the
King knew by good report, has come promptly on this solemn mission.
Leave the Earth alone, then, thou hapless King; it with its malice
will go its way, thou also canst go thine. A hard scene yet remains:
the parting with our loved ones. Kind hearts, environed in the same
grim peril with us; to be left _here_! Let the Reader look with the
eyes of Valet Clery through these glass-doors, where also the
Municipality watches; and see the cruelest of scenes:--

"At half-past eight, the door of the ante-room opened: the Queen
appeared first, leading her Son by the hand; then Madame Royale and
Madame Elizabeth: they all flung themselves into the arms of the King.
Silence reigned for some minutes; interrupted only by sobs. The Queen
made a movement to lead his Majesty towards the inner room, where M.
Edgeworth was waiting unknown to them: 'No', said the King, 'let us go
into the dining-room; it is there only that I can see you.' They
entered there; I shut the door of it, which was of glass. The King sat
down, the Queen on his left hand, Madame Elizabeth on his right,
Madame Royale almost in front; the young Prince remained standing
between his Father's legs. They all leaned toward him, and often held
him embraced. This scene of woe lasted an hour and three-quarters;
during which we could hear nothing; we could see only that always when
the King spoke, the sobbing of the Princesses redoubled, continued for
some minutes; and that then the King began again to speak." And so our
meetings and our partings do now end! The sorrows we gave each other;
the poor joys we faithfully shared, and all our lovings and our
sufferings, and confused toilings under the earthly Sun, are over.
Thou good soul, I shall never, never through all ages of Time, see
thee any more!--NEVER! O Reader, knowest thou that hard word?

For nearly two hours this agony lasts; then they tear themselves
asunder. "Promise that you will see us on the morrow." He
promises:--Ah yes, yes; yet once; and go now, ye loved ones; cry to
God for yourselves and me!--It was a hard scene, but it is over. He
will not see them on the morrow. The Queen, in passing through the
ante-room, glanced at the Cerberus Municipals; and with woman's
vehemence, said through her tears, "_Vous etes tous des scelerats_".

King Louis slept sound, till five in the morning, when Clery, as he
had been ordered, awoke him. Clery dressed his hair: while this went
forward, Louis took a ring from his wa