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Germany　had　been　in　session　for　two　years　without　accomplishing
their　task；　and　the　situation　looked　as　ominous　and　warlike　as　ever。

Every　one　resolved　to　depart；　every　trunk　was　being　packed；　every
carriage　drawn　forth　from　its　shed。　The　French　actors　and　ballet…
dancers　had　fled　from　Rastadt　several　weeks　before　at　the　first　rude
blast　of　the　approaching　storm；　like　rats　leaving　a　sinking　ship。
The　sounds　of　joy　and　mirth　had　died　away；　and　everywhere　only　grave
and　gloomy　words　were　heard；　only　sorrowful　and　downcast　faces　met。

Every　one；　as　we　stated　above；　was　preparing　to　set　out；　and　the
French　ambassadors；　too；　were　going　to　leave　Rastadt　to…day；　the
twenty…eighth　of　April。　Their　carriages　were　ready　for　them　early　in
the　morning　in　the　courtyard　of　the　castle；　when；　all　at　once；　some
footmen　of　the　embassy；　with　pale；　frightened　faces；　rushed　into　the
castle　and　reported　that　Austrian　hussars　were　posted　at　the　gates
and　refused　to　allow　any　one　to　leave　or　enter　the　city。　Even　the
commander　of　Rastadt；　an　officer　of　the　Duke　of　Baden；　had　not　been
permitted　by　the　hussars　to　ride　out　of　the　gate。　He　had　been
compelled　to　return　to　his　headquarters。　＇Footnote：　Historical。
Vide　〃Geheime　Geschichte　der　Rastatter　Friedensverhandlungen　in
Verbinduog　mit　den　Staatshandeln　dieser　Zeit。〃　Von　einem　Schweizer；
part　vi。＇

〃But　we　will　not　allow　them　to　prevent　us　from　leaving　Rastadt；〃
said　Roberjot；　resolutely。　〃They　will　not　dare　to　interfere　with　the
departure　of　the　representatives　of　the　French　Republic！〃

〃The　republic　would　take　bloody　revenge　for　such　an　outrage；　and
these　Germans　are　afraid　of　the　anger　of　the　republic！〃　exclaimed
Jean　Debry；　haughtily。

Bonnier　violently　shook　his　black　mane；　and　a　gloomy　cloud　settled
on　his　brow。

〃Barbaczy's　hussars　are　encamped　in　front　of　the　gates；　and　Victoria
de　Poutet　last　night　had　another　interview　with　Lehrbach　and
Barbaczy；〃　he　said。　〃If；　like　both　of　you；　I　had　a　wife　and　children
with　me；　I　should　not　dare　to　depart　without　further　guaranties。〃

At　this　moment　the　door　opened；　and　a　footman　handed　Roberjot　a
letter　that　had　just　arrived　from　the　Prussian　ambassador；　Count
Goertz。

Roberjot　opened　the　letter　and　glanced　over　it。　〃The　guaranties　you
referred　to；　Bonnier；　will　soon　be　here；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃It
seems　the　German　ambassadors　are　sharing　your　apprehensions。　They
have　drawn　up　a　joint　letter　to　Colonel　Barbaczy；　requiring　him　to
give　them　a　written　pledge　that　there　would　be　no　interference　with
the　free　departure　of　the　French　ambassadors；　and　that　the　safety　of
the　latter　would　not　be　endangered。　Count　Goertz；　therefore；
requests　us　not　to　set　out　until　a　written　reply　has　been　made　to
the　letter　of　the　ambassadors。　Shall　we　delay　our　departure　until
then？〃

〃We　will；〃　said　Bonnier；　〃you　will　not　derogate　from　your　republican
dignity　by　consulting　the　safety　of　your　wives　and　children。　I　may
say　that；　inasmuch　as　I　have　to　take　care　of　no　one　but　myself；　and
as　I　know　that　no　care　would　be　of　any　avail　in　my　case。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　my　friend？〃　asked　Jean　Debry。

