We have seen a councillor of state die like a saint after a crime which men cannot justly pardon.

There is nobody in the world who, knowing of their conspiracy against the state, does not think them worthy of death, and there will be few who, having knowledge of their rank and their fine natural qualities, will not mourn their sad fate." [Illustration: Cinq-Mars and De Thou going to Execution----215] "Now that I make not a single step which does not lead me to death, I am more capable than anybody else of estimating the value of the things of the world," wrote Cinq-Mars to his mother, the wife of Marshal d'Effiat.
"Enough of this world; away to Paradise!" said M.de Thou, as he marched to the scaffold.

Chalais and Montmorency had used the same language.

At the last hour, and at the bottom of their hearts, the frivolous courtier and the hare-brained conspirator, as well as the great soldier and the grave magistrate, had recovered their faith in God..