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I. - -,...';:;::::::'::I:-Q,;4.,.-... 1..-:...,-.,......'.. — -I..... .:...,: .:.A,:.,'..%.. ''k 11.1 .m.I \ II,..1. -.: -, —.ew 1... ,..I, -- , kil Ali!!.. .,.,..., -,..I.,.,.I:'. -:I -:':-:..:.:.:. I Y-' i.-., I1..': i. ii ::',:::i:i.f -:-.'':;:: —"::i: /;I;I..':- "',i : .,ii i'i: ':i. /' "V-1. -A 1: I.1, ';.... 1, I..I,.;:,':.-'f —...,..k ".' -x',-:ii.'I 1...",.-i : ii!;I.::l:: if i;:.::j: -,. 1. ,.I':: i:., ."..."';.i'....,. -.......-'.,...ililil "':",iI..:,' ".. -jl i :iij: i:lji::::ij & i.,- A- -,... -;-,::,1. MARIE ANTOINETTE A N D HER SON. AN HISTORICAL NOVEL. BY L. MUHLBACH, AUTHOR OF "JOSEPH II. AND HIS COURT," CcFREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FAMILY,) "LOUISA' OF PRUSSIA AND HER TIMES,? "HENRY VIII. AND HIS COURT," ICTO., ETC. TRANSLATED FROIM TIlE GERMAN, BY REV. W. L. GAGE. C O'MPLETE IN ONE VOLUME. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 443 & 445 BROAD.WAY. 1868. ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1967, by D. APPLETON & C X, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of tfse Unsed States for the Sou.thern District of New York. CONTE N TS. BOOK I. BOOK IV. PAGE PAGE CHAP. I.-A Happy Queen,... I CEAP. XIX.-June 20 and August 10, 1792,. 158.[.-Madame Adelaide,... 8 XX.-To the 21st of January,.. V13 m.-Trianon,... 16 XXI.-Toulan,.... 184 IV.-The Queen's Necklace,.. 21 XXII.-The Plan of the Escape,.. 191 V.-Enemies and Friends,. 33 XXII.-The Separation,... 201 VI.-The Trial, -. 40 BOOK II. BOOK V. VI. —The Bad Omen,... 61.VI-Before the Marriage,. 69 XXIV.-The Death of the Queen,.. 210 VHI. —Before the Marriage.... 69 IX.-The Opening of the States-General, 16 XXV.-King Louis XVII, 214 X.-TheInbertaceotD i. 9 XXVI.-The Consultation,... 283 X.-The Inheritance of the Dauphin,. 9 XXVII. —The Hobby-Horse,...240 XI.-King Louis XVIl.,... *84 XII.-The Fifth of October, 1789,. 91 XIII.-The Nightof Horror,... 102 BOOK III. BOOK VI. XIV.-To Paris,..... 112 XXIX.-Without Name and Rank,. 29 XV.-Mamma Queen,... 116 XXX.-The Baron de Richemont,. - 26 XV1.-In St. Cloud, 130 XXXI.-FouchU,.. 278 XVII.-Mirabeau,.. 136 XXXH. —Josephine,. 289 [VY11.-Revolution in the Theatre,, 144 XXXIII.-After Long Wanderings, X 296 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. BO0 K I. the first-born daughter, and the dauphin Louis, H A P T E R I. the presumptive heir of the much-loved King Louis the Sixteefith. A HAPPY QUEEN. The good king had not accompanied his spouse IT was the 13th of August, 1785. The queen, on this journey to Paris, which she undertook in Marie Antoinette, had at last yielded to the re- order to show to her dear, yet curious Parisians, quests and protestations of her dear subjects. that she was completely recovered, and that her She had left her fair Versailles and loved Trianon children, the children of France, were blossoming for one day, and had gone to Paris, in order to for the future like fair buds of hope and peace. exhibit herself and the young prince whom she "Go, my dear Antoinette," the king had said had borne to the king and the country on the to his queen, in his pleasant way and with his 25th of March, and to receive in the cathedral good-natured smile —" go to Paris in order to preof Notre Dame the blessing of the clergy and the pare a pleasure for my good people. Show them good wishes of the Parisians. our children, and receive from them their thanks She had had an enthusiastic reception, this for the happiness which you have given to me beautiful and much-loved queen, Marie Antoi- and'to them.. I will not go with you, for I wish nette. She had driven into Paris in an open car- that you should be the sole recipient of the enriage, in company with her three children, and thusiasm of the people and their joyful acclamaevery one who recognized her had greeted her tions. I will not share your triumph, but I shall with a cheerful huzza, and followed her on the experience it in double measure if you enjoy it long road to Notre Dame, at whose door the prom- alone. Go, therefore, my beloved Antoinette, inent clergy awaited her, the cardinal, prince Louis and rejoice in this happy hour." de Rohan, at their head, to introduce her to the Marie Antoinette did go, and she did rejoice in house of the King of all kings. the happiness of the hour. While riding through Marie Antoinette was alone; only the governess Paris, hundreds recognized her, hundreds hailed of the children, the Duchess de Polignac, sat op- her with loud acclamations. As she left the caposite her, upon the back seat of the carriage, and thedral of Notre Dame, in order to ascend into the by her side the Norman nurse, in her charming carriage again with her children and their governvariegated,4istrict costume, cradling in her arms ess, one would be tempted to think that the Louis Charles, the young Dukeof Normandy. By whole square in front of the church had been her side, in the front part of the carriage, sat her changed into a dark, tumultuous sea, which dashed other two childrel —Therese, the princess royal, its raging black waves into all the streets de. 2 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND EfER SON. bouching on the square, and was filling all Paris of her subjects had transported her. She surren with its roar, its swell, its thunder-roll. Yes, all dered the child again to the arms of his nurse; Paris was there, in order to look upon Marie An- and sank down quickly like a frightened dove into toinette, who, at this hour, was not the queen, but the cushions of the carriage, hastily drawing up the fair woman; the happy mother who, with the at the same time the lace mantle which had fallen pride of the mother of the Gracchi, desired no from her shoulders and replacing her hat upon other protection and no other companionship her head. than that of her two sons; who, her hand resting " Tell the coachman to drive on quickly," she upon the skou:ler of her daughter, needed no said to the nurse; and while the latter was comother maid of honor to appear before the people municatifg this order, Marie Antoinette turned to in all the splendor and all the dignity of the her daughter. "hNow, Therese," asked she, laughQueen of France and the true mother. ing, "is it not a beautiful spectacle-our people Yes, all Paris was there in order to greet the taking so much pleasure in seeing us?" queen, the woman, and the mother, and out of The little princess of seven years shook her thousands upon thousands of throats there sound- proud little head with a doubting, dark look. ed forth the loud-ringing shout, "' Long live the " Mamma," said she, " these people look very queen! Long live Marie Antoinette! Long live dirty and ugly. I do not like them!" the fair mother and the fair children of France!" "Be still, my child, be still," whispered the. Marie Antoinette felt herself deeply moved by queen, hastily, for she feared lest the men who these shouts. The sight of the. faces animated pressed the carriage so closely as almost to touch with joy, of the fashing eyes, and the intoxicated its doors, might hear the unthinking words of the peals of laughter, kindled her heart, drove the little girl. blood to her cheeks, and made her countenance Marie Antoinette had not deceived herself. A beam with joy, and her eyes glisten with delight. man in a blouse, who had even laid his hand upon She rose from her seat, and with a gesture of the carriage, and whose head almost touched the inimitable grace took the youngest son from'the princess-a man with a blazing, determined face, arms of the nurse, and lifted him high in the air, and small, piercing black eyes, had heard the exin order to display this last token of her happi- clamation of the princess, and threw upon her a ness and her motherly pride to the Parisians, who malignant, threatening glance. had not yet seen the child. The little hat, whlich "Madame loves us not, because we are ugly and had been placed sideways upon the high touet dirty," he said; "but we should, perhaps, look of her powdered head, had dropped upon her pretty and elegant too, if we could put on finery to neck; the broad lace cuffs had fallen back from ride about ijn splendid carriages. But we have to the arms which lifted the child into the air, and work, and we have to suffer, that we may be able allowed the whole arm to be seen without any to pay our taxes. For if we did not do this, our covering above the elbow. king and his family would not be able to strut The eye of. the Parisians drank in this specta- around in this grand style. We are dirty, because cle with perfect rapture, and their shouting arose we are working for the king." every moment like a burst of fanaticism. "I beg Nyou, sir," replied the queen, softly, " to "I-low beautiful she is!" resounded everywhere forgive my daughter; she is but a child, and does from the mass. "6AVhat a wonderful arm! What not know what she is saying. She will learn from a beautiful neck! her parentS, however, to love our good, hard. A deep flush mantled the face of Marie Antoi- working people, and to be thankful for their love, nette. These. words of praise, which were a trib- sir." ute to the beauty of the woman, awoke the "I am no'sir,' "replied the man, gruffly; "] queen from the ecstasy into which the enthusiasm am the poor cobbler Simon, nothing more." A HAPPY QUEEN 3 "Then I beg you, Master Simon, to accept from The cobbler quickly turned round to confront my daughter, as a remembrance, this likeness of the questioner. He saw, standing by his side, a her father, and to driuk to our good health," said little, remarkably crooked and dwarfed young the queen, laying at the same time a louis-d'or in man, whose unnaturally large head was set upon the hand of her daughter, and hastily whispering narrow, depressed shoulders, and whose whole apto her, " Give it to him." pearance made such an impression upon the cobThe princess hastened to execute the command bler that the latter laughed outlight. of her mother, and laid the glistening gold-piece in "Not beautiful, am I? " asked the stranger, the large, dirty hand which was extended to her. and he tried to join in the laugh of the cobbler, But when she wanted to draw back her delicate but the result was a mere grimace, which made little hand, the large, bony fingers of the cobbler his unnaturally large mouth, with its thick, colorclosed upon it and held it fast. less lips, extend from one ear to the other, dis"What a little hand it is!" he said, with a de- playing two fearful rows of long, greenish teeth. riding laugh; "I wonder what would become of "Not beautiful at all, am I? Dreadfully ugly!" these fingers if they had to work!" exclaimed the stranger, as Simon's laughter " Mamtna," cried the princess, anxiously, "or- mounted higher and higher. der the man to let me go; he hurts, me." "You are somewhat remarkable, at least," reThe cobbler laughed on, but dropped the hand plied the cobbler. " If I did not hear you talk of the princess. F rench, and see you standing up straight like one " Ah," cried he, scornfully, "it hurts a princess of us, I should think you were the monstrous toad only to touch the hand of a working-man. It in the fable that I read about a short time ago." would be a great deal better to keep entirely "I am the monstrous toad of the fable," replied away from the working-people, and never to come the stranger, laughing. " I have merely disguised among us." myself to-day as a man in order to look at this " Drive forward quickly!" cried the queen to Austrian woman with her young brood, and I take the coachman, with loud, commanding voice. the liberty of asking you once more, Have you He urged on the horses, and the people who fallen in love with her? " had hemmed in the carriage closely, and listened "No, indeed, I have niot fallen in love with breathlessly to the conversation of the queen with her," ejaculated the cobbler. "God is my witthe cobbler Simon, shrank timidly back before the ness-" prancing steeds "lAnd why should you call God to witness?" The queen recovered her pleasant, merry smile, asked the other, quickly. "Do you suppose it is and bowed on all sides while the carriage rolled so great a misfortune not to love this Austrian? " swiftly forward. The people again expressed "No, I certainly do not believe that," answered their thanks with loud acclamations, and praised the other, thoughtfully. " I suppose that it is, her beauty and the beauty of her children. But perhaps, no sin before God not to love the queen, Marie Antoinette was no longer carried beyond'although it may be before man, and that it is not herself by these words of praise, and did not rise the first time that it has been atoned for by long again from her seat. and dreary imprisonment. But I, do love freedom, While the royal carriage was disappearing in and therefore I shall take care not to tell a the tumult and throng of the multitude,'Simon stranger what I think." the cobbler stood watching it with his mocking "You love freedom i" exclaimed the stranger. smile. He felt a hand laid upon his arm, and " Then give me your hand, and accept my thanks heard a voice asking the scornful question: for the word, my brother."' Are you in love with this Aatu'ian womnan, "Your brother!" replied the cobbler, astoundMaster. Simon?" ed. "I do not know you, and yet you call 4 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. yourself, without more formal introduction, my they are digging their own graves, only they do brother." not'see it, and do not knowit; for the divinitl "You have said that you love freedom, and which means to destroy them has smitten them therefore I greet you as my brother," replied the with blindness. There is this queen, this Ausstranger. "All those who love freedom are trian woman. Do you not see with your wise brothers, for they confess themselves children of eyes how like a busy spider she is weaving her the same gracious and good mother who makes own shroud?" no difference between her children, but loves them " Now, that is certainly an error," said Simon; all with equal intensity and equal devotion, and it "the queen does not work at all. She lets the is all the same to her whether this one of her people work for her." sons is prince or count, and that one workman or "I tell you, man, she does work, she is workcitizen. For our mother, Freedom? we are all ing at her own shroud, and I think she has got a alike-we are all brethren." good bit of it ready. She has nice friends, too, to "That sounds very finely,'.' said the cobbler, help her in it, and to draw up the threads for this shaking his head. "There is only one fault that royal spider, and so get ready what is needed for I can find with it, it is not true. For if we were this shroud. There, for example, is that fine all alike, and were all brothers, why should the Duke de Coigny. Do you know who that Duke king ride round in his gilded chariot, while T, an de Coigny is? "' old cobbler, sit on my bench and have my face "No, indeed, I know nothing about it; I have covered with sweat?" nothing to do with the court, and know nothing "The king is no son of Freedom! " exclaimed about the court rabble." the stranger, with an angry gesture. "The king "There you are right, they are a rabble," cried is a son of Tyranny, and therefore he wants to the other, laughing in return. " I know it, for I am make his enemies, the sons of Freedom, to be his so unfortunate as not to be able to say with you servants, his slaves, and to bind our arms with that I have nothing to do with the court. I have fetters. But shall we always bear this? Shall gone into palaces, and I shall come out again, but we not rise at last out of the dust into which we I promise you that my exit shall make more stir have been trodden?" than my entrance. Now, I will tell you who the "Yes, certainly, if we can, then we will," said Duke de Coigny is. He is one of the three chief Simon, with his gruff laugh. "But here is the paramours of the queen, one of the great favorites hitch, sir-we cannot do it. The king has the' of the Austrian sultana." power to hold us in his fetters; and this fine lady, "Well, now, that is jolly," cried the cobbler; Madame Freedom, of whom you say that she is "you are a comical rogue, sir. So the queen has our mother, lets it come to pass, notwithstanding her paramours?" that her sons are bound down in servitude and "Yes. You know that the Duke de Besenval, abasement." at the time that the Austriancame as dauphiness "It must be'for a season yet," answered the to France, said to her:' These hundred thousand other, with loud, rasping voice; " but the day of Parisians, madame, who have come out to meet a rising is at hand, and shows with a laughing you, are all your lovers.' Now she takes this exface how those whom the will destroy are rushing pression of Besenval in earnest, and wants to swiftly upon their own doom." make every Parisian a lover of hers. Only wait, "What nonsense is that you are talking?" only wait, it will, be your turn by and by. You asked the cobbler. "Those who are going to be will be able to press the hand of this beautiful destroyed by Madame Liberty are working out Austrian tenderly to your lips." their own ruin?" "Well, I will let you know in advance, then," "And yet they are doing it, Master Simon; said Simon, savagely, "that I will press it in such A HAPPY QUEEN. 5 right good earnest, that it shall always -bear the patience! There will come a time when they will m.arks of it. You were speaking just now of the not laugh, nor compel the people to fall upon three chief paramours-what are the names of the their knees and beg for ftvor. But no favor shall other two?" be granted to them. They shall meet thei "The second is your fine Lord de Adhemar; a doom." fool, a rattle-head, a booby; but he is handsome, "Ha! I wish the time were here," shouted the and a jolly lover. Our queen likes handsome cobbler, laughing; "and I hope I may be there men, and everybody knows that she is one of when they meet their punishment." the laughing kind, a merry fly, particularly since "Well, my friend, that only depends upon the carousals on the palace terrace." yourself," said the stranger. "The time will "Carousals! What was that?" come, and if you wish you can contribute your "Why, you poor innocent child, that is the share, that it may approach with more rapid name they give to those nightly promenades that steps." our handsome queen took a year ago in the moon- "What can I do? Tell me, for I am ready for light on the terrace at Versailles. Oh, that was'a every thing?" merry time. The iron fences of the park were "You can help whet the knife, that it may cut not closed, and the dear people had a right to the better," said the stranger, with a horrible enter, and could walk near the queen in the moon- grimace. "Come, come, do not look at me so light, and hear the fine music which was concealed astonished, brother.'There are already a good behind the hedges. You just ask the good-looking number of knife-sharpeners in the good city of officer of the lancers, who sat one evening on a Paris, and if you want to join their company, bench between two handsome women, dressed in come this evening to me, and I will make you white, and joked and laughed with them. Be can acquainted with some, and introduce you to our tell you how Marie Antoinette can laugh, and what guild." fine nonsense her majesty could afford to indulge "Where do you live, sir, and what is your in." * - name? " asked the cobbler, with glowing curios"I wish I knew him, and he would tell me ity. about it," cried cobbler Simon, striking his fists "I live in the stable of the Count d'Artois, and together.,, I always like to hear'something bad my name is Jean Paul Marat." about this Austrian woman, for I hate her and " In the stable!" cried the cobbler. "My the whole court crowd besides. What right have faith, I had not supposed you were a hostler or a they to strut and swell, and put on airs, while we, coachman. It must be a, funny sight, M.. Marat, have to work and suffer from morning till night? to see you mounted upon a horse." Why is their,-life nothing but jollity, and ours "'You think that such a big toad as I does not nothing but misery? I think I am of just'as belong there exactly. Well, there you are right, much consequence as the king, and my woman brother Simon. My real business is not at all would look just as nice as the queen, if she would with the horses, but with the men in the stable. put on fine clothes and ride round in a gilded I am the horse-doctor, brother Simon, horse-doccarriage. What puts then up and puts us tor of the Count d'Artois; and I can assure. you down? " Ithat I am a tolerably skilful doctor, for I have "I tell you why. It is because we are ninnies together many a hostler and jockey whom and fools, and allow them to laugh in )heir sleeves the stable-keepers of the dear Artois have favored at us, and make divinities out of themselves, be- with a liberal dispensation of their lash. So, fore whom the people, or, as they call them, the come this evening to me, not only that I may inrabble, are to fall upon their knees. But patience, troduce you to good society, but come if you are * See Madame de Campane. "M6moires," vol t. sick. I will restore. you, and it shall cost you 6 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. nothing. I cure my brothers of the people with- make quite a sensation to come primed with this otit any pay, for it is not the right thing for story about the Austrian woman." brothers to take money one of another. So, "Well, I like that, I like that," said Marat, brother Simon, I shall look for you this even- laughing so as to show his mouth from one ear ing at the stable; but now I must leave you, for to the other. " Now, that is a fine thing to have my sick folks are expecting me. Just one more a club, where you can tell all these little stories word. If you come about seven o'clock to visit about the queen and the court, and it will be a me, the old witch that keeps the door will cer- real pleasure to me to tell you any such matters' tainly tell you that I am not at home. I will, as these to communicate to your club, for it is therefore, give you the pass-word, which will allow always a good thing to have any thing that takes you to go in. It is'Liberty, Equality, Frater- place at Versailles and St. Cloud get talked over nity.' Good-by." here at Paris among the dear good people." He nodded to the cobbler with a fearful "In St. Cloud?" asked the cobbler. "What is grimace, and strode away quickly, in spite of not it that can happen there? That is nothing at all being able to lift his left foot over the broad but a tiresome, old-forgotten pleasure palace of square of the Hotel de Ville. the king." Master Simon looked after him at first with a " It is lively enough there now, depend upon it," derisive smile, and this diminutive figure, with replied Marat, with his sardonic laugh. " King his great head, on which a high, black felt hat Louis the well beloved has given this palace to his just kept its position, seemed to amuse him wife, in order that she may establish there a larger excessively. All at once a thought struck him, harem than Trianon; that miserable, worthless and, like an arrow impelled from the bow, he little mouse-nest, where virtue, honor, and worth dashed forward and ran after Jean Paul Marat. get hectored to death, is not large enough for her. "Doctor Marat, Doctor Marat!" he shouted, Yes, yes, that fine, great palace of the French breathless, from a distance. kings, the noble St. Cloud, is now the heritage and Marat stood still and looked around with a ma- possession of this fine Austrian. And do you know what she has done? Close by the railing which " Well, what is it? " snarled he, "and who is separates the park from St. Cloud, and near the calling my name so loud? " entrance, she has had a tablet put up, on which It is I, brother Marat," answered the cobbler, are written the conditions on which the public are panting. "I have been running after you be- allowed to enter the park." ca~use you have forgotten something." " Well, that is nothing new," said the cobbler, "What is it?" asked Marat, feeling in his impatiently. "They have such a board put up pockets with his long fingers. " I have my hand- eerywhere the pubkerchief and the piece of black bread that makes lic is ordered, in the name of the king, not to do my breakfast. I have not forgotten any thing." any injury, and not to wander from the regular "Yes, Je.tn Paul Marat, you have forgotten paths." something," answered hMaster Simon.'" iYou 1 "Well, that is just it.; it is ordered in the name of the king; but in St. Cloud, it runs in the name were going to tell me the names of the three the king; but in chief paramours of the queen, and you have ) of the queen. Yes, yes, there you may see in given only two-the Duke de Coig-ny and Lord great letters upon the board:'In the name of the queen.'* It is not enough for us that a king Adhemar. You see I have a good memory, and sits upon our neck, and imposes his commands retain all that you told me. So give me the name of the third one, for I will confess to you that I upon us and binds us. We. have now another should like to ha~ve something to say about this * "De par la reine" was the expression which was then in the mouth of all France, and stirred everybody's matter in my club this afternoon, and it will rage. A HAPPY QUEEN. 7 ruler in France, prescribing laws and writing her- take part in the orgies at the (Eil de Bce if. But self sovereign. We have a new police regulation now the queen has raised him to a very high in the name of the queen, a state within the state. place. All St. Cloud and Trianon form the Eil Oh, the spider is making a jolly mesh of it! In de Boeuf, where Marie Antoinette celebrates her the Trianon she made the beginning. There the orgies, and General Besenval is made one of the police regulations have always been in the name first directors of the sports. Now you know of the queen; and because the policy was suc- every thing, do you not?" cessful there, it extends its long finger still fur- "Yes, Doctor Marat, now I have a general run ther, issues a new proclamation against the people, of every thing, and I thank you; but I hope that appropriates to itself new domain, and proposes you will tell me more this'evening, for your stories to gradually encompass all France with its cords." are vastly entertaining." "That is rascally, that is wrong," cried the "Yes, indeed, I shall. tell you plenty more of cobbler, raising his clinched fists in the air. the. same sort, for the queen takes good care " But that is not all, brother. The queen goes that we shall always have material for such stostill further. Down to the present time we have ries. Yet, unfortunately, I have no time now, been accustomed to see the men who stoop to be for —" the mean servants of tyrants:array themselves in " I know, I know, you have got to visit your the monkey-jackets of the king's livery; but in sick people," said Simon, nodding confidentially St, Cloud, the- Swiss guards at the gates, the pal- to him. "I will not detain you any longer. ace servants, in one word, the entire menial corps, Good-by, my dear Doctor Marat. We shall array themselves in the queen's livery; and if meet this evening." you are walking in the park of St. Cloud, you are He sprang quickly away, and soon disappeared no longer in'France and 6n French soil, but in an round the next corner. Marat looked after him Austrian province, where a foreigner can estab- with a wicked, triumphant expression in his fealish her harem and make her laws, and yet a tures. virtuous and noble people does not rise in oppo- "So far good, so far good," muttered he, shaksition to it." ing his head with choler. "In this way I have " It does not know any thing about it, brother got to win over the soldiers and the people to Marat," said Simon, eagerly. "It knows very freed6m. The cobbler will make an able and little about the vices and follies of the queen." practicable soldier, and with his nice little stories, "Well, tell the people, then; report to them he will win over a whole company. Triumph on, what I have told you, and make it your duty that you proud Bourbons; go on dreaming in your it be talked over among other friends, and made gilded palaces, surrounded by your Swiss guards. generally known." Keep on believing that you have the'power in "Oh! that shall be, that shall certainly be," your hands, and that no one can take it from you. said Simon, cheerily, " but you have not given me The time will come when the people will disturb the name of that third lover yet." your fine dream, and when the little, despised, ugly "Oh i the third —that is Lord Besenval, the Marat, whom no one now knows, and who creeps inspector general of the Swiss guard, the chief around in your stables like a poisonous rat, shall general of the army, and the commander of the confront you as a power before which you shall Order of Louis. You see it is a great advantage shrink away and throw yourselves trembling into for a man to be a lover of the queen, for in that the dust. There shall go by no day in which I way he comes to a high position. While King and my friends shall not win soldiers for our side, Louis the Fifteenth, that monster of vice, was and the silly, simple fool,'Marie Antoinette, makes living, Besenval was only colonel of the Swiss it an easy thing for us. Go on committing'your guard, and all he could do was once in a while to childish pranks, which, when the time shall 8 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. threaten a little, will justify the most villanous it to her heart, and pressed a burning kiss upon deeds and the most shameless acts, and I will its lips. keep the run of all the turns of the times, and "Ah! my child, my-dear child," said she, softly, this fine young queen cannot desire that we should "you have to-day, for the first time, made your look at the world with such simple eyes as she entry into Paris, and heard the acclamations does. Yes, fair Queen Marie Antoinette, thou of the people. May you, so long as you live, hast thy Swiss guards, who fight for thee, and always be the recipient of kindly greetings, and thou must pay them; but I, I have only one sol- never again hear such words as that dreadful man dier who takes ground for me against thee, and spoke to us to-day! " whom I do not have to pay at all. My soldier's She pressed the little Duke of Normandy closename is Calumny. -I tell thee, fair queen, with ly to her heart, and quite forgot that she was all this ally I can overcome all thy Swiss guards, and this while in the carriage; that near the open the whole horde of thy armies. For, on the earth portal the hostlers and lackeys were. awaiting there is no army corps that is so strong as Cal- in a respectful posture the dismounting of he umny. Hurrah! long life to thee, my sworn ally, queen; that the drunis were all the while beatCalumny!" ing, and that the guards were standing before the gates in the fixed attitude of presenting arms. The Duchess de Polignac ventured to suggest in GCHEA P T E R I I. softly-spoken words the necessity of dismounting, and the queen, with her little boy in her arms, MADAMhE ADELAIDE. I sprang lightly and spiritedly, without accepting QUEEN MARIE ANTOINETTE had returned, after the assistance of the master of the grooms, out her Paris ride, to her own Versailles. She was of the carriage, smiling cheerily, greeting the assilent the whole of the way, and the Duchessde sembled chamberlains as she passed by, hurried Polignac had sought in vain to cheer her friend into the palace and ran up the great marble stairwith light and pleasant talk, and drive away the case. The Duchess de Polignac made haste to clouds from her lofty brow. Marie Antoinette follow her, while the Princess Therese and the had only responded by enforced smiles and half- dauphin were received by their dames of honor words, and then, settling back into the carriage, and led into their respective apartments. The had gazed with dreamy looks into the heavens, Norman nurse, shaking her head, hurried after whose cheerful blue called out no reflection upon the queen, and the chamberlains and both the the fair face of the queen. maids of honor, shaking their heads, too, folAs thley drew into the great court of the palace lowed her into the great antechamber. After at Versailles, the drum-beat of the Swiss guards, riding out, the queen was in the habit of dismisspresenting arms, and the general stir which fol- ing them there, but to-day Marie Antoinette had lowed the approach of the queen, appeared to gone into her own suite of rooms without saying awaken her from her sorrowful thoughts, and a word, and the door was already closed. she straightened herself up and cast her glances "What shall we do now? " asked both the about. They fell quite accidentally upon the maids of honor of the cavaliers, and received only child which was in the arms of the nurse oppo- a shrug of the shoulders for reply. site, and which, with great wide-open eyes, was "We shall have to-wait," at last said the Marlooking up to the heavens, as its mother had chioness de Mailly. "Perhaps her majesty will done before. have the kindness to remember ug and to permit In the intensity of her motherly love, the queen us to withdraw." stretched out her arms to'the child and drew "And if she should happen to forget it," an MADAME ADELAIDE. 