ten o’clock in the morning
It was King Death who now summoned the aristocrats to his court ; the scaffold was the hall of festivity where solemn homage was made to this king . It would therefore have been against all etiquette to crowd into this hall of festivity with beclouded countenance ; this would have diminished the respect due to King Death , if he had not been approached with full-court ceremonial , and with the serene , easy smile of a courtier . To die , to meet death was now a distinction , an honor for which each almost envied the other . When at ten o'clock in the morning the gathering took place in the large room , the conversation was of the most cheerful and unaffected easiness ; they joked , they laughed , they speculated on politics , though it was well known that in a few minutes yonder door was to open , and that on its threshold the jailer would appear , list in hand ; that from this list he would call out with his loud , croaking voice , as Death 's harbinger , the names of those whose death-warrants had been yesterday signed by Robespierre , and who would have immediately to leave the hall , to mount the wagons which were already waiting at the prison 's gate to drive them to the guillotine . While the jailer read his list , suspense and excitement were visible on all faces , but no one would have so deeply lowered himself as to betray fear or anguish when his name fell from the lips of the jailer . The smile remained on the lip , friends and acquaintances were bidden farewell with a cheerful salutation , and with easy , unaffected demeanor they quitted the hall to mount the fatal vehicle . To die gracefully was now considered as much bon ton as it had been once fashionable gracefully to enter the ballroom and do obeisance to the king ; contempt and scorn would have followed him who might have exhibited a sorrowful mien , hesitation , or fear .