n and the World, History specially notices
one thing: in the lobby of the Mansion de l'Intendance, where busy
Deputies are coming and going, a young Lady with an aged valet, taking
grave graceful leave of Deputy Barbaroux. (Meillan, p.75; Louvet, p.
114.) She is of stately Norman figure; in her twenty-fifth year; of
beautiful still countenance: her name is Charlotte Corday, heretofore
styled d'Armans, while Nobility still was. Barbaroux has given her
a Note to Deputy Duperret,--him who once drew his sword in the
effervescence. Apparently she will to Paris on some errand? 'She was
a Republican before the Revolution, and never wanted energy.' A
completeness, a decision is in this fair female Figure: 'by energy
she means the spirit that will prompt one to sacrifice himself for his
country.' What if she, this fair young Charlotte, had emerged from
her secluded stillness, suddenly like a Star; cruel-lovely, with
half-angelic, half-demonic splendour; to gleam for a moment, and in a
moment be extinguished: to be held in memory, so bright complete was
she, through long centuries!--Quitting Cimmerian Coalitions without, and
the dim-simmering Twenty-five millions within, History will look fixedly
at this one fair Apparition of a Charlotte Corday; will note whither
Charlotte moves, how the little Life burns forth so radiant, then
vanishes swallowed of the Night.

With Barbaroux's Note of Introduction, and slight stock of luggage,
we see Charlotte, on Tuesday the ninth of July, seated in the Caen
Diligence, with a place for Paris. None takes farewell of her, wishes
her Good-journey: her Father will find a line left, signifying that she
is gone to England, that he must pardon her and forget her. The drowsy
Diligence lumbers along; amid drowsy talk of Politics, and praise of the
Mountain; in which she mingles not; all night, all day, and again
all night. On Thursday, not long before none, we are at the Bridge of
Neuilly; here is Paris with her thousand black domes,--the goal and
purpose of thy journey! Arrived at the Inn de la Providence in the Rue
des Vieux Augustins, Charlotte demands a room; hastens to bed; sleeps
all afternoon and night, till the morrow morning.

On the morrow morning, she delivers her Note to Duperret. It relates to
certain Family Papers which are in the Minister of the Interior's hand;
which a Nun at Caen, an old Convent-friend of Charlotte's, has need of;
which Duperret shall assist her in getting: this then