9 swered the Princess de Chimay, "we shall have "Madame Adelaide!" shouted he with a loud to stand here the. whole day, while the queen voice, and the lackey repeated it in the same tone, in Trianon is amusing herself with the fantastic quickly opening the door of the second antechampastoral plays." ber; and the word was taken up by the chamber"Yes; certainly, there is a country festival in lains, and repeated and carried along where the Trianon to-day," said the Prince de C:lstines, queen was sitting. shrugging his shoulders, "and it might easily Marie Antoinette shrugged herself together a happen that we should be forgotten, and,-like the little at this announcement, which interrupted her unforgetable wife of Lot, have to stand here while engaged in charming unrestrained conversaplaying the ridiculous part of pillars of salt." tion with the Duchess de Polignac, and a shadow "No, there comes our deliverance," whispered flitted across her lofty brow. the —Marchioness de Mailly, pointing to a carriage With fiery quickness she flung her arms around which just then came rolling across the broad the neck of her friend, and pressed a kiss upon palace-square. "It was yesterday resolved in her lips. "Farewell, Julia; Madame Adelaide is secret council at the Count de Provence's, that coming: that is just the same as irritation and Madame Adelaide should make one more attempt annqyance. She may not bear the least suspicion to bring the queen to reason, and make her uf- of this upon her fine.and dearly-loved face, and derstand what is becoming and what is unbecom- just because they are not there, I must tll you, ing to a Queen of France. Now look you, in ac- my dear friend, to leave me. But-hold yourself cordance with this resolve, Madame Adelaide is in readiness, after Madame Annoyance has left coming to Versailles to pay a visit to her dis- me, to ride with me to Trianon. The queen must tinguished niece." remain here half an hour still, but she will be reJust then the carriage of the Princess Ade- warded for it, for Marie Antoinette will afterward laide, daughter of Louis the Fifteenth, and aunt of go with her Julia to Trianon to spend a half day Louis the Sixteenth, drove through the great gate of pleasure with her husband and friends." into the guarded vestibule of the palace;- two "And to impart to her friends an eternity of outriders rode in advance, two lackeys stood on blissful recollections," said the duchess, with a the stand behind the carriage, and upon the step charming smile, pressing the hand of the queen on each side, a page in richly-embroidered gar- to her lips, and taking her leave with inimitable Imneirs. grace, in order to pass out through the little sideBefore the middle portal, which could only be door which entered the corridor through a porceused by the royal family, and which had never lain cabinet, intending then to visit the rooms of been desecrated by.the entrance of one who was the'children of France.' "lowly-born," the carriage came to a stand-still. At the same moment in which the lofty, digniThe lackeys hastened to open the gate, and a fled form of the duchess disappeared through the lady, advanced in years, gross in form, with an side-door, both wings of the main entrance were irritable face well pitted with pock-marks, and flung open, and the two maids of honor of the wearing no other expression than supercilious queen advanced to the threshold, and made so pride and a haughty indifference, dismounted deep a reverence that their immense petticoats with some difficulty, leaning upon the shoulder expanded like a kettle. Then they took a step of her page, and toiled up the steps which con- backward, made another reverence so profound ducted to the gueat vestibule. that their heads,.bearing coiffures a foot and a The runner sprang before her up the great half high, fell upon their breasts. staircase covered with its carpets, and with his "Madame Adelaide!" they both ejaculated as long staff rapped on the door of the first ante- with one voice, slowly straightening themselves chamber that led to the apartments of the queen. up and taking their places at the sides of the door. 10 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. The princess now appeared upon the threshold; the queen, cheerfully; " and it depends entirely behind her,- her maids of honor and master of upon madame whether the audience shall be pri. ceremonies, the grand-chamberlain, the pages, vate or public." and both masters of grooms, standing in the great "I beg for a half hour of entire privacy," said antechamber. Madame Adelaide, with choler. At the appearance of the maids of honor, Marie "A private audience, ladies!" called the queen Antoinette had taken her position in the middle of to her maids of honor, as motioning with her the chamber, and could not repress a faint smile, hand she dismissed them. Then she directed her as with erect head she noticed the confusion in- great brilliant eyes to the door of the antechamstant upon the princess's imposing entrance. ber. " My lord grooms, in half an hour I should Madame Adelaide advanced some steps, for the like to have my carriage ready for Trianon;" queen did not change her position nor hasten The maids of honor withdrew into the great toward her as she had perhaps expected; her antechamber, and closed the doors behind them. irritated look increased still more, and she did The queen and Madame Adelaide were alone. not take a seat. "Let us sit, if it pleases you," said Marie An. "I come perhaps at an inconvenient season toinette, motioning the princess to an arm-chair, for your majesty," said she, with a tart smile. w+bile she took hor own place upon a simple otto"The queen perhaps was just upon the point of man.," You have something to say to me, and I going to Trianon, whither, as I hear, the king has am entirely ready to hear you." already proceeded?" "Would to God, madame, that you would not "Has your highness heard that? " asked the only hear my words," said Madame Adelaide, with queen, smiling. "I wonder what sharp ears a sigh, " but that you would take them to heart Madame Adelaide always has to catch such a as well!" trifling rumor, while my younger ones have never "If they deserve it, I certainly shall," said the caught the least hint of the important approach queen, smiling. of the princess, and so I am equally surprised and "' They certainly do deserve it," said the prindelighted at the unexpected appearance of my cess, "for what I aim at in my words concerns gracious and loving aunt." the peace, the security, the honor of our family. Every one of these words, which were spoken Madame; allow me first to disburden myself of so cheerily and with such a pleasant smile, seemed something that has been committed to me. My to pierce the princess like the prick of a needle, noble and pious sister, Madame Louise, has given and caused her to press her lips together in just me this letter for your majesty, and in her name such a way as if she wanted to check an outcry I ask our royal niece to read the same at once and of pain or suppress some hidden rage. Marie in my presence." Antoinette, while speaking of the sharp ears She drew from the great reticule, which was atwhich madame always had, had hinted at the tached to her arm by its silken cords, a sealed advanced age no less than at the curiosity of the letter, and handed it to the queen. princess, and had brought her young and unbur- But Marie Antoinette did not raise her hand to dened ears into very advantageous contrast with receive it, but shook her heatl is if in refusal, and them. yet with so eager a motion that her elaborate "Would your majesty grant me the favor of cobu're fairly trembled. an interview? " asked Madame Adelaide, who did " I beg your pardon, madame," said she, earnot possess the power of entering on a contest nestly, " but I cannot receive this letter from the with her exalted niece, with sharp yet graceful prioress of the Carmelite convent at St. Denis; words. for you well know that when Madame Louise sent "I am prepared with all pleasure," answered me some years ago, through your highness, a let MADAME ADELAIDE. 11 ter which I read, that I never again will receive the queen, undisturbed, but smiling, and so only and read letters from the prioress. Have the increasing the anger of the princess. goodness, then, to take this back to the sender." "These facts are of so varied kinds that it "You know, madame, that this is an affront would be a difficult thing to choose out any sep. directed against a princess of France!" was the arate ones among them," cried she, with fiery emphatic reply. tone. "Every day, every hour of the life of your " I know, madame, that that letter which I majesty, brings new facts to light." then received from Madame Louise was an affront "Oh!" said Marie Antoinette, " I had no idea directed. by the princess against the Queen of that your highness had such tender care for me." France, and I shall protect the majesty of my "And I had no idea, madame, that your frivolstation from a similar affront. Unquestionably ity went so far as continually to wound the laws, this letter is similar in tone to that one. That the customs, and the hallowed order of things. one contained charges which went so far as to in- You do it-you do it, scorning every thing estab. volve open condemnation, and contained proffers lished with the random wantonness of a child of counsel which meant little less than calumny.* that plays with fire, and does not know that the And what would this be likely to contain different, waves will flare up and consume it. Madame, I which your highness takes the trouble to bring to have come here to warn you once more, and for me?" the last'time." "'Well," cried Madame Adelaide, angrily, "its "God be thanked, for the last time! " cried the purport may be similar to that of the former let- queen, with a charming glance of her eyes. ter; for, unfortunately, the causes are the same, I conjure you, queen, for your own sake, for and'we may not wonder if the effects are also the your husand's, for your children's; change your same." course; take a new direction; leave the path of "Abh!l one can easily see that your highness danger on which you are hastening to irretrievknows the contents of the letter," said Marie An- able destruction." -toinette, smiling, "and you will therefore cer- The countenance of the Eleen, before so pleastainly pardon me for not reading it. It was un- ant and animated, now Aarkened. ler smile questionably written in the presence of your high- gave way to a deep earnestness; she raised her ness, in the pious cell of the prioress. She gave head proudly and put on a royal bearing. over for a while her prayers for the repose of the" Madame," said she, " up to this time I have departed king, in order to busy herself a little been inclined to meet your biting philippics with with worldly things, and to listen to the calum-the quietindifference which innocence gives, and nies which Madame Adelaide, or the Count de to remain mindful of the reverence due to age, Provence, or the Cardinal de Rohan, or some and not to forget the harsh eyes with which the other of the enemies of my person, have sought to aged awas oo upon the deeds ofyouth. But hurl against the Queen of France." you compel me. to take the.matter more earnest"C Calumnies! " replied Macdame Adelaide, with ly to heart, for you join to my name that of my an angry flash in her eyes. "Would to God, husband and my children, and so you appeal to madame, that it were calumnies with which we my. heart of hearts. Now, then, tell me, madame, have to do, and that all tihese things which trouble what you have to bring against me." and disturb us were only malicious calumnies, and "Your boundless frivolity, your culpable short not sober facts!" sightedness, your foolish pleasures, your extrava"And will your highness not have the good- gance, your love of finery, your mixing with poliness to communictaite these facts to me?" said tics, your excessive jovialness, your entertainments, your-" ~ Gondrecourt, "Histoire de Marie Antoinette,'; p. 59. | Marie Antoinette interrupted this series ol 12 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. charges with loud, merry laughter, which more court, shun all noble thoughts, and only busy enraged the princess than. the most stinging themselves with mere affairs of taste. I have words would have done. shown you, and you will not be able to deny it, "Yes," she continued, "you are frivolous, for madame, that this decline in manners, which you suppose the life of a queen is one clear sum- has been engendered by this love of finery, promer's day, to be devoted to nothing but singing and ceeds from you, and from you alone; that not laughing. You are short-sighted, for you do not only your love of finery is to blame, but also your see that the flowers of this summer's day in which coquetry, your joviality, and these unheard-of, inyou rejoice, only bloom above an abyss into which describable orgies to which the Queen of France you, with your wanton dancing,mare about to surrenders herself, and to which she even allures piunge. You indulge in foolish pleasures, instead, her own husband, the King of France, the oldest of, as becomes a Queen of France, passing your son of the Church." life in seclusion, in devout meditation, in the ex- "What does your highness mean??' asked the ercise of beneficence, in pious deeds. You are a queen. "Of what entertainments are you speakspendthrift, for you give the income of France to ing?' your favorites, to this Polignac family, which it "I am speaking of the entertainments which has been reckoned receives alone a twentieth part are celebrated in Trianon, to the perversion of of the whole income of the state; to these gra- all usage and all good manners. Of those orcious lords and ladies of your so-called' society,' gies in which the queen transforms herself into supporting them in their frivolity, allowing them a shepherdess, and permits the ladies of her court, to make golden gain out of you You are a lover who ought to appear before her with bended of finery, not holding it beneath your dignity to knee and with downcast eyes, to clothe themspend whole hours with a poor milliner; allow- selves like her, and to put on the same bearing ing a man to dress your hair, and afterward to as the queen's! I speak of those orgies where go into the toilet chambers of the Parisian dames, the king, enchanted by the charms of his wife, that their hair may be dressed by the same hands and allured by her coquetry, so far forgets his which have arranged the ha.ir of a queen, and to. royal rank as even to take part himself in this imitate the coiffure which the Queen of France stupid frivolity, and to bear a share in this trivial wears. And what kind of a coiffure is that which, masquerading. And this queen, whose loud invented by a queen, is baptized with a fantastic laughter fills the groves of Trianon, and who name, and carried through Paris, France, and all sometimes finds her pleasure in imitating the Europe?" lowing of cows or the bleating of goats-this "But," said Marie Antoinette, with comical queen will afterward put on the bearing of a pathos, "these coiyftfres have, some of them, hor- statesman, and' will, with those hands which have rid names. We have, for example, the'hog's just got through arranging an'allegorical headbristles coiTure,' the'flea-bite coiffure,' the'dy- dress,' dip into the machinery of state, interrupting dog,' the'flame of love,''modesty's cap,' ing the arrangements of her- entertainments to a&-" busy herself with politics, to set aside old, cher"A queen's levee," interrupted the' princess; ished ministers, to bring her friends and favorites "a love's nest of Marie Antoinette. Yes, we into their places, and to make the king the mere have come to that pass that the fashions are executor of her will." named after the queen, and all acquire a certain "Madame," said the queen, as glowing with frivolous character, so that all the men and all anger and with eyes of flame she rose from her the honorable women of Paris are in despair be- seat-" madame, this is gping too far, this over. cause the- thoughts of their daughters, infected steps the bounds that every one, even the prinwith the millinery tastes' of the queen and the cesses of the royal house, owe to their sovereign. MADAME ADELAIDE. 13 I have allowed you to subject to your biting criti- came to the king, and in her. passionate rage cism my outer life, my pleasures, and my dress, charged me with unheard-of crimes, which had no but I do not allow you to take in hand my inner basis excepting that in some little matters I had life-my relations to my husband and my per- loosened the ancient chains of etiquette; the sonal honor. You.presume to speak of my fa- time is past when Madame Louise could prevorites. I demand of you to name them, and if sume to drive me with her flashing anger from you can show that there is one man to whom I her pious cell and make me kneel in the show any other favor than a gracious queen may dust; and when it was permitted to the Count show to a servant, a subject whom she can honor de la Morch to accuse the queen before the and trust, I desire that you would give his name -king of having risen in time to'behold the rising to the king, and that a close investigation be of the sun at Versailles, in company with her made into the case. I have friends; yes, thank whole court. The king loves me, and Madame Heaven! I have friends who prize me highly, and Adelaide is no longer the political counsellor of who are every hour prepared to give their life for the king; the ministers will no longer be aptheir queen. I have true and faithful servants; pointed according to her dictate, and the great but no one exit appear and give evidence'that questions of the cabinet are decided without apMarie Antoinette has ever had an illicit lover. pealing to her! I know that this is a new. offence My only lover has, been the king, my husband, which you lay to my charge, and that by your and I hope before God that he will always remain calumniations and suspicions you make me suffer so, so long as I live. But this is exactly what'the penalty for it. I know that'he Count de the noble princesses my aunts, what the Count Provence stoops to direct epigrams and pamde Provence, and the whole party of the old phlets against his sister-in-law, his sovereign, and court, never will forgive me for. I have had the through the agency of his creatures to scatter good fortune to win the love of my husband. them through Paris. I know that in his saloons The king, despite all calumnies and all intrigues, all the enemies of the queen are welcome, qud lowered his glance to the poor young woman who that charges. against me are made without restood solitary near him, and whom he had been buke, and that there the weapons are forged with taught to prize lightly and to despise, and then which I am assailed. But take care lest some he found that she was not so simple, stupid, and day these weapons be turned against you! It is ugly, as she had been painted. He began to take you who are imperilling the kingdom, and undersome notice of her, and then, God be thanked, he mining, the throne, for you do not hesitate setting overlooked the fact that she was of Austrian before the people an example that nothing is blood, and that the policy of his predecessor had sacred to you; that the dignity of the throne no urged her upon him: his heart. warmed to her in longer has an exislence, but that it may be delove, and Marie Antoinette received this love as a filed with vile insinuations, and the most poisongracious gift of God, as the happiness of her life. ous arrows directed against those who wear'the Yes, madame, I may say it with pride and joy, crown of St. Louis on their head. But all you, the king loves me, he trusts me, and therefore his the aunts, the brothers of the king, and the whole wife stands nearer to him than even his exalted swarm of their intimates and dependants, you are aunts, and I am the one whom he most trusts all undermining the monarchy, for you forget that and whom he selects to be his chief adviser. But the foreigner, the Austrian, as you call her-that this is just the offence which will never be for- she is Queen of France, your sovereign, your lord, given me: it has fallen to my lot to take from my and that you are nothing better than her subjects enemies and opponents their influence over my You are criminals, you are high traitors! " husband. The time has gone by when Madame "Madame," cried the Princess Adelaide, "Mad Adelaide could gain an attentive ear when she ame, what language is this that-" 14 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "It is the language of a woman in reply to a "Your majesty is weeping!" she whispered calumniator, the language of a queen to a rebel- with her mild, sympathetic voice. "Your malious subject. Madame, have the goodness not jesty has given the princess the satisfaction of to answer me again. You have come into the knowing that she has succeeded in drawing tears palace of your sovereign to accuse her, and she from the Queen of France, and reddening her has answered you as becomes her station. Now beautiful eyes." we have, nothing more to say to each other. You "No, I will not give her this pleasure," said requested a half hour's private audience with me, the queen, quickly raising herself up and drying and the time has gone. Farewell, madame; my her eyes. "I will be merry, and why do I weep? carriage stands ready, and I go to Trianon. I She sought to make me sick; she sought to wound shall, however, say nothing to the king respect- me, but I have given back the sickness, and the ing the new attack which you have made upon wounds which I have inflicted upon her will not me, and I promise you that I shall forget it and so soon heal." forgive it." "Has your majesty inflicted any thing upon She nodded lightly, turned herself around, and, the princess?" cried Madame de Campan, in with lofty carriage and proud self-possession, left agitation. the apartment. "Yes," answered Marie Antoinette, with triPrincess Adelaide looked after her with an ex- umphant joy. " I have scourged her, I have pression of the deepest hate, and entirely forget- wounded her, for I have distinctly intimated to ful of her lofty station, even raised her hand her that I am Queen of France, and she my subthreateningly in the direction of the door through ject. I have told her, that when she dares direct which the noble figure of the queen had just van- her calumnies against the queen, she is guilty of ished. " I shall not forget nor forgive,",muttered high-treason." she. " I shall have my revenge on this impudent "Oh!" exclaimed Madame de Campan, " the person who dares to threaten me and even to proud princess will never pardon that. Your defy me, and who calls herself my sovereign. majesty has now become her irreconcilable eneThis Austrian, a sovereign of the princess royal my, and she will leave no stone unturned to reof France! We will show her where are the venge herself upon you." limits of her power, and where are the limits of "She may attempt to revenge herself upon France! She shall go back to Austria; we want me," cried the queen, whose countenance began her not, this Austrian who dares to defy us." to brighten up once more. "I fear neither her Proud and erect though the bearing was with nor her whole set. All their arrows will fall which the queen left Madame Adelaide, she had powerless at my feet, for the love of my husband hardly entered her own room and closed the door and my pure conscience form the protection which which separated her from her enemy, when she secures me. And what can these people accomsanl groaning upon a seat, and a flood of tears plish against me? They can slander me, that is streamed from her eyes. all. But their calumnies will, in the end, prove "Oh, Campan, Campan! what have I been that it is lies they tell, and no one will give them compelled to hear?" cried she, bitterly. " With confidence more." what expressions have they ventured to address " Ah! your majesty does not know the wicked the Queen of France!" ness of the world," sighed Campan, sadly. "Your Madame de Campan, the first lady-in-waiting majesty believes that the good are not cowardly, on the queen, who had just then entered the por- and that the bad are not reckless. Your majesty celain room, hastened to her mistress, and, sink- does not know that the bad have it in their power ing upon her knees, pressed the fallen hand of to corrupt public opinion; and that then the good the queen to her lips. have not the courage to meet this corrupting in MADAME ADELAIDE. 15 fluence. But public opinion is a monster that that I cannot go to Trian n in any other than a brings the charge, passes judgment, pronounces light white dress?" the sentence, and inflicts the punishment in one "Yes, your majesty, I understand; but I was person. Who thinks lightly of it, arrays against only thinking that the tradespeople of Lyons had himself an enemy stronger than'a whole army, just presented a paper to your majesty, in which and less open to entreaty than death." they complain of the decadence of the silk manu"Ah!" cried the queen, raising her head proud- facture, explaining it on the ground that your ly, " I do not fear this enemy. She shall not dare majesty has a preference for white clothing, and to attack me. She shall crouch and shrink before staLing that all the ladies feel obliged to follow my gaze as the lion does when confronted by the the example of their queen, and lay their silk eye of a virgin. I am pure and blameless. I robes aside." pledged my troth to my husband before he loved - "And do you know, too," asked Marie Antoime, and how shall I now break it, when he does nette, " that Madame Adelaide has herself suplove me, and is the father of my dear children? ported this ridiculous paper of the Lyonnese merAnd now, enough of these disagreeable things chants, giving out that I wear white percale be. that want to cast their vileness upon us i And cause I want -to do my brother, the Emperor Jothe sun is shining so splendidly, and they are seph, a service, and so ordered these white goods waiting for me in Trianon! Come, Campan, from the Netherlands? Ah, let us leave these come; the queen will take the form of a happy follies of the wicked and the stupid. They shall wife." not prevent my wearing white clothes and beMarie Antoinette hastened before her lady-in- ing happy in Trianon. Give me a white dress waiting, hurried into her toilet-chamber in ad- quickly, Campan." vance of her lady-in-waiting, who followed, sigh- "Pardon, your majesty, but I must first suming and shaking her head, and endeavored with mon the ladies of the robing-room," answered her own hands to loosen the stiff corset of her Madame de Campan, turning to the door of the robe, and to free herself from the immense crino- sleeping-room. tine which imprisoned her noble form. "Oh, why all this parade? " sighed' the queen. "Off with these garments of state and royal "Can I never be free from the fetters of all this obes," said Marie Antoinette, gliding out of the ceremony? Could you not yourself, Campan, stiff apparel, and standing in a light,' white under- put a simple dress upon me?" garment, with bare shoulders and arms. "Give "Your majesty, I am only a poor, powerless me a white percale dress and a gauze mantle with being, and I fear enmities. The ladies would it." never forgive me if I should encroach upon their "Will your majesty appear again'in this sim- rights and separate them from the adored person pie costume? " asked Madame de Campan, sigh- of the queen. It is their right, it is their duty to ing. draw the robe upon the person of your majesty, "Certainly, I will," cried she; "I am going and to secure your shoes. I beg, therefore, your to Trianon, to my much-loved country-house. gracious permission to allow the ladies to come You must know, Campan, that the king has in." promised to spend every afternoon of a whole "Well, do it then," sighed the queen. "Let week with me at Trianon, and that there we me bear the fetters here in Versailles until' the are going to enjoy life, nature, and solitude. So, last moment. I shall have my compensation in for a whole week, the king will only be king in Trianon. Be assured I shall have my compenthe forenoon,. andl in the afternoon a respectable sation there." miller in the village Trianwn. Now, is not that a A quarter of an hour later the queen was armexty thought, Campan? And do you not see rayed in her changed attire, and came out froln 16 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. the toilet-chamber. The stiff crinoline had disap- " Oh, I fear the serpent more for my adored peared; the whalebone corset, with the long pro- queen than for myself. What is there in me to jecting point, was cast aside; and the high coi- harm? But your majesty is exposed on every fure, which Leonard had so elaborately made up side to attack." in the morning, was no more to be seen. A white " Oh, why, Julia," sighed the queen-" why do robe, decorated at the bottom with a simple vo- you address me with the stiff, formal title of malante, fell in broad artistic folds over her noble jesty when we are alone together? Why do you figure, whose full proportions had been concealed not forget for a little etiquette when there is noby the rigid state dress. A simple waist encir- body by to hear us?" cled her bust, and was held together by a blue "Your majesty," laughed the duchess, "we are sash, which hung in long ends at her left side. in Versailles, andthe walls have ears." Broad cuffs, held together with simple, narrow "It is true," cried the queen, with quicklylace, fell down as far as the wrist, but through restored merriment, "we are here in Versailles; the thin material could be seen the fair form of that is your'excflpation. Come, let us hasten to her beautiful arms; and the white triangle of- leave this proud, royal palace, and get away to the gauze which she had thrown over her naked neck, society of beautiful Nature, where there are no did not entirely veil the graceful lines of her full walls to hear us, but only God and Nature. Come, shoulders-and her noble bust. Her hair, deprived Julia." of its unnatural disfigurement, and almost entire- She drew the -duchess quickly out through the ly freed from powder, arched itself above her side door, which led to the little corridor, and fine forehead in a light toupet, and fell upon her thence to the adjacent staircase, and over the small shoulders in rich brown locks, on which only a court to one of the minor gates of the palace, leadmere breath of powder had' been blown. On her ing to the park. The coupe of the queen was arm the queen carried a great, round, straw hat, standing before this door, and the master of the secured by blue ribbons, and over her fair, white stole and the lackeys were awaiting the approach hands she had drawn gloves of black netting. of the queen. Thus, with beaming countenance, with blushing Marie Antoinette sprang like a gazelle into the cheeks, and with smiles curling ariound her full carriage, and then extended her hand to the red lips; thus, all innocence, merriment, and duchess to assist her to ascend. cheerfulness, Marie Antoinette entered the sitting- " Forward, forward!" cried the queen to the room, where the Duchess de Polignac was wait- coachman, "and drive with all haste, as if the ing for her, in an attire precisely like that of the horses had wings, for I long to fly. Forward! oh, queen. forward!" The latter flew to the duchess with the quickness of a young girl, with the tenderness of a sister, and drew her arm within that of her friend. "Come, Julia," said she, "let us leave the world and enter paradise." CHAPTER II. "Ah, I am afraid of paradise," cried the duchess, with a merry smile. "I have a horrorIANON. of the serpent." FLY, ye steeds, fly! Bear the Queen of France "You shall find no serpents there, my Julia," away from the stiff, proud Versailles; from the said the queen, drawing the arm of the duchess palaces of kings, where every thing breathes of to herself. "Lean upon me, my friend, and be exaltation, greatness, and unapproachableness; persuaded that I will defend you against every bear her to little, simple,. pretty Trianon,-to serpent, and every low, creeping thing." the dream of paradise, where all is innocence, TRIANON. 17 simplicity, and peace; where the queen may be a " because you are seeing every thing with other woman, and a happy one, too, and where Marie eyes, your majesty." Antoinette has the right to banish etiquette, and "Your majesty!" cried Marie Antoinette. live in accordance with her inclinations, wishes, "You love me no longer; your heart is esand humors. tranged from me, since you address me with Yes, truly, the fiery steeds have transformed this cold title. In Versailles, you had a valid themselves into birds; they cut the air, they plea; but here, Julia, what can you offer in jusscarcely touch the ground, and hardly can the tification? The flowers are not listeners, the driver restrain them when they reach the fence bushes have not ears, like the walls of Versailles, which separates the garden of Trianon from Ver- to spy out our privacy." sailles. "I say nothing for my exculpation," answered Light as a gazelle, happy as a young girl that the duchess, throwing her arm with a playful knows nothing of the cares and burdens of life, movement around the neck of the queen, and imMarie Antoinette sprang out of the carriage before printing a kiss upon the lofty brow of Marie Anthe chamberlain had time to open the gate with toinette.. "I only ask your pardon, and promise its double wings, to let the queen pass in as a that I will be obedient and not disturb my friend's queen ought. Laughing, she glided through the dream of paradise all day long by an ill-timed little side gate, which sufficed for the more un- word. Now will you forgive me, Marie?" pretending visitor of Trianon, and took the arm "With all my soul, Julia," answered the queen, of her friend the Duchess de Polignac, in order nodding to her in a friendly way.." And now, to turn with her into one of the side alleys. Julia, as we have a happy vacation-day before But, before doing so, she turned to-the chamber- us, we will enjoy it like two young girls who lain, who, standing in a respectful attitude, was are celebrating the birthday of their grandmother awaiting the commands of his mistress. after escaping from a boarding-school. Let us " Weber," said she to him, in the pleasant Aus- see which of us is the swiftest of foot. We will trian dialect; the language of her early home- make a wager on it. See, there gleams our little' Weber, there is no need for you to follow us. house out from the shrubbery; let us see which The day is yours.,You are free, as I am too. of us gets there first." Meanwhile, if you meet his majesty, tell him that "Without stopping once in the run?" asked I have gone to the small palace, and that, if it the duchess, amazed. pleases his majesty, he may await me in my little "I make no conditions; I only say, let us see village at the mill. who gets there first. If you win, Julia, I will "And now, come, my Julia," said she, turning give you the privilege of nominating a man to to the duchess, and drawing her forward with have the first place in my Swiss guards, and you gentle violence, "now let us be merry and happy. may select the protege in whose behalf you were I am no longer a queen, God be thanked! I am pleading yesterday. Come, let us run. One!