Home › Famous Old Tower of London › Famous Old Tower of London: Madame

Famous Old Tower of London: Madame

In April, 1793, he succeeded in getting Athalf-past four, they heard musket-shots a law passed which threw four hundred and loud shouts, and while one awakened thousand persons into prison on the merest the queen, the other, Madame Auguier, flew toward the place whence the noise suspicion.

But the avenger was on his path. On the came. As she opened the door she found thirteenth of July, 1793, while taking his one of the royal body -guard, with his face bath, his servant told him that a lady de- covered with blood, holding his musket manded an immediate interview, to pre- so as to bar the door while the furious sent to him a paper on which the "public mob were striking at him. He turned to the lady, and cried, "Save safety" depended. The doomed fanatic gave orders for her admittance. Charlotte the queen, madame; they are come to Corday handed him a written document, murder her!"

Quick as lightning, Madame Auguier shut and bolted the door, rushed to the queen's bedside, and dragged her to the opposite door, with a petticoat just thrown over her. and while he was reading it she stabbed him to the heart. Having done this, she does not fly, but calmly awaits her doom; is arrested, condemned to death, and, until the time of her execution, remains Behold, the door was fastened on the serene and satisfied. The stirring character of the times is shown in the fact that other side! The lady knocked violently, she, a quiet, modest country girl, should the king's valet opened it, and in a few have been influenced to do so out- minutes the whole family were in safety rageously daring a need; but the times in the king's apartments. The furious were so strange that it is hopeless to mob rushed in and dealt blows with ax, attempt to comprehend them.