La Mort À La Mode by Antonio Hope — Read

(_The tumbril is the last of a row of several, some of which have left, some of which stand at, the gates of the Conciergerie. The others are full, in this the_ DUC _is alone. At the beginning of the conversation the tumbril stands still, later it is moving slowly, escorted through a turbulent crowd by National Guards to its destination in the Place Louis Quinze (Place de la Revolution.) The time is noon of a fine day during the Reign of Terror._)

Duc. Alone! My luck holds to the last. They're close as fish in a tub in the others -- and by strange chance every man next to his worst enemy -- or at least his best friend's husband! These rascals have no consideration.