book ci t h e y repeatedly demanded o f Kofiniki their chief, i f it was
' . cc not yet time to put the king to death; and thefe demands
44 were reiterated in proportion to the obftacles and difficulties
44 they encountered.
44 Meanwhile the confufion and confternation increafed at
44 Warfaw. The guards were afraid to purfue the confpi-
ii rators, left terror of being overtaken ihould prompt them
“ in the darknefstomafiacretheking; and on the other hand;.
44 by not purfuing they might give them, time to efcape with
« their prize, heyond the poffibility of affiftance. Several of
« the firft nobility at length mounted on horfeback, and fol-
44 lowing the track of the aflaffins, arrived at the place where
44 his majefty had paffed the ditch. There they found his
“ p eliffe, which he had loft in the precipitation with which
“ he was hurried away: it was bloody, and pierced with
44 holes made by the balls or fabres. This convinced them
“ that he was no more.
gt The king was ftill in the hands of the feven remaining
H aflaffins, who advanced with him into the wood of Bielany,
H when they were fuddenly alarmed by a Ruffian patrole or
41 detachment. Inftantly holding council, four of them dif-
44 appeared, leaving him with the other three, who com-
“ pelled him to walk on. Scarce a quarter of an hour after
“ a fecond Ruffian guard challenged them a-new. Two of
“ the aflaffins then fled, and the king remained alone with
44 Kofiniki the chief, both on foot. His majefty, exhaufted
44 with all the fatigue which he had undergone, implored his
“ conductor to flop, and fuffer him to take a moment’s repofe.
“ Kofiniki refufed it, menacing him with his naked fabre;
44 and at the fame time informed him, that beyond the wood
“ they ihould find a carriage. They continued their walk,
44 till they came to the door of the convent of Bielany. Ko-
44 finiki
44 finiki appeared loft in thought, and fo much agitated by c ^*p-
44 his refledions, that the king perceiving his diforder, and <__
44 obferving that he wandered without knowing the road,
“ faid to him, 4 I fee you are at a lofs which way to proceed.
44 Let me enter the convent o f Bielany, and do you provide
<l for your own fafety. 4 No,’ replied Kofiniki, 4 I have
44 fworn.’
“ They proceeded till they came to Mariemont, a fmall
44 palace belonging to the houfe of Saxony, not above half a
44 league from Warfaw : here Kofiniki betrayed fome fatis-
44 fadion at finding where he was, and the king ftill de-
44 manding an inftant’s repofe, he confented at length. They
44 fat down together on the ground, and the king employed
44 thefe moments in endeavouring to foften his conductor,
44 and induce him to favour or permit his efcape. His ma-
44 jefty reprefented the atrocity of the crime he had commit-
44 ted in attempting to murder his fovereign, and the invali-
44 dity of an oath taken to perpetrate fo heinous an adion:
44 Kofiniki lent attention to this difcourfe, and began to be-
44 tray ibme marks of remorfe. 4 But,’ faid he, 4 i f I ihould
44 confent and recondud you to Warfaw, what will be the
44 confequence ?— I ihall be taken and executed !’
44 This reflection plunged him into new uncertainty and
44 embarrafsment. 41 give you my word,’ anfwered his ma-
44 jefty, 4 that you ihall fuffer no harm; but i f you doubt
44 my promife, efcape while there is yet time. I can find
44 my way to fome place of fecurity: and I will certainly di-
44 re£t your purfuers to take the contrary road to that which
44 you have chofen.’ Kofiniki could not any longer contain-
44 himfelf, but, throwing himfelf at the king’s feet, implored
44 forgivenefs for the crime he had committed; and fwore to
44 prated him againft every enemy, relying totally on his
F a 44 generality