“Thenyouhaveonlytillto-morrowtolive，CitizenToulan，“repliedthepresidingofficerofthecourt，“forElizabethCapetwillbeexecutedto-morrow。“
EarlythenextmorningthreecarsdroveawayfromtheConciergerie。
Ineachofthesecarssateightpersons，menandwomenofthehighestaristocracy。Theyhadputontheirmostbrilliantcourtattireforthatday，andarrangedthemselvesasforaholiday。Overthegreatcrinolinetheladiesworetherichestsilks，adornedwithsilverandgoldlace；theyhadhadtheirhairdressedanddecoratedwithflowersandribbons，andcarriedelegantfansintheirhands。
Thegentlemenworevelvetcoats，brilliantwithgoldandsilver，whilecuffsofthefinestlaceencompassedtheirwhitehands。Theirheadswereuncovered，andtheycarriedthelittlethree-corneredhatunderthearm，astheyhaddoneatcourtinpresenceoftheroyalfamily。
AllthearistocratsimprisonedincellsattheConciergeriehadbeggedforthehighhonorofbeingexecutedonthatday，andeveryonewhoserequesthadbeengranted，hadexpressedhisthanksforitasforafavor。
“Whatwecelebrateto-dayisthelastcourtfestival，“saidtheprisoners，astheyascendedthecarstobecarriedtotheguillotine。“Wehavethegreatgoodfortuneofbeingpresentatthelastgreatlevee，andwewillshowourselvesworthyofthehonor。“
Allfacesweresmiling，alleyesbeaming，andwhenthetwenty-fourcondemnedpersonsdismountedfromtheircarsatthefootofthescaffold，onewouldbelievethathesawtwenty-fourhappypeoplepreparingtogotoawedding。Noonewouldhavesuspectedthatitwasdeathtowhomtheyweretobeunited。
Therewereonlytwopersonsinthisbrilliantandselectsocietywhowerelesselegantlyadornedthantheothers。Onewastheyounggirl，withthepaleangelface，whosatbetweenthesisterofMalesherbesandthewifeoftheformerminister，Montmorin，inaneatwhiterobe，withasimplemuslinveil，thatsurroundedherlikeawhitecloudonwhichshewasfloatingtoheaven。Theotherwasthemanwhosatbehindher，whosefirm，defiantcountenancegavenotokenthatanhourbeforehehadwepthot，bittertearsashetookleaveofhiswifeandonlychild。Butthiswasallpast，andonthatlofty，thoughtfulbrownottheslightesttraceremainedofearthlysorrow。
Thepainsofeachhadbeensurmounted，and，evenindeath，Toulanwoulddohonortothenamewhichthatwomanhadgivenhim——whomhehadlovedmostsacredlyonearth-andhewoulddieasFidele。
Theladiesandgentlemenofthisunwontedlysolemncompany，whowerecollectedhereinviewofthescaffold，haddismountedfromthecars。Abovestoodtheglisteninginstrumentofdeath，andnearittheexecutioners。Theywereallleftfreetodecideinwhatordertheywouldascendandplacetheheadbeneaththeaxe。TheConventionhadmadethesimpleorderthatMadameElizabethshouldbethelastbutone，andthatToulanshouldfollowher。
Joyousandbrightwasthecountenanceoftheprincess；joyousandbrightwastheaspectoftheimprovisedcourt，whosemasterofceremonieswasDeath。
Thegentlemenhadbeggedthefavorofprecedingtheladiesuponthescaffold。Oneafteranothertheyascendedthestaircase，andinpassingbytheygreetedtheprincesswiththesamedeepbowthatwouldhavebeengivenatcourt。AndMadameElizabeththankedthemwithasmilethatwasnotofthisworld。
Whentheheadsofthetwelvegentlemenhadfallen，thebodieslaidononeside，andthescaffoldcleansedalittlefromblood，theladies’turncame。EveryoneofthemaskedthefavorofembracingPrincessElizabeth，and，withthekisswhichshepressedupontheirlips，aheavenlyjoyseemedtospringupintheirhearts。Withsmilestheyascendedthescaffold，withsmilestheyplacedtheirheadsbeneaththeaxe。
Thelastoftheladies，theMarchionessdeCrussold’Amboise，hadreceivedthepartingkissandascendedthestepsoftheguillotine。
OnlyElizabethandToulannowremainedatthefoot。“Fidele，“
whisperedElizabethingentletones，“Ishallsoonbewithmybrotherandmysister。Givemeyourhand，mybrother。Youshallconductmetodeath，andIwillgiveyoumyhandabove，attheopeningofthenewlife，andconductyoutoMarieAntoinette。
’Sister，’Iwillsaytoher，’thisistheonetrueandgoodheartwhichbeatonearthforyou，andIbringittoyouthatyoumayrejoiceinitinheaven。’Toulan，thereisonlyonetitleofhonorforallmen，andthatisFidele。ItissanctionedevenbythewordofGod：’Bethoufaithfuluntodeath，andIwillgivetheeacrownoflife。’“
Justatthatmomenttheaxerattled，therewasamuffledsound，andtheheadoftheMarchionessCrussold’Amboisefellintothebasket。