-" neither more nor less than anybody else. That is "No, Marie," interrupted the duchess. "Supthe reason I was so. well pleased to come through posing that you are the first, what shall I give the small door just now. Through a narrow gate you?" alone we can enter paradise, and I am entering "A kiss-a hearty kiss-Julia. Now, forward! paradise now. Oh, do you not see, my friend, One, two, three!" that the trees, the flowers, the bushes, every thing And, speaking these words in merry accents, here is free from the dust of earth; that even the Marie Antoinette sprang forward along the narrow heayen has another color, and looks down upon walk. The round straw hat which covered her me brilliant and blue; like the eye of God?" head was tossed up on both sides; the blue rib"It is just,": answered the Duchess de Polignac, bons fluttered in the wind; the white dress puffed 2 18 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. up; and the grand-chamberlain of the queen and the saloons are open, and that your company are Madame Adelaide would have been horrified if all assembled. They would all envy me; they they could have seen the queen flying along like would all be jealous if they were to see the prefera girl escaped from the boarding-school. ence which you show for me." But she, she never thought of there being any "Let them be jealous, let them envy you," thing improper in the run; she looked forward cried the queen; "the whole world shall know to the goal with laughing glances, as the white that Julia de Polignac is my best-loved friend, house emerged more and more from the verdure that next to husband and children, I love no one by which it was surrounded, and then sideways so well as her." at her friend, who had not been able to gain a With gentle violence the queen threw both her single step upon her. arms around the neck of the duchess, and kissed " Forward, forward!" shouted the queen; "I her passionately. will and I must win, for the prize is a kiss from "Did you notice," said the Baron de Besenval my Julia." And with renewed speed the queen to Lord Adhemar, with whom he wa4 playing a dashed along. The lane opened and terminated game of backgammon in the saloon, "did you in a square in front of the palace. The queen notice the tableau that the queen is presenting, stopped in her course, and turned round to see taking for her theme a group representing Friendher friend, who had been left far behind her. ship?" As soon as the duchess saw it she tried to "I wish it were in my power to reproduce this quicken her steps, and began to run again, but wonderful group in marble," answered Lord Ad. Marie Antoinette motioned with her hand, and h6mar, laughing. "It would be a companionwent rapidly back to meet her. piece to Orestes and Pylades." "You shall not make any more effort, Julia," "But which," asked the Duchess de Gulmene, said she. " I have won, and you cannot brine my looking up from. her embroidery, " which would victory into question." be the companion of Orestes, pursued of Furies, "And I do not wish to," answered the duchess, surrounded by serpents?" with a merry look of defiance on her gentle fea- "That is the queen," answered the Count de tures. "I really did not wish to win, for it would Vaudreuil, who was sitting at the piano and have seemed as if I had to win what I want on practising a new piece of music. ".The queen is the turn of a merry game. You have'done wrong, the womanly Orestes: the Furies are the three Marie Antoinette. You want me to forget here royal aunts; and the serpents-pardon me,.ladies in Trianon that you are the Queen of France. -are, with the exception of yourselves, most all But you yourself do not forget it. Only the queen the ladies of Paris." can propose such a prize as you have set, and "You are malicious, count," cried Madame only the queen can ask so insignificant a boon on de Morsan, "and were we by any chance not the other side. You have made it impossible for here, you would reckon us among the serpents." me. to win, for you know well that I am not "If I should do so," said Count Vaudreuil' selfish." laughing, "I should only wish to take the apple "I know it, and that is just the reason why I from you, in order to be driven, out of paradise love you so'dearly, Julia. I have done wrong," with you. But still! the queen is coming." she went on to say with her gentle, sweet voice. Yes, just then the queen entered the apart. "I see it, and I beg your forgiveness. Give me ment. Her cheeks were glowing red by reason now as a proof that you do forgive me-give me of her run, her bosom heaved violently with her the prize which I have won —a kiss, Julia, a kiss." hurried, agitated breathing. Her hat had fallen "Not here," answered the duchess.'0, no, upon one side, and the dark blond hair was not iere, Marie. Do rot you see that the doors of thrown about. in wild confusion. TRIANON. 19 It was not the queen who entered the saloon, All at once, in the very midst of the grand and it was only Marie Antoinette, the simple, young impassioned strains, Marie Antoinette stopped, woman, greeting her friends with brilliant glances and, under the strength of her feeling, rose from and lively nods. It had been made a rule with her seat. her, that when -she entered, no one should rise, "Only Gluck can have written this!" cried nor leave the embroidery, or pianbplaying, or any she. "This is the music, the divine music of other occupation. my exalted master, my great teacher, Chevalier The'women remained at their work, Lords Be- Gluck." senval aid Adh6mar went on playing their game "You are right; your majesty is a great musiof backgammon, and only the Count de Vau- cian," cried Lord Vaudreuil, in amazement, " the dreuil rose from his place at the approach of the ideal pupil of the genial maestro. Yes, this queen. music is Gluck's. It is the overture to his new "What have you been playing, count?" asked operaof' Alcestes,' which he sent me from Venice Marie Antoinette. to submit to your majesty. These tones shall "' beg your pardon, if I leave your question speak for the master, and entreat for him the prounanswered," replied the count, with a gentle in- tection of the queen." clination of the head. -" Your majesty has such "You have not addressed the queen, but my a fine ear, that you must doubtless recognize the own heart," said Marie Antoinette, with gentle,:composer in the music. It is an entirely new deeply-moved voice. "It was a greeting from composition, and I have taken the license of ar- my home, a greeting from my teacher, who is at ranging it for four hands. If your majesty would the same time the greatest composer of Europe. perhaps be inclined —" Oh, I am proud of calling myself his pupil. But - "Come," interrupted the queen, "let us try it Gluck needs no protection; it is much more we at once." who need the protection which he affords us in Quickly, and with feverish impatience, she giving us the works of his genius. I thank you, drew her black netted gloves from her delicate count," continued Marie Antoinette, turning to white hands, and at once took her place next Vaudreuil with a pleasant smile. "This is a to the count, on the seat already prepared for her. great pleasure which you have prepared for me. "Will not the music be too difficult for: me to But knowing, as I now do, that this is Gluck's play?" asked she, timidly. rtusic, I do not dare to play another note; for, to "Nothing is too difficult for the Queen of injure a note of his writing, seems to me like treaFrance." son against the crown. I will practise this piece, "But there is a great deal that is too difficult and then some day we will play it to the whole for the dilettante, Marie Antoinette," sighed the court. And now, my honored guests, if it pleases queen. "Meanwhile, we will begin and try it." you, we go to meet the king. Gentlemen, let And with great facility and lightness of touch, each one choose his lady, for we do not want to the queen began to play the base of the piece goin state procession, but by different paths." which had been arranged by the Count de Vau- All'the gentlemen present rushed toward the dreuil for four hands. But the longer she played, queen, each desirous to have the honor of waitthe'more the laughter and the unrestrained gayety ing upon her. Marie Antoinette thanked them disappeared from the features of the queen. Her all with a pleasant' smile, and took the arm of the noble countenance assumed an expression of deep oldest gentleman there, the Baron de Besenval. earnestness, her eFe kindled with feeling, and the "Come, baron," said she, "I know a new path, cheeks which before had become purple-red with which none of these gentry have learned, and I the exercise of playing, now paled with deep in- am sure that we shall be the firat to reach the ward emotion. place where the king is." 20 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Resting on the arm of the baron, she left the me manager-in-chief of all the royal theatres and saloon, and passed out of the door opposite, to give me their supreme control." upon the little terrace leading to the well-shaded "Well, what has that to do with me?" asked park. the queen in her coldest way. "You have then "We will go through the English garden. I your duties assigned you, to be rightfully fulfilled, have had them open a path through the thicket, and to keep your theatres in order, as if they which will lead us directly to our goal; while the were troops under your care." others will all have to go through the Italian gar- "But, your majesty, there is a theatre which den, and so make a circuit. But look, my lord, seeks to free itself from my direction. And by somebody is coming there-who is it?" virtue of my office and my trust I must stringentAnd the queen pointed to the tall, slim figure ly urge you that this new theatre royal be deof a man who was just then striding along the livered into my charge." terrace. "I do not understand you," said the queen, "Madame,' answered the baron, "it is the coolly. "Of what new theatre are you speaking, Duke de Fronac." and where is it?" "Alas!" murmured Marie Antoinette, "he is "Your majesty, it is here in Trianon. Here coming to lay new burdens upon us, and to put operettas, comedies, and vaudevilles are played. us in the way of meeting more disagreeable The stage is furnished as all stages are; it is a things." permanent stage, and I can therefore ask that " Would it be your wish that I should dismiss it be given, over into my charge, for, I repeat it him? Do you give me power to tell him that you again, the king has appointed me director of all extend no audience to him here?" the collective theatres royal." " Oh! do not do so," sighed Marie Antoinette. "But, duke," answered the qeeen with a some. "He, too, is one of my enemies, and we must what more pliant tone, "you forget one thing, proceed much more tenderly with our dear ene- and that is, that the theatre in Trianon does not mies than with our friends." belong to the theatres of his majesty. It is Just then the Duke de Fronac ascended the last my stage, and Trianon is my realm. Have terrace, and approached the queen with repeated you not read on the placards, which are at the bows, which she reciprocated with an earnest look entrance of Trianon, that it is the queen who and a gentle inclination of the head. gives laws here? Do you not know that the "Well, duke, is it I with whom the chief mana- king has given me this bit of ground that I may ger of the royal theatres wishes to speak?" enjoy my freedom here, and have a place where "Madame," answered the duke, "I am come to the Queen of France may have a will of her: beg an audience of your majesty." own?" "You.have it; and it is, as you see, a very im- "Your majesty," answered the duke with an posing au'dience, for we stand in the throne-room expression of the profoundest deference, " I beg ~of God, and the canopy of Heaven arches over us. your pardon. I did not suppose that there was Now say, duke, what brings you to me?" a place in France where the king is not the lord "Your majesty, I am come to file an accusa- paramount, and where his commands are not imtion!" perative." " And of course against me? " asked the queen, "You see, then, that you are mistaken. Here with a haughty smile. in Trianon I am king, and my commands are The duke pretended not to hear the question, binding." and went on: " That does not prevent, your majesty, the com"I am come to bring a charge and to claim my mands of the king having equal force," replied rights. His majesty has had the grace to appoint the duke, with vehemence. "And even if the TRIANON. 21 Queen of France disowns these laws, yet others a new way which their tender care has conjured do not dare take the risk of following the example up to irritate me, and make me sick. Yet let us of the queen. For they remain, wherever they leave this, baron. Let us forget this folly,.nd are, the subjects of the king. So even here in only remember that we are in Trianon. See, we Trianon I am still the obedient subject of his ma- are now entering my dear English-garden. Oh, jesty, and his commands and my duties are bound look around you, baron, and then tell me is it not to be respected by me." beautiful here, and have I not reason to be proud "My lord duke," cried the queen with fresh of what I have called here into being?" impatience, " you are free never to come to Tri- While thus speaking, the queen advanced with anon. I give you my full permission to that end, eager, flying steps to the exquisite beds of flowand thus you will be relieved from the possibility ers which beautifully variegated the surface of the of ever coming into collision with your- ever-deli- English garden. cate conscience and the commands of the king." It was in very truth the creation of the queen, "But, your majesty, there is a theatre in Tri- this English garden, and it formed a striking conanon!" trast to the solemn, stately hedges, the straight " Not this indefinite phrase, duke; there is a alleys, the regular flower-beds, the carefully walled theatre in Trianon, but I the queen, the princes pools and brooks, which werd habitual in the of the royal family, and the guests I invite, sup- gardens of Versailles and Trianon. In the Engport a theatre in Trianon. Let me say this once lish-garden every thing was cosy and natural. for all: you cannot have the direction where we The waters foamed here, and there they gathered are the actors. Besides, I have had occasion themselves together and stood still; here and several times to give you my views respecting there were plants which grew just where the wind Trianon. I have no court here. I live here as a had scattered the seed. Hundreds of the finest private person. I am here but a land-owner, and trees-willows, American oaks, acacias, firsthe pleasures and enjoyments which I provide threw their shade abroad, and wrought a rich dihere for myself and my friends shall never be versity in the colors of the foliage. The soil here supervised by any one but myself alone." n* rose into gentle hillocks, and there sank in de~' Your majesty," said the duke, with a cold pressions and natural gorges. All things seemed smile, "it is no single person that supervises you; without order or system, and where art had done it. is public opinion, and I think that this will its work, there seemed to be the mere hand of speak on my side." free, unfettered Nature. The duke bowed, and, without waiting for a sign The farther the queen advanced with her comfrom the queen to withdraw, he turned around panion into the garden, the more glowing became and began to descend the terrace. her countenance, and the more her eyes beamed "He is a shameless man!" muttered the queen, with their accustomed fire. with pale cheeks and flashing eyes, as she fl- "Is it not beautiful here?" asked she, of the lowed him with her looks. ) baron, who was walking silently by her side.'Ee is ambitious," whispeled Besenval; "he "It is beautiful wherever your majesty is," implores your majesty in this way, and risks his answered he, with an almost too tender tone. life and his office, in the hope of being received But the queen did not notice it. Her heart was into the court society.", filled with an artless joy; she listened with sus-'"No, no," answered BMarie Antoinette, eagerly; pended breath to the trilling song of the birds, "there is nothing in me that attracts him. The warbling their glad hymns of praise out from the king's aunts have set him against me, and this is thickets of verdure. How could she have any thought of the idle suggestions of the voice of + The very words of the queen.-See Goncourt, b" ristoire de Marie Antoinette," p. 106. the baron, who had been chosen as her compamnlon 22 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. because of his forty-five years, and of his hair Adelaide was the herald to announce the begin. being tinged with gray? ning of the tournament." "It seems to me, baron," she said, with a "Did she venture to bring any. accusations charming laugh; while looking at a bird which, against your majesty?" asked Besenval. The its song just ended, soared from the bushes to the queen replying in the affirmative with a nod, he heavens —" it seems to me as if Nature wanted to went on. "But what can they say? Whence send me a greeting, and deputed this bird to do they draw the poisoned arrows to wound the bring it to me. Ah," she went on to say, with noblest and truest of hearts? quickly clouded brow, " it is really needful that I "They draw them from their jealousy, from should at times hear the friendly notes and the their hatred against the house of Austria, from sweet melodies of such a genuine welcome. I the rage with which they look upon the manner have suffered a great deal to-day, baron, and the in which the king has bestowed his love.'What welcome of this bird of Trianon was the balm of can they say?' They make out of litIe things many a wound that I have received since yester- monstrous crimes. They'let a pebble' grow into a day." great rock, with which they strive to smite me "Your majesty was in Paris'?" asked Besenval, down. Oh, my friend, I have suffered a great hesitatingly, and with a searching glance of his deal to-day, and, in order to tell you this, I cunning, dark eyes, directed to the sad counte- chose you as my companion. I dare not cornance of Marie Antoinette. plain before the king," Marie Antoinette went on, "I was in Paris," answered she, with a flush while two tears rolled slowly down her cheeks, of joy; " and the good Parisians welcomed the " for I will not be the means of opening a breach wife of the king and the mother of the children in the family, and the king.would cause them to of France with a storm of enthusiasm." feel his wrath who have drawn tears from the "No, madame," replied the baron, reddening, eyes of his wife. But you are my friend, Besen"they welcomed with a storm of enthusiasm the val, and I confide in your friendship and in your most beautiful lady of France, the adored queen, honor. Now, tell me, you who know the world, the mother of all poor and suffering ones." and who are my senior in experience of life, tell " And yet there was a dissonant note which me whether I do wrong to live as I do. Are the mingled with all these jubilee tones," said the king's aunts right in charging it upon me as, a queen, thoughtfully. " While all were shouting, crime, that.1 take part in the simple joys of life, there came one voice which sounded to my ear that I take delight in my youth and am happy? like the song of the bird of misfortune. Believe Is the Count de Provence right in charging me, me, Besenval, every thing is not as it ought to be. as with a crime, that I am the chief counsellor of There is something in the air which fills me with the king, and that I venture to give him my views anxiety and fear. I cannot drive it away; I feel regarding political matters? Am I really conthat the sword of Damocles is hanging.over my demned to stand at an unapproachable distance head, and that my hands are too w/eak to remove from the people and the court, like a beautiful it." statue? Is it denied to me to have feeling, to "A woe to the traitors who have dared to raise love and to hate, like everybody else? Is the the sword of Damocles over the head of the Queen of France nothing but the sacrificial lamb queen! " cried the baron, furiously which the dumb idol etiquette carries in its leaden " Woe to them, but woe to me too! " replied arms, and crushes by slowly pressing it to itself? the queen, with gentle sadness. " I have this Tell me, Besenval; speak to me like an honorable morning had a stormy interview with Madame and upright man, and remember that God is above Adelaide. It appears that my enemies have- con- us and hears our words!" cocted a new way of attacking me, and Madame - "May God be my witness," said Besenval, sol TRIANON. 23 emnly. " Nothing lies nearer my heart than that giving up ceremony you are undermining the re. your majesty hear me. For my life, my happi- spect which the people ought to cherish toward ness, and my misery, all lie wrapped up in the' royalty. But would it not be laughable'to think heart of your majesty. No, I answer-.no; the that the obedience of the people depends upon aunts of the king, the old princesses, look with the number of the hours which a royal family the basilisk eye of envy from a false point. They may spend in the society of tedious and wearihave lived at,the court of their father; they have some courtiers? No, my queen, do not listen to seen Vice put on the trappings of Virtue; they the hiss of the hostile serpents which surround have seen Shamelessness array itself in the gar- you. Go, courageously, iour own way-the way ments of Innocence, and they no longer retain of innocence, guilelessness, and love." their" faith in Virtue or Innocence. The purity of "I thank you-oh, I thank you!" cried Marie the queen appears to them to be a studied coquet- Antoinette. " You have lifted heavy doubts from ry, her unconstrained cheerfulness to be culpable my heart and strengthened my courage. I thank frivolity. No, the Count de Provence is not right you!" in bringing the charge against the king that it is And, with beaming eyes and a sweet smile, she wrong.in him to love his wife with the intensity extended both her hands to the baron. and self-surrender with which a citizen loves the He pressed them tightly within his own, and, wife whom he has himself selected. He is not sinking upon his knee, drew the royal hands with right in alleging it as an accusation against you, a glow to his lips. that you are the counsellor of the king, and that "Oh, my queen, my mistress! " he cried, pasyou seek to control political action. Your whole sionately, "behold at your feet your most faithful offence lies in the fact that your political views servant, your most devoted slave. Receive from are different from his, and that, through the infiu- me the oath of my eternal devotion and love. ence which you have gained over the heart of the You have honored me with your confidence, you king, his aunts are driven into the background. have called me your friend. But my soul and my Your majesty is an Austrian, a friend of the Duke heart glow for another name. Speak the word, de Choiseul. That is your whole offence. Now Marie Antoinette, the word —" you would not be less blameworthy in the eyes The queen drew back, and the paleness of of these enemies were you to live in exact con- death spread over her cheeks. She had at the formity with the etiquette-books of the Queen of outset listened with amazement, then with horFrance, covered with the dust of a hundred years. ror and indignation, to the insolent words of the Your majesty would therefore do yourself and the baron, and gradually her gentle features assumed whole court an injury were you to allow your a fierce and disdainful expression. youth, your beauty, and your innocence, to be sub- " My lord," she said, with the noble dignity of jected to these old laws. It were folly to con- a queen, " I told you before that God is above us, demn yourself to ennui and solitude. Does not and hears our words. You have spoken, wantonly, the Queen of France enjoy a right which the and God has heard you. To Him I leave the meanest of her subjects possesses, of collecting punishment of your wantonness. Stand up, my her own chosen friends around her and taking lord! the king shall know nothing of an insult her pleasure with them. We live, I know, in an which would have brought you into ignominy age of reckless acts; but may there not be some with him forever. But if you ever, by a glance recklessness in dealing with the follies of eti- or a gesture, recall this both wanton and ridicuquette? They bring it as a charge against your lous scene, the king shall hear all from me! " majesty. that you abjure the great court circles, And while the queen pointed, with a proud and and the stiff set with which the royal family of dignified gesture to the place which was their France used to martyr itself. They say that by goal, she said, with commanding tone: 24 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HEER SON. "Go befor, my lord; I will follow you queen strode forward along the path. The bushes alone." began to let the light through, and the queen The Baron de Besenval, the experienced cour- emerged from the English garden into the small tier, the practised man of the world, was under- plain, in whose midst Marie Antoinette had going what was new to him; he felt himself per- erected her Arcadia, her dream of paradise. The plexed, ashamed, and no longer master of his queen stood still, and with a countenance which words. He had risen from his knees, and, after quickly kindled with joy, and with eyes which making a stiff obeisance to the queen, he turned beamed with pleasure, looked at the lovely view and went with a swift step and crestfallen look which had been called into being by the skill of along the path which the queen had indicated. her architect, Hubert Robert.'Marie Antoinette followed him with her eyes And the queen might well rejoice in this creaso long as he remained in sight; then looked with tion, this poetic idyl, which arose out of t1e a long, sad glance around her. splendor of palaces like a violet in the sand, and "And so I am alone again," she whispered, among the variegated tropical flowers which adorn "and poorer by one illusion more. Ah, and is it the table of a king. Closely adjoining each other then true that there is no friendship for me; must were little houses like those in which peasants every friend be an envier or else a lover? Even live, the peasant-women being the proud ladies this man, whom I honored with my confidence, of the royal court. A little brook babbled behind -toward whom I cherished the feeling of a pupil the houses, and turned with its foaming torrent toward a teacher, even this man has dared to in- the white wheel of the mill which was at the sult me! Ah, must my heart encounter a new extremity of the village. Near the mill, farther wonder every day, and must my happiness be on, stood entirely alone a' little peasant's house, purchased with so many pains?" especially tasteful and elegant. It was surrounded And with a deep cry of pain the queen drew by flower-beds, vineyards, and laurel-paths. The her hands to her face, and wept bitterly. All roof was covered with straw; the little panes around was still. Only here and there were were held by leads to the sashes. It was the heard the songs of the birds in the bushes, light home of Marie Antoinette. The queen herself and dreamy; while the trees, swayed by the wind, made the drawings, and wrought out the plan. It gently whispered, as if they wanted to quiet the was her choice that it should be smalls simple, grief of the queen, and dry up those tears which and modest; that it should have not the slightest fell upon the flowers. appearance of newness, and that rents and fisAll at once, after a short pause, the queen let sures should be represented on the wall by artifiher hands fall again, and raised her head with cial contrivances, so as to give the house an old proud and defiant energy. look, and an appearance of having been injured. "Away with tears!" she said. "What would She had little thought how speedily time could my friends say were they to see me? What buzz- demolish the simple pastimes of a queen. Close ing and whispering would there be, were they to by stood a still smaller house, known as the milksee that the gentle queen, the always happy and room. It was close to the brook. And when careless Marie Antoinette, had shed tears? Oh, Marie Antoinette, with her peasant-women, had ay God! " she cried, raising her large eyes to milked the cows, they bore the milk through the heaven, "I have to-day paid interest enough for village in white buckets, with silver handles, to my happiness; preserve for me at least the capi- the milk-room, where it was poured out into pretty, tal, and I will cheerfully pay the world the high- white pans standing on tables of white marble. On est rates, such as only a miserly usurer can de- the other side of the road was the house of the sire."' chief-magistrate of the village, and close by lived And with a proud spirit, and a lofty carriage, the the schoolmaster. TRIANON. 25 Marie Antoinette had had a care for every- together? Since the unwise people stopped learn. thing. There were bins to preserve the new ing, I have become the schoolmaster of the dear crops in, and before the hay-scaffoldings were kine, and am giving them lessons in the art of ladders leading up to the fragrant hay. making life agreeable. I am the dancing-master "Ah, the world is beautiful," said Marie An- of the goats, and have opened a ballet-school for toinette, surveying her creation with a cheerful the kids." look. "I will enjoy the pleasant hours, and be Marie Antoinette laughed aloud. " Mister happy here." schoolmaster," said she, "I am very desirous She walked rapidly forward, casting friendly to have a taste of your skill, and I desire you glances up to the houses to see whether the peas- to give a ballet display this afternoon upon the ants had not hid themselves within, aLd were great meadow. So far as you are concerned, waiting for her. But all was still, and not one Mr. Mayor," she said, with a laughing nod, "I of the inhabitants peeped out from a single win- desire you to exercise a little forbearance, and dow. to pardon some things in me for my youth's All at once the stillness was broken by a loud sake." clattering sound. The white wheel of the mill. "As if my dear sister-in-law now needed any began to turn, and at the door appeared the looking after!" cried the mayor, with an emphatic corpulent form of the miller in his white gar- tone. ments, with his smiling, meal-powdered face, and "Ah, my Lord de Provence," said the queen, with the white cap upon his head. smiling, "you are falling out of your part, and The queen uttered an exclamation of delight, forgetting two things. The first, that. I am not and ran with quick steps toward the mill. But the queen here; and the, second, that here in before she could reach it, the door of the official's Trianon all flatteries are forbidden." house opposite opened, and the mayor, in his "It lies in you, whether the truth should apblack costume, and with the broad white ribbon pear as flattery," answered the Count de, Provaround his neck; the Spanish cane, with a gold ence, slightly bowing. knob, in his hand, and wearing his black, three- "That is an answer worthy of a scholar," cried cornered hat, issued from the dwelling. He ad- the schoolmaster, Count d'Artois. - "Brother, you vanced directly to Marie Antoinette, and resting do not know the A B C of gallantry. You must his hands upon his sides and assuming a threat- go to school to me." ening mien, placed himself in front of her. "I do not doubt, brother Charles, that in this "We are very much dissatisfied with you, for thing I could learn very much of you," said the you neglect your duties of hospitality in a most Count de Provence, smiling. "Meanwhile, I am unbecoming manner. We must have you give not sure that my wife would be satisfied with the your testimony why you have come so late, for instruction." the fioPers are all hanging their heads, the night- "Some time we will ask her about it," said the ingales will not sing any more, and the lambs in queen. ".Good-by, my brothers, I must first greet the meadow will not touch the sweetest grass. my dear miller." Every thing is parching and dying because you are She rushed forward, sprang with a flying step not here, and with desire to see you." up the little wooden stairway, and threw both her "That is not true," cried another merry voice; arms around the neck of the miller, who, laughthe window of the school-house opened with a ingly, pressed her to his heart, and drew her rattle, and the jolly young'schoolmaster looked within the mill. out and threatened with his rod the grave mayor. "I thank you, Louis! " cried the queen, bend"How can you say, sir, that every thing is ing forward and pressing the hand of her husband going to ruin? am I not here to keep the whole to her lips. "What a pleasant surprise you 26 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. have prepared for me; and how good it is in you of-blacksmith here a little, and put better screws to meet me here in my pleasant plantation I" and springs in the machine. But listen! what "Did you not say but lately that you wanted kind of song is that without?" this masquerade? " asked the king; with a pleas- "Those are the peasants greeting us with their ant smile. "Did not you yourself assign the singing," said the queen, smiling. "Come, Mr. parts, and appoint me to be the miller, the miller, let us show ourselves to them.?' Count de Provence to be mayor, and the whimsi- She drew the king out upon the small staircase. cal Artois to be schoolmaster de par la reine, as Directly at the foot of it stood the king's two it runs here in Trianon, and do -you wonder brothers, the Counts de Provence and Artois, as now that we, as it becomes the obedient, follow chief official and schoolmaster, and behind them our queen's commands, and undertake the charge the duchesses and princesses, dukes and counts, which she intrusts to us?" arrayed as peasants. In united chorus they "Oh, Louis, how good you are! " said the queen, greeted the mistress and the miller: with tears in her eyes. " I know indeed how lit" Oi peut-on Atre mieux, tie pleasure you, so far as you yourself are conQu'au sein de sa famille " cerned, find in these foolish sports and idle acts, and yet you sacrifice your own wishes and take The queen smiled, and yet tears glittered in her part in our games." eyes, tears of joy. "That is because I love you!" said the king Those were happy hours which the royal pair with simplicity, and a smile of pleasure beautified spent that day in Trianon-hours of such bright his broad, good-natured face. "Yes, Marie, I sunshine that Marie Antoinette quite forgot the love you tenderly, and it gives me joy to con- sad clouds of the morning, and gave herself un-. tribute to your happiness." disturbed to the enjoyment of this simple, counr The queen gently laid her arm around Louis's try life. They sat down to a country dinner-a neck, and let her head fall upon his shoulder. slight, simple repast, brought together from the " Do you still know, Louis," asked she, " do you resources of the hen-coop, the mill, and the milkstill know what you- said to me when you gave room.: Then the whole company went out to lie Trianon to me?" down in the luxuriant grass which grew on the "Well," said the king, shaking his head slowly. border of the little grove, and looked at the cows'"You said to ne,'You love flowers. I will grazing before them on the meadow, and with present to you a whole bouquet. I give you Little stately dignity pursuing the serious occupation of Trianon.'* My dear sire! you have given me chewing the cud. But as peasants have somenot only a bouquet of flowers, but a bouquet of'thing else to do than to live and -enjoy, their mispleasant hours, of happy years, for which I thank tress, Marie Antoinette, soon left her resting-place you, and you alone." to set her people a good example in working. "And may this bouquet never, wither, Marie!" The spinning-wheel was brought and set uyon a said the king, laying his hand as if in blessing on low stool; Marie Antoinette: began to spin. How the head of his wife, and raising his good, blue quickly the wheel began to turn, as if it were the eyes with a pious and prayerful look. "But, my wheel of fortune-to-day bringing joy, and togood woman," said he then, after a little pause, morrow calamity! "you quite let me forget the part I have to play, The evening has not yet come, and the wheel and the mill-wheel is standing still again, since of fortune is yetturning, yet calamity is there. the miller is not there. It is, besides, in wretched Marie Antoinette does not yet know it; her order, and it is full needful that I practise my art eye still beams with joy, a happy smile still plays upon her rosy lips. She is sitting now with her * The very words of the king.