share of the opprobrium and hatred which belonged to himself and his child; that without scruple I had dishonoured the executioner's daughter; and that I could only atone for my crime by becoming an executioner myself.

My ancestor's confession comes to a sudden termination. He fails to give the conclusion of his adventure, as he abstained from giving an account of the events which preceded it. Colombe Brossier and Marguerite Jouanne had no doubt left two deep wounds in his heart, and these he only exhibited with grief and reluctance. He married Marguerite Jouanne; and I find in the official record of an execution which took place at Rouen a proof that the relentless Master Jouanne exacted from his son-in-law a stringent discharge of his engagements. The record says 'that, having to break on the wheel a certain Martin Eslau, Master Pierre Jouanne, principal executioner, having compelled his son-in-law, who was but lately married, to aim a blow at the culprit, the said son-in-law fell in a fit, and was hooted by the mob.'

The happiness which Charles Sanson had so dearly paid for passed away as a dream. His wife died, after giving birth to a son.

CHAPTER III.

ARRIVAL IN PARIS.

It was towards the end of the year 1685 that my ancestor Charles Sanson de Longval quitted Normandy, leaving behind him the remains of that Marguerite Jouanne who had brought him so unfortunate a marriage portion. The events I have chronicled had almost disturbed his reason; he had fallen into a dark, fidgety mood, which increased the sinister appearance he owed to his avocations. At Rouen he was avoided with something like terror; when he passed through the streets, the inhabitants pointed out to each other the man who all over his person bore the marks of a stormy existence. Most ignored his trials; but a glance at Sanson was sufficient to identify him as the executioner; and men, women, and children recoiled from him.

For many reasons, therefore, my ancestor was not sorry to renounce his unpleasant celebrity, and to leave a spot replete with sad recollections. He hastened to accede to the proposal which was made to him of an exchange of his provincial jurisdiction for that of the capital of the kingdom. The time was fraught with grave events.

Chancellor Letellier had just died, re

signing his seals into the hands of President Boucherat, who was reputed a kind and honest man. The Marquis

de Bullion, a perfect gentleman, had just been appointed Provost of Paris. Thus the magistracy was being altered at the two extremities of the social ladder in the persons of the Chancellor of France, the Provost of Paris, and the executioner.

The profound emotion caused by the sudden deaths which had thinned the Royal Family on the very steps of the throne, the mysterious doings of the ChambreArdente with regard to the subtle poison, borrowed of the Borgias, which had been styled powder of succession; all this excitement, we say, had just subsided; and nothing could have troubled the horizon, if an act of the worst policy-the Revocation of the Edict of Nanteshad not opened for the nation a new era of calamities. I shall not enter into any digression concerning this return to an intolerance which had already fed so many civil wars in France; I merely wish to allude to the effect this event had in Sanson de Longval's exceptional sphere. A declaration of the King decreed the most rigorous penalties against the dying who refused the Sacrament because they belonged to the Reformed Religion. It ordered that in case of recovery heretics should be sentenced to amende honorable, hard labour for life, and forfeiture of property; and in case of death, that their trial should nevertheless be proceeded with, and their bodies be dragged on a hurdle, and then thrown into the common sewer.

Another declaration enacted the same penalties

into the hands of President Boucherat, da kind and honest man. The Marquis rfect gentleman, had just been appointed ris. Thus the magistracy was being ro extremities of the social ladder in the Chancellor of France, the Provost of xecutioner.

d emotion caused by the sudden deaths ed the Royal Family on the very steps he mysterious doings of the Chambreegard to the subtle poison, borrowed of ch had been styled powder of succession; nent, we say, had just subsided; and ave troubled the horizon, if an act of the e Revocation of the Edict of Nantesfor the nation a new era of calamities. ter into any digression concerning this olerance which had already fed so many France; I merely wish to allude to the had in Sanson de Longval's exceptional laration of the King decreed the most ties against the dying who refused the cause they belonged to the Reformed. ordered that in case of recovery heretics enced to amende honorable, hard labour feiture of property; and in case of death, should nevertheless be proceeded with, ies be dragged on a hurdle, and then

eclaration enacted the same penalties