CHAP. VI.]

ST. JOHN OP JERUSALEM.

187

the grand master; nor openly did he on any questionswerve from his established reputation, of being afriend of his own order.

What hadbeen the Templars’ residence, and so calledthe Temple, even during its long occupation bythe Hospitallers, whose ambassador to Parislived there, had now been converted into a prisonfor innocent Louis XYI. Hot a ship arrived fromLanguedoc, or Provence, but brought some addi-tions to the sorrows of one party, and the exulta-tion of the other. Amongst which was the answerof the last ambassador that the order ever had atParis; and which, while it shows the high nobilityof character (Boisgelin rather superfluously gives itas a proof there were still some high-minded men inthe order—whoever doubted it ?) showed also thatall was illegality and anarchy in miserable Paris.“ Be under no apprehensions,” said the primeminister—“ I am under no apprehensions,” was thegallant old diplomatist’s reply;—“for now themoment has arrived when a man of honoiu’, whofaithfully performs his duty, may die as gloriouslyon a gallows, as in the field of battle.” And thenoble-minded Bailiff de la Brilhane went downstairs, and expired suddenly. Those frightfultimes are too well known to need farther elucidation;already have we had enough to turn the stomach.