-See " M6moire de Marquis de Crequy," vol. iv. company by the lake, with the hook in her hand, THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE. 21 and looking with laughing face and fixed attention "Investigation 1" cried the king. "Then do at the rod, and crying aloud as often as she you speak of a crime?" catches a fish. For these fishes are to serve as "Yes, sire, of a crime-the crime of a base supper for the company, and the queen has cere- deception, and, as it seems, of a defalcation inmoniously invited her husband to an evening volving immense sums and objects of great meal, which she herself will serve and prepare. value." The queen smiles still and is happy;, her spin- "Abh, said the king; with a sigh of relief, ning-wheel is silent, but the wheel of fate is mov- "Then the trouble is only- one of money." ing still. "No, sire, it is one which concerns the honor The king is no longer there. He has withdrawn' of the queen." into the mill to rest himself. Louis arose, while a burning flush of indignaAnd yet there-he is not alone. Who ventures tion passed over his face. to disturb him? It must be something very se- "Will they venture again to assail the honor rious. For it is well known that the king very of the queen?" he asked. seldom goes to Trianon, and that when he is "Yes, sire," answered Breteuil, with his invinthere he'wishes to be entirely free from business. cible calmness-" yes, sire, they will venture to And yet he is disturbed to-day; yet the'pre- do so. And at this time it is so infernal and mier, Baron de Breteuil, is come, to seek the mil- deeply-laid a plan that it will be difficult to get at ler of Little Trianon, and to beseech him even the truth. Will your majesty allow me to unfold there to be the king again. the details of the matter somewhat fully?" "Speak, baron,. speak," said the king, eagerly, taking his seat upon a wooden stool, and motioning to the miui.ster to do the same. "Sire," answered the premier, with a bow, "I will venture to sit, because I am in fact a little CHAPTER I V. exhausted with my quick run hither.' T H E Q U E E N' S NE C K L A C E. 1" "And is the matter so pressing?" muttered the DIRECTLY after a page, arrayed in the attire of king, drawing out his tobacco-box, and in his ima miller's boy, had announced the Baron de Bre- patience rolling it'between his fingers. teuil, the king withdrew into his chamber and re- "Yes, very pressing," answered Breteuil, taksumed his own proper clothing. He drew on the ing his seat. "Does your majesty remember the long, gray coat, the short trousers of black velvet, beautiful necklace which the court jeweller, the long, gold-embroidered waistcoat of gray sat- Bbhmer, some time since had the honor to offer in; and over this the bright, -thin -ribbon of the to your majesty?" Order of Louis-the attire in which the king was "Certainly, I remember it," answered the king, accustomed to present himself on gala-days. quickly nodding. "The queen showed herself on With troubled, disturbed countenance, he then that occasion just as unselfish and magnanimous entered the little apartment where his chief min- as she always is. It was told me that her majesister, the Baron de Breteuil, was awaiting him. ty had very much admired the necklace which "Tell me quickly," ejaculated the king, "do Bbhmer had showed to her, and yetthad declined you bring bad news? Has any thing unexpected to purchase it, because it seemed to her too dear. occurred? " I wanted to buy it and have the pleasure of of"Sire," answered the minister, respectfully, fering it to the queen, but she decisively refused "something unexpected at all events, but whether it." something bad will be learned after further inves- "We well remember the beautiful answer tigation." which her majesty gave to her husband," said 28 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Breteuil, gently bowing. "All Paris repeated "But what is it about this necklace? What with delight the words which her majesty uttered: has the queen to do with that?" asked the'Sire, we have more diamonds than ships. Buy king, wiping with a lace handkerchief the sweat a ship with this money 1'" * which stood in great drops upon his lofty fore"You have a good memory," said the king, head. "for it is five years since this happened. B6hmer "Sire, the court jeweller, B6hmer, asserts that has twice made the attempt since then to sell this he sold the necklace of brilliants to the queen, costly necklace to me, but I have dismissed him, and now desires to be paid." and at last forbidden him to allude to the matter "The queen is right," exclaimed the king, " the again." man is out of his head. If he did sell the neck" I believe that he has, meanwhile, ventured to lace to the queen, there must have been witnesses trouble the queen several times about the neck- present to confirm it, and the keepers of her lace. It appears that he had almost persuaded majesty's purse would certainly know about it." himself that your majesty would purchase it. "Sire, BShmer asserts that the queen caused Years ago he caused stones to be selected through it to be bought of him in secret, through a third all Europe, wishing to make a necklace of dia- hand, and that this confidential messenger was monds which should be alike large, heavy, and empowered to pay down thirty thousand francs, brilliant. The queen refusing to give him his and to promise two hundred thousand more."' price of two million francs, he offered it at last "What is the name of this confidential mesfor one million eight hundred thousand." senger? What do they call him?" " I have heard of that," said the king. " Her "Sire," answered the Baron de Breteuil, solmajesty was at last weary of the trouble, and emnly-" sire, it is the cardinal and grand algave command that the court jeweller, Bdhmer, moner of your majesty, Prince Louis de should not be admitted." Rohan." "Every time, therefore, that he came to Ver- The king uttered a loud cry, and sprang quicksailles he was refused admittance. He then had ly from his seat. recourse to writing, and two weeks ago her ma- "Rohan?" asked he. "And do they dare to jesty received from him a begging letter, in which bring this man whom the queen hates, whom she he said that he should be very happy if, through scorns, into relations with her? Ha, Breteuil! his instrumentality, the queen could possess the you can go; the story is too foolishly put together finest diamonds in Europe, and imploring her ma- foriany one to believe it." jesty not to forget her court jeweller. The queen "Your majesty, Bbhmer has, in the mean read this letter, laughing, to her lady-in-waiting, while, believed it, and has delivered the neckMadame de Campan, and said it seemed as if the lace to the cardinal, and received the queen's necklace had deprived the good Bihmer of his promise to pay, written with her own hand." reason.'But not wishing to pay any further at- "Who says that? How do you know all the tention to his letter or to answer it, she burned details?" the paper in a candle which was accidentally "Sire, I know it by a paper of Bbhmer's, who standing on her table." wrote to me after trying in vain several times "Good Heaven I How do you know these de- to see me. The letter was a tolerably confused tails?" asked the king, in amazement. one, and I did not understand it. But as he "Sire, I have learned them from Madame de stated in it that the queen's lady-in-waiting adCampan herself, as I was compelled to. speak vised him to apply to me as the minister of the with her about the necklace." royal house, I considered it best to speak with Madame de Campan. What I learned of her is * "Correspondance Secrete de la Cour de Louis so important that I beg XVI so imprtant that I begged her to accompany THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE. 29 me to Trianon, and to repeat her statement be- regarding her family. Hasten, Weber! And fore your majesty." now, baron," continued the king, closing the "Is Campan then in Trianon?" asked the door, "now you shall be convinced by your own king. eyes and ears that the queen will be as amazed "Yes, sire; and on our arrival we learned and as little acquainted with all these things as I that Bihmer had just been there, and was most myself. I wish, therefore, that you would be anxious to speak to the queen. He had been present at the interview which I shall have with denied admission as always, and had gone away my wife and Campan, without the queen's know-'weeping and scolding." ing that you are near. You will be convinced at " Come," said the king, "let us go to Trianon; once in this way of the impudent and shameless I want to speak with Campan." deception that they have dared to play. Where And with quick, rapid steps the king, followed does that door lead to, Campan?" asked the by the minister Breteuil, left the mill, and, shun- king, pointing to the white, gold-bordered door, ning the main road in order not to be seen by the at whose side two curtains of white satin, wrought queen, struck into the little side-path that led with roses, were secured. thither behind the houses. "Sire, it leads to the small reception-room." " Campan," said the king, hastily entering the "Will the queen pass that way when she little toilet-room of the queen, where the lady-in- comes?" waiting was —" Campan, the minister has just " No, your majesty, she is accustomed to take been telling me a singular and incredible history. the same way which your majesty took, through Yet repeat to me your last conversation with the antechamber." Bbhmer." " Good. Then, baron, go "nto the little saloon. "Sire," replied Madame de Campan, bowing Leave the door open, and do you, Campan, low, " does your majesty command that I speak loosen -the curtains and let them fall over the before the queen knows of the matter? " door, that the minister may hear without being "Ah," said the king, turning to the minister, seen." "you see I am right. The queen knows nothing A quarter of an hour had scarcely elapsed of this, else she would certainly have' spoken to when the queen entered the toilet-chamber, with me about it. Thank God, the queen withholds glowing cheeks, and under visible excitement. no secrets from me! I thank you for your ques- The king went hastily to her, took her hand and tion, Campan. It is better that the queen be pressed it to his lips. present at our interview. I will send for her to "Forgiveness, Marie, that I have disturbed you come here." And the king hastened to the door, in the midst of your pleasures." opened it, and called, "Are any of the queen's "Tell me,. quickly," cried the queen, impatientservants here?" ly. "What is it? Is it a great misfortune?" The voice of the king was so loud and violent "No, Marie, but a great annoyance, which is so that the chamberlain. Weber, who was in the far a misfortune in that the name of your malittle outer antechamber, heard it, and at once jesty is involved in a disagreeable'and absurd rushed in. plot. The court jeweller, Biihmer, asserts that "W Veber," cried the king to him, "hasten at he has sold a necklace to your majesty -for one once to Little Trianon. Beg the queen, in my million eight hundred thousand francs." name, to have the goodness to come to the palace "But the man is crazy," cried the queen. within a quarter of an -hour, to consult about "Is that all your majesty had to say to me? " a weighty matter that allows no delay. But "I beg that Campan will repeat the conversatake, care that the queen be not alarmed, and tion which shedhad yesterday with Bihmer." at she do not suspect that sad news has come And the king beckoned with his hand to the so0 MARIE ANTOINTETTE AND HER SON. lady-in-waiting, who, at the entrance of the queen, only to make a martyr of me with it. Year after had modestly taken her seat at the back part of year I hear perpetually about this necklace, and the room. it has been quite in vain that, with all my care "How!" cried the queen, amazed, now first and good-will, I have sought to drive from him perceiving Campan. "What do: you here? this fixed idea that I must buy it. He is so far What does all this mean?" gone in his illusion as to assert that I have "Your majesty, I came to Trianon to inform bought it." you about the conversation which I had yester- "Madame, this man is: not insane," said the day with Bbhmer. When I arrived I found he king, seriously. "Listen further. Go' on, Camhad just been here." pan." "And what did he want?" cried the queen. "I laughed," continued Madame de Campan, "Did you not tell me, Campan, that he no longer "and asked him how he could assert such a possesses this unfortunate necklace, with which thing, when he told me only a few months ago he has been making a martyr of me for years? that he had sold the necklace to' the Sultan.. Did you not tell me that he had sold it to the Then he replied that the queen had ordered him Grand Sultan, to go to Constantinople?" to give this answer to every one that asked about "I repeated to your majesty what B6hmer the necklace.: Then-he told me further, that your said to me. Meanwhile I beg now your gracious majesty had secretly bought the necklace, and permission to repeat my to-day's interview with through the instrumentality: of the Lord Cardinal Bohmer. Directly after your majesty had gone de Rohan." to Trianon with the Duchess de Polignac, the "Through Rohan?" cried the queen, rising court jeweller B1ihmer was announced. He came "Through the man whom I hate and despise? with visible disquiet and'perplexity, and asked And is there a man in France who can believe me whether your majesty had left no commission this, and who does not know that the cardinal is for him. I answered him that the queen had not the one who stands the lowest in my favor! " done so, that in one word she had no commis- "I said to Mr. Bbhmer-I said to him that he sion for him, and that she was tired of his eternal was deceived, that the queen would never make pestering.' But,' said Bdhmer,'I must have an a confidant of Cardinal Rohan, and he made me answer to the letter that I sent to her, and to this very answer:'You deceive yourself, madwhom must I apply?''To nobody,' I answered. ame. The cardinal stands so high in favor, and'Her majesty has burned your letter without maintains such confidential relations with her reading it.''Ah! madame,' cried he,'that is majesty, that she had sent, through his hands, impossible. The queen knows that she owes-me thirty thousand francs! as a first payment. The money."' queen took this money in the presence -of the "I owe him money!" cried the queen, horrified. cardinal, from the little secretary of Sbvres porce"'How can the miserable man dare to assert such lain, which stands near to the chimney in her a thing?" boudoir.'' And did the cardinal-really say that?' I "That I said to him, your majesty, but he an- asked; and when he reaffirmed it, I told him that swered, with complete self-possession, that your he was deceived. He now began to be very much majesty owed him a million and some five hundred troubled, and said,' Good Heaven! what if you thousand francs, and when I asked him in com- are right, what if I am deceived! There has plete amazement for what articles your majesty already a suspicion come to me; the'cardinal owed him such a monstrous sum, he answered, promised me that on Whitsunday the queen'For my necklace.'" would wear the collar, and she did not do so; so "This miserable necklace again! " exclaimed this determined me to write to her.' When now, the queen. " It seems as if the man made it full of anxiety, he asked what advice I could give THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE. 31 him. I at once bade him go to Lord Breteuil and The entire brilliant court was assembled; the tell h m all. He promised to do so, and went. cardinal arrayed in his suitable apparel, and wearBut I hastened to come hither to tell your majesty ing all the tokens of his rank, had entered the the whole story, but when I arrived I found the great reception-room, and only awaited the arrival unhappy jewveller already here, and he only went of the royal pair, to lead them into the church. away after I gave him my promise to speak to-day The fine and much-admired face of the cardinal with your majesty." wore to-day a beaming expression, and his great The queen had at the outset listened with speech- black eyes were continually directed, while he was less amazement, and as Campan approached the talking with the Duke de Conti and the Count d'close of her communication, her eyes opened wider Artois, toward the door through which the royal and wider. She had stood as rigid as a statue. couple would enter. All at once the portal opened, But now all at once life and animation took pos- a royal page stepped in and glanced searchingly session of this statue; a glowing purple-red dif- around; and seeing the towering figure of the fused itself over her cheeks, and directing her cardinal in the middle of the hall, he at once adeyes, which blazed with wonderful fire, to the vanced through the glittering company, and apking, she said, with a loud and commanding proached the cardinal. " Monseigneur," he whisvoice, "Sire, you have heard this story. Your pered to him, "his majesty is awaiting your emiwife is accused, and the queen is even charged nence's immediate appearance in the cabinet." with having a secret understanding with. Cardinal The cardinal broke off abruptly his conversaRohan. I desire an investigation-a rigid, strict tion with Lord Conti, hurried through the hall and.nvestigation. Call at once, Lord Breteuil, that entered the cabinet. we may take counsel with him. But I insist upon No one was there except the king and queen, having this done." and in the background of the apartment, in the "And your will is law, madame," said the king, recess formed by a window, the premier, Baron directing an affectionate glance at the excited face Breteuil, the old and irreconcilable enemy of the of the queen. "Come out, Breteuil!" proud cardinal, who in this hour would have his And as between the curtains appeared the reward for his year-long and ignominious treatserious, sad face of the minister, the king turned ment of the prince. to his wife and said: " I wished that he might be The cardinal had entered with a confident, diga secret witness of this interview, and survey the nified bearing; but the cold look of the king position which you should take in this matter." and the flaming eye of the queen appeared to " Oh, sire!" exclaimed Marie Antoinette, ex- confuse him a little, and his proud eye sank to tending her hand to him, "so you did not for an the ground. instant doubt my innocence?" "You have been buying diamonds of Bihmer," "N bo, truly, not a moment," answered the king, asked the king, brusquely. with a smile. *" But now come, madame, we will "Yes, sire," answered the cardinal. consider with Breteuil what is to be done, and "What have you done with them? Answer then we will summon the Abb6 de Viermont, that me, I command you."' he may take part in our deliberations." "Sire," said the cardinal, after a pause, "I On the next day, the 15th of August, a bril- supposed that they were given to the queen." liant, select company was assembled in the sa- "Who intrusted you with this commission?" loons of Versailles. It was a great holiday, As- "Sire, a lady'named Countess Lamotte-Valois. cension-day, and the king and the queen, with the She gave me a letter from her majesty, and I beentire court, intended to be present at the mass, lieved that I should be doing the queen a favor if which the cardinal and the grand almoner would I should undertake the care of the commission Melebrate in the chapel which the queen had the grace to intrust to me." 32, MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "I 1" cried the queen, with an expression of in- France?' Everybody knows that queens write tense scorn, "should I intrust you with a cornm- only their baptismal names as signatures, and mission in my behalf? I, who for eight years you alone have not known that?" ha.ve never deigned to bestow a word upon you? "I see into it," muttered the cardinal, pale And I should employ such a person as you, a under the look of the queen, and so weak that he beggar of places?" had to rest upoin the table for support, "I see "I see plainly," cried the cardinal, "i see into it; I have been dreadfully deceived." plainly that some one has deceived you grievously The king took a paper from his table and gave about me. I will pay for the necklace. The it to the cardinal. "Do you confess that you earnest wish to please your majesty has blinded wrote this letter to Bl1hmer, in which you send your eyes regarding me. I have planned no de- him thirty thousand francs in behalf of the queen, ception, and am now bitterly undeceived. But.I in part payment for the necklace?" will pay for the necklace." "Yes, sire, I confess it," answered the cardinal, " And you suppose that that ends all!" said the with a low voice, which seemed to contradict what queen, with a burst of anger. "You think that, he uttered. with the pitiful paying for the brilliants, you can " He confesses it," cried the queen, gnashing atone for the disgrace which you have brought her teeth, and making up her little hand into a upon your queen? No, no, sir; I desire a rigid clinched fist. "He has held me fit for such ininvestigation. I insist upon it that all who famy-me, his queen!" have taken part in this' ignominious deception "You assert that you bought the jewels for the be brought to a relentless investigation. Give queen. Did you deliver them in person?" me the proofs that you have been deceived, and "No, sire, the Countess Lamotte did that." that you are not much rather the deceiver." "In your name, cardinal?" "Ah, madame," cried the cardinal, with a look "Yes, in my name, sire, and she gave at thc at once so full of reproach and confidence, that same time a receipt to the queen for one hundred the queen fairly shook with anger. " Here are and fifty thousand francs, which I lent the queen the proofs of my innocence," continued he, draw- toward the purchase." ing, a small portfolio from his pocket, and taking "And what reward did you have from the from it a folded paper. " There is the letter of queen?" the queen to the Countess Lamotte, in which The cardinal hesitated; then, as he felt the anher majesty empowered me to purchase the dia- gry, cold, and contemning look of the queen resttmonds." ing upon him, the red blood mounted into his The king took the paper, looked over it hastily, face, and with a withering glance at Marie Antoiread the signature, and gave it, with a suspicious nette, he said: shrug of the shoulders, to his wife. "You wish, madame, that I. should speak the The queen seized the letter with the wild fury whole truth! Sire, the queen rewarded me for of a tigress, which has at last found its'prey, and this little work of love in a manner worthy of a with breathless haste ran over the paper. Then queen. She granted me. an appointment in the she broke out into loud, scornful laughter, and, park of Versailles." pointing to the letter, she looked at the cardinal At this new and fearful charge, the queen cried with glances of flame. aloud, and, springing forward like a tigress, she "That is not my handwriting-that is not my seized the arm of her husband and shook it. signature!" cried she, furiously. "How are you, "Sire," said she, "listen to this high traitor, sir, a prince and grand almoner of France-how bringing infamy upon a queen! Will you bear a re you so ignorant, so foolish, as to believe that'it? Can his purple protect the villain?" I cot:ld subscribe myself'Marie Antoinette of "No, it cannot, and it shall not!" cried the ENEMIES AND FRIENDS. 33 king. " Breteuil, do your duty. And you, cardi- grand almoner of France, to be arrested in his nal, who venture to accuse your queen, to scanda- official robes, and that it was the will of the lize the good name of the wife of your king, go." queen. "Sire," stammered the cardinal, " sire, I —" And the farther the tidings rolled the more the " Not a word," interrupted the king, raising his report enlarged, like an avalanche of calumnies. hand and pointing toward the door, " out, I say, In the evening, Marat thundered in his club: out with you!" "Woe, woe to the Austrian! She borrowed The cardinal staggered to the door, and entered money of the Cardinal de Rohan to buy jewels the hall filled with a glittering throng, who were for herself-jewels while the people hungered. still whispering, laughing, and walking to and fro. Now, when the cardinal wants his money, the But hardly had he advanced a few steps, when queen denies having received the money, and lets behind him, upon the threshold of the royal cabi- the head of the Church be dragged to the Bastile. net, appeared the minister Breteuil. Woe, woe to the Austrian!" " Lieutenant," cried Breteuil, with a loud voice, "Woe, woe to the Austrian!" muttered turning to the officer in command of the guard, brother Simon, who sat near the platform on "lieutenant, in the name of the king, arrest the which Marat was. "We'shall not forget it that Cardinal de Rohan, and take him under escort to she buys her jewels for millions of francs, while the Bastile." we have not a sou to buy bread with. Woe to A general cry of horror followed these words, the Austrian " which rolled like a crashing thunder-clap through And all the men of the club raised their fists tlhe careless, coquetting, and unsuspecting com- and muttered.with him, "Woe to the Austrian I " pany. Then followed a breathless silence. All eyes were directed to the cardinal, who, pale as death, and yet maintaining his noble carriage, walked along at ease. At this point a young officer, pale like the carCHAPTER V. dinal, like all in fact, approached the great eccle-. siastic, and gently took his arm. ENEMIES AND FRIENDS. "' Cardinal," said he, with sorrowful tone, "in ALL Paris was in an uproar and in motion ih the name of the king, I arrest your eminence. I all the streets; the people assembled in immenst em ordered, monseigneur, to conduct you to the masses at all the squares, and listened with abates Bastile." breath to the speakers who had taken their stand "Come. then, my son," answered the cardinal, amid the groups, and who were confirming the quickly, making his way slowly through the throng, astonished hearers respecting the great news of which respectfully opened to let him pass- the day. "come, since the king commands it, let us go to "The Lord Cardinal de Rohan, the grand althe Bastile." moner of the king," cried a Franciscan monir, He passed on to the door. But when the offi- who had taken his station upon a curbstone, at cer had opened it, he turned round once more to the corner of the Tuileries and the great Place de the hall. Standing erect, with all the exalted dig- Carrousel-" Cardinal de Rohan has in a despotic nity of his station and his person, he gave the manner been deprived of his rights and his freeamazed company his blessing. dom. As a dignitary of the Church, he is not Then the door closed behind him, and with pale under the ordinary jurisdiction, and only the Pope faces the lords and ladies of the court dispersed is the rightful lord of a cardinal; only before the to convey the horrible tidings to Versailles and Holy Father can an accusation be brought against P.aris, that the king had caused the cardinal, the a servant of the Church. For it has been the law B 34 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. of the Church for centuries that it alone has the Austrian woman may have a softer bed," cried a power to punish and accuse its servants, and no shrieking voice; " hear what has occurred to-day. one has ever attempted to challenge that power. I can tell you accurately, for I have just come But do you know what has taken place? Cardi- from Parliament, and a good firiend of mine has nal de Rohan has been withdrawn from the juris- copied for me the address with which the king is diction of his rightful judges; he has been denied going to open the session to-day." an ecclesiastical tribunal, and he is to be tried be- "Read it to us," cried the crowd.," Keep quiet fore Parliament as if he were an ordinary servant there-keep still there! We want to hear the of the king; secular judges are going to sit in address. Read it to us." judgment upon this great church dignitary, and "I will do it gladly, but you will not be able to to charge him with a crime, when no crime. has understand me," shrieked the voice. " I am only been committed! For what has he done, the little in comparison with you, as every one is litgrand almoner of France, cardinal, and cousin of tile who opposes himself to the highest majesty of the king? A lady, whom he believed to be in the earth, the people." the queen's confidence, had told him that the "Hear that," cried one of those who stood queen wanted to procure a set of jewels, which nearest to those a little farther away-" hear she was unfortunately not able to buy, because that, he calls us majesties! He seems to be an her coffers, as a natural result of her well-known excellent gentleman, and he does not look down extravagance, were empty. The lady indicated upon us." to the lord cardinal that the queen would be de- "Did you ever hear of a wise man looking -lighted if he would advance a sum sufficient to down, upon the prince royal, who is young, fair, buy the jewels with, and in his name she would and strong? " asked the balrking voice. cause the costly fabric to be purchased. The car- " He is right, we cannot understand him," cried dinal, all the while a devoted and true servant those who stood farthest away, pressing forward. of the king, hastened to gratify the desire of "What did he say? He must repeat his words. the queen. He took this course with wise pre- Lift him up so that we all may hear him." caution, in order that the queen, whose violence A broad-shouldered, gigantic citizen, in good is well known, should not apply to any other clothing, and with an open, spirited countenance, member of the court, and still further compro- and a bold, defiant bearing, pressed through tho mise the royal honor. And say yourselves, my crowd to the neighborhood of the speaker. noble friends, was it not much better that it "Come, little man," cried he, "I will raise you should be the lord cardinal who should lend up on my shoulder, and-but see, it is our friend money to the queen, than Lord Lauzun, Count Marat, the little man, but the great doctor!" Coigny, or the musical Count Vaudreuil, the spe- "And you truly, you are my friend Santerre, cial favorite of the queen? Was it not better the great man and the greatest of doctors. For for him to make this sacrifice and do the queen the beer which you get from his brewery is a betthis great favor? " ter medicine for the people than all my electuaries "Certainly it was better," cried the mob. can be. And you, my worthy friend of the hop-, "The lord cardinal is a noble man. Long live pole, willyou condescend to take the uglymonkey Cardinal de Rohan!" Marat on yqur shoulders, that he may tell the "Perish the Austrian, perish tlie jewelled people the great news of the day?" queen!" cried the cobbler Simon, who was stand- Instead of answering, the brewer Santerre ing'amid the crowd, and a hundred voices mut- seized the little crooked man by both arms, tered'after him, " Perish the Austrian! " swung him up with giant strength, and set him " Listen, my dear people- of Paris, you good- on his shoulders. natured lambs, whose wool is plucked off that the The people, delighted with the dexterity and ENEMIES AND FRIENDS. 