"I am ready, sir," says he; "but while I am operating, you must hold the
head of the corpse; your charge demands it."

The Duke went away without a word, and the body was neither opened nor
embalmed. A few humble domestics and poor workmen watched by the remains,
and performed the last offices to their master. The surgeons ordered
spirits of wine to be poured into the coffin.

They huddled the king's body into a postchaise; and in this deplorable
equipage, with an escort of about forty men, Louis, the Well-beloved, was
carried, in the dead of night, from Versailles to Saint-Denis, and then
thrown into the tombs of the kings of France!

If any man is curious, and can get permission, he may mount to the roof of
the palace, and see where Louis XVI. used royally to amuse himself by
gazing upon the doings of all the towns-people below with a telescope.
Behold that balcony, where, one morning, he, his queen, and the little
Dauphin stood, with Cromwell Grandison Lafayette by their side, who kissed
her Majesty's hand, and protected her; and then, lovingly surrounded by
his people, the king got into a coach and came to Paris: nor did his
Majesty ride much in coaches after that....

He is said to have been such a smart journeyman blacksmith that he might,
if Fate had not perversely placed a crown on his head, have earned a
couple of louis every week by the making of locks and keys. Those who will
may see the workshop where he employed many useful hours: Madame Elizabeth
was at prayers meanwhile; the queen was making pleasant parties with her
ladies; Monsieur the Count d'Artois was learning to dance on the
tightrope; and Monsieur de Provence was cultivating l'eloquence du billet