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how rapturously has my soul bounded forth upon the upward paths！
To him who forever renews his youth in the clear fount of Nature；
how exquisite is the mere happiness TO BE！ Farewell； ye lamps of
heaven； and ye million tribes； the Populace of Air。 Not a mote
in the beam； not an herb on the mountain； not a pebble on the
shore； not a seed far…blown into the wilderness； but contributed
to the lore that sought in all the true principle of life； the
Beautiful； the Joyous； the Immortal。 To others； a land； a city；
a hearth； has been a home； MY home has been wherever the
intellect could pierce； or the spirit could breathe the air。〃
He paused； and through the immeasurable space his eyes and his
heart； penetrating the dismal dungeon； rested on his child。 He
saw it slumbering in the arms of the pale mother； and HIS soul
spoke to the sleeping soul。 〃Forgive me； if my desire was sin； I
dreamed to have reared and nurtured thee to the divinest
destinies my visions could foresee。 Betimes； as the mortal part
was strengthened against disease； to have purified the spiritual
from every sin； to have led thee； heaven upon heaven； through the
holy ecstasies which make up the existence of the orders that
dwell on high； to have formed； from thy sublime affections； the
pure and ever…living communication between thy mother and myself。
The dream was but a dreamit is no more！ In sight myself of the
grave； I feel； at last； that through the portals of the grave
lies the true initiation into the holy and the wise。 Beyond
those portals I await ye both； beloved pilgrims！〃
From his numbers and his Cabala； in his cell； amidst the wrecks
of Rome； Mejnour； startled； looked up； and through the spirit；
felt that the spirit of his distant friend addressed him。
〃Fare thee well forever upon this earth！ Thy last companion
forsakes thy side。 Thine age survives the youth of all； and the
Final Day shall find thee still the contemplator of our tombs。 I
go with my free will into the land of darkness； but new suns and
systems blaze around us from the grave。 I go where the souls of
those for whom I resign the clay shall be my co…mates through
eternal youth。 At last I recognise the true ordeal and the real
victory。 Mejnour； cast down thy elixir； lay by thy load of
years！ Wherever the soul can wander； the Eternal Soul of all
things protects it still！〃
CHAPTER 7。XV。
Il ne veulent plus perdre un moment d'une nuit si precieuse。
Lacretelle； tom。 xii。
（They would not lose another moment of so precious a night。）
It was late that night； and Rene…Francois Dumas； President of the
Revolutionary Tribunal； had re…entered his cabinet； on his return
from the Jacobin Club。 With him were two men who might be said
to represent； the one the moral； the other the physical force of
the Reign of Terror： Fouquier…Tinville； the Public Accuser； and
Francois Henriot； the General of the Parisian National Guard。
This formidable triumvirate were assembled to debate on the
proceedings of the next day； and the three sister…witches over
their hellish caldron were scarcely animated by a more fiend…like
spirit； or engaged in more execrable designs； than these three
heroes of the Revolution in their premeditated massacre of the
morrow。
Dumas was but little altered in appearance since； in the earlier
part of this narrative； he was presented to the reader； except
that his manner was somewhat more short and severe； and his eye
yet more restless。 But he seemed almost a superior being by the
side of his associates。 Rene Dumas； born of respectable parents；
and well educated； despite his ferocity； was not without a
certain refinement； which perhaps rendered him the more
acceptable to the precise and formal Robespierre。 （Dumas was a
beau in his way。 His gala…dress was a BLOOD…RED COAT； with the
finest ruffles。） But Henriot had been a lackey； a thief； a spy
of the police； he had drunk the blood of Madame de Lamballe； and
had risen to his present rank for no quality but his ruffianism；
and Fouquier…Tinville； the son of a provincial agriculturist； and
afterwards a clerk at the Bureau of the Police； was little less
base in his manners； and yet more； from a certain loathsome
buffoonery； revolting in his speech；bull…headed； with black；
sleek hair； with a narrow and livid forehead； with small eyes；
that twinkled with a sinister malice； strongly and coarsely
built； he looked what he was； the audacious bully of a lawless
and relentless Bar。
Dumas trimmed the candles； and bent over the list of the victims
for the morrow。
〃It is a long catalogue；〃 said the president； 〃eighty trials for
one day！ And Robespierre's orders to despatch the whole fournee
are unequivocal。〃
〃Pooh！〃 said Fouquier； with a coarse； loud laugh； 〃we must try
them en masse。 I know how to deal with our jury。 'Je pense；
citoyens； que vous etes convaincus du crime des accuses？' （I
think； citizens； that you are convinced of the crime of the
accused。） Ha！ ha！the longer the list； the shorter the work。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 growled out Henriot； with an oath；as usual； half…
drunk； and lolling on his chair； with his spurred heels on the
table；〃little Tinville is the man for despatch。〃
〃Citizen Henriot；〃 said Dumas； gravely； 〃permit me to request
thee to select another footstool； and for the rest； let me warn
thee that to…morrow is a critical and important day； one that
will decide the fate of France。〃
〃A fig for little France！ Vive le Vertueux Robespierre； la
Colonne de la Republique！ （Long life to the virtuous Robespierre；
the pillar of the Republic！） Plague on this talking； it is dry
work。 Hast thou no eau de vie in that little cupboard？〃
Dumas and Fouquier exchanged looks of disgust。 Dumas shrugged
his shoulders； and replied；
〃It is to guard thee against eau de vie； Citizen General Henriot；
that I have requested thee to meet me here。 Listen if thou
canst！〃
〃Oh； talk away！ thy metier is to talk； mine to fight and to
drink。〃
〃To…morrow； I tell thee then； the populace will be abroad； all
factions will be astir。 It is probable enough that they will
even seek to arrest our tumbrils on their way to the guillotine。
Have thy men armed and ready； keep the streets clear； cut down
without mercy whomsoever may obstruct the ways。〃
〃I understand；〃 said Henriot； striking his sword so loudly that
Dumas half…started at the clank；〃Black Henriot is no
'Indulgent。'〃
〃Look to it； then； citizen；look to it！ And hark thee；〃 he
added； with a grave and sombre brow； 〃if thou wouldst keep thine
own head on thy shoulders； beware of the eau de vie。〃
〃My own head！sacre mille tonnerres！ Dost thou threaten the
general of the Parisian army？〃
Dumas； like Robespierre； a precise atrabilious； and arrogant man；
was about to retort； when the craftier Tinville laid his hand on
his arm； and； turning to the general； said； 〃My dear Henriot； thy
dauntles