35 strength of the herculean man, broke into a tion, tread the tyrant under your feet, then tlhe loud cheer, and Ipplauded the brewer, whom young prince, the people, will rule over France, all knew, and who was a popular personage in and the beautiful words of the Bible will be fulthe city. But Marat, too, the horse-doctor of filled:'There shall be one fold and one shep. the Count d'Artois, as he called himself derisive- herd.' I have taken this improvised throne on ly, the doctor of poverty and misfortune, as his the shoulders of a noble citizen only to tell you flatterers termed him-Marat, too, was known to of an impropriety which the Queen of France has many in the throng, and after Santerre had been committed, and of the new usurpation with which applauded, they saluted Marat with a loud vivat, she treads olir laws under her feet, not tired out and with boisterous clapping of hands. with opera-house balls and promenades by night. He turned his distorted, ugly visage toward the I will read you the address which the king sent to Tuileries, whose massive proportions towered up Parliament to-day, and with which the hearing above the lofty trees of the gardens, and with a of Cardinal de Rohan's case is to begin. Will the threatening gesture shook his fist at the royal people hear it " palace. "Yes, we will hear it," was the cry from all "Have you heard it, you proud gods of the sides. "Read us the address." earth? Have you heard the sacred thunder mut- Marat drew a dirty piece of paper from his terings of majesty? Are you not startled from pocket, and began to read with a loud, barking the sleep of your vice, and compelled to fall upon voice: your knees and pray, as poor sinners do before "Louis, by the grace of God, King of France their judgment? But no. You do not see and and Navarre, to our dear and faithful counsellers, you do not hear. Your ears are deaf and your members of the court of our Parliament, greethearts are sealed! Behind the lofty walls of Ver- ing: sailles, which a most vicious king erected for his "It has come to our knowledge that parties menus plaisirs, there you indulge in your lusts, named B1hmer and Bassenge have, without the and shut out the voice of truth, which would speak knowledge of the queen, our much-loved conto you here in Paris from the hallowed lips of the sort and spouse, sold a diamond necklace, people." valued at one million six hundred thousand " Long live Marat! " cried the cobbler Simon, francs, to Cardinal de Rohan, who stated to them who, drawn by the shouting, had left the Francis- that he was acting in the matter under the can, and joined the throng in whose midst stood queen's instructions. Papers were laid before Santerre, with Marat on his shoulders. "Long them which they considered as approved and sublive the great friend of the people! Long live scribed by the queen. After the said Bohmer Marat! " and Bassenge had delivered the said necklace' to "Long live Marat!" cried and muttered the the said cardinal, and had not received the first people. " Marat heals the people when the gen- payment, they applied to the queen herself. We try have made them sick, and taken the very mar- have beheld, not without righteous indignation, the row from their bones. Marat is no'gentleman.' eminent name, which in many ways is so dear to Marat does not look down upon the people!" us, lightly spoken of, and denied the respect which "My friends, I repeat to you what I said be- is due to the royal majesty. We have thought fore," shrieked Marat. "Did you ever hear of a that it pertains to the jurisdiction of our court to wise man looking down upon the crown prince, give a hearing to the said cardinal, and in view.and thinking more of the king, who is old, un- of the declaration which he has made before us, nerved by his vices, and blase / You, the peo- that he was deceived by a woman named Lamottepie, you are the crown prince of France, and if Valois, we have held it necessary to secure his you, at last, in your righteous and noble indigna- person, as well as that of Madame Valois, in or MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. der to bring all the parties to light who have been the huge form of the brewer. The crowd opened the instigators or abettors of such a plot. It is and made way for him, and before the carbineers our will, therefore, that that matter come before had approached, Marat had disappeared. the high court of Parliament, and that it be duly With this day began the investigations respecttried and judgment given." ing the necklace which Messrs. Bbhmer and Bas" There you have this fine message," cried senge had wanted to sell the queen through the Marat; "there you have the web of his, which this agency of Cardinal Rohan. The latter was still a Austrian woman has woven around us. Fojit is prisoner in the Bastile. He was treated with all she who has sent this message to Parliament. the respect due to his rank. He had a whole You know well that we have no longer a King of suite of apartments assigned to him; he was alFrance, but that all France is only the Trianon of lowed to retain the service of both his chamberthe Austrian. It stands on all our houses, writ- lains, and at times was permitted to see and conten over all the doors of government buildings, verse with his relatives, although, it is true, in the'De par la reine l' The Austrian woman is the presence of the governor of the Bastile. But Queen of France, and the good-natured king only Foulon was a very pious Catholic, and kept a writes what she dictates to him. She says in this respectful distance from the lord cardinal, who paper that these precautions have been taken in never failed- on such occasions to give him his order that she may learn'who are the persons who blessing. In the many hearings which the cardihave joined in the attack upon her distinguished nal had to undergo, the president of the-committee and much-loved person. Who, then, is the abettor of investigation treated him with extreme considof Madame Valois? Who has received the dia- eration, and if'the cardinal felt himself wearied, monds from the cardinal, through the instru- the sitting was postponed till another day. Morementality of Madame Valois? I assert, it is the over, at these hearings the defender of the cardiqueen who has done it. She received the jewels, nal could take part, in order to summon those and now she denies the whole story. And. now witnesses or accused persons who could contribute this womnan Lamotte-Valois must draw the hot to the release of the cardinal, and show that he chestnuts out from the ashes. You know this; so had been the victim of a deeply-laid plot, and it always is! Kings may go unpunished, they had committed no other wrong than that of being always have a'6te de souffrance, which has to too zealous in the service of the queen. bear their burdens. But now that a cardinal, the News spread abroad of numerous arrests occurgrand almoner of France, is compelled to become ring in Paris. It had been known from the royal the bete de souifrance for this Austrian woman, decree that the Countess Lamotte-Valois had likemust show you, my friends, that her arrogance, wise been arrested and imprisoned in the Bastile; has reached its highest point. She has trodden but people were anxious to learn decisively whethmodesty and morals under foot, and now she will er Count Cagliostro, the wonder-doctor, had been tread the Church under foot also." seized. The story ran that a young woman in "Be still!" was the cry on all sides. "The Brussels, who had been involved in the affair, carbineers and gendarmes are coming. Be still, and who had an extraordinary resemblance to the Marat, be still You must not be arrested. We Queen Marie Antoinette, had been arrested, and -do not want all our friends to be taken to the brought to Paris for confinement in the Bastile. Bastile." All Paris, all France watched this contest with And really just at that instant, at the entrance eager interest, which, after many months, was of the street that led to the square on the side of still far from a conclusion, and respecting which the Tuileries, appeared a division of carbineers, so much could be said. advancing at great speed. The friends of the queen asserted that her maMarat jumped with the speed of a cat down from jesty was completely innocent; that she had ENEMIES AND FRIENDS. 3 7 never spoken to the Countess Lamotte-Valois, The great noble families saw with envy and and only once through her chamberlain. Weber displeasure this supremacy of the Polignacs had never sent her any assistance. But these and the favorites of Trianon. They withdrew friends of the queen were not numerous, and their from the court; gave the " Queen of Trianon" number diminished every day. over to'her special friends and their citizen pleasThe king had seen the necessity of making ures and sports, which, as they asserted, were not great reductions in the cost of maintaining his becoming to the great nobility. They gave the establishment, and in the government of the king over to his wife who ruled through him, and realm. France had had during the last years who, in turn, was governed by the Polignacs and poor harvests. The people were suffering from the other favorites. To them and to their friends a want of the bare necessities of life. The taxes belonged all places, all honors; to them all apcould not be collected. A reform must be intro- plied who wanted to gain any thing for the court, duced, and those who before had rejoiced in a and even they who wanted to get justice done superfluity of royal gifts had to be contented them. with a diminution of them. Around the royal pair there was nothing but It had been the queen who allowed the tokens intrigues, cabals, envy, and hostility. Every one of royal favor to pour upon her friends, her cornm- wanted to be first in the favor of the queen, in panions in Trianon, like a golden rain. She had order to gain influence and consideration; every at the outset done this out of a hearty love for one wanted to cast suspicion on the one who was them. It was so sweet to cause those to rejoice next to him, in order to supplant him in the favor whom she loved; so pleasant to see that charm- of Marie Antoinette. ing smile upon the countenance of the Duchess The fair days of fortune -and peace, of which de Polignac-that smile which only appeared the queen dreamed in her charming country home, when she had succeeded in making others happy. thinking that her realizations were met when the For herself the duchess never asked a favor; her sun had scarcely risen upon them, were gone. royal friend could only, after a long struggle and Trianon was still there, and the happy peasantthreatening her with her displeasure, induce her girl of Trianon had been unchanged in heart; but to take the gifts which were offered out of a really those to whom she had given her heart, those loving heart. who had joined in her harmless amusement in her But behind the Duchess Diana stood her broth- village there, were changed! They had cast aside er and sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess de the idyllic masks with which the good-natured Polignac, who were ambitious, proud, and avari- and confiding queen had deceived herself. They cious; behind the Duchess Diana stood the three were nio longer friends, no longer devoted serfavorites of the royal society in Trianon-Lords vants; they were mere place-hunters, intriguers, Vaudreuil, Besenval, D'Adhemar-who desired flatterers, not acting out of love, but out of selfembassies, ministerial posts, orders, and other ishness. tokens of honor. Yet the queen would not believe this; she conDiana de Polignac was the channel through tinued to be the tender friend of her friends, whom all these addressed themselves to the trusted them, depended upon their love, was queen; she was the loved friend who asked happy in their neighborhood, and let herself whether the queen could not grant their de- be led by them just as the king let himself be mands. Louis granted all the requests to the led by her. queen, and Marie Antoinette then went to her They set ministers aside, appointed new onbs, loved friend Diana, in order to gratify her wishes, placed their favorites in places of power, and to receive a kiss, and to be rewarded with a drove their opponents into obscurity. smile. But there came a day when the queen began to 38 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. see that she was not the ruler but the ruled,- of sadness and despair, developed the need and when she saw that she was not acting out her the misfortune of the land. The king gave the own will, but was tyrannized over by those who chief minister of police strict injunctions to send had been made powerful through her favor. him all these ephemeral publications. lIe wanted "I have been compelled to take part in politi- to read them all, wanted to find the kernel of cal affairs," said she, "because the king, in his wheat which each contained, and, from his enenoble, good-hunmored way, has too little confidence mies, who assuredly would not flatter, he wanted in himself, and, out of his self-distrust, lets him- to learn how to be a good king. And the first self be controlled by the opinions of others. And of his cares he saw, to be a frugal king, and to so it is best that I should. be his first confidante, limit his household expenses. and that he should take me to be his chief ad- This time he acted independently; he asked no viser, for his interests are mine, and these chil- one's counsel, not even the queen's. As his own dren are mine, and surely no one can speak more unconstrained act, he ordered a diminution of the truly and honestly to the King of France than his court luxury, and a limitation of the great penqueen, his wife, the nmother of his children! And sions which were paid to favorites. The great so if the king is not perfectly independent, and stable of the king must be reduced, the chief direcfeels himself too weak to stand alone, and inde- torship of the post bureau must be abolished, the pendently to exert power, he ought to rest on me.; high salary of the governess of the royal children I will bear a part in his government, his business, as well as that of the maid of honor of Madame that at any rate they who control be not my op- Elizabeth, sister of the king, must be reduced. ponents, my enemies!" And who were the ones affected by thls? For a while she yielded to her friends and Chiefly the Polignae family. The Duke de favorites who wanted to stand in the same rela- Polignac was director of the royal mews, and tion to the queen that she did to the king-she next to him the Duke de Coigny. The Duke de yielded, not like Louis, from weakness, but from Polignac was also chief director of the post dethe very power of her love for them. partment. His wife, Diana de Polignae, was also She yielded at the time when Diana de Polig- maid of honor to Madame Elizabeth, and Julia nac, urged by her brother-in-law, Polignac, and de Polignac was governess of the children of by Lord Besenval, conjured the queen to nomi- France. nate Lord Calonne to be general comptroller of They would not believe it; they held it imposthe finances. She yielded, and Calonne, the flat- sible that so unheard-of a thing should happen, terer, the courtier of Polignac, received the im- that their income should be reduced. The whole portant appointment, although Marie Antoinette circle of intimate friends resorted to Trianon, to experienced twinges of conscience for it, and did have an interview with the queen, to receive from not trust the man whom she herself advanced to her the assurance that she would not tolerate this high place. Public opinion, meanwhile, gave such a robbing of her friends, and that she out that Lord Calonne was a favorite of the would induce the king'to take back his cornqueen; and, while she bore him no special favor, mands. and considered his appointment as a misfortune The queen, however, for the first time, made a to France, she who herself promoted him became stand against her friends. the object of public indignation. "It is'the will of the king," said she, "' and I Meanwhile the nomination of Lord Calonne was am too happy that the king has a will, to to -be productive of real good. It gave rise to the dare opposing it. May the king reign! It is his publication of a host of libels and pamphlets duty and his right, as it is the duty and right of which discussed the financial condition of France, all his subjects to conform to his wish and be sub and, in biting and scornful words, in the language ject to his will." ENEMIES AND'-FRIENDS. 39 "But," cried Lord Besenval, " it is horrible to summoned, had'followed the queen into the bil. live in a country where one is not sure but he liard-room. may lose to-morrow what he holds to-day; down A flash of anger shot from the eyes of the to this time that has always been the Turkish queen. fashion."* " How! " cried she, aloud, " did my companions The queen trembled and raised her great eyes not hear that I commanded them to follow me with a look full of astonishment and pain to Be- hither?" senval, then to the other friends; she read upon "Your majesty," answered the Duke de Coigall faces alienation and unkindly feeling. The ny, peevishly, "the ladies and gentlemen have mask of devoted courtiers and true servants had probably recalled the fact that your majesty once for the first time fallen from their faces, and Ma- made it a rule here in Trianon that every one rie Antoinette discovered these all at once wholly. should do as he pleases, and your majesty sees estranged and unknown countenances; eyes with- that they hold more strictly to the laws than out the beam of ftiendship, lips without the smile others do." of devotion. "My lord," sighed the queen, "do you bring The queen sought to put her hand to her heart; reproaches against me too? Are you also disit seemed to her as if she had been wounded with contented?" a dagger. She felt as if she must cry aloud with "And why should I be contented, your majespain and grief. But she commanded herself and ty?" asked the duke, with choler. " I am deonly gave utterance to a faint sigh. prived of a post which hitherto has been held for " You are not the only ones who will lose, my life, and does your majesty desire that I should friends," said she, gently. "The king is a loser, be contented? No, I am not contented. No, I too; for if he gives up the great stables, he sacri- do as the others do. I am full of anger and pain fices to the common good his horses, his equipa- to see that nothing is secure more, that nothing ges, and, above all, his true servants. We must is stable more, that one can rely upon nothing all learn to put up with limitations and a reduc- more-not even upon the word of kings." tion of outlay. But we can still remain good "My lord duke," cried Marie Antoinette, with friends, and here in Trianon pass many pleasant flashing anger, "you go too far, you forget that days with one another in harmless gayety'and you are speaking to your queen." happy contentment. Come, my friends, let us "Madame," cried he, still louder, "here in forget these cares and these constraints; let us, Trianon there is no queen, there are no subjects I despite all these things, be merry and glad. Duke You yourself have said it, and I at least will hold de Coigny, you have been for a week my debtor to your words, even if you yourself do not. Let in billiards, to-day'you must make it up. Come, us play billiards, madame. I am at your service." my friends, let us go into the billiard-room." And while the Duke de' Coigny said this, he And the queen, who had found her gayety seized with an angry movement the billiard-cue again, went laughing in advance of her friends of the queen. It was a present which Marie Aninto the next apartment, where the billiard-table toinette had received from her brother, the Emstood. She took up her cue, and, brandishing it peror Joseph. It was made of a single rhinocelike a sceptre, cried, "Now, my friends, away with ros skin, and was adorned with golden knobs. care-" The king had a great regard for it, and no one She ceased, for as she looked around her she' before had ever ventured to use it excepting her saw that her friends had not obeyed her call. alone. Only the Duke de Coigny, whom she had specially "Give it to me, Coigny," said she, earnestly. * His very words. See Goncourt's "Histoire de Marie "'You deceive yourself, that is not your billiard. Antoinette," p. 121. cue, that is mine." 4o MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "Madame," cried he, angrily, " what is mine is taken from me, and why should I not take what C HAPTER VI. is not mine? It seems as if this were the latest THE TRIAL. fashion, to do what one pleases with the property of others; I shall hasten to have a share in this FOR a whole year the preparation for the trial fashion, even were it only to show that I have had lasted, and to-day, the 31st of August, 1'786, learned something from your majesty. Let us the matter would be decided. The friends and begin." relatives of the cardinal had had time to manipuTrembling with anger and excitement, he took late not only public opinion, but also to win over two balls, laid them in the middle of the table, the judges, the members of Parliament, to the and gave the stroke. But it was so passionately cause of the cardinal, and to prejudice them given, and in such rage, that the cue glided by against the queen. All the enemies of Marie Anthe balls and struck so strongly against the raised toinette, the legitimists exen, who saw their old rim of the table that it broke. rights of nobility encroached uplon by the preferThe queen uttered an exclamation of indigna- ence given to the Polignacs and other families tion, and, raising the hand, pointed with a com- which had sprung from obscurity; the party of manding gesture to the door. the royal princes and princesses, whom Marie An"My Lord Duke de Coigny," said she, proudly, toinette had always offended, first because she "I release you from the duty of ever coming again was an Austrian, and later because she had alto Trianon. You are dismissed." lowed herself to win the love of the king; the The duke, trembling with anger, muttering a men of the agitation and freedom party, who few unintelligible words, made a slight, careless thundered in their clubs against the realm, and obeisance to the queen, and left the billiard-hall held it to be their sacred duty to destroy the nimwith a quick step.* bus which had hitherto enveloped the throne, and Marie Antoinette looked after him with a long to show to the hungering people that the queen and pained look. Then, with a deep sigh, she who lived in luxury was nothing more than a took up the bits of the broken cue and went into light-minded, voluptuous woman, —all these eneher little porcelain cabinet, in order to gain rest mies of the queen had had time to gain over puband self-command in solitude and stillness. lic opinion and the judges. The trial had been a Reaching that place, and now sure that no one welcome opportunity to all to give free play to could observe her, Marie Antoinette sank with a their revenge, their indignation, and their hate. deep sigh into an arm-chair, and the long-re- The family of the cardinal, sorely touched by the strained tears started from her eyes. degradation which had come upon them all in "Oh," sighed she, sadly, "they will destroy their head, would, at the least, see the queen every thing I have, every thing-my confidence, compromised with the cardinal, and if the latter my spirit, my heart itself. They will leave me should really come out from the trial as the denothing but pain and misfortune, and not one of ceived and duped one, Marie Antoinette should, them whom I till now have held to be my friends, nevertheless, share in the stain. will share it with me." The Rohan family and their fiiends set therefore all means in motion, in order to win over * This scene is historical See "M6moirea de Madame de Campan," vol. ii. public opinion and the judges. To this end they visited the members of Parliament, brought presents to those of them wvho were willing to receive them, made use of mercenary authors to hurl libellous pamphlets at the queen, published brothures which, in dignified language, defended the THE TRIAL. 41 cardinal in advance, and exhibited him as the garrison city, and his salary was not able to supvictim of his devotion and love to the royal fam- port them except meagrely. The young lady was ily. Everybody read these pamphlets; and when beautiful, intellectual, of noble manners, and it at last the day of decision came, public opinion was natural that the Cardinal should interest himhad already declared itself in favor of the cardinal self in behalf of the unfortunate daughter of the and against the queen. kings of France. He supported her for a while, On the 31st of August, 1786, as already said, and after many exertions succeeded in obtaining the trial so long in preparation was to be decided. a pension of fifteen hundred francs from King The night before, the cardinal had been trans- Louis XVI., in behalf of the last'descendant of ferred from the Bastile to the prison, as had also the Valois family. Upon this the countess went the other prisoners who were involved in the herself to Versailles, in order to render thanks in case. person for this favor. She returned the next day At early dawn -the whole square before the to Paris, beaming with joy, and told the cardinal prison was full of men, and the dependants of that she had not only been received by the queen, Rohan and the Agitators of Freedom, as Marat but that Marie Antoinette had been exceedingly and his companions called themselves, were active gracious to her, and had requested her to visit here as ever to turn the feeling of the people her often. From. this. day on, the countess had against the queen. naturally gained new favor in the eyes of the carIn the court-house, on the other side of the dinal, for she often went to Versailles; and from great square, meanwhile, the great drama of the the accounts of her visits there, when she retrial had begun. The members of Parliament, the turned, it was clear that she stood in high favor judges in the case, sat in their flowing black gar- with the queen. But now, unfortunately, the ments, in long rows before the green table, and cardinal found himself in precisely the opposite their serious, sad faces and sympathetic looks situation. He stood in extreme disfavor with the. were all directed toward the cardinal, Louis de queen. She never condescended to bestow a Rohan. But in spite of the danger of the situa- glance upon him, nor a word. The cardinal was tion, the noble face of the cardinal was cor- for a long time inconsolable on account of this, pletely undisturbed, and his bearing princely. He and sought in vain to regain the favor of the appeared in his full priestly array, substituting in queen. This he intrusted with the deepest confiplace of the purple-red under-garment one of vio- dence to the Countess Lamotte-Valois, and she, let, as cardinals do. when they appear in mourn- full of friendly zeal, had undertaken to speak to ing. Over this he wore the short red cloak, and the queen in his behalf. Some days later she displayed all his orders; the red stockings, the told the cardinal that she had fulfilled her promsilk shoes with jewelled buckles, completed his ise; she had painted his sadness in such moving array. While entering, he raised his hands and words that the queen appeared to be very much gave his priestly blessing to those who should affected, and had told the countess that she judge him, and perhaps condemn him. He then, would pardon all, if the cardinal would send her in simple and dignified words, spoke as follows: in writing an apology for the mortifications which A relative of his, Madame de Boulainvillier, he had inflicted upon herself and her mother, had, three years before, brought a young womah Maria Theresa. The cardinal, of course, joyfully to him, and requested him to maintain her. She consented to this. He sent to the countess a was of the most exalted lineage, the last in de- document in which he humbly begged pardon for scent from the earlier kings of France, of the asking the Empress Maria Theresa, years before, family of Valois. She called herself the Countess when Marie Antoinette was yet Dauphiness of of Lamotte-Valois; her husband, the Count La- France, and he, the cardinal, was French ambas motte, was the royal sub-lieutenant in some little sador in Vienna, to chide her daughter on ac 42 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. count of her light and haughty behavior, and to "Give the lord cardinal an arm-chair," h6 charge herself with seeing it bettered. This was ordered, with a loud voice, and one of the guards the only offence against the queen of which he ran to bring one of the broad, comfortable chairs felt himself guilty, and for this he humbly im- of the judges, which was just then unoccupied, plored forgiveness. He had, at the same time, and carried it'to the cardinal. begged the queen for an audience, that he might Prince Rohan thanked the judges with a slight pay his respects to her, and- on bended knee ask inclination of his proud head, and sank into the her pardoh. Some days after, the Countess La- arm-chair.. The accused and the judges now sat motte-Valois had handed him a paper, written on the same seats, and one would almost have with the queen's hand, as an answer to his letter. suspected that the cardinal, in his magnificent The president here interrupted the cardinal: costume, with his noble, lofty bearing, his peace"Are you still in possession of this document, ful, passionless face, and sitting in his arm-chair, your eminence?" alone and separated from all others, was himself The cardinal bowed. "I have always, since I the judge of those who, in their dark garments had the fortune to receive them, carried with me and troubled and oppressed spirits, and restless the dear, and to me invaluable, letters of the mien, were sitting opposite him. queen. On the day when I was arrested in Ver- "Will your eminence have the goodness to sailles, they lay in my breast coat-pocket. It proceed?" humbly asked the president of the was my fortune, and the misfortune of those who, court, after a pause. after I had been carried to the Bastile, burst into The cardinal nodded as the sign of assent, and my palace, sealed my papers, and at once burned continued his narrative. what displeased them. In this way these letters This letter of the queen naturally filled him with escaped the aluto-da-fe. Here is the first letter of great delight, particularly as he had a personal the queen." interview with her majesty in prospect, and he He drew a pocket-book from his robe, took had implored the Countess Valois all the more from it a small folded paper, and laid it upon the to procure this meeting, because, in spite of the table before the president. forgiveness which the queen had given to- the The president opened it and read: "I have cardinal, she continued on all occasions, where received your brief, and am delighted to find you he had the happiness to be in her presence, to no longer culpable; in the mean while, I am sorry treat him with'extreme disdain. On one Sunday, not to be able to give you the audience which you when he was reading mass before their majesties, ask. As soon, however, as circumstances allow he took the liberty to enter the audience-room me, I shall inform you; till then, silence. and to address the queen. Marie Antoinette be" MRIE ANTOINETTE OF FRAsCE."* stowed upon him only an annihilating look of A murmur of astonishment arose among the anger and scorn, and turned her back upon him, judges after this- reading, and all looks were saying, at the same time, with a loud voice, to directed with deep sympathy to the cardinal, the Duchess of Polignac: "What a shameless who, with a quiet, modest bearing, stood over act! These people believe they may do any against them.. The glances of the president of thing if they wear the purple. They believe they the high court, directed themselves, after he had may rank with kings, and even address them." read the letter and laid it upon the green table, These proud and cutting words had naturally to the great dignitary of the Church, and then he deeply wounded the cardinal, and, for the first seemed to notice for the first time that the cardi- time, the doubt was suggested to him whether, in nal, a prince and grand almoner of the King of the end, all the communications of the Countess France, was standing like a common criminal. Valois, even the letter of the queen, might not * Goncourt.-" Histoire de Marie Antoinette," p. 143. prove to be false, for it appeared to him impos THE TRIAL. 43 sible that the queen could be secretly, favorably however, for every man a wrong, an unpardonable inclined to a man whom she openly scorned. In wrong, to disclose the confidence of a lady, and his anger he said so to the Countess Lamotte, to reveal to the open light of day the favors and told her that he should hold all that she had which have been granted by her. But I must brought him from the queen to be false, unless, take this crime upon myself, because I have to dewithin a very short time, she could procure what fend the honor of a priest, even of a dignitary in he had so long and so urgently besought, namely, the Church, and also because I do not dare to an audience with the queen. He desired this suffer my purple to be soiled with even the suspiaudience as a proof that Marie Antoinette was cion of a lie, or an act of falsehood. It may be really changed, and, at the same time, as a proof — and I fear it even myself-it may be, that in that the Countess Lamotte-Valois had told him this matter, I myself was the deceived one, but I the truth. The countess'laughed at his distrust, dare not bring suspicion upon my tiara that I was and promised to try all the arts of address with the deceiver, and, therefore, I have to meet the the queen, in ordel to gain for the cardinal the stern necessity of disclosing the secret of a lady desired audience. The latter, who thought he and a queen." recognized in the beautiful and expressive coun- "Besides this," said the president, solemnlytenance of the lady innocence and honorableness, " besides this, your eminence may graciously connow regretted his hasty words, and said to Mad- *sider, in presence of the authority given you by ame Lamotte, that in case the queen would really God, all the tender thoughts of the cardinal must grant him a private audience, he would give her be silent. The duty of a dignitary of the Church (the countess) fifty thousand francs as a sign of commands you to go before all other men in set. his gratitude. ting them a noble example, and one worthy of A murmur of applause and of astonishmen[ imitation. It is your sacred duty, in accordance rose at these words from the spectators, com- with the demands of truth, to give the most deprising some of the greatest noble families of tailed information regarding every thing that conFrance, the Rohans, the Guemenes, the Counts de *cerns this affair, and your eminence will have the Vergennes, and all the most powerful enemies of goodness to remember that we are the secular the queen, who had taken advantage of this oc- priests of God, before whom every accused person casion in order to avenge themselves on the must confess the whole truth with a perfect conAustrian, who had dared to ch6ose her friends science." and select her society, not in accordance with "I thank you, Mr. President,"?' said the cardilineage, but as her own pleasure dictated. nal, with so gentle and tremulous a voice, that The president of the court did not consider'you might hear after it a faint sob from some this murmur of applause marked enough to be deeply-veiled ladies who sat on the spectators' reprimanded, and let it be continued. seats, and so that even the eyes of President de "And did the Countess Lamotte-Valois procure l'Aigre filled with tears-" I thank you, Mr. Presfor you this audience?" he then asked. ident," repeated the cardinal, breathing more Prince Rohan was silent a moment, his face. freely. "You take a heavy burden from my, grew pale, his features assumed for the first time heart, and your wisdom instructs me as to my a troubled expression, and the painful struggles own duty." which disturbed his soul could be seen working The president blushed with pleasure at the high within him. praises of the cardinal. "May it please this noble court," he replied, "And now,'" he said, "I take the liberty of' after a pause, with feeling, trembling voice, "I repeating my question, did the Countess Lamotte feel at this moment that, beneath the robe of the Valois succeed in procuring for your eminence a priest, the heart of the man beats yet. It is, secret audience with the queen?" 