Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

36MEANS ADOPTED BY JEROME

My mother had a remarkable talent for drawing, especially for taking likenesses. In the intervals of her examination she amused herself by taking those of the persons who surrounded her, and in a few minutes had made an excellent sketch of the terrible picture in which she was the chief figure.

A master mason, of the name of Jerome, one of the most ardent jacobins of the day, was present on this occasion. He took the sketch from my mother and passed it to the others; each recognised himself, and all amused themselves at the expense of the president. The rage of the latter might have been fatal to my mother; nevertheless, it was the imprudence she on this occasion committed which saved her life.

The drawing was attached to the other documents connected with her case. Jerome, the mason, who affected the most violent hostility to her, and who never addressed her without some horrible oath, Jerome, ferocious though he might be, was young ; and, struck with admiration of her many charms, he conceived the idea of saving her from the guillotine.

He had free access to the office of Fouquier Tin-ville, the public accuser, where lay the box of papers on which were inscribed the names of every prisoner in Paris. These papers were used to furnish the executions of the day, which often reached to the number of sixty or eighty, and the spectacle of which constituted the chief amusement of the people of Paris. The selection of the victims was generally made with little choice, the names that were uppermost being first taken. Jerome was acquainted with the fatal box: during six months he did not once fail to enter the office every evening, and, unobserved, to