To those who might be tempted to imitate them or defend them this is a
sufficient lesson. - Subject to the boos, hisses and insults from the
hags lining the streets, the seventy-three[106] are conducted to the
prisoners' room in the town hall. This, already full, is where they
pass the night standing on benches, scarcely able to breathe. The
next day they are crammed into the prison for assassins and robbers,
"la Force," on the sixth story, under the roof; in this narrow garret
their beds touch each other, while two of the deputies are obliged to
sleep on the floor for lack of room. Under the skylights, which serve
for windows, and at the foot of the staircase are two pig-pens; at the
end of the apartment are the privies, and in one corner a night-tub,
which completes the poisoning of the atmosphere already vitiated by
this crowded mass of human beings. The beds consist of sacks of straw
swarming with vermin; they are compelled to endure the
discipline,[107] rations and mess of convicts. And they are lucky to
escape at this rate: for Amar takes advantage of their silent
deportment to tax them with conspiracy; other Montagnards likewise
want to arraign them at the revolutionary Tribunal: at all events, it
is agreed that the Committee of General Security shall examine their
records and maintain the right of designating new culprits amongst
them.
Pages:
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86