44 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HIER SON. " She did," replied the cardinal, " she did pro- blue sky, and illuminated all the objects in the cure an interview for me." neighborhood with a light like that of day. It And compelling himself to a quiet manner, he now disclosed a tall, noble figure, clad in a dark went on with his story: The Countess de Valois red robe, and with large blue pins in her hair, came to him after two days with a joyful counte- hurrying to the terrace, and followed by the nance, and brought to him the request to accom- Countess Valois. pany the Countess Valois two days later to Ver- To the present moment the cardinal had slightsailles, where, in the garden, in a place indicated ly doubted as to his unmeasurable good fortuneby the countess, the meeting of the queen and now hbe doubted no more. It was the queen, Mathe cardinal should take place. The cardinal was rie Antoinette, who was approaching. She wore to put on the simple, unpretending dress of a cit- the same dress, the same coiffure which she had izen of Paris, a blue cloth coat, a round hat, and worn the last Sunday, when after the mass he had high leather boots. The cardinal, full of inex- gone to Versailles to drive. pressible delight at this, could, notwithstanding, Yes, it was the queen, who was hurrying across scarcely believe that the queen would show him the terrace, and approaching the thicket behind this intoxicating mark of her favor; upon which which the cardinal was standing. the Countess Valois, laughing, showed him a let- "Come," whispered she, softly, and the carditer of the queen, directed to her, on gold-bordered nal quickly emerged from the shade, sank upon paper, and signed like the note which he had J his knee before the queen, and eagerly pressed received before-" Marie Antoinette of France." the fair hand which she extended to him to his In this note. the queen requested her dear friend lips. "Your eminence," whispered the queen to to go carefully to work to warn the cardinal to him, " I can unfortunately spend only a moment speak softly during the interview, because there here. I cherish nothing against you, and shall were ears lurking in the neighborhood, and not soon show you marks of my highest favor. Meanto come out from the thicket till the queen time, accept this token of my grace." And Mashould give a sign. rie Antoinette took a rose from her bosom and After reading this letter, the cardinal had no gave it to the cardinal. "Accept, also, this remore doubts, but surrendered himself completely membrancer," whispered the queen, again placing to his joy, his impatience, and longed for the ap- a little case in his hand. " It is my portrait. Look pointed hour to arrive. At last this hour came, often at it, and never doubt me, I-" and, in company with the countess, the cardinal, At this moment the Countess Valois, who had arrayed in the appointed dress, repaired in a sim- been waiting at some distance, hastily came up. pie hired carriage to- Versailles. The countess "Some one is coming," whispered she; "for led him to the terrace of the palace, where she God's sake, your majesty, fly!" directed the cardinal to hide behind a clump of Voices were audible in the distance, and soon laurel-trees, and then left him, in order to inform they: approached. The queen grasped the hand the queen, who walked every evening in the park, of the Countess Lamotte. in company with the Count and Countess d'Ar- "Come, my friend," said she. "Farewell, cartois, of the presence of the cardinal, and to con- dinal, au revor I " duct her to him. The latter now remained alone, Full of joy at the high good fortune which had and, with loud-beating heart, listened to every fallen to him, and at the same time saddened at sound, and, moving gently around, looked down the abrupt departure of the queen, the cardinal the long alley which ran between the two foun- turned back to Paris. On the next day the Counttains, in order to catch sight of the approach of ess Valois brought a billet from the queen, in the queen. It was a delightful evening; the full which she deeply regretted that their interview moon shone in golden clearness from the deep- yesterday had been so brief, and promising a THE TRIAL. 45 speedy appointment again. Some days after this fering and misfortune, and the queen had given occurrence, which constantly occupied the mind all her funds to the poor. But as she earnestly of the cardinal, he was obliged to go to Alsace, desired to purchase the necklace, she would give to celebrate a church festival. On the very her grand almoner a special mark of her favor in next day, however, came the husband of the granting to him the commission of purchasing it. countess, Count Lamotte, sent as a courier by the in her name. He should receive a paper from the countess. He handed the cardinal a letter from queen's own hand authorizing the purchase, yet the queen, short and full of secrecy, like the ear- he should keep this to himself, and show it only lier ones. to the court jewellers at the time of the purchase. "The moment," wrote the queen-" the mo- The first payment of six hundred thousand francs ment which I desired is not yet come. But I beg the cardinal was to pay from his own purse, the you to return at once to Paris, because I am in a remaining million the queen would pay in instalsecret affair, which concerns me personally, and ments of one hundred thousand francs each, at which I shall intrust to you alone, and in which I the expiration of every three months. In the need your assistance. The Countess Lamotte- next three months, the six hundred thousand Valois will give you the key to this riddle." francs advanced by the cardinal should be re,As if on the wings of birds, the cardinal re- funded. turned to Paris, and at once repaired to the little The cardinal felt himself highly flattered by palace which the countess had purchased with the this token of the queen's confidence, and desired fruits of his liberality. Here he learned of her nothing more than the written authorization of the the reason of his being sent fore The matter in queen, empowering him to make the purchase at question was the purchasing of a set of je~wels, once. This document was not waited for long. which the royal jewellers, Bihmer and Bassenge, Two days only passed before the Countess Lahad often offered to the queen. Marie Antoinette motte-Valois brought it, dated at Trianon, and had seen the necklace, and had been enraptured subscribed Marie Antoinette of France. Mean. with the size and beauty of the diamonds. But while some doubts arose in the mind of the cardi she had had the spirit to refuse to purchase the nal. He turned to his friend and adviser, Count collar, in consequence of the enormous price Cagliostro, for counsel. The latter had cured him which the jewellers demanded. She had,. how- years before while very sick, and since that time ever, subsequently regretted her refusal, and the had always been his' disinterested friend, and the princely set of gems, the like of which'did not prophet, so to speak, who always indicated the exist in Europe, had awakened the most intense cardinal's future to him. This man, so clear in desire on the part of the queen to possess it. his foresight, so skilful in medicine, was now She wanted to purchase it secretly, without the taken into confidence, and his advice asked. knowledge of the king, and to pay for it gradual- Count Cagliostro summoned the spirits that waited ly out of the savings of her own purse. But just upon him, before the cardinal, one solitary night. then the jewellers Bbhmer and Bassenge had it He asked these invisible presences what their in view to send the necklace to Constantinople counsel was, and the oracle answered, that the for the Sultan, who wanted to present it to the affair was one worthy of the station of the cardibest-loved of his wives. But before completing nal; that it would have a fortunate issue; that it the sale, the crown jewellers made one more ap- put the seal upon the favors of the queen, and plication to the queen, declaring that if she would would usher in the fortunate day which would consent to take the necklace, they would be con- bring the great talents of the cardinal into emtent with any conditions'of payment. In the ployment for the benefit of France and the world. mean time, the private treasury of the queen was The cardinal doubted and hesitated no longer. empty. The severe winter had induced much suf- He went at once to the court jewellers Bbhmer 46 3~MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. and Bassenge: he'did not conceal from them paid so much, but they would have demanded that he was going to buy the necklace in the more. And this expression, too, was greeted name of the queen, and showed them the written with loud acclaims. authorization. The jewellers entered readily into The first president of the. court, Baron de the transaction. The cardinal made a deposit of l'Aigre, here cast a grave look toward the tribsix hundred. thousand francs, and Bdhmer and une where the spectators sat, but his reproach Bassenge gave him the necklace. It was the day died away upon lips which disclosed a faint inclibefore a great festival, and at the festival the nation to smile. queen wanted to wear the necklace. In the even- "I now beg your eminence," he said, "to aning a trusted servant of the queen was to take the swer the following question: " Did Queen Marie necklace from the dwelling of the Countess La- Antoinette personally thank you for the great motte-Valois. The countess herself requested the service which, according to your showing, you cardinal to be present, though unseen, when the did her? How is it with the payments which delivery should take place. the queen pledged herself to make? " In accordance with this agreement, the cardinal The cardinal was silent for a short time, and repaired to the palace of the countess on the looked sadly before him. "Since the day when evening of February 1st, 1784, accompanied by a I closed this unfortunate purchase, I have expe. trusted valet, who carried the casket with the rienced only disquietudes, griefs, and humiliations. necklace. At the doorway he himself took the This is the only return which I have received for collar and gave it to the countess. She con- my devotion. The queen has never bestowed a ducted the cardinal to an alcove adjoining her word upon me. At the great festival she did not sitting-room. Through the door provided with even wear the necklace which she had sent for on.glass windows he could dimly see the sitting- the evening before. I complained of this to the room. countess, and the queen had the goodness to After some minutes the main entrance opened, write me a note, saying that she had found the and a voice cried: " In the service of the queen I " necklace too valuable to wear on that day, beA man in the livery of the queen, whom the car- cause it would have attracted the attention of the dinal had often seen at the countess's, and whom king and the court. I confided in the words of she had told was a confidential servant of the the queen, and experienced no doubts about the queen, entered and demanded the casket in the matter till the unhappy day when the queen was name of the queen. The Countess Valois took it to make the first payment to the jewellers, and and gave it to the servant, who bowed and took when she sent neither to me nor to the jewellers his leave. At the moment when the man de- a word. Upon this a fearful suspicion began to parted, bearing this costly set of jewels, the car- trouble me,-that my devotion to the queen might dinal experienced an inexpressible sense of satis- have been taken advantage of, in order to deceive faction at having had the happiness of conferring and mislead me. When this dreadful thought a service upon the Queen of France; the wife of seized me, I shuddered, and had not power to the king, the mother of the future king,-not look down into the abyss. which suddenly yawned merely in the purchase of the diamonds which beneath me. I at once summoned the Countess she desired, but still more in preventing the Lamotte, and desired her solution of this inexpliyoung and impulsive womtn from taking the un- cable conduct of the queen. She told me that becoming step of applying to any other gentleman she had been on the point of coming to me and of the court for this assistance. informing me, at the request of the queen, that At these words the spectators broke into loud other necessary outlays had prevented the queen's exclamations, and one of the veiled ladies cried: paying me the six hundred thousand francs that I "Lords Vaudreuil and Coigny would not have had disbursed to BOhmer at the purchase of the THE TRIAL. 47 necklace, and that she must be content with pay- I again took a little courage; but soon after the ing the interest of this sum, thirty thousand francs. countess had left me, the jewellers came in the The queen requested me to be satisfied for the highest excitement to me, to tell me that, receivpresent with this arrangement, and to be sure of ing no payments from the queen, they had ap. her favor. I trusted the words of the countess plied in writing to her several times, without ro once more, took fresh courage, and sent word to ceiving any answer; their efforts to obtain an the queen that I should always count myself audience were also all in vain, and so they had happy to conform to her arrangements, and be at last applied to the first lady-in-waiting on her devoted servant. The countess dismissed the queen, Madame de Campan, with whom me, saying that she would bring the money on they had just had an interview. Madame de the morrow. In the mean time, something oc- Campan had'told them that the queen did not curred that awakened all my doubts and all my possess the necklace; that no Countess Lamotteanxieties afresh. I visited the Duchess de Po- Valois had ever had an interview with the queen; iignac, and while I was with her, there was that she had told the jewellers with extreme inhanded her a note from the queen. I requested dignation that some one had been deceiving them; the duchess, in case the billet contained no secret, that they were the victims of a fraud, and that to show it to me, that I might see the' handwrit- she would at once go to Trianon to inform the ing of the queen. - The duchess complied with queen of this fearful intrigue. This happened on my request, and-" a Thursday; on the following Sunday I repaired The cardinal was silent, and deep inward ex- to Versailles to celebrate high mass, and the rest citement made his face pale.'He bowed his you know. I have nothing further to add." head, folded his hands, and his lips moved in "In the name of the court I thank your emiwhispered prayers. nence for your open and clear exposition of this The judges, as well as the spectators, remained sad history," said the president, solemnly. "Your silent. No one was able to break the solemn eminence needs refreshment, you are free to withstillness by an audible breath-by a single move- draw and to return to the Bastile." ment. The cardinal rose and bowed to the court. All At length, after a long pause, when the cardi- the judges stood, and respectfully returned the nal had raised his head again, the president asked salutation.* gently: " And so your eminence saw the note One of the veiled ladies, sitting on the spectaof the queen, and was it not the same writing as tors' seats, cried with trembling voice: "God the letters which you had received?" bless the cardinal, the noble martyr of the " No, it was not the same! " cried the cardinal, realm!'with pain. " No, it was an entirely different hand. All the spectators repeated the cry; and, while Only the signature had any resemblance, although the words yet rang, the cardinal, followed by the the letter to the duchess was simply subscribed officers who were to take him to the Bastile, had'Marie Antoinette.' I hastened home, and awaited left the hall. the coming of the countess with feverish impa- "Guards!" cried President -de l'Aigre, with a tience. She came, smiling as ever, and brought loud voice, "bring in the accused, the Countess me the thirty thousand francs. With glowing, de Lamotte-Valois!".passionate words, I threw my suspicions in her - All eyes directed themselves to the door which face. She appeared a moment alarmed, confused, the guards now opened, and through which the and then granted that it:was possible that the accused was to enter. letters were not from the hand of the queen, but Upon the threshold of this door appeared now that she had dictated them. But the signatures * Historical. —See "Memoires de'aAbbi George, n were the queen's, she could take her oath of it. vol. i 48 1MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. a lady of slim, graceful form, in a toilet of the police; we shall then compel you to take the seat, greatest elegance, her head decorated with feath- and in order to prevent your rising, the chains ers, flowers, and lace, lier cheeks highly painted, will be bound around your arms." and her fine ruby lips encircled by a pert, and at The countess answered only with an exclamathe same time a mocking smile, which displayed tion of anger, and fixed her inquiring looks upon two rows of the finest teeth. With this smile the judges, the accusers, the defenders, and then upon her lips she moved-forward with a light and again upon the spectators. Everywhere she enspirited step, turning her great blazing black eyes countered only a threatening mien and suspicious with proud, inquisitive looks now to the stern semi- looks, nowhere an expression of sympathy. circle of judges and now to the tribune, whose But it was just this which seemed to give her occupants had not been able to suppress a move- courage and to steel her strength. She raised ment of indignation and a subdued hiss. her head proudly, forced the smile again upon her "Gentlemen," said she, with a clear, distinct lips, and took her seat upon the chair with a voice, in which not the faintest quiver, not the grace and dignity as if she were in a brilliant least excitement was apparent —" gentlemen, are saloon, and was taking her seat upon an elegant we here in a theatre, where the players who tread sofa. the boards are received with audible signs of ap- The president of the court now turned his proval or of disfavor?" grave, rigid face to the countess, and asked: The president, to whom her dark eyes were "Who are you, madame? What is your name, directed, deigned to give no answer, but turned and how old are you?" ~with an expressive gesture to the officer who The countess gave way to a loud, melodious stood behind the accused. laugh. "My lord president," answered she, " it He understood this sign, and brought from the is very clear that you are not much accustomed corner of the hall a wooden seat of rough, clumsy to deal with ladies, or else you would not take form, to whose high back of unpolished dirty the liberty of asking a lady, like myself in her wood two short iron chains were attached. prime, after her age. I will pardon you this This seat he placed near the handsome, gau- breach of etiquette, and I will magnanimously dily-dressed countess with her air of assurance and pretend not to have heard that question, in order self-confidence, and pointed to it with a com- to answer the others. You wish to know my manding gesture. name? I am the Countess Lamotte-Valois of:" Be seated," he said, with a loud, lordly tone. France, the latest descendant of the former Kings She shrugged her shoulders, and looked at the of France; and if in this unhappy land, which is offered seat with an expression of indignation. trodden to the dust by a stupid king and a disso"How!" she cried, "who dares offer me the lute queen, right and justice still prevailed, I chair of criminals to sit in?" should sit on the throne of France, and the co"Be seated," replied the officer. "The seat quette who now occupies it would be sitting of the accused is ready for you, and the -chains here in this criminal's chair, to justify herself for upon it are for those who are not inclined to the theft which she has committed, for it is Marie take it." Antoinette who possesses the diamonds of the A cry of anger escaped from her lips, and her jeweller Bihmer, not I." eyes flashed an annihilating glance upon the ven- At the spectators' tribune a gentle bravo was turesome officer, but he did not appear to be in heard at these words, and this daring calumny the least affected by the lightning from her eyes, upon the queen found no reproval even from the but met it with perfect tranquillity. judges' bench. "If you do not take it of yourself, inadame," " Madame," said L'Aigre, after a short pause, he said, "I shall be compelled to summon the "instead of simply answering my questions you THE TRIAL. 49 reply with a high-sounding speech, which contains first time a death-like paleness diffused itself ove" an untruth, for it is not true that you can lay any her hitherto rosy cheeks. claim to the throne of France. The descendants "So Madame de Boulainvillier had the children of bastards have claims neither to the name nor of the day-laborer Valois called," continued the the rank of their fathers. Since, in respect to president, with his imperturbable self-possession your name and rank, you have answered with an "The oldest daughter, a girl of twelve years untruth, I will tell yQu who and what you are. pleased her in consequence of her lively nature Your father was a poor peasant in the village of and her attractive exterior. She took her to herAuteuil. He called'himself Valois, and the cler- self, she gave her an excellent education, she was gyman of the village one day told the wife of the resolved to provide for her whole future; when proprietor of Auteuil, Madame de Boulainvillier, one day the young Valois disappeared from the that the peasant of Valois was in possession of chateau of Madame de Boulainvillier. She had family papers, according to which it was unques- eloped with the: sub-lieutenant, Count Lamotte, tionable that he was an illegitimate descendant of and announced to her benefactress, in a letter the old royal family. The good priest at the same which she left behind, that she was escaping fro n time recommended the poor, hungry children of the slavery in which she had hitherto lived, and the day-laborer Valois to the kindness of Madame that she left her curse to those who wanted to de Boulainvillier, and the old lady hastened to hinder her marrying the man of her choice. But comply with this recommendation.' She had the in order to accomplish her marriage, she confessed daughter of Valois called to her to ask her how that she had found it necessary to rob the casket she could assist her in her misery." of Madame de Boulainvillier, and that out of this " Say rather to gain for herself the credit that money she should defray her expenses. It was a she had shown kindnesses to the descendants of sum of twenty thousand francs which the fugitive the Kings of France," interrupted the countess, had robbed from her benefactress." quickly. " I take the liberty of remarking to you, Mr. " This would have been a sorry credit," replied President, that you are there making use of a toPresident L'Aigre. " The Valois family had for a tally false expression,", interrupted the countess. long time been extinct, and the last man of that "It cannot be said that I robbed this sum. It name who is known, was detected in counterfeit- was the dowry which Madame de Boulainvillier ing, sentenced, and executed. Your grandfather had promised to give me in case of my marriage, was an illegitimate son of the counterfeiter Va- and I only took what was my own, as I was upon lois. That is the sum total of vour relation to the point of marrying. Madame de Boulainvillier the royal family of France. It is possible that herself justified me in taking this sum, or s're upon this very chair on which you now sit, ac- never asked me to return it or filed an accusation cused of this act of deception, your natural against me." great-grandfather once sat, accused like you of an "Because she wanted to prevent the matter beact of deception, in order, after conviction of his coming town-talk," remarked the president, quietcrime, to be punished according to the laws of ly. "Madame de Boulainvillier held her peace, France." and relinquished punishment to the righteous The countess made a motion as if she wanted Judge who lives above the stars." to rise from the unfortunate seat, but instantly "And who surely has not descended from the the heavy hand of the officer was laid upon her stars to assume the president's chair of this shoulder, and his threatening voice said, "Sit court," cried Lamotte, with a mocking laugh. still, or I put on the chains!" PresidentL'Aigre, without heeding the interrupThe Countess Lamotte-Valois of France sank tion, continued: back with-a loud sob upon the chair, and for the " The daughter of the laborer Valois married 4 50 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. the sub-lieutenant Lamotte, who lived in a little nal, as the price of a part of the necklace, a tengarrison city of the province, and sought to in- der tWte-w-tdte with the queen. The cardinal will crease his meagre salary by many ingenious de- not deny that in the garden of Versailles he had vices. He not merely gave instruction in fencing a rendezvous with the queen, that he kissed her and riding, but he was also a very skilful card- hand and received a rose from her; and the player-so skilful, that fortune almost always queen will be compelled to confess in the end accompanied him." that the necklace is in her possession. What " My lord," cried the countess, springing up, blame can be laid on me for this?" "you seem to want to hint that Count Lamotte "The blame of deception, of defalcation, of played a false game. You surely would not ven- forgery, of calumny, of theft," replied the presiture to say this if the count were free, for he dent, with solemn earnestnecss. "You deceived would challenge you for this insult, and it is well Cardinal de Rohan in saying that you knew the known that his stroke is fatal to those who stand queen, that you were intimate with her, that she in the way of his dagger." honored you with her confidence. You forged, or " I hint at nothing, and I merely call things by got some one to forge, the handwriting of the their right names," replied the president, smiling. queen, and prepared letters which you gave to the "In consequence of strong suspicions of false cardinal, pretending that they came from the play, Count Lamotte was driven out of his regi- queen. You misused the devotion of the cardinal ment; and as the young pair had in the mean -to the royal family, and caused his eminence to time consumed the stolen wedding-money, they believe that the queen desired his services in the must discover some new way of making a living. purchase of' the necklace; and after the cardinal, The young husband repaired to'the south of fiull of pleasure, had been able to do a service to France to continue his card-playing; the young the queen, had treatedwith Bbhmer and Ba;swife, having for her fortune her youth and the senge, had paid a part of the purchase money, splendor of'her name, repaired to Paris, both re- and gave you the necklace in charge to be put solved de corrigesr la fortune wherever and how- into the queen's hands, you were guilty of theft, ever they could.' This, madame," continued the for the queen knows ilothing of the necklace; the president, after a pause, " this is the true answer queen never gave you the honor of an audience, to my question, how you are called, and who you the queen never spoke with you, and no one of are." the queen's companions ever saw the Countess "The answer is, however, not yet quite satis- Lamotte." factory," replied Lamotte, in an impudent tone. " That means they disown me; they all disown " You have forgotten to add that I am the friend, me!" cried the countess, with flaming rage, stampofthe cardinal, Prince Louis de Rohan, the confi- ing upon the floor with her little satin-covered dante and friend of Queen Marie Antoinette, and foot. " But the truth will one day come to the that both now want to do me the honor to- make light. The cardinal will not deny'that the queen me their, bte de souffrance, and to let me suffer gave him a rendezvous at Versailles; that she for what they have done and are guilty of. My thanked him personally for the necklace which whole crime lies in this, that I helped the Queen she had procured through his instrumentality." of France gain the jewels for which her idle and "Yes, the truth will come to the light," antrivial soul longed; that I helped the amorous and swered the president. " I summon the crown atlight-minded cardinal approach the object of his'torney, M. de Borillon, to present the charge love, and procured for him an interview with the against the Countess Lamotte-Valois." queen. That is all that can be charged upon me; On this the attorney-general, Borillon, rose, and I procured for the queen the fine necklace of amid the breathless silence of the assembly began' Messrs. Bihmcr and Bassenge; I gave the cardi- to speak. He painted the countess as a crafty, THE TRIAL. 51 skilful adventuress, who had come to Paris with sion; he paid the first instalment of six hundred! the determined purpose of making her fortune in thousand francs, and gave the necklace to the whatever way it could be done. He then spoke friend of the queen, the Countess Lamotte-Vaof the destitution in which she'had lived at first, lois, after he had availed himself of her assistance of the begging letters which she addressed to all in receiving from the lips and hand of the queen people of distinction, and especially to Cardinal in the garden of Versailles the assurance of the de Rohan, in consequence of his well-known lib- royal favor. The countess at once brought the erality. He painted in lively and touching colors cardinal a paper from the queen, stating that. she the scene where the cardinal, struck by the name had received the necklace, and conveying to W'm of the suppliant, went in person to the attic to the warm thanks of his queen. The cardinal felt convince himself whether it were really true that himself richly rewarded by this for all his pains a descendant of the Kings of France had been and outlays, and in the joy of his heart wanted to driven to such poverty and humiliation, and to repay her who, in so prudent and wise a manner, give her assistance for the sake of the royal house, had effected his reconciliation with the queen. He to which he was devoted heart and soul. He settled upon her a yearly pension of four thousand painted further how the cardinal, attracted by the francs, payable her whole life, and the countess lively spirits, amiability, and intellectual charac- accepted it with tears of emotion, and swore eterter of Lamotte-Valois, had given her his confl- nal gratitude to the cardinal. But while uttering dence, and believed what she told him about her this very oath she was conspiring against her benfavor with the queen, and her intimate relations efactor, and laughing in her sleeve at the creduwith her. " The cardinal," continued the attorney- lous prince who had fallen into the very net which general, " did not doubt for a moment the trust-. she had prepared for him. Her most active ally worthiness of the countess; he had not the least was her husband, whom she had long before sumsuspicion that he was appointed to become the moned to Paris, and who was the abetter of her victim of an intriguer, who would take advantage intrigue. The countess had now become a rich of his noble spirit, his magnanimity, to deceive lady, and was able to indulge all her cravings for him and to enrich herself. The countess knew splendor and luxury. She who, down to that the boundless devotion of the cardinal to the time, had stood as a supplicant before the doors queen; she had heard his complaints of the proud of the rich, could herself have a princely dwelling, coldness, the public slights which she offered to and could devote great sums to its adornment. him. On the other hand, she had heard of the The most celebrated makers were called on to furcostly'diamond necklace which BShmer and Bas- nish the furniture and the decorations, and, as if senge had repeatedly offered to the queen, and by a touch of magic, she was surrounded by fabthat she had refused to take it on account of the ulous luxury; the fairest equipages stood ready enormous price which they demanded for it. On for her, the finest horses in her stable, and a troop this the countess formed her plan and it succeed- of lackeys waited upon the beck of' the fair lady ed perfectly. She caused -the cardinal to hope who displayed. her princely splendor before them. that he would soon have an audience of the queen, A choice silver service glittered upon her table, if he would give solid assurances of his devotion, and she possessed valuables worth more than a and when he professed himself ready, she pro- hundred thousand francs. More than this, she posed to him, as acting under the queen's instruc- enjoyed the best of all, a tender and devoted hustions, the purchase of the necklace. The cardinal band, who overloaded her with presents; from declared himself ready to accede, and the affair London, whither he was called by pressing family took the course already indicated with such touch- affairs, he sent his wife a medallion of diamonds, ing frankness and lofty truthfulness by his emi- which was subsequently estimated at two hundred nence. He brought the purchase to a conclu- and thirty louis-d'ors, and a pearl bracelet worth 52 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. two hundred louis-d'ors. Returning from his jour- strong and clear. Some of the diamonds which ney, he surprised his wife with a new and splendid Lamotte had sold in London were brought back present. He had purchased a palace in Bar-sur- to Paris, and hadbeen recognized by Bbhmer ane Aube, and thither the whole costly furniture of Bassenge as belonging to the necklace which they his hired house was carried. Would you know had sold to the queen. The goldsmith had been where all these rare gifts were drawn? The discovered to whom the countess had sold the Countess Lamotte had broken the necklace, and golden setting of the necklace, and Bbhmer and taken the stones from their setting. For the gold Bassenge had recognized in the fragments which alone which was used in the setting she received remained their own work. It is unquestionable forty thousand francs; for one of the diamonds, that the Countess Lamotte-Valois, through her which she sold- in Paris, she received fifty thou- intrigues and cunning, had been able to gain possand francs; for another, thirty-six thousand. session of the necklace, and that she had approThe diamonds of uncommon size and immense priated it to her 6wn use. The countess is there. worth she did not dare to dispose of in Paris, and fore guilty of theft and deception. She is, moreher husband was compelled to journey to London over, guilty of forgery, for she has imitated the to sell a portion of them there. On his return handwriting of the queen, and subscribed it with thence he was able to buy for his wife the house the royal name. But the hand is neither that of in Bar-sur-Aube, for the sum received in London the queen, nor does the queen ever subscribe was four hundred thousand francs in gold, in ad- herself' Marie Antoinette of France.' This makes dition to the pearls and the diamond medallion Lamotte open to the charge of both forgery and which hebrought his wife from London. And of contempt of majesty, for she has even dared to all-this luxury, this extravagance, Cardinal de Ro- drag the sacred person of the Queen of France han had naturally no suspicion. When he visited into her mesh of lies, and to make-her majesty her, where did the countess receive him? In a the heroine of' a dishonorable love-adventure." poorly-furnished attic-chamber of the house hired "My lord," cried Countess Lamotte, with a loud by her. In simple, modest attire, she met him laugh, " you are not driven to the necessity of inthere and told him with trembling voice that the volving the queen, in dishonorable love-adventures. rich countess who lived in the two lower stories of The queen is in reality the heroine of so many the house had allowed her to have this suite next adventures of this character, that you can have to the roof gratis. But when danger approached, your choice of them. A queen who visits the and Lamotte began to fear that Bbhmer and Bas- opera-house balls incognito, drives thither masked senge, in claiming their pay from the queen, and in a fiacre, and who appears incognito on the would bring, the history of the necklace to the terraces of Versailles with strange soldiers, exlight, the countess came to the cardinal to pay changing jocose words with them-a queen of the her parting respects, as she was going into the type of this Austrian may not wonder to find her country to a friend to live in the greatest privacy. name identified with the heroine of a love-advenShe left Paris merely to repair.to Bar-sur-Aube ture. But we are speaking now not of a romance, and live in her magnificent palace. She tarried but of a reality, and I am not to be accused of there so long as to allow the police detectives to forgery and contempt of majesty without having discover in the rich and elegant lady the intriguer the proofs brought forward. This cannot, howLamotte-Valois, and to effect the imprisonment of ever, be done, for I have the proofs of my innoher husband and his friend, the so-called Count cence. The cardinal had an interview with the Cagliostro. Her other abetters had put them- queen, and she gave him a receipt for the diaselves out of sight, and were not to be discov- monds. If she wrote her signature differently ered. However, their arrest was not'specially from her usual manner, it is not my fault. It only necessary, for the facts were already sufficiently shows that the queen was cunning enough to se THE TRIAL. 