said Laqueze, who understood
nothing of these extraordinary proceedings. "They have not yet been
registered, not even examined."

"I asked you what you have done with them?" snapped Goullin.

"They are upstairs."

"Then fetch them. They are as good as any others."

With these, and a dozen or so dragged from sick-beds, the total was made
up to about a hundred and thirty.

The Marats, further reinforced now by half a company of National Guards,
set out from the prison towards five o'clock in the morning; urging
their victims along with blows and curses.

Our cocassier found himself bound wrist to wrist with a young Capuchin
brother, who stumbled along in patient resignation, his head bowed, his
lips moving as if he were in prayer.

"Can you guess what they are going to do with us?" murmured Leroy.

He caught the faint gleam of the Capuchin's eyes in the gloom.

"I do not know, brother. Commend yourself to God, and so be prepared for
whatever may befall."

The answer was not very comforting to a man of Leroy's temperament. He
stumbled on, and they came now upon the Place du Bouffay, where the
red guillotine loomed in ghostly outline, and headed towards the Quai
Tourville. Thence they were marched by the river the whole length of the
Quai La Fosse. Fear spreading amongst them, some clamours were raised,
to be instantly silenced by blows and assurances that they were to be
shipped to Belle Isle, where they were to be set to work to build a
fort.

The cocassier thought this likely enough, and found it more comforting
than saying his prayers--a trick which he had long since lost.

As they defiled along the quays, an occasional window was thrown up, and
an inquisitive head protruded, to be almost instantly withdrawn again.

On the Cale Robin at last they were herded into a shed which opened on
to the water. Here they found a large lighter alongside, and they beheld
in the lantern-light the silhouettes of a half-dozen shipwrights busily
at work upon it, whilst the place rang with the blows of hammers and the
scream of saws.

Some of those nearest the barge saw what was being done. Two great
ports were being opened in the vessel's side, and over one of these thus
opened the shipwrights were nailing planks. They observed that these
ports, which remained above the water-line now that the barge was empty,
would be well below it once she were laden, and conceiving that they
perceived at last the inhuman fate awaitin