xuriating in the recital of deeds of all manner of cruelty and
debauchery.

I had heard something of the terribly-brutalising effects of the Reign
of Terror, but the conversation of these wretches gave me such a vivid
insight of the incredible depths of depravity of which the human mind is
sometimes capable as I could certainly not otherwise have gained, unless
indeed by associating with the ruffians who gathered daily round the
guillotine to insult and exult over the death-agonies of their victims.

It was not to be expected that I should altogether escape the attentions
of wretches such as these, and accordingly my ears were soon assailed
with ribald jests and ruffianly speculations touching the mode and time
of my execution, the manner in which I should bear myself, and so on;
but I turned a deaf ear to it all, devoting my entire energies to the
devising of some practicable method of escape, and, as it appeared to
them that I understood nothing of what was said, my tormentors after a
time turned their conversation to other matters.

"I expect we shall very soon make another excursion in this direction,"
said one.

"Indeed, and for what purpose?" asked another.

"Nay, then, has it not been told thee, Adolphe, that our colonel
suspects one of these Corsican aristocrats of being concerned in the
present rising of his countrymen, and of plotting with the accursed
English for assistance?" remarked the first speaker.

"_Mille bombes_! that it might be so. It would be rare sport to hunt
the old rat out of his hole, or, better still, burn him in it. It would
be a pleasant change from the dullness of mounting eternal guard,
marching and countermarching every day, and all to what purpose? For my
part I am tired of it, and long for a little more of the sport we had in
dear Paris. Ah! it was worth living for, to see fifty or sixty of the
proud aristocrats carted away to the guillotine every day. I doubt if
there is such a thing as a guillotine in the whole island."

"_Soyez tranquille, mon cher Adolphe_! The machine is not difficult to
construct. But for real amusement give me such as we had at Ostend,
when Davoust shot down with grape 500 men, women, and children under the
ramparts, to say nothing of those which we sent afloat in the harbour in
old and leaky boats which sank with all on board. And, ah, the sport
that it was to chase the people through the streets until they could fly
no longer, and then bayonet t