She even asked the lawyer to remain in the cell as though in this way she wished to lessen the annoyance of dressing herself before strangers.
Upon reaching this passage in his letter, Ferragut realized the pity and admiration of the _maitre_ who had seen her preparing the last toilet of her life.
"Adorable creature! So beautiful!...

She was born for love and luxury, yet was going to die, torn by bullets like a rude soldier...." The precautions adopted by her coquetry appeared to him admirable.

She wanted to die as she had lived, placing on her person the best that she possessed.

Therefore, suspecting the nearness of her execution, she had a few days before reclaimed the jewels and the gown that she was wearing when arrest prevented her returning to Brest.
Her defender described her "with a dress of pearl gray silk, bronze stockings and low shoes, a great-coat of furs, and a large hat with plumes.

Besides, the necklace of pearls was on her bosom, emeralds in her ears and all her diamonds on her fingers." A sad smile curled her lips upon trying to look at herself in the window panes, still black with the darkness of night, which served her as a mirror.
"I die in my uniform like a soldier," she said to her lawyer.
Then in the ante-chamber of the prison, under the crude artificial light, this plumed woman, covered with jewels, her clothing exhaling a subtle perfume, memory of happier days, turned without any embarrassment toward the men clad in black and in blue uniforms.
Two religious sisters who accompanied her appeared more moved than she.
They were trying to exhort her and at the same time were struggling to keep back the tears....