“ElizabethCapet，itisyourturn——comeup!“
“Icome。“
Sheascendedthescaffold。Arrayed，asshewas，inthiswhiterobe，hertransparentfacewaslikethatofanangel。ItseemedtoToulanasifherfootnolongerrestedontheearth。Hefollowedhertothescaffold；andasshewasabouttoascendthesteps，helaidhishanduponherarm。
“Princess，Ihaveasecrettoimparttoyou。Ihavepromisedwithasolemnoaththatmylipsshoulddiscloseittonomortal；butyou，Elizabeth，belongalreadytotheimmortals，thepeaceofGodilluminesyourbrow，andIwantyoutohaveonelastjoybeforeyouascendintoheaven。Thisismysecret：TheboywhoisconfinedintheTempleisnotthedauphin。IhavefulfilledthepromisewhichI
gavethequeen。Ihavesavedthedauphin，andheisnowinVendee，underthesafecareofPrincedeConde。“
“ElizabethCapet，comeup，orwemustbringyoubyforce。“
“Iamcoming。Farewell，Fidele!youhavespokenthetruth；youhavegivenmealastjoy!Ithankyou；nowkissmylips；giveyoursisterapartingkiss，Fidele。Farewell，mybrother!“
Hetouchedthelipsthatwereilluminedwithasadsmile——“Farewell，mysister!“
Sheascendedthesteps，and，reachingthescaffold，shecalmlylaidasidetheveil，andpreparedhertoiletfordeath。
AtthefootofthescaffoldToulanremaineduponhisknees；hisgreateyes，whichhadbeendirectedtoElizabeth，beamedwithrapture，andinhishearttherewerewordswrittenwithafingerofdiamond——wordshallowedandcomforting，thatToulanreadinmeditationandprayer：“Lovevanquishesdeath；loveisvictoriousevenoverlife；love，whichisthehighestfriendship，andfriendship，whichisthehighestlove，risesofaraboveeverythingearthly，thatthoumustsurrendereverythingforthem，everythingwhichthouhastvalueduponearth，everythingwhichhasstoodtotheeinthemosttenderrelations。Inthislovethouhastlived，andinthislovethoushaltdieandascendintoheaven。“
“Toulan，comeup!Doyounothearuscallingyou？DoyounotseethatElizabethCapethasmadeplaceforyou？“
Hehadnotseenwhenthenobleheadoftheprincessfellintothebasket，hehadnotheardtheexecutionercallhim；hehadonlyreadinhishearttherevelationoflove。
Heascendedthesteps，andhiscountenancebeamedwiththesamelightofrapturewhichhadsurroundedElizabeth’sbrow。
Apiercingscreamcamefromthecrowd，asayoungwifefellsenselessintothearmsofherneighbors，whiletheboywhostoodnearherextendedhishandstothescaffold，andcalled，loudly，“Father，dearfather!“
Toulandidnotturntothem。Noearthlysorrowhadplaceinthissoul，whichhadovercomepain，andreceivedeternaljoyintoitself。
Calmlyhelaidhisheadbeneaththeaxe。“Godislove，“hesaid，aloud。“Hethatabidethinlove，abidethinGod，andGod——“
Theaxedescended，andleftToulan’slastwordsunspoken。
ThePrincedeCondewaswalkingwithquickstepsupanddownhisapartment。Hisbrowwascloudy，hiseyesworeasadlook，andattimesheraisedhishand，asifhewouldremoveaveilthatdarkenedhissight。
“Itmusthe，“hesaid，decisively，afterawhile。“Yes，itmustbe；
Iseenoothermeansofsavinghimfromthesnaresofhisenemiesandfriends。Hemustleave，andthatatonce。“
Hewalkedhastilytothetable，pulledthebellviolently，andorderedtheservantwhocameintobringtheboywhocameyesterdaytohim。
Afewminuteslater，thedooropened，andaboyoften。ortwelveyears，withgreatblueeyes，fairhair，gracefulform，anddelicatecomplexion，cameintotheroom。AthisappearancethePrincedeCondeseemeddeeplymoved。Hehastenedwithopenarmstomeettheboy，pressedhimcloselytohisheart，andkissedhisfairhairandeyes。
“Welcome，athousandtimeswelcome!“hesaid，withtremblingvoice。
“HowlonghaveIdesiredtoseethismoment，andhowhappyIamthatithascomeatlast!Youaresaved，yonarerestoredtofreedom，tolife，andthereisinstoreforyou，Ihope，agreatandbrilliantfuture!“
“ThenIshallhavetothankyouforit，mycousin，“saidtheboy，withhissweet，resonantvoice。“Youhavereleasedmefromthedreadfulprison，andIthankyouforlife。Iamglad，too，thatI
seeyouatlast，forIwantedsomuchtoexpressmythanks，andeveryeveningIhaveprayedtoGodtograntmethehappinessofgreetingmydearcousin，thePrincedeConde。“
Thejoyouslighthadlongsincefadedfromthefaceoftheprince，andacloudwasgatheringonhisbrow，as，withatimid，searchinglook，heglancedaround，asifhefearedthatsomeonebesideshimselfmighthearthewordsoftheboy。
“Donotcallmeyourcousin，“hesaid，softly；andevenhisvoicewaschanged，andbecamecoldandhusky。