For a
minute or two, the husband's sole concern seemed to be the condition of
his wife.
"I will undertake that she shall be sent safe to England, my good man,"
said Mr Bang.
The felon looked at him--drew one hand across his eyes, which were misty
with tears, held down his head, and again looked up at length he found
his tongue. "That God who rewardeth good deeds here, that God whom I
have offended, before whom I must answer for my sins by daybreak to
morrow, will reward you--I can only thank you." He seized Mr Bang's hand
and kissed it.
With heavy hearts we left the miserable group, and I may mention here,
that Mr Bang was as good as his word, and paid the poor woman's passage
home, and, so far as I know, she is now restored to her family.
We slept that night at Mr S----'s, and as the morning dawned we mounted
our horses, which our worthy host had kindly desired to be ready, in
order to enable us to take our exercise in the cool of the morning. As
we rode past the Place d'armes, or open space in front of the
President's palace, we heard sounds of military music, and asked the
first chance passenger what was going on. "Execution militaire; or
rather," said the man, "the two sea captains, who introduced the base
money, are to be shot this morning--there against the rampart." Of the
fact we were aware, but we did not dream that we had ridden so near the
whereabouts.
"Ay, indeed?"--said Mr Bang.
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