"Article third.—Notice of the decree which condemns Louis Capet to death shall he sent to the Executive Council.
"The Executive Council is charged to notify Louis XVI of the decree during the day, and to have him executed within twenty-four hours.
"The mayors and municipal officers of Paris shall be enjoined to allow Louis Capet liberty to communicate with his family, and to call upon a minister of the denomination he may elect, to attend his last moments."
At three in the morning of Sunday, January 20, the meeting adjourned; and to cries of "Long live the Nation!" "Long live the Republic!" the multitude poured out of the galleries.
CHAPTER XIX.
EXECUTION.
Such were the memorable sessions of the National Assembly of the 15th, 17th, 19th and 20th of January, 1793.
Glory to the men of energy, to the inexorable patriots!
JANUARY 21, 1793.—The execution of Louis Capet took place to-day, Monday, the 21st of January, 1793!
My sister and I were present at the death of Louis. A vast throng filled the Place of the Revolution. The scaffold faced the avenue of the Elysian Fields, a short distance from the spot occupied by the statue of Louis XV.
At ten minutes past ten in the morning, a dull rumor, drawing nearer and nearer, announced the arrival of the condemned. My sister and I were not far from the scaffold, behind a line of Municipal Guards. We beheld a two-horse carriage draw up, accompanied by General Santerre and several officers of his staff. Claude Bernard and James Roux, an ex-priest, the municipal officers charged with guarding Capet, alighted first from the carriage, where Louis remained for two minutes' space with his confessor. Then, with firm tread, and supported by the executioners, he ascended the steps of the platform. He was clad in grey trousers and a soft white waistcoat; his purpled face betrayed intense excitement. Suddenly he stepped to the edge of the scaffold, and cried to the people: