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＇During their last interview Madame Elisabeth had given Clery one of her handkerchiefs； saying； 〃You shall keep it so long as my brother continues well； if he becomes ill； send it to me among my nephew's things。〃＇
The Assembly having； after a violent debate； resolved that Louis XVI。 should have the aid of counsel； a deputation was sent to the Temple to ask whom he would choose。 The King named Messieurs Target and Tronchet。 The former refused his services on the ground that he had discontinued practice since 1785； the latter complied at once with the King's request； and while the Assembly was considering whom to； nominate in Target's place； the President received a letter from the venerable Malesherbes；
＇Christian Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes； an eminent French statesman； son of the Chancellor of France； was born at Paris in 1721。 In 1750 he succeeded his father as President of the Court of Aids； and was also made superintendent of the press。 On the banishment of the Parliaments and the suppression of the Court of Aids； Malesherbes was exiled to his country…seat。 In 1775 he was appointed Minister of State。 On the decree of the Convention for the King's trial； he emerged from his retreat to become the voluntary advocate of his sovereign。 Malesherbes was guillotined in 1794； and almost his whole family were extirpated by their merciless persecutors。＇
then seventy years old； and 〃the most respected magistrate in France；〃 in the course of which he said： 〃I have been twice called to be counsel for him who was my master； in times when that duty was coveted by every one。 I owe him the same service now that it is a duty which many people deem dangerous。 If I knew any possible means of acquainting him with my desires； I should not take the liberty of addressing myself to you。〃 Other citizens made similar proposals； but the King； being made acquainted with them by a deputation from the Commune； while expressing his gratitude for all the offers； accepted only that of Malesherbes。
＇The Citoyenne Olympia Degonges； calling herself a free and loyal Republican without spot or blame； and declaring that the cold and selfish cruelty of Target had inflamed her heroism and roused her sensibility； asked permission to assist M； de Malesherbes in defending the King。 The Assembly passed to the order of the day on this request。BERTRAND DE MOLLEVILLE； 〃Annals；〃 edit。 1802； vol； viii。； p。 254。＇
On 14th December M。 Tronchet was allowed to confer with the King； and later in the same day M。 de Malesherbes was admitted to the Tower。 〃The King ran up to this worthy old man； whom he clasped in his arms；〃 said Clery； 〃and the former minister melted into tears at the sight of his master。〃
＇According to M。 de Hue； 〃The first time M。 de Malesherbes entered the Temple； the King clasped him in his arms and said； 'Ah； is it you； my friend？ You fear not to endanger your own life to save mine； but all will be useless。 They will bring me to the scaffold。 No matter； I shall gain my cause if I leave an unspotted memory behind me。'〃＇
Another deputation brought the King the Act of Accusation and the documents relating to it； numbering more than a hundred； and taking from four o'clock till midnight to read。 During this long process the King had refreshments served to the deputies； taking nothing himself till they had left； but considerately reproving Clery for not having supped。 From the 14th to the 26th December the King saw his counsel and their colleague M。 de Size every day。 At this time a means of communication between the royal family and the King was devised： a man named Turgi； who had been in the royal kitchen； and who contrived to obtain employment in the Temple； when conveying the meals of the royal family to their apartments； or articles he had purchased for them； managed to give Madame Elisabeth news of the King。 Next day； the Princess； when Turgi was removing the dinner； slipped into his hand a bit of paper on which she had pricked with a pin a request for a word from her brother's own hand。 Turgi gave this paper to Clery； who conveyed it to the King the same evening； and he； being allowed writing materials while preparing his defence； wrote Madame Elisabeth a short note。 An answer was conveyed in a ball of cotton； which Turgi threw under Clery's bed while passing the door of his room。 Letters were also passed between the Princess's room and that of Clery； who lodged beneath her； by means of a string let down and drawn up at night。 This communication with his family was a great comfort to the King； who； nevertheless； constantly cautioned his faithful servant。 〃Take care；〃 he would say kindly； 〃you expose yourself too much。〃
＇The King's natural benevolence was constantly shown while in the Temple。 His own dreadful position never prevented him from sympathy with the smaller troubles of others。 A servant in the Temple named Marchand； the father of a family； was robbed of two hundred francs； his wages for two months。 The King observed his distress； asked its cause； and gave Clery the amount to be handed to Marchand； with a caution not to speak of it to any one； and； above all； not to thank the King； lest it should injure him with his employers。＇
During his separation from his family the King refused to go into the garden。 When it was proposed to him he said； 〃I cannot make up my mind to go out alone； the walk was agreeable to me only when I shared it with my family。〃 But he did not allow himself to dwell on painful reflections。 He talked freely to the municipals on guard； and surprised them by his varied and practical knowledge of their trades； and his interest in their domestic affairs。 On the 19th December the King's breakfast was served as usual； but； being a fast…day； he refused to take anything。 At dinner…time the King said to Clery； 〃Fourteen years ago you were up earlier than you were to…day； it is the day my daughter was born… …today； her birthday；〃 he repeated； with tears； 〃and to be prevented from seeing her！〃 Madame Royale had wished for a calendar； the King ordered Clery to buy her the 〃Almanac of the Republic；〃 which had replaced the 〃Court Almanac；〃 and ran through it； marking with a pencil many names。
〃On Christmas Day；〃 Says Clery； 〃the King wrote his will。〃
＇Madame Royale says： 〃On the 26th December； St。 Stephen's Day； my father made his will； because he expected to be assassinated that day on his way to the bar of the Convention。 He went thither； nevertheless； with his usual calmness。〃〃Royal Memoirs；〃 p。 196。＇
On the 26th December； 1792； the King appeared a second time before the Convention。 M。 de Seze； labouring night and day； had completed his defence。 The King insisted on excluding from it all that was too rhetorical； and confining it to the mere discussion of essential points。
＇When the pathetic peroration of M； de Seze was read to the King； the evening before it was delivered to the Assembly； 〃I have to request of you；〃 he said； 〃to make a painful sacrifice； strike out of your pleading the peroration。 It is enough for me to appear before such judges； and show my entire innocence； I will not move their feelings。〃LACRETELLE。＇
At half…past nine in the morning the whole armed force was in motion to conduct him from the Temple to the Feuillans； with the same precautions and in the same order as had been observed on the former occasion。 Riding in the carriage of the Mayor； he conversed； on the way； with the same composure as usual； and talked of Seneca； of Livy； of the hospitals。 Arrived at the Feuillans； he showed great anxiety for his defenders； he seated himself beside them in the Assembly； surveyed with great composure the benches where his accusers and his judges sat； seemed to examine their faces with the view of discovering the impression produced by the pleading of M。 de Seze； and more than once conversed smilingly with Tronchet and Malesherbes。 The Assembly received his defence in sullen silence； but without any tokens of disapprobation。
Being afterwards conducted to an adjoining room with his counsel； the King showed great anxiety about M。 de Seze； who seemed fatigued by the long defence。 While riding back to the Temple he conversed with his companions with the same serenity as he had shown on leaving it。
No sooner had the King left the hall of the Convention than a violent tumult arose there。 Some were for opening the discussion。 Others； complaining of the delays which postponed the decision of this process； demanded the vote immediately； remarking that in every court； after the accused had been heard； the judges proceed to give their opinion。 Lanjuinais had from the commencement of the proceedings felt an indignation which his impetuous disposition no longer suffered him to repress。 He darted to the tribune； and； amidst the cries excited by his presence； demanded the annulling of the proceedings altogether。 He exclaimed that the days of ferocious men were gone by； that the Assembly ought not to be so dishonoured as to be made to