53 cure an alibi, so to speak, for her signature, and soon after returned alone and whispered someto leave a rear door open for herself, through thing in the officer's ear. which she'could slip with her exalted name, in "The lady asks the court's indulgence for a case the affair was discovered, and leave me to few moments," said the officer, aloud. " As she be her bte de souffrance. But I am by no means must be separated some hours from her child, disposed to accept this part, for I declare here she asks permission to suckle it a few mosolemnly, before God and man, that I am innocent ments." of' the crime laid to my charge. I was.only a-too The president cast an inquiring.look at the trueand devoted friend, that is all! Isacrificed my judges, who all nodded affirmatively. own safety and peace to the welfare of my exalted The law was silent before the voice of Nature; friends, and I now complain of them. that they all waited noiselessly till the witness had quieted have treated me unthankfully in this matter. her child. But they must bear the blame, they alone. Let And now the door of the witness-room opened, the queen show that she did not give the cardinal and upon the threshold was seen a woman's a rendezvous in the park of Versailles; let her figure, at whose unexpected appearance a cry of further show-that she did not sign the promissory amazement rose from the lips of all the spectanote, and the letters to his eminence, and then I tors on the tribune, and all eyes were aflame with shall be exposed to the charge of being a de- curiosity. ceiver and a traitor. But so long as this is not It was the queen-no one but the queen who done-and it cannot be done, for God is just, and was entering the hall! will not permit the innocent to suffer for the guil- It was her slim, fine figure, it was her fresh, ty-so long will all France, yes, all Europe, be con- young, rosy countenance, with the fair, charming vinced that the queen is the guilty one; that she oval of her delicately-tinted cheeks; it was her received the jewels, and paid the cgrdinal for them finely-cut mouth, with the full, lower lips; there as a coquette and light-minded woman doSs, with were her large, grayish-blue eyes; her high foretender words, with smiles and loving looks, and, head; her beautiful, chestnut-brown hair, arranged last of all, with a rendezvous!" in exactly the manner, that Leonard, the queen's "You are right," said the attorney-general, as hair-dresser, was accustomed to dress hers. the countess ceased, and looked around her with The rest of her toilet, also, was precisely like a victorious smile-" you are quite right, God is that of the queen when she appeared in the garjust, and He will not permit the innocent to suffer dens of Versailles and dispensed with court etifor the guilty. He will not let your infernal in- quette. A bright dress"oflight linen flowed down trigue stand as truth; He will tear away the mask in long, broad folds over her. beautiful figure; of inndcence from your deceiver's face, and let her chest and the full shoulders were covered by you stand forth in all your impudence and de- a short white robe d l'enfant, A nd on the loftily ception." dressed hair lay a white cap, trimmed with lace. "My lord," cried the countess, smiling, "those Yes, it was the queen, as she had often been are very high-sounding words, but they are no seen wandering up and down in the broad walks proofs." of Versailles; and even the ladies on the tribune, "We will now give the proofs," answered the who often enough had seen the monarch close at attorney-general, turning to one of the guards. hand and had spoken, with her, looked in aston-'Let the lady enter who is waiting in the room ishment at the entering figure, and whispered, outside.." "It is she! The queen herself is coming to give The officer gave a sign to one of the men who her evidence. What folly, what thoughtlessstood near the door leading to the witness- ness!" room; he entered the adjoining apartment, but While all eyes were directed upon this unex. 54 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. pected figure, no one had thought of the Countess be merely a good mother and a good wife. Do Lamotte-Valois, no one had noticed how she you now want to know what I am called? Down shrank back, and then started from her seat, as to the present time I am called Mlademoiselle if she wanted to fly from the horror which so Oliva. You had me arrested in Brussels and suddenly confronted her. brought here exactly nine days before the apNo, the officer who stood near her chair had pointed time of my marriage with my dear George. noticed this movement, and with a quick and He had promised me that our child should be able,strong grasp seized her arm. to regard us as regularly married people, and he "What do you want, madame? Why do you wanted to keep his promise, but you prevented rise from your chair after being told to sit still, if him, and it is your fault that my dear ibtle boy you do not want to be chained?" was born in prison, and that his fhther was not At the touch of the officer, Lamotte had, as it there to greet him. But you will confess that I appeared, regained her whole composure, and had am guilty of no crime, and then you will fulfil my conquered her alarm. wish, and give me a written certificate of my in"I rose," she said calmly, "to pay my respects nocence-that is," she corrected herself, blushing, to the Queen of France, like a good subject; but "of my innocence in this matter, that I may be as I see that no one else stands up, and that they able to justify myself to my son, when I have to allow the queen to enter without rising from their tell him that he was born in prison. It is such a seats, I will take mine again." And the countess dreadful thing for a mother to have any thing slowly sank into her chair. that she is ashamed to confess to her child! " " Come nearer," cried President de L'Aigre to A murmur of applause ran through the hall, the royal personage; and she stepped forward, al- and the ladies upon the tribune looked vith symlowing her eyes to wander unconstrainedly through pathy upon this fair woman, whose faithful love the hall, and then, as she approached the table, made her beautiful, and whose mother-feeling behind which the president and the judges sat, gave her dignity. greeting them with a friendly nod and smile which "So your name is Mademoiselle Oliva? " asked caused her lips to part. Again there passed the president. through the hall a wave of amazement, for now, "Yes, sir, that unfortunately is the name I am when the lady opened her mouth, the first dissirmi- called by," answered she, sighing, "but as soon larityto the queen appeared. Behind her cherry- as I leave the prison I shall be married, and then red lips there were two rows of poor, broken I shall be called Madame George. For my child's teeth, with gaps between them, whereas Marie sake, you would do me a great kindness now if Antoinette had, on account of her faultless teeth, you Would call me madame." been the object of admiration and envy to all the At these naive words a smile lighted up the ladies of her court. stern faces of the judges, and sped like a ray of "Who are you, madame, and what are you sunlight over all the countenances of the spectacalled? " asked the president. tors. Even the rigid features of the attorney-gen"Who am I, sir?" replied the lady, with a eral were* touched for an instant with the glow; slight flush. "Good Lord! that is hard to an- only those of the Countess Lamotte darkened. swer. I was a light-minded and idle girl, that did "Your majesty plays to-day the naive part of not like to work, but did like to live well, and apa.ysanneperversee," cried she, with a hard, shrill had no objection to dress, and led a tolerably easy voice. " It is well known that your majesty loves life, till one day my heart was surprised by love. to play comedies, and that you are sometimes After being enamoured of. my Sergeant George, I content with even the minor parts. Now, do not resolved to lead an honorable and virtuous life; look at me, Mrs. Queen, with such a withering and since my little son was born I have tried to look. Do nft forget that you are playing the THE TRIAL. 55 part of Mademoiselle Oliva, and that you have would visit me and make my acquaintance. On come secretly from Versailles to save your honor the next day he really came in company with a and your diamonds." lady, who greeted me very friendly, and was as"Officer," cried the president, "if the accused tonished at her first glimpse of me." allows herself to speak a single word without be- "Who was that lady? " asked the president. nlug asked, lock her up qnd gag her." Mademoiselle' pointed with her thumb over her The officer bowed in token of his unconditional shoulder. obedience, and drew out the wooden gag, which "The lady yonder," said she. he showed the countess, going straight to her "Are you sure of it?" chair. " As of my own life, Mr. PreSident." "' I will comply with your wish," said the presi- "Good. Go on. You saw the lady quite fredent, turning to the living portrait of the queen. quently?" "I will call you madame, if you will promise me " Yes, she visited me twice more, and told me in return to answer all my questions faithfully." about the queen, and the splendid way they lived "I promise you that, by my child," answered at the court; she promised me that she would Mademoiselle Oliva,. bowing slightly. bring me to the court and make a great lady out "Tell me, then, do you know the person who of me, if I would do what she wanted me to do. sits in that chair?" I promised it gladly, and declared myself ready Mademoiselle Oliva cast a quick look at La- to do every thing that she should order me, if she motte, who glared at her from her seat. would keep her promise and bring me to the "Oh, yes, I know her," she said. "That is, I court, that I might speak with the king and the do not know her name, I only know that she lives queen." hi a splendid palace, that she is very rich, and has "But why were you so curious to go to the every thing nice." court and speak with the king and the queen?" "How do you know this lady? Tell us that." "Why? Good Lord! that is very simple and " I will tell you, \gentlemen, and I swear to you natural. It is a very easy thing for the king to that so sure as I want to be an honorable wife, I make a captain out of a sergeant, and as the king, will tell you the whole truth. I was walking one so people say, does nothing but what the queen day in the Palais Royal, when a tall, slim, gentle- tells him to, I wanted of course before every thing manly man, who had passed me several times, to have a good word from the queen. I should came up to me, said some soft things, and asked have liked to see my dear George wearing epaupermission to visit me. I answered him, smiling, lets, and it must have tremendously pleased my that he could visit me at once if he would take boy to have come into the world the child of a me into one of the eati'g-houses and dine with captain." me. He accepted my proposition, and wq dined "'Did you tell that to the lady?" together, and were merry and jolly enough for a "Certainly I told her, and she promised me. new acquaintance. When we parted we promised that the queen would undoubtedly do me the favor, to meet there again on the morrow, and so we did. provided that I would do every thing that she After the second dinner, the amiable gentleman bade me do in the name of the queen. She told conducted me home, and there told me that he me, then, that the queen had ordered her to seek was very distinguished and influential, that he had a person suitable to play a part in a little comedy, friends at court, and -was very well acquainted which she was privately preparing; that I was with the king and queen. He told me that he just the person to play this part, and if I would would procure for me powerful patrons, and told do it well and tell nobody in the world, not even me that a very distinguished lady, who had inter- George, when he should come home froni Brussels, tsted herself in my behalf through his description, she would not only give me her help in the future, 56 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER' SON. but pay me fifteen thousand francs for my assist- I might get the fifteen thousand francs for my ance. I consented with great joy, of course, for marriage portion." fifteen thousand francs was a magnificent dowry "So they gave you a lesson to learn?" for a marriage, and I was very happy in being "Yes, the countess, and the gentleman who able to earn' so much without having to work very brought her to me, came twice to me, and taught hard for it." me how I ought to walk, how to hold my head, "But did it not occur to you that that was a to nod, and reach my hand to kiss. After teach. dangerous game that they wanted you to play, ing me this, they came one day and carried me in and for which they were going to pay such a high a splendid coach to the house of the countess. sum?" There I dined with them, and then we drove to "I did have such thoughts once in a while, but Versailles. They walked with me in the park, I suppressed them soon, so as not to be troubled and at a place near the pavilion they stood still, about my good fortune; and besides that, the and said to me:'Here is where you will play countess assured me that every thing was done at your little comedy to-morrow; this is the spot the command of the queen, and that it was the which the queen has herself appointed, and every queen who was going to pay the fifteen thousand thing which takes place is at the express comfrancs. That quieted me completely, for as an mand of her majesty.' That entirely quieted me, obedient and true subject it was my duty to obey and I turned back to Paris everioyed, in company the queen, and show devotion to her in all with the countess and her companion. They kept things, more particularly when she was going to me that night in their beautiful home, and on the pay so magnificently. Meantime, I comforted next day we drove again to Versailles, where the myself that it could be nothing bad and criminal countess had a small suite of apartments. She that the queen could order done, and the countess herself dressed me, and condescended to help me assured me that too, and told me that every thing like a waiting-maid." I had to do was to represent another person, and " What kind of a suit did she put upon you?" to make a lover believe that he was with his.love, "Exactly such a one as I am wearing to-day, which would', of course, please him immensely, onlyiwhen we were ready, and it had begun to and make him very happy. Besides, I did not grow dark, the countess laid a white mantle over think it any sin to do my part toward making an me, and covered my head with'a cap.. Then she unfortunate lover have happy thoughts. I was drove me into the park, gave me a letter, and very much pleased with this part, and made my said:'You will give this letter to a gentleman plan to speak to him in very tender and loving who will meet us.' We went in silence through tones."i the paths and alleys of the park, and I confess "But were you not curious to know for whom that my heart beat right anxiously, and that I you were playing this part, and what lady you had to think a great deal upon the fifteen thou had to represent?" sand francs, in order to keep my courage up." "I should certainly have liked very much to "Did you go with the countess alone, or was know, but the countess forbade me to ask, and some one else with' you?" told me that I must suppress my curiosity; and, "The gentleman who first made my acquainton the other hand, make an effort to notice noth- ance, and who was, as I believe, the husband of ing at all, else I should receive only half of the the countess, accompanied us. After we had money; and, besides, if they noticed that I knew walked about for a while, he stopped and said: what I was doing, I might be sent to the Bastile.' Now you must walk alone; I shall, however, be I was still upon that, and did not trouble myself there af the right time to make a noise, and to about any thing further, and asked nothing more, put the amorous lover to flight.' Then he stepped and only thought of learning my lesson well, that into the thicket, and we were alone. On this the THE TRIAL. 57 countess gave me a rose, and said:' You will give her husband had -paid in advance for all relays of this rose with the letter to the person, and say horses as far as Brussels, so that I had a very nothing more than this. You -know what that agreeable, comfortable ride. And this, I think, signifies.' The countess made me -repeat that is all that I have to relate, and my son will not three times, and then said:'You need not add have an unquiet.night, for I have kept my word, a single word'to that. The queen herself has and told every thing truthfully." selected these words, and she will hear whether "You have nothing to add to this?" you repeat them correctly, for she will stand be- "What could I add to this?" asked Oliva, hind you, and be a spectator of the whole scene.' sighing. " You know as well as I the end of my On this the countess withdrew, leading me into a history. You know, that a fortnight after that thicket, and soon the gentleman came, and I came little scene at Versailles, I was arrested by police out of the place of my concealment. After he agents in Brussels, and brought to Paris. You had made me some very deep reverences, I handed know, also, that I swore to take my life if my him the rose and the letter, and repeated the very dear- George were not allowed to visit me daily in words the countess had taught me. The gentle- prison. You know that my dear child was born man sank upon his knee, and kissed the hand in prison, and that it is now half a year old, while which I extended with the rose. At this moment his poor mother is accused, and not yet gained we heard a noise, as if of men's steps approach- her freedom. You know that all! What have I ing, and the countess came running up.'For that I could add to this? I beg you, let me go God's sake!' she cried,'we are watched! Quick, and return to my child, for my little George is quick, come i' and she drew me hurriedly away. certainly awake, and his father does not know We left the garden, and returned to the dwelling how to quiet him when he cries." of the countess, and there I remained alone, for "You may go to your child," said the presithe countess and her husband said, laughing, dent,:with a gentle smile. "Officer, conduct that they must go and console the old gentleman Madame Oliva back to the witness-room." for having so short a rendezvous, and for being ]Madame Oliva expressed her thanks for this so quickly disturbed. I asked whether I had by throwing a kiss of the hand to the president done my part well, and the countess said that the and the judges, and then hastily followed the offiqueen was very well satisfied with me-that she cer, who opened the door of the adjoining room. had stood in the thicket, and had observed all. As it swung back, a loud cry of a child was heard, Early next morning we rode back to Paris, and and Madame Oliva, who was standing upon the when we had arrived at their hotel, the countess threshold, turned her fair face back to the presipaid me the fifteen thousand francs all correctly; dent with a triumphant.expression, and smiled. but she made this condition, that I must go to "Did I not tell you so?" she cried. My son see my George as soon as possible, and that till I is calling, for he is longing for me. I am coming, should go, I must remain in a little room in her my little George, I am coming ".house. I wrote at once to George and announced She sprang forward, and the door closed behind my coming, and the time seemed endless till I re- her. ceived his answer, although the countess paid a "You have heard the statements of the witgreat deal of attention to me, and always invited ness," said the president, addressing Countess me to her petits soupers, where we had a right Lamotte. " You see now that we have the proof merry time. As soon as the answer had come of the ignominious and treacherous intrigues which from my George, who wrote nie that he was ex- you have conducted. Will you, in the face of pecting me, I took my departure in an elegant such proofs, still endeavor to deny the facts which post-carriage, like a lady; -for the countess was have been given in evidence?" not willing that I should travel in a diligence, and " I have seen neither proofs nor facts," an 58 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. swered Lamotte, scornfully. "I have only been that was not the queen who gave the rendezvous amazed at the self-possession with which the to the cardinal in Versailles; that the promissory queen goes through her part, and wondered how note was not subscribed by the queen, and that far her light-mindedness will carry her. She is the letters to the cardinal were not written by truly an adroit player, and she has played the part her. If the proof of this were to be displayed to of Madame Oliva so well, that not a motion nor a you, it would be right to accuse you of hightone would have betrayed the queen." treason. We have already exhibited the proof "How, madame?" asked the president, in that it was not Queen Marie Antoinette who amazement. "Do you pretend to assert that this made an appointment with the cardinal in Verwitness, who has just left the hall, is not Madame sailles, but that it was the comedy planned and Oliva, but another person? Do you not know brought out by yourself, with which you deceived that this witness, this living portrait of the queen, the cardinal, and made him believe that he was tlas for ten months been detained at the Bastile, going to buy the necklace of which you intended and that no change in the person is possible?" to rob him. It only remains to show you that "I only know that the queen has played her the subscription of the queen and the letters to part well," said Lamotte, shrugging her shoul- the cardinal were forged by you." ders. " She has even gone so far, in her desire "And certainly," cried the countess, "I am to show a difference between Madame Oliva and very curious to have you exhibit the proofs of the queen, as to make a very great sacrifice, and this!" to disclose a secret of her beauty. She, has laid "That is a very simple matter," answered the aside her fine false teeth, and let us see her nat: president, calmly. " We confront you with him ural ones, in order that we may see a difference who at your direction imitated the handwriting between the queen and Madame'Oliva. Confess of the queen and wrote the letters. Officer, sumonly, gentlemen, that it is a rare and comical mon the last-witness!" sight to have a queen so like a courtesan, that The officer threw open the door which led to you can only distinguish the one from the other the next room. A breathless silence prevailed in by the teeth."' the great hall; every one was inten~ ely eager to And the countess broke out into scornful laugh- see this last witness who was to uncover the web ter, which found a loud echo in some of the veiled of frauds of the countess's spinning. The great ladies in the tribune. burning eyes of the accused, too, were turned to " Moderate your pleasantry, madame," com- this door, and her compressed lips and her piermanded the president. "lRemember that you cing glance disclosed a little of the anxiety of her are in a grave and perilous situation, and that soul, although her bearing and manner were still justice hangs, over you like the sword of Dam- impudent and scornful. ocles. You have already invoked your fate, in And now the door opened, and a cry of amazecalling God to witness that the innocent shall not ment and rage broke from the lips bf the countess. suffer for the guilty, and now this word is fulfilled "Retaux de Vilette," cried she madly, doubling in yourself. The whole edifice of your lies and up her little hands into fists and.extending them intrigues crumbles over you, and will cover your toward the man who now entered the hall. head with the dust of eternal infamy." "Shameful! Re has turned against "I experience nothing of it yet, God be me!" thanked," cried Lamotte, shrugging her shoul- And losing for a moment her composure, she ders. sank back upon tle seat from which she had "You will be punished for these shameless deeds risen in her fright. A deathly paleness covered sooner than you expected," answered the president, her cheeks, and, almost swooning, she rested her solemnly. " You said that you wanted proof that head on the back of the chair. THE TRIAL. 59 "You now see that God is just," said the pres- Retaux, with vehemence. "Because I had al. ident, after a brief pause. " Your own conscience lowed myself to be led astray by the promises, the testifies against you and compels you to confess seductive arts, the deceptions of the countess. I yourself guilty." was poor; I lived unseen and unnoticed, and I She sprang up and compelled herself to resume wished to be rich, honored, and distinguished. her self-possessed manner, and to appear cool and The countess promised me all this. She would defiant as before. "No! " she said, "I do not persuade the cardinal to advance me to honor; confess myself guilty, and I have no reason to! she would introduce me to the court, and through My heart only shuddered when I saw this man her means I should become rich and sought after. enter, whom I have saved from hunger, over- I believed all this, and like her devoted slave I whelmed with kindness, and whom my enemies did all that she asked of me." have now brought up to make him testify against "Slavish soul i " cried the countess, with an exme! But it is over-I am now ready to see new pression of unspeakable scorn. lies, new infamies heaped upon me: M. Retaux "What did the countess desire of you?" asked de Vilette may now speak on, his calumnies will the president. "What did you do in her seronly drop from the undented mail of my con- vice?" science!" "I wrote the letters which were intended for And with possessed bearing and an air of the cardinal," answered Retaux de Vilette. " The proud scorn, Countess Lamotte looked at the man countess composed them, and I wrote them in the who, bowing and trembling, advanced by the side handwriting of the queen." of the officer to the green table, and sedulously "How did you know her handwriting? " shunned meeting the eyes of Lamotte, which "The countess gave me a book in which a letrested on him like two fiery daggers. ter of the queen's was printed in exact imitation The president propounded the usual questions of her hand. I copied the letters as nearly as I as to name and rank. He answered that his name could, and so worked out my sentences." was Retaux de Vilette, and that he was steward "He lies, he lies!" cried the countess, with a and secretary of the Countess Lamotte-Valois. fierce gesture. On further questioning, he declared that after the "And how.was it with the promissory note to count and the countess had been arrested he had the jewellers, Biihmer and Bassenge? Do you fled, and had gone to Geneva in order to await the know about that?" end of the trial. But as it lingered so long, he "Yes," answered Retaux, with a sigh, "I do had attempted to escape to England, but had know about it, for I wrote it at the direction of been arrested. the countess, and added the signature." "Why do you wish to escape? " asked the "Had you a copy?" attorfiey-general. "Yes, the signature of the fac-simile." "Because I feared being involved in the affairs "In the printed letter was there the subscrip. of the Countess Lamotte," answered Retaux de tion which you inserted." Vilette, in low tones. " No, there was only the name'Marie Antoi"Say rather you knew that you would be in- nette,' nothing further; but the countess thought volved with them. You have at a previous ex- that this was only a confidential way of writing amination deposed circumstantially, and you can- her name, as a daughter might use it in a letter to not take back what you testified then, for your a mother (it was a letter written by the queen'to denial would be of no avail. Answer, therefore: her mother), but that in a document of a more What have you done? Why were you afraid of business-like character there must be an official being involved in the trial of Countess Lamotte? " signature. We had a long discussion about it, "Because I had done a great wrong," answered which resulted in our coming to the conclusion 60 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. that the proper form would be' Marie: Antoinette came back to the president again, he rose from of France.' So I practised this several times, and his seat: finally wrote it on the promissory note." "I believe that the characters on this paper "He lies!" cried the countess, stamping on the precisely accord with those on the note. The floor.'" He is a born liar and slanderer." witness has given what seems -to me irrefutable "I am prepared to show the proof at once testimony that he was the writer of that signathat I speak the truth,"' said Retaux de Vilette. ture, as well as of the letters to the cardinal. He "If you will give me writing-materials I will write was the culpable instrument of the criminal Lathe signature of the queen in the manner in which motte-Valois. Those of the judges who are of it is written on the promissory note." my opinion will rise." The president gave the order for the requisite The judges arose as one man. articles to be brought and laid on a side-table. The countess uttered a loud cry and fell, seized Retaux took the pen, and with a rapid hand wrote with fearful spasms, to the ground. some words, which he gave to the officer to be "I declare the investigation and hearings endcarried to the president. ed," said the president, covering his head. "Let The latter took the paper and compared it with the accused and: the witnesses be removed, and the words which were written on the promissory the spectators' tribune be vacated. We will adnote. He then passed the two to the attorney- journ to the council-room to prepare the sentence, general, and he to the judge next to him. The which will be given to-morrow." papers passed from hand to hand, and, after they BOOK II. thronged crowd gathered in the broad square in front of the prison, and gazed in breathless exTHE BAD OMEN. pectation at the great gate of the building, hoping TRE day was drawing to a close. That end- every minute that the judges would come out, and lossly long day, that 31st of August, 1786, was that they should learn the sentence.. coming to a conclusion. All Paris had awaited it But the day wore on, and still the gates rewith breathless excitement, with feverish impa- mained shut; no news came from the council. tience. No one had been able to attend to his room to enlighten the curiosity of the crowd that business. The stores were closed, the workshops filled the square and the adjacent streets. of the artisans were empty; even in the restau- Here and there the people began to complain, and rants and cafes all was still; the cooks had nothing loud voices were heard -grumbling at the protracted to do, and let the fire go out, for it seemed as if delay, the long deliberations of the judges. Here all Paris had lost its appetite-as if nobody had and there faces were seen full of scornful defiance, time to, eat. full of laughing malice, working their way through And in truth, on this day, Paris bad no hunger the crowd, and now and then dropping stinging for food that could satisfy the body. The city words, which provoked to still greater impatience. was hungry only for news, it longed for food which All the orators of the clubs and of the secret would satisfy its curiosity. -societies were there among the crowd, all the seAnd-the news which would appease its craving cret and open enemies of the queen had sent their was to come from the court-room of the prison! instruments thither to work upon the people with It was to that quarter that Paris looked for the poisonous words and mocking observations, and stilling of its hunger, the satisfying of its desires. to turn public opinion in advance against the The judges were assembled in the hall of the queen, even in case the judges did not condemn prison to pronounce the decisive sentence in the her; that is, if they did not declare the cardinal necklace trial, and to announce to all ]Dance, yes, innocent of conspiracy against the sovereign, and all Europe, whether the Queen of France was in- contempt of the majesty of the queen. nocent in the eyes of God and His representatives It was known that in his resum~, the attorneyon earth, or whether a shade of suspicion was general had alluded to the punishment of the thenceforth to rest upon that lofty brow! cardinal. That was the only news which had At a very early hour of the morning, half-past worked its way out of the court-room. Some fa. five, the judges of the high court of Parliament, vored journalist, or some friend of the queen, had forty-nine in number, gathered at the council- heard this; it spread like the wind all over Paris, room in order to pronounce sentence. and in thousands upon thousands of copies the At the same early hour, an immense, closely- words of the attorney-general were distributed. 