〃I　mean　that　I　shall　die　to…day；〃　said　Bonnier；　solemnly。

Roberjot　turned　pale。　〃Hush；〃　he　whispered；　〃let　us　say　nothing
about　this　matter　to　the　women。　My　wife　had　a　bad　dream　last　night；
she　saw　me　weltering　in　my　gore　and　covered　with　wounds；　and　she
asserts　that　her　dreams　are　always　fulfilled。〃

〃Roberjot；　Bonnier；　and　Debry；　may　God　have　mercy　on　your　poor
souls！〃　muttered　Bonnier；　in　a　low　voice。

〃I　do　not　believe　in　dreams！〃　said　Jean　Debry；　with　a　loud；　forced
laugh；　〃and　besides；　my　wife　has　had　no　bad　dream　whatever；　and　not
been　warned　by　fate。　Come；　let　us　go　to　our　ladies　who　are　already
clad　in　their　travelling…dresses。　Let　us　tell　them　that　we　shall；
perhaps；　be　compelled　to　wait　a　few　hours。〃

But　several　hours　elapsed；　and　the　messenger　the　German　ambassadors
had　sent　to　Colonel　Barbaczy's　headquarters　did　not　return。　Nearly
all　of　the　German　ambassadors　made　their　appearance　at　the　castle　in
order　to　express　to　the　representatives　of　the　French　republic　their
astonishment　and　profound　indignation　at　this　disrespectful　delay；
and　to　implore　them　not　to　set　out　until　the　message　had　arrived。

The　French　ambassadors　themselves　were　undecided　and　gloomy；　their
ladies　were　pacing　the　rooms　with　sad　faces　and　tearful　eyes。　Every
one　was　in　the　most　painful　and　anxious　state　of　mind。　The　whole　day
passed　in　this　manner；　and　night　set　in　when　finally　the　messenger
whom　the　ambassadors　had　sent　to　Colonel　Barbaczy；　returned　to
Rastadt。　But　he　did　not　bring　the　expected　written　reply　of　the
colonel。　In　its　place；　an　Austrian　officer　of　hussars　made　his
appearance；　he　repaired　to　the　Prussian　Count　Goertz；　at　whose　house
the　other　ambassadors　were　assembled；　and　brought　him　a　verbal　reply
from　Count　Barbaczy。　The　colonel　excused　himself　for　not　sending　a
written　answer；　stating　that　a　pressure　of　business　prevented　him
from　so　doing。　He　at　the　same　time　assured　the　count　and　the
ambassadors　that　the　French　ministers　could　safely　depart；　and　that
he　would　give　them　twenty…four　hours　for　this　purpose。　＇Footnote：
Vide　Dohm；　nach　seinem　Wollen　und　Handeln；　von　Cronau；　p。　600。＇

The　officer　brought；　however；　an　autograph　letter　from　Barbaczy　to
the　French　ministers；　and　he　repaired　to　the　castle　in　order　to
deliver　it　to　them。

This　letter　from　Barbaczy　contained　the　following　lines：

〃Ministers：　You　will　understand　that　no　French　citizens　can　be
tolerated　within　the　positions　occupied　by　the　Austrian　forces。　You
will　not　be　surprised；　therefore；　that　I　am　obliged　to　request　you；
ministers；　to　leave　Rastadt　within　twenty…four　hours。〃

〃Barbaczy；　Colonel。〃

〃Gernsbach；　April　28；　1799。〃　＇Footnote：　Dohm　preserved　a　copy　of
this　letter。Ibid。＇

〃Well；　what　are　we　to　do？〃　asked　Roberjot；　when　the　officer　had　left
them。

〃We　will　set　out；〃　said　Jean　Debry；　impetuously。

〃Yes；　we　will　set　out；〃　exclaimed　his　beautiful　young　wife；
encircling　him　with　her　arms。　〃The　air　here；　it　seems　to　me；　smells
of　blood　and　murder；　and　every　minute's　delay　redoubles　our　danger。〃

