Maurice unbound them. She immediately re-opened her eyes, and rose, radiant with almost celestial beauty. She threw one fair arm around Maurice's neck, and with the other hand took that of Lorin; and thus, all three standing in the cart, with two more victims lying at their feet wrapped in the stupor of anticipated death, they gazed toward heaven with a look of ardent gratitude for having been permitted to support and console each other, while those who had outraged and insulted them previously were now perfectly silent. The scaffold was in sight. Maurice and Lorin beheld it. Geneviève did not; she saw naught but her lover. The car stopped.
"I love thee!" said Maurice to Geneviève; "I love thee!"
"The woman first! the woman first!" shouted a thousand voices.
"Thanks, good people," said Maurice; "who then can call you cruel?"
He took Geneviève within his arms, pressed his lips fondly upon hers, and delivered her to Sanson.
"Courage!" cried Lorin; "courage!"
"I have it!" said Geneviève; "I have it!"
"I love thee!" murmured Maurice; "I love thee!"