M. de la Harpe, who now spoke,) " and you set me down

for nothing."
" You will," replied Gazette, " be yourself a miracle as extraordinary as any which I have told ; you will then be a Christian."
Loud exclamations immediately followed. '* Ah," replied Chamfort, " all my fears are removed ; for if we are not doomed to perish till La • Harpe becomes a Christian, we shall be immortal."
" As for the women," said the Duchess of Grammont^ " it is very fortunate that we are considered as nothing in these revolutions. Not that we are totally discharged from all concern in them, but it is understood that in such cases we are to be left to ourselves — our sex."
"Your sex, ladies," said he, interrupting her, " will be no guarantee to you in these times. It will make no difference whatever, whether you interfere or not. l^'ou will be treated precisely as the men ; no distinction will be made between
YOU."
A CURIOUS MEMOEAIfDUM. 449
" But wliat does all this mean, M. Cazotte ? You are siu'ely preacbing to us about the eud of the world."
" I kuow no more of that, my Lady Duchess, than yourself; but this I kuow, that you will be conducted to the scaffold, with several other ladies, in the cart of the executioner, and with your hands tied behind you."
" I hope, sir, that, in such a case, I shall be allowed, at least, a coach hung with black ?"
" No, madam, you will not have that indulgence ; ladies of higher rank than you will be drawn in a cart as you wdll be, with their hands tied as yours will be, and to the same fate as that to which you are destined."
" Ladies of greater rank than myself? What ! princesses of the blood ?" " Greater still !"
Here there was a very sensible emotion throughout the company, and the countenance of the master of the mansion, wore a very grave and solemn aspect ; it was indeed very generally observed, that this pleasantry was carried rather too far. Madame de G-rammont, in order to disperse the cloud that seemed to be approaching, made no reply to his last answer, but contented herself witli saying, with an air of gaiety, " You see he will not even leave me a confessor." " No, madam, that consolation will be denied to all of you. The last person led to the scaftbld, who will be
allowed a confessor, as the greatest of favours, will be "
Here he paused for a moment.
" And who, then, is the happy mortal who will be allowed to enjoy this prerogative ?"
'• It is the only one which will be left him ; it will be — the King of France !"
The master of the house now rose in haste, and his •company was all actuated by the same impulse. He then advanced towards M. Cazotte, and said to him in an affecting and impressive tone — " My dear M. Cazotte, we have had enough of these melancholy conceits. You carry it too f^ir, even to compromising the company with whom you are, and yourself along with them."
Cazotte made no answer, and was about to retire, when Madame de G-rammont, who wished, if possible, to do away all serious impressions, and to restore some kind of gaiety VOL. II. go]
450 PEEDICTIOXS.
among them, advanced towards him, and said : " My good prophet, YOU have been so kind as to tell us all our fortunes, but you have not mentioned anything regarding your own."
After a few moments' silence, with his eyes fixed on the ground, " Madame," replied he, " have jou read the Siege of Jerusalem, as related by Josephus ?"
" To be sure I have j and who has not ? But you may suppose, if you please, that I know nothing about it."
" Then you must know, Madame, that during the siege of Jerusalem, a man for seven successive days went round the ramparts of that city, in sight of the besieged and besiegers, crying incessantly, in a loud and inauspicious voice, ' Woe to Jerusalem !' and on the seventh day he cried, * AYoe to Jerusalem and to myself !' and at that very moment, aa enormous stone thrown by the machine of the enemy dashed him to pieces."