"Be calm, my friends," said she, smiling; "weep not, do not consider
me as destined to the scaffold, for I assure you I am going to live:
I must not die, for I am destined to be one day the sovereign of
France. Therefore, no more tears! I am the future Queen of France!"
"Ah!" exclaimed the Duchess d'Aiguillon, half angry and half sad,
"why not at once appoint your state dignitaries?"
"You are right," said Josephine, eagerly; "this is the best time to
do so. Well, then, my dear duchess, I now appoint you to be my maid
of honor, and I swear it will be so."
"My God! she is mad!" exclaimed the duchess, and, nearly fainting,
she sank upon her chair.
Josephine laughed, and opened the window to admit some fresh air.
She perceived there below in the street a woman making to her all
manner of signs and gestures. She lifted up her arms, she then took
hold of her dress, and with her hand pointed to her robe.
It was evident that she wished through these signs and motions to
convey some word to the prisoners, whom perhaps she knew, for she
repeatedly took hold of her robe with one hand, and pointed at it
with the other.
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