"It was you who drove me to do what I did," he said. "God sees us, and
judges us!"
Unhappy man! his faults had been great; his chastisement was terrible.
He had sacrificed his children on the altar of his wounded pride; he
had not even the consolation of pressing them to his heart and of asking
their forgiveness before he died.
Alone in his cell he could not distract his mind from thoughts of his
son and of his daughter; but such was the terrible situation in which he
had placed himself that he dared not ask what had become of them.
Through a compassionate keeper, he learned that nothing had been heard
of Jean, and that it was supposed Marie-Anne had gone to some foreign
country with the d'Escorval family.
When summoned before the court for trial, Lacheneur was calm and
dignified in manner. He attempted no defence, but responded with perfect
frankness. He took all the blame upon himself, and would not give the
name of one of his accomplices.
Condemned to be beheaded, he was executed on the following day. In
spite of the rain, he desired to walk to the place of execution.
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