〃Poor　wife；　did　they　infect　you；　too；　already　with　their　evil
forebodings　and　dreams？〃　said　Jean　Debry；　tenderly　pressing　his　wife
to　his　heart。　〃God　forbid　that　they　should　endanger　a　single　hair　of
your　dear；　beautiful　head！　I　am　not　afraid　for　myself；　but　for　the
sake　of　my　wife　and　of　my　two　little　daughters。　For　you　and　for　our
friends　here　I　would　like　to　choose　the　best　and　most　prudent
course。〃

〃Let　us　set　out；〃　said　Madame　Roberjot；　〃the　terrible　dream　last
night　was　intended　to　give　us　warning。　Death　threatens　us　if　we
remain　here　any　longer。　Oh；　my　husband；　I　love　nothing　on　earth　but
you　alone；　you　are　my　love　and　my　happiness！　I　would　die　of　a　broken
heart　if　I　should　lose　you！　But　no；　no；　not　lose！　We　live　and　die
together。　He　who　kills　you　must　also　take　my　life！〃

〃They　shall　not　kill　us；　my　beloved；〃　said　Roberjot；　feelingly；
〃life；　I　trust；　has　many　joys　yet　in　store　for　us；　and　we　will
return　to　our　country　in　order　to　seek　them　there。　Bonnier；　you
alone　are　silent。　Do　not　you　believe　also　that　we　ought　to　set　out
to…night？〃

Bonnier　started　up　from　his　gloomy　reverie。　〃Let　us　set　out；〃　he
said；　〃we　must　boldly　confront　the　terrors　from　which　we　cannot
escape。　Let　us　set　out。〃

〃Be　it　so！〃　shouted　Roberjot　and　Jean　Debry。　〃The　republic　will
protect　her　faithful　sons！〃

〃And　may　God　protect　us　in　His　infinite　mercy；〃　exclaimed　Madame
Roberjot；　falling　on　her　knees。

And　Jean　Debry's　wife　knelt　down　by　her　side；　drawing　her　little
girls　down　with　her。

〃Let　us　pray；　my　children；　for　your　father；　for　ourselves；　and　for
our　friends；〃　she　said；　folding　the　children's　hands。

While　the　women　were　praying；　the　men　issued　their　last　orders　to
the　servants　and　to　the　postilions。

At　length　every　thing　was　in　readiness；　and　if　they　really　wished　to
set　out；　it　had　to　be　done　at　once。

Roberjot　and　Jean　Debry　approached　softly　and　with　deep　emotion
their　wives；　who　were　kneeling　and　praying　still；　and　raised　them
tenderly。

〃Now　be　strong　and　courageousbe　wives　worthy　of　your　husbands；〃
they　whispered。　〃Dry　your　tears　and　come！　The　carriages　are　waiting
for　us。　Come；　come；　France　is　waiting　for　us！〃

〃Or　the　grave！〃　muttered　Bonnier；　who　accompanied　the　others　to　the
courtyard　where　the　carriages　were　standing。

The　ambassadors　with　their　wives　and　attendants　had　finally　taken
seats　in　the　carriages。　Roberjot　and　his　wife　occupied　the　first
carriage；　Bonnier；　the　second；　Jean　Debry　with　his　wife　and
daughters；　the　third；　in　the　fourth；　fifth；　and　sixth　were　the
secretaries　of　legation；　the　clerks　and　servants　of　the　ambassadors。

The　last　coach…door　was　closed；　a　profound　momentary　silence
succeeded　the　noise　and　turmoil　that　had　prevailed　up　to　this　time。
Then　the　loud；　ringing　voice　of　Roberjot　asked　from　the　first
carriage；　〃All　ready？〃

〃All　ready！〃　was　the　reply　from　the　other　carriages。

〃Then　let　us　start；〃　shouted　Roberjot；　and　his　carriage　immediately
commenced　moving。　The　other　five　carriages　followed　slowly　and
heavily。

The　night　wa