The gold
salt's-bottle, which the Austrian gave you, is a great deal dearer
to you, is it not? You still have that, have you not?"
"Still have it?" cried Toulan. "I would sooner part with my life
than with this remembrancer of Marie Antoinette!"
"Well, then, see which you would rather keep, your life, or the
bottle the Austrian gave you," said Simon, with a laugh, as he
sprang toward the door and opened it Two officials of the Safety
Committee, followed by armed men, entered.
"Have you heard every thing?" asked Simon, triumphantly.
"Yes, we have heard every thing, and we arrest you, Toulan, as a
traitor. Take him to the Conciergerie. The authorities will decide
what shall be done with him further."
"Well," said Toulan, calmly, "the authorities will, perhaps, do me
the honor of letting me go the same way that my king--and my queen
have taken, and I shall follow the example of the noble sufferers,
and die for the hallowed cause of royalty. Let us go, that I may not
longer breathe the air which the blasphemer and traitor Simon has
poisoned. Woe upon you, Simon! In your dying hour think of me, and
of what I say to you now: You are sending me to death, that you may
live in peace. But you will find no peace on earth, and if no man
accuses you, your conscience will. On your dying bed you will see me
before you, and on the day of judgment you will hear my voice,
accusing you before the throne of God as a betrayer and murderer.
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