Part Five

THE PRISONER

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H E long-demolished hostel of Sainte-Pelagie, which lay on
the borders o f the Jardin des Plantes, was built during the
seventeenth century as a place of retreat for repentant whores
and for ladies of light conduct against whom their husbands had
obtained lettres de cachet. During the Revolution of 1789 the ladies
departed, and Sainte-Pelagie began its career as a prison; its
clientele was distinguished, and included Madame du Barry,
Madame Roland and the Vicomte de Beauharnais. During the
Empire it was used for political prisoners, and, though it was
enlarged under the July monarchy to accommodate common crimi­
nals, there was still one part, the Pavilion, which was reserved
for critics o f the regime, and it was here that Proudhon was
installed.
On the day after his arrival he wrote to Maurice, to announce
his whereabouts to the friend and to reassure the creditor. ‘I am a
prisoner, but my spirit is free, as gay and alert as ever. I wish to
organise myself to work as much as possible, and so while away
the boredoms of prison... If I am not mistaken, your interests
will be safeguarded just as well, despite the accident which has
befallen me, as if I were completely free in Geneva. The freedom