of Man; to their
right and left, against the old feudal walls, the busts of Le Peltier
Saint-Fargeau and Marat. Facing the jury bench, at the lower end of the
hall, rose the public gallery. The first row of seats was filled by
women, who all, fair, brown and grey-haired alike, wore the high coif
with the pleated tucker shading their cheeks; the breast, which
invariably, as decreed by the fashion of the day, showed the amplitude
of the nursing mother's bosom, was covered with a crossed white kerchief
or the rounded bib of a blue apron. They sat with folded arms resting on
the rail of the tribune. Behind them, scattered about the rising tiers,
could be seen a sprinkling of citizens dressed in the varied garb which
at that date gave every gathering so striking and picturesque a
character. On the right hand, near the doors, behind a broad barrier, a
space was reserved where the public could stand. On this occasion it was
nearly empty. The business that was to occupy the attention of this
particular section of the tribunal interested only a few spectators,
while doubtless the other sections sitting at the same hour would be
hearing more exciting cases.

This fact somewhat reassured Gamelin; his heart was like to fail him as
it was, and he could not have endured the heated atmosphere of one of
the great days. His eyes took in the most trifling details of the
scene,--the cotton-wool in the _greffier's_ ear and a blot of ink on the
Deputy Prosecutor's papers. He could see, as through a magnifying glass,
the capitals of the pillars sculptured at a time when all knowledge of
the classical orders was forgotten and which crowned the Gothic columns
with wreaths of nettle and holly. But wherever he looked, his gaze came
back again and again to the fatal chair; this was of an antiquated make,
covered in red Utrecht velvet, the seat worn and the arms blackened with
use. Armed National Guards stood guarding every door.

At last the accused appeared, escorted by grenadiers, but with limbs
unbound, as the law directed. He was a man of fifty or thereabouts, lean
and dry, with a brown face, a very bald head, hollow cheeks and thin
livid lips, dressed in an out-of-date coat of a sanguine red. No doubt
it was fever that made his eyes glitter like jewels and gave his cheeks
their shiny, varnished look. He took his seat. His legs, which he
crossed, were extraordinarily spare and his great knotted hands met
round the knees they clasped. His na