d shouted out in hatred, "Assassins! Assassins!"
The young girl, consumed by overwhelming grief over Aunt Adele''s death, found herself even more devoted to longing for her beloved.
"I don''t even have a small miniature of Andre!" she mournfully thought, "Will I gradually forget his voice and smile?"
She took out the ruby ring from her pocket, bringing it to her lips, cherishingly kissing it more than a thousand times.
Edith gazed at the sparkling gem in the darkness, murmuring to herself, "Because of his death, I love him even more. The more those rats besmirch him with their filthy words, the purer and nobler his image becomes in my heart! Flowing through my veins since my birth is the blood of a republican!"
Sublime emotions filled Edith''s soul. Leaning her upper body against the cold, damp stone wall, she let tears flow into her collar, indulging in the intoxicating pleasure evoked by the ceaseless flow of tears.
-----------------------
On a mid-August evening, Edith chanced upon a crack in the prison cell wall. She leaned in, pressing her ear against it, and heard the conversation from the neighboring cell.
"How many of you are there on your side?" she asked, her voice filled with a glimmer of relief.
"Eleven for now," came the reply, "but more prisoners keep being thrown in."
Through this crevice opened by destiny, the two cells became intertwined. Edith listened as the people next door gathered together, speaking with a sentimental tone about their loved ones.
One middle-aged man with a strong rural accent of provinces caught her attention. The entire prison fell silent, leaning in to hear his slow narration.
"I have a daughter too, good citizen," he said, his voice husky but with a hint of loving smile that emanated from his heart. "You see, this is a lock of her hair. Tell me, in which village can you find such beautiful fiery red hair? It''s the only thing I have on me about her.
"Ay, I used to be a peasant, had no money, couldn''t even afford to paint a crudest miniature of her! My little Fiona is as lovely as an angel. You should truly see her little face. I don''t even know if she''s still alive. I am not a worthy father. I left her and her mot