out whether his petition was
rejected, and when he was to die.

"Yesterday, also, he had written to demand the presence of his counsel,
M. Margerand, in order that he might have some conversation with him,
and regulate his affairs, before he ----; he did not write down the
word, but left in its place a few points of the pen.

"In the evening, whilst he was at supper, he begged earnestly to be
allowed a little wax-candle, to finish what he was writing: otherwise,
he said, TIME MIGHT FAIL. This was a new, indirect manner of repeating
his ordinary question. As light, up to that evening, had been refused
him, it was thought best to deny him in this, as in former instances;
otherwise his suspicions might have been confirmed. The keeper refused
his demand.

"This morning, Monday, at nine o'clock, the Greffier of the Assize
Court, in fulfilment of the painful duty which the law imposes upon him,
came to the prison, in company with the cure of Bourg, and announced to
the convict that his petition was rejected, and that he had only
three hours to live. He received this fatal news with a great deal of
calmness, and showed himself to be no more affected than he had been
on the trial. 'I am ready; but I wish they had given me four-and-twenty
hours' notice,'--were all the words he used.

"The Greffier now retired, leaving Peytel alone with the cure, who did
not thenceforth quit him. Peytel breakfasted at ten o'clock.

"At eleven, a piquet of mounted gendarmerie and infantry took their
station upon the place before the prison, where a great concourse of
people had already assembled. An open car was at the door. Before
he went out Peytel asked the gaoler for a looking-glass; and having
examined his face for a moment, said, 'At least, the inhabitants of
Bourg will see that I have not grown thin.'

"As twelve o'clock sounded, the prison gates opened, an aide appeared,
followed by Peytel, leaning on the arm of the cure. Peytel's face
was pale, he had a long black beard, a blue cap on his head, and his
great-coat flung over his shoulders, and buttoned at the neck.

"He looked about at the place and the crowd; he asked if the carriage
would go at a trot; and on being told that that would be difficult,
he said he would prefer walking, and asked what the road was. He
immediately set out, walking at a firm and rapid pace. He was not bound
at all.

"An immense crowd of people encumbered the two streets through which he
had to pass to