Then she placed her head under the guillotine,--a momentary,
breathless silence followed.
Samson lifted up the pale head that had once belonged to the Queen
of France, and the people greeted the sight with the cry, "Long live
the republic!"
That same evening one of the officials of the republic made up an
account, now preserved in the Imperial Library of Paris, and which
must move even the historian himself to tears. It runs as follows:
"Cost of interments, conducted by Joly, sexton of Madelaine de la
Ville l'Eveque, of persons condemned by the Tribunal of the
Committee of Safety, to wit, No. 1 . . . ." Then follow twenty-four
names and numbers, and then "No. 25. Widow Capet:
For the coffin, . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 francs.
For digging the grave,. . . . . . . . . 25 francs."
Beneath are the words, "Seen and approved by me, President of the
Revolutionary Tribunal, that Joly, sexton of the Madelaine, receive
the sum of two hundred and sixty-four francs from the National
Treasury, Paris, llth Brumaire. Year II. of the French Republic.
Herman, President."
The interment of the Queen of France did not cost the republic more
than thirty-one francs, or six American dollars.
CHAPTER XXV.
KING LOUIS THE SEVENTEENTH.
The "one and indivisible republic" bad gained the victory over the
lilies of France.
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