before leaving the
prison. Dolores had seated herself upon a bench that stood against the
wall. The passion of weeping to which she had yielded after Coursegol's
heroic deed, had calmed her. He was standing by her side, looking down
upon her with a in which there was neither bitterness nor Nothing could
be more peaceful than the delicate features of the young girl and the
energetic face that bent over her, though traces of the tears which had
been wrung from them in a moment of despair were still visible.

Antoinette, followed by Philip, rushed toward Dolores, threw herself at
her feet, and, resting her head on the lap of her friend, sobbed
unrestrainedly.

"Antoinette, do not, I entreat you, deprive me of courage at a moment
when I stand so greatly in need of it," said Dolores.

"How cruel in you not to have told us!" cried Antoinette.

"I wished to save you pain. We must be resigned and submit to the fate
that awaits us; and we must not allow emotion to deprive us of the
strength to die bravely and courageously."

As she spoke, Dolores compelled Antoinette to rise and take a seat
beside her; then she talked to her gently, but firmly. Their roles
seemed to be changed; she who was about to die, consoled her whose life
was spared. While this conversation was going on between Antoinette and
Dolores, Philip, terribly pale, questioned Coursegol and learned from
him what had taken place. He envied this devoted servant who was about
to die with Dolores. He vainly strove to discover some means by which he
could draw down upon his own head the wrath of the accusateur,
Fouquier-Tinville, and be sent at once to the scaffold. Coursegol told
his story simply and modestly. Rendered desperate by the condemnation of
Dolores, he resolved to share her fate, feeling no desire to survive
the loss of one so dear to him.

"How greatly preferable your destiny is to mine!" cried Philip,
bitterly. "Would I could die in your place."

Dolores heard these words, and leaving A