[Massacres Of The South (1551-1815) III by Alexandre Dumas Pere]@TWC D-Link book
Massacres Of The South (1551-1815) III

CHAPTER XI
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Then turning towards the worthy, friar, he said-- "Be a son to my mother; pray to God for me constantly; ask all our good friars to pray for my soul; my one consolation is that I die innocent.

I trust that God in His mercy may receive me into Paradise." "Is there nothing else I can do for you ?" asked Pere Grillau.
"Alas, my father!" replied Grandier, "I am condemned to die a most cruel death; ask the executioner if there is no way of shortening what I must undergo." "I go at once," said the friar; and giving him absolution in 'articulo mortis', he went down the steps, and while Grandier was making his confession aloud the good monk drew the executioner aside and asked if there were no possibility of alleviating the death-agony by means of a shirt dipped in brimstone.

The executioner answered that as the sentence expressly stated that Grandier was to be burnt alive, he could not employ an expedient so sure to be discovered as that; but that if the friar would give him thirty crowns he would undertake to strangle Grandier while he was kindling the pile.

Pere Grillau gave him the money, and the executioner provided himself with a rope.

The Franciscan then placed himself where he could speak to his penitent as he passed, and as he embraced him for the last time, whispered to him what he had arranged with the executioner, whereupon Grandier turned towards the latter and said in a tone of deep gratitude-- "Thanks, my brother." At that moment, the archers having driven away Pere Grillau, by order of M.de Laubardemont, by beating him with their halberts, the procession resumed its march, to go through the same ceremony at the Ursuline church, and from there to proceed to the square of Sainte-Croix.


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