The Washington times., 1928-05-28

the broad lattice that formed
the upper part of the heavy
wooden doors at the gallery :
end. Those nearest, observing
this and knowing what it
portended, caught their
breath. From these, appre-
hension ran like i wave over
the groups assembled in that
long narrow avenue Of doom,
sitting their chatter as il
went. until il moment all
was silence.
Upon that silence the rasp-
ing Of i key ii its lock rang
like ! pistol-shot. One Of
the ponderous wings Of the
great door swung inwards.
The turnkey entered, brawny
and swarthy, his blue shirt
gaping away from 4 broad,
hairy chest, d fur bonnet On
his cropped head, yellow
Bloodhound at bis heels. He
stood aside on the broad plat
form at the head Of the
steps, to give passage to a
brisk young gentleman ii 4
tight black frock and b
round black hat that was
adorned BY . buckle ii front
and cockade at the side.
"A paper il his hand drew
the eyes some scared, some
apathetic, some proudly in
different, and some defiantIy
scornfnl of the hundred or
10 men and women assembled
there from their various
quarters for the daily pur-
pose Of hearing that papers
contents. For this slim, young
gentleman, Robert Wolf,
clerk Of the Revolutionary
Tribunal, was the adjutant
of the Public Accnser.
His paper bore the list over
whose preparation Fouquier-Tin.
vile had IabOred half the night.
m his little room Of the Palais
de Justice where he had his being.
where he worked and slept. which
he never quilted save to dine and
10 discharge before the Tribunal
the dread functions OF his office.
For a man of unremitting zeal
WAS this F'ouquier-Tinville, con.
scienti0us public servant who
spared himself 50 little in his
Iabors on behalf OF the nation.
that in the pursuit OF duty he
neglected himself. his health. his
wife and his children.
n
to the edge OF the platform,
should fall upon his paper. and
disposed himself to read the names
OF those whom Foucuier.Tinyil
summoned that morning to judy
rnent: the fournee. or bakers
batch. as 1t was called in the
cynical jargon Of the day.
Having chosen his position, the
clerk waited until three men who
followed him had come to a stand.
still. so that the hollow ring OF
their steps upon the planking
should not obscure his utterance.
Not on that account did they
hurry themselves. Two Of them.
men OF middle age, both dressed
In black, one tall and portly. the
other slorf and wizened. took their
time deferentially from the third
who. walking a little In advance,
appeared to conduct them.
This was Chauyiniere. the NV
eTnais deputy. a tall slim fellow.
of an age not over thirty. OF a
certain vigorous elegance of
figure and poise. OF a certain
elegance even in his dress. He
wore q riding-coat with broad
lapels ard silver buttons. the tails
Of which reached almost 10 the
heels of his Hessian boots. Spot.
less buckskins cased his long, lean
legs so closely that every muscle
was defined. and a cravat of spot.
less white clothed his neck stiffly
TO the chin. He was grit by a
tricolor sash. and tricolor
cockade adorned his grey hat.
which was cooked in front, a la
Henri ". and surmounted by
panache OF black plumes.
Thus were his office and his
ans-culottism advertised. and il
some there were who thought
them advertised too elegantly for
sincerity. our gentleman was not
to be perturbed. His sans-culot.
fism stood too high, had been too
fully proven. to be shaken by
anv gibes at his apparel: whilst
his arrogance, audacity. and self.
assurance were panoply against
vulgar criticism These qualities
were 10 be read in his lean. saliow
+, countenance with its hIgh-bridged
nose ifs curled upper lip. and its
keen light eyes under level black
hrows. There was certain raj.
fishness In his air. an indescrib-
/ z 4,ss