"Perry, Anne - The One Thing More" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Anne)

"Heard the news, Citizen?"

The answer came from the gulf beyond him. "Yes! Convention has voted
to execute the King! Equality at last!"

"Liberty!" the other replied, and laughed, his voice sharp in the
frosty air, slithering away in a wild note.

Celie crossed the street on to the bridge. Beneath her the water was
oily black, torchlight glittering in long ribbons of gold.

She reached the Quai de Conti on the far side and hurried into the
shadow of the streets towards the Boulevard St-Germain. She had to
slow her pace now, feel her way with more care. She was nearly home,
but there were no torches here and hardly any chinks of light from
windows.

She turned in under the archway, crossing the familiar courtyard,
passing the pump. The kitchen door had been left unlocked for her and
she opened it easily, closing it again when she was inside and hearing
the slight click as the latch fell home. She felt for the candle on
the table, fumbling for a moment, then lit it. The soft pool of light
showed the wooden surfaces, worn with use, the polished pans hanging on
their hooks, and the dark outline of the stove. There was a lingering
warmth and a faint smell of dried herbs in the air.

Celie took off her wet jacket and cap, and hung them on the drying
rail, then picked up the candle and tiptoed across the floor to the
next room and the door to Beraave's study. She knocked softly, barely
touching the wood with her knuckles.

There was a moment's silence, then the sound of someone on the other
side, and the latch lifted. The door swung open.

"Come in," Bernave ordered.

She obeyed, closing the door behind her. The room was warm from the
stove, and four candles were burning. A book was open on his desk. He
searched her face, and must have seen the answer in her eyes, because
he nodded almost imperceptibly, his lips tightening. Perhaps he had
known to expect it. He should have, the signs had been plain enough.

"They voted for death," she said aloud. "I didn't stay to the end
because there was no point. After Danton there wouldn't be any
change."

Bernave stood motionless. He was not a large man, but his energy
seemed to fill the room, his intelligence to command everything.

"So did the Girondins," she added, just in case a shred of doubt still