HISTORY OF THE DOG. 161 



The following is one of the most remarkable instances 

 of fidelity in this most attached of all the canine race ; 

 and though it has been frequently in print, we give it 

 without the least hesitation : 



" A few days before the overthrow of Robespierre, a 

 revolutionary tribunal had condemned Monsieur R., an 

 ancient magistrate, and a most estimable man, on pre- 

 tence of finding him guilty of a conspiracy. Monsieur R. 

 had a water spaniel, at that time about twelve years old, 

 which had been brought up by him, and had scarce ever 

 quitted his side. Monsieur R. was cast into prison, and 

 in the silence of a living tomb he was left to pine in thought 

 under the iron scourge of the tyrant, who, if he extended 

 life to those whom his wantonness had proscribed, even 

 until death became a prayer, it was only to tantalize them 

 with the blessing of murder, when he imagined he could 

 more effectually torture them with the curse of existence. 



" This faithful dog, however, was with him when he 

 was first seized, but was not suffered to enter the prison. 

 He took refuge with a neighbor of his late master's. But, 

 that posterity may judge clearly of the times when French- 

 men existed at that period, it must be added, that this man 

 received the poor dog tremblingly, and in secret, lest his hu- 

 manity for his friend's dog should bring him to the scaffold. 

 Ever} 7 day, at the same hour, the dog returned to the door of 

 the prison, but was still re fused 'admittance. He, however, 

 uniformly passed some time there. Such unremitting 

 fidelity at last won even on the porter of a prison, and the 

 dog was at length allowed to enter. The joy of both 

 master and dog was mutual ; it was difficult to separate 

 them ; but the honest jailer, fearing for himself, carried 

 the dog out of the prison. The next morning, however, 

 he again came back, and once on each day afterward was 

 regularly admitted by the humane jailer. When the day 

 of receiving sentence arrived, notwithstanding the guards, 

 which jealous power, conscious of its deserts* stations 