62 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. His address purported to run as follows: that the Queen of France, and at the.same time she "Cardinal de Rohan is indicted on the accu- wanted to avenge herself upon the cardinal besation, and must answer the Parliament and cause she knew that he once found fault with her the attorney-general respecting the following before' her mother the empress, on account of charges: of audaciously mixing himself up with her light and disreputable behavior, and the bad the affairs of the necklace, and still more auda- manners which, as the dauphiness, she would inciously in- supposing that the queen would make troduce into this court. Since then she has with an appointment with him by night; and that for her glances, her smiles, and her apparent anger, this he would ask the pardon of the king and the so worked upon the cardinal as to make him fall queen in presence of the whole court. Further, over ears in love with the beautiful, pouting'the cardinal is enjoined to lay down his office as queen. And that was just what she wanted, for grand almoner within a certain time, to remove now she could avenge herself. She appointed a to a certain distance from the royal residence and rendezvous with the cardinal, and while she senot to visit the places where the royal family may cretly looked on the scene in the thicket, she albe living, and lastly, to remain, in prison till the lowed the pretty Mademoiselle Oliva to play her complete termination of the trial." part. And you see that it is not such a difficult The friends and dependants of the cardinal, the thing to represent a queen, for Mademoiselle Oliva enemies and persecutors of the queen, received performed her part so well that the cardinal was this decision, of the attorney-general with vexa- deceived, and took a girl from the streets to be tion and anger; they found fault with the servil- the Queen of France." ity of the man who would suffer the law to bow "Oh, better times are coming, better times are before the throne; they made dishonorable re- coming!" cried Simon the cobbler, who was close marks and calumnious innuendoes about the queen, by, with his coarse laugh. " The cardinal took a who, with her coquetry and the amount received girl from the. streets for the Queen of France; but from the jewels, had gained over the judges, and wait a little and we shall see the time when she who would perhaps have appointed a rendezvous will have to sweep the streets with a broom, that with every one of them in order to gain him over the noble people may walk across with dry feet!" to her side. In the loud laugh with which the crowd greeted " Even if the judges clear her," cried the sharp this remark of the cobbler, was mingled one sinvoice of Marat from the heart of the crowd, "the gle cry of anger, which, however, was overborne people will pass sentence upon her. The people by the rough merriment of the mass. It came are always right; the people cannot be bribed- from the lips of a man in simple citizen's costhey are like God in this; and the people will not tume, who had plunged into the mob and worked disown their verdict before the beautiful eyes and his way forward with strong arms, in order to the seductive smiles of the Austrian woman. The reach a place as near as possible to the en people will not be made fools of; they will not be- trance-door of the prison, and to be among the lieve in the story of the counterfeited letters and first to learn the'impending sentence. the forged signature." No one, as just said, had heard this cry; no "No," shouted the crowd, laughing in derision, one had troubled himself about this young man, "we will riot believe it. The queen wrote the with the bold defiant face, who, with shrugged letters; her majesty understands how to write shoulders, was listening to the malicious speeches loverletters I" which were uttered all around him, and who replied "The queen loves to have a hand in all kinds to them all with flaming looks of anger, pressof nonsense," thundered the brewer Santerre, in ing his lips closely together, in order to hold back another group. "She wanted to see whether a the words which could hardly be suppressed. pretty girl from the street could play the part of He succeeded at last in reaching the very door THE BAD OMEN. 63 of the prison, and stood directing his eyes thither and then quickly dropped his arm, and forced his with gloomy, looks of curiosity. way in another direction through the crowd. Soon, His whole soul lay in this look; he heard thanks to his youth and his skill, he had wo.'ked nothing of the mocking speeches which echoed through the dense mass; then with a flying step around him; he saw nothing of what. took place he sped through the street next to the sqmlte, about him. He saw only this fatal door; he only then more swiftly still through the side streets heard. the noises which proceeded from within the and alleys,, till he reached the gate that led out to prison.'the street of Versailles. Outside of this there At last, after long waiting, and when the sun was a young man in a blue blouse, who, in an had set, the door opened a little, and a man came idle and listless manner, was. leading a bridled out. The people who, at his appearance, had horse up and down the road. broken into a loud cry of delight, were silent "Halloo, Richard, come here!" cried the young when it was seen that it was not the officer who man. would announce the verdict with his stentorian "Ah! Mr. Toulan," shoutea the lad in the voice, but that it was only one of the ordinary blouse, running up with the horse. "You have servants of the court, who had been keeping come at last, Mr. Toulan. I have been already watch at the outer gate. waiting eight hours for you." This man ascended with an indifferent air the "I will give you a franc for every hour," said steps of the staircase, and to the loud questions Mr. Toulan,. swinging himself into the saddle. which were hurled at him by the crowd, whether "Now go home, Richard, and greet my sweetthe cardinal were declared innocent, he answered heart, if you see her." quietly, "I do not know. But I think the officer He gave his horse a smart stroke, pressed the will soon make his'appearance. My time is up, spurs into his flanks, and the powerful creature and I am going home, for I am half dead with sped like an arrow from a' bow along the road to hunger and thirst." Versailles. " Let the poor hungry man go through," cried In Versailles, too, and in the royal palace, this the young man, pressing up to him. " Only see day had been awaited with anxious expectations. how exhausted he is. Come, old fellow, give me The king, after ending his daily duties with his your hand; support yourself on me." ministers, had gone to his workshop in order to And he took the man by the arm, and with his work with his locksmith, Girard, upon a new lock, powerful elbows forced a way through the crowd. whose skilful construction was an invention of the The people let them pass, and directed their at- king. tention again to the door of the prison. The queen, too, had not left her room the whole " The verdict is pronounced?" asked the young day, and even her friend, the Duchess Julia de man, softly. Polignac, had not been able to cheer up the " Yes, Mr. Toulan," he whispered, " the coun- queen by her pleasant talk. cillor gave me just now, as I was handing him a At last, when she saw that all her efforts were glass of water, the paper on which he had writ- vain, and that nothing could dissipate the sadness ten it." of the queen, the duchess had made the proposi"Give it to me, John, but so that nobody can tion to go to Trianon, and there to call together see; otherwise they will suspect what the paper the circle of her intimate friends. contains, and they will all grab at it and tear it in But the queen sorrowfully shook her head, and'.its." gazed at the duchess with a troubled look. The servant slid, with a quick motion, a little " You speak of the circle of my friends," she folded paper into the hand of the young man, said. "Abh! the circle of those whom I considwho thanked him for it with a nod and a smile, e ered my friends is so rent' and broken, that scarce. 64 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. ly any torn fragments of it remain, and I fear to ing, and threatening us with a tempest. I see bring them together again, for I know that what all; I have no illusions more. The fair days are once is broken cannot be mended again." all past-the sunshine of Trianon, and the fra"And so does your majesty not believe in grance of its flowers." your friends any more?" asked the duchess, re- "And will your majesty not go there to-day?" proachfully. " Do you doubt us? Do you doubt asked the duchess. " It is such beautiful weather, me?" the sun shines so splendidly, and we shall have "I do not doubt you all, and, before all things such a glorious sunset." else, not you," said Marie Antoinette, with a lin- "A glorious sunset!" repeated Marie Antoigering, tender look. " I only doubt the possibil- nette, with a bitter smile. " A queen is at least ity of a queen's having faithful friends. I always -allowed to see the sun go down; etiquette has forgot, when I was with my friends, that I was not forbidden a queen to see the sun set and the queen, but they never forgot it." night approach. But the poor creature is not al"Madame, they ought never to forget it," re- lowed to see the sun rise, and rejoice in the beauty plied the duchess, softly. "With all their love of the dawn. I have once, since I'was a queen, for your majesty, your friends ought never to for- seen the sun rise, and all the world cried'Murget that reverence is due you as much as love, der,' and counted it a crime, and all France and subjection as much as friendship. They laughed at the epigrams and jests with which my ought never to make themselves your majesty's friends punished me for the crime that the queen equals; and if your majesty, in the grace of your of France, with her court, had' seen the sun rise. fair and gentle heart, designs to condescend to us And now you want to allow me to see it set, but and make yourself'like us, yet we ought never I will not; I will not look at this sad spectacle to be so thoughtless as to raise ourselves to of coming night. In me it is night, and I feel the you, and want to make ourselves the equals of storms which are drawing nigh. Go, Julia, leave our queen." me alone, for you can see that there is nothing to "Oh, Julia! you pain me-you pain me un- be done with me to-day. I cannot laugh, I canspeakably," sighed Marie Antoinette, pressing not be merry. Go, for my sadness might infect her hand to her heart, as if she wanted to keep you, and that would make me doubly sad." back the tears which would mount into her eyes. The duchess did not reply; she only made a " Your majesty knows," continued the duchess, deep reverence, and went with light, inaudible with'her gentle, and yet terribly quiet manner, step over the carpet to the door. The queen's " your majesty knows how modestly I make use face had been turned away, but as the light sound of the great confidence which you most graciously of the door struck her ear, she turned quickly bestow upon me; how seldom and how trembling- around and saw that she was alone. ly my lips venture to utter the dear name of my "She has left me —she has really gone," sighed queen, of whom I may rightly talk only in inti- the queen, bitterly. "Oh! she is like all the mate converse with your exalted mother and your rest, she never loved me. But who does love royal husband. Your majesty knows further —" me?" asked she, in despair. "Who is there in "Oh! I know all, all," interrupted the queen, the world that loves me, and forgets that I am sadly. "I know that it is not the part of a queen the queen? My God! my heart cries for love, to be happy, to love, to be loved, to have friends. yearns for friendship, and has never found them. I know that you all, whom I have so tenderly And they make this yearning of mine a crime; loved, feel yourselves more terrified than. bene- they accuse me that I have a heart. 0 my fited; I know, that with this confession, happi-'God! have pity upon me. Veil at least my eyes, ness has withdrawn from me. I look into the that I may not see the faithlessness of my friends. future and see the dark clouds which are descend- Sustain at least my faith in the friendship of my THE BAD OMEN. 05 Julia. Let me not have the bitterness of feeling no one who hastens to give me news of this imthat I am alone, inconsolably alone." portant affair, while my waiting-maid has devoted She. pressed her hands before her face, and friends, who do for her what no one does for the sank upon a chair, and sat long there, motion- queen." less, and wholly given over to her sad, bitter feel- "I be'g your majesty's pardon," answered Mad ings. ame de Campan, smiling. "What they do to-day After a long time she let her hands fall from for me, they do only because I am the waitingher face, and looked around with a pained, con- maid of the queen. I was yesterday at Councillor fused look. The sun had gone down, it began to Bugeaud's, in order to pay my respects to the grow dark, and Marie Antoinette shuddered with- family after a long interval, for his wife is a in herself, cousin of mine." "By this time the sentence has been pro- "That means," said the queen, with a slight nounced," she muttered, softly. "By this time smile, "that you went'there, not to visit your it is known whether the Queen. of France can be'cousin, the councillor's wife, but to visit the slandered and insulted with impunity. Oh! if I councillor himself. Now confess, my good Camonly could be sure. Did not Campan say-I will pan, you wanted to do a little bribery." go to Campan." And the queen rose quickly, "Well, I confess to your majesty, I wanted to went with a decisive step out of her cabinet; see if it was really true that Councillor Bugeaud then through the toilet-room close by, and opened has gone over to the enemy. Your majesty knows the door which led to the chamber of her first that.Madame de Marsan has visited all the comnlady-in-waiting, Madame de Campan. cillors, and adjured them by God and the Holy Madame de Campan stood at the window, and Church, not to condemn the cardinal, but to degazed with such a look of intense expectation out dare him innocent." into the twilight, that she did not notice the en- "That is, they will free the cardinal that I may trance of the queen till the latter called her loudly be condemned," said the queen, angrily. "For by name. to free him is the same as to accuse me and have "The queen!" cried she, drawing back terri- my honor tarnished." flied from the window. " The queen! and —here, "That was what I was saying to my cousin, in my room! " Councillor Bugeaud, and happily I found supportMarie Antoinette made a movement of impa- ers in his own family. Oh, I assure your matience. " You want to say that it is not becom- jesty that in this family there are those who are ing for a queen to enter the room of her trusted devoted, heart and soul, to your majesty." waiting-maid, that it is against etiquette. I know "Who are these persons?" asked the queen. that indeed, but these are days, my good Cam- "Name them to me, that in my sad hours I may pan, when etiquette has no power over us, and remember them." when, behind the royal purple, the poor human "There is, in the first place, the daughter of heart, in all its need, comes into the foreground. the councillor, the pretty Margaret, who is so enThis' is such a day for me, and as I know you are thusiastic for your majesty that she saves a part true, I have come to you. Did you not tell me, of her meagre pocket-money that she may ride Campan, that you should receive the news as soon over to Versailles at every great festival to see as the sentence was pronounced?" your majesty; and then particularly there, is the "Yes, your majesty, I do hope to, and that is lover of this little person, a young man named the reason why I am standing at the window look- Toulan, a gifted, fine young fellow, who almost ing for my messenger." worships your'majesty-he is the one who prom' " How curious!" said the queen, thoughtfully. ised me to bring news at once after the sentence "Tl:ey call me Queen of France, and yet I have is pronounced, and it is more owing to his elo, f66 MARIE ANTOIN]ETTE AND HER SON. quence than to mine that Councillor Bugeaud saw mean to say that you have ridden the eighteen the necessity of giving his vote against the cardi- miles from Paris to Versailles in an hour?" nal and putting himself on the right side." "I have done it, and I assure you that is noth.At this instant the door which led into the ing wonderful. I had four fresh horses. stationed antechamber was hastily flung open, and a lackey along the road, and they were good ones. I fanentered. cied myself sometimes a bird flying through the "The gentleman whom you expected has just air, and it seems to me now as if I had flown. arrived," he announced. I beg your pardon if I sit down in your presence, "It is Mr.' Toulan," whispered Madame de for my feet tremble a little." Campan to the queen; "he brings the sentence. "Do sit down, my dear young friend," cried Tell the gentleman," she then said aloud to the Campan, and she hastened herself to place an lackey, " to wait a moment in the antechamber; easy-chair for the young man. I will receive him directly. Go, I beg your ma- "Only an instant," he said, sinking into it. jesty," she continued as the lackey withdrew, "But believe me it is not the quick ride that "I beg your majesty to graciously allow me to makes my feet tremble, but joy and excitement. receive the young man here." I shall perhaps have the pleasure to have done "That is to sav, my dear Campan," said the the queen a little service, for you told me that it queen, smiling, " to vacate the premises and leave would be very important for her majesty to learn the apartment. But I am not at all inclined to, the verdict as quickly as possible, and no one has I prefer to remain here. 1 want to see this young got here before me, has there?" Nat dfw'.cmn -7 F;v e h-kv' nc i~ sack a'-lthhf'l] "No, n.y frielnd, the queen will learn the news enlJ, an(l tiern sh'lci' i lk to rnow the news first through yolr, means, ant I shall say to her as soon as possible that he bringis. See here, the majesty that I have learned it through you." chimney-screen is much taller than I, and if I go "No, madame," he cried, quickly, "no, I would behind, the young man will have no suspicion of much rather you would not tell the queen, for my presence, especially as it is dark. Now let who knows whether the news is good, or whether h.-n come in. I am most eager to hear the news." it would not trouble the noble heart of the queen, The queen quickly stepped behind the high and then myname, if she should learn it, would screen, and Madame Campan opened the door of only be disagreeable to her-rather that she the antechamber. should never hear it than that it should be con"Crme in, Mr. Tolllan." she cried. and at once nected with unpleasant associations to her." th'ere appeared at the open door the tall, powerful "Then you do not know what the sentence is?" figure of the ycrulg man. H's cheeks were heated replied Campan, astonished. ", Have you come with the quick ride, his eyes glowed, and his to bring me the sentence, and yet do not know breathing was rapid and hard. yourself what it is?" Madame Campan extended'her hand to him "I do not know what it is, madame. The and greeted him with a friendly smile. "So you councillor, the father of my sweetheart, has sent have kept your word, Mr. Toulan," she said. " You it by me in writing, and I have not allowed mybring me the news of the court's decision?" self to take time to read it. Perhaps, too, I was "Y' es, madame, I do," he answered softly, and too cowardly for it, for if I had seen that it conwith a touch of sadness. "I am only sorry that tained any thing that would trouble the queen, I you have had to wait so long, but it is not my should not have had courage to come here and fault. It was striking eight from the tower of deliver the paper to you. So I did not read it, St. Jacques when I received the news." and thought only of this, that I might perhaps " Eight," askled Madame de Campan, looking at save the queen a quarter of an hour's disquiet the clock, "it is now scarcely nine. You do not and anxious expectation. Here, madame, is the THE BAD OMEN. 67 paper which contains the sentence. Take it to And without casting another glance at tho her majesty, and may the God of justice grant queen, without saluting her, Toulan rose and softthat it contain nothing which may trouble the ly left the room, tightly closing the door after queen!" him. Be stood up, and handed Madame de Campan "Singular," murmured the queen, "really sin. a paper. "And now, madame," he continued, gular. When he took the oath a shudder passed 4 allow me to retire, that I may return to Paris, through my soul, and something seemed to say to for my sweetheart is expecting me, and, besides, me that I should some time be veryunhappy, and they are expecting some disturbance in the city. that this young man should then be near me." I must go, therefore, to protect my house." "Your majesty is excited to-day, and so every " Go, my young friend," said Madame de Cam- thing seems to have a sad nleaning," said Madame pan, warmly pressing his hand. " Receive my de Campan, softly. heartiest thanks for your devotion, and be sure "But *the sentence, the sentence!" cried the the queen shall hear of it. Farewell, farewell!" queen. "Give me the paper, I will read it my"No," cried Marie Antoinette, emerging from self." behind the screen with a laugh, "no, do not go, Madame de Campan hesitated. "Would your sir! Remain to receive your queen's thanks for majesty not prefer to receive it in the presence of the disinterested zeal which you have displayed the king, and have it read by his majesty? " for me this day." "No, no, Campan. If it is favorable, I shall " The queen! " whispered Toulan, turning pale, have pleasure in carrying the good news to the " the queen!" king. If it is unfavorable, then I can collect myAnd ailhing upon his knee he looked at the self before I. see him." queen with such an expression of rapture and ad- But it is so dark here now that it will be immiration that Marie Antoinette was touched. possible to read writing." "I have much to thank you for, Mr. Toulan," " You are right, let us go into my sitting-room," she said, "Not merely that you are the bearer said the queen. "The candles must be lighted of important news-I thank you besides for con- there already. Come, Campan, since I am invincing me that the Queen of France has faithful debted to you for this early message, you shall be and devoted friends, and to know this is so cheer- the first to learn it. Come, Campan, go with ing to me that even if you bring me bad news, me!" my sorrow will be softened by this knowledge. With a quick step the queen returned to her I thank yoll again, Mr. Toulan!" apartments, and entered her sitting-room, followed Toulan perceived that the queen was dismissing by Madame de Campan, whose countenance was him; he stood up and retreated to the door, his - filled with sad forebodings. eyes fixed on the queen, and then, after opening The queen was right; the candles had already the door, he sank, as it were, overcome by the been lighted in her apartments, and diffused a storm of his emotions, a second time upon his light like that of day throughout her large sittingknee, and folding his hands, raised his great, room. In the little porcelain cabinet, however, beaming eyes to heaven. there was a milder light, as Marie Antoinette "God in heaven," he said loudly and solemnly, liked to have it when she was alone and sans ce'r"I thank Thee for the joy of this hour. From- monial. The candles on the main chandelier this moment I devote myself to the service of my were not lighted, and on the table of Sbvres china queen. She shall henceforth be the divinity whom and rosewood which stood before the divan were [ serve, and to whom I will, if I can avail any thing, two silver candlesticks, each with two wax canfreely offier my blood and life. This I swear, and dles. These four were the only li-hts in the God and the queen have heard my oath! " apartment. 68 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "Now, Campan," said the queen, sinking into judges in a matter which darkens my character, the arm-chair which stood before the table, near what can you, what can all others hope for, when the divan, "now give me the paper. But no, you you are tried in a matter which touches your hapwould better read it to me-but exactly as it piness and honor?* I am sad, sad in my inmost stands. You promise me that?" soul, and it seems to me as if this instant were to " Your majesty has commanded, and I must overshadow my whole life; as if the shades of obey," said Campan, bowing. night had fallen upon me, and-what is that? " Read, read," urged Marie Antoinette. "Let Did you blow out the light, Campan?" me know the sentence." " Your majesty sees that I am standing entirely Madame de Campan unfolded the paper, and away from the lights." went nearer to the light in order to see better. "But only see," cried the queen, " one of the Marie Antoinette leaned forward, folded both candles is put out!" hands in her lap, and looked at Campan with an "It is true," said Madame de Campan, looking expression of eager expectation. at the light, over which a bluish cloud was yet " Read, read!" she repeated, with trembling hovering. "The light is put out, but if your malips. jesty allows me, I-" Madame de Campan bowed and read: She was silent, and her bearing assumed the "First.-The writing, the basis of the trial, the appearance of amazement and horror. note and signatures, are declared to be forged in The candle which had been burning in the imitation of the queen's hartd. other arm of the candlestick went out like the " Second.-Count Lamotte is sentenced in con- one before. tumacion to the galleys for life. The queen said not a word. She gazed with " Third.-The woman Lamotte to be whipped, pale lips and wide-opened eyes at both the lights, marked on both shoulders with the letter 0, and the last spark of which had just disappeared. to be confined for life. "Will your majesty allow me to light the can"Fourth.-Retaux de Vilette to be banished dles again?" asked Madame de Campan, extendfor life from France. ing her,hand to the candlestick. " Fifth.-Mademoiselle Oliva is discharged. But the queen held her hand fast. " Let them "Sixth.-The lord cardinal —" be," she whispered, " I want to see whether both "Well," cried the queen, passionately, "why the other lights-" do you stammer, why do you tremble? He has Suddenly she was convulsed, and, rising slowly been discharged; I know it already, for we are from her arm-chair, pointed with silent amazement already at the names of the acquitted. Read on, at the second candlestick. Campan." One of the two other lights had gone out. And Madame de Campan read on: Only one was now burning, and dark shadows "The lord cardinal is acquitted from every filled the cabinet. The one light faintly illumined charge, and is allowed to publish this acquittal." only the centre, and shone with its glare upon the "Acquitted!" cried the queen, springing from pale, horrified face of the queen. her seat, "acquitted I Oh, Campan, what I feared "Campan," she whispered, raising her arm, and is true. The Queen of France has become the pointing at the single light which remained burnvictim of cabals and intrigues. The Queen of ing, " if this fourth light goes out like the other France in her honor, dignity, and virtue, is injured three, it is a bad omen for me, and forebodes the and wounded by one of her own subjects, and approach of misfortune." there is no punishment for him; he is free.'Pity At this instant the light flared up and illumined me, Campan! But no, on the contrary, I pity me, C n! Butno, on the contrar, I pity * The very words of the queen. See "M6moires de you, I pity France I If I can have no impartial Madame de Campan," vol. ii., p. 283. BEFORE THE MARRIAGE. 69 the room more distinctly, then its flame began to ing eyes, "the house to which I am going is the die away. house of him I love, and my new home is his One flare more and this light went out, and a heart, which is noble, great, and good, and in deep darkness reigned in the cabinet. which all the treasures in the earth for me rest." The queen uttered a loud, piercing cry, and "God grant, my daughter, that you may after sank in a swoon. many years be able to repeat those words!" "I shall repeat them, mother, for in my heart is a joyful trust. I can never be unhappy, for Toulan loves me. But, hark! I hear him cornming; it is his step, and listen I he is calling me!" HAPTER VIIIAnd the young girl, with reddening cheeks, diBEFORE THE MARRIAGE. rected her glowing eyes to the door, which just TEi wedding guests were assembled. Madame then opened, where appeared her lover, in a sinr Buger~aud had just put the veil upon the head of ple, dark, holiday-suit, with a friendly, grave counher daughter Margaret, and impressed upon her tenance, his tender, beaming eyes turned toward forehead the last kiss of motherly love. It was his affianced. the hour when a mother holds her daughter as a He hastened to her, and kissed the little tremchild in her arms for the last time, bids adieu to bling hand which was extended to him. the pleasant pictures of the past, and sends her "All the wedding guests are ready, my love. child from her parents' house to go out into the The carriages are waiting, and as soon as we enworld and seek a new home. Painful always is ter the church the clergyman will advance to the such an hour to a mother's heart, for the future is altar to perform the ceremony. uncertain; no one knows any thing about the new "Then let us go, Louis," said Margaret, nodding vicissitudes that may arise. to him, and arm-in-arm they went to the door. And painful, too, to the wife of Councillor Bu- But Toulan held back. "Not yet, my dear one. geaud was this parting from her dearly-loved Before we go to the church, I want to have a few daughter, but she suppressed her deep emotion, re- words with you." strained the tears in her heart, that not one should That is to say, my dear sir, that you would fall upon the bridal wreath of her loved daughter. like to have me withdraw," said the mother, with Tears dropped upon the bridal wreath are the her- a smile. "Do not apologize, my son, that is only alds of coming misforttme, the seal of pain which natural, and I dare not be jealous. My daughter desi'-y stomps upon. thL bro.- ot the doomed belo:cs to you,.ndi have no ltnger the.ight'o oni pr's~ inn your secxcts. So I will 0:ithaotw, nud Ana the.'ender mo.her.uld Ro gladly have I oin Go. ma?- heal what the >ver has so sa; to Lkken waa' frolL her loveU Mai. are,.ver,- Dai hi. affceu hefol the Redcap." and every misfortune! The times were threaten- She nodded in friendly fashion to the couple,. ing, and the horizon of the present was so full and left the room. of stormy signs that it was necessary to look into "We are now alone, my Margaret," said Tonthe future with hope. lan, putting his arm around the neck of the fair "Go, my daughter," said Madame Bugeaud, young maiden, and drawing her to himself. with a smile, regarding which only God knew how " Only God is to hear what I have to say to you." much it cost the mother's heart-" go out into "I hope, Louis," whispered the young girl, your new world, be happy, and may you never trembling, " I hope it is not bad news that you regret the moment when you left the threshold want to tell me. Your face. is so grave, your of your father's house to enter a new home!" whole look so solemn. You love me still, "My dear mother," cried Margaret, with beam- Louis " 70 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "Yes, Margaret, I do love you," answered he, fortune for my father, for he was poor, and his softly; "but yet, before you speak the word officer's pay was his only fortune. But no-he had which binds you to me forever, I must open my a nobler, a fairer fortune-he had a wife whom he whole heart to you, and you must know all I feel, passionately loved, a little boy whom he adored. in order that, if there is a future to prove us, we And now the means bf existence were taken away may meet it with fixed gaze and joyful spirit." from this loved wife, this dear boy, and from him " My God! what have I to hear?" whispered whose service had been the offering of his life for the young girl, pressing her hand to her heart, his king and country, the storming of fortificathat began to beat with unwonted violence. tions, the defying of the bayonets of enemies; and "You will have to hear, my Margaret, that I who in this service had been so severely wounded, love you, and yet that the image of another woman that his life was saved only by the amputation of is cherished in my heart." his right arm. Had it not been just this right " Who is this other woman? " cried Margaret. arm, he would have been able to do something "Margaret, it is Queen Marie Antoinette." for himself, and to have found some employment The girl breathed freely, and laughed. " Ah! in the government service. But now he was how you frightened me, Louis. I was afraid you robbed of all hope of employment; now he saw were going to name a rival, and now you mention for himself and his family only destruction, starvaher whom I, too, love and honor, to whom I pay tion! But he could not believe it possible; he my whole tribute of admiration, and who, al- held it to be impossible that. the king should although you ought to live there alone, has a place low his bold soldier, his knight of the Order of in my heart. I shall never be jealous of the St. Louis, to die of hunger, after becoming a cripqueen. I love her just as devotedly as you do." ple in his service. He resolved to go to Paris, to A light, sympathetic smile played upon the lips declare his need to the king, and to implore the of Toulan. "No, Margaret," said he, gravely, royal bounty. This journey was the last hope of " you do not love her as I do, and you cannot, the family, and my father was just entering on it for your duty to her is not like mine. Listen, when my mother sickened and died. She was my darling, and I will tell you a little story-a the prop, the right arm of my father; she was story which is so sacred to me that it has never the nurse, the teacher of his poor boy; now he passed over my lips, although, according to the had no hope more, except in the favor of the king ways of human thinking, there is nothing so very and in death. The last valuables were sold, and strange about it. Come, my dear, sit down with father and son journeyed to Paris: an invalid me a little while, and listen to me." whose bravery had cost him an arm, and whose He led the maiden to the little divan, and took tears over a lost wife had nearly cost him his eyea place with her upon it. Her hand lay within sight, and a lad of twelve years, acquainted only his, and with a joyful and tender look she gazed with pain and want from his birth, and hi whose into the bold, noble, and good face of the man heart, notwithstanding, there was an inextin-to whom she was ready to devote her whole life. guishable germ of hope, spirit, and joy. We "Speak now, Louis, I will listen!" went on foot, and when my shoes were torn with "I want to tell you of my father, Margaret," the long march, my feet swollen and bloody, my said the young man, with a gentle voice-" of my father told me to climb upon his back and let father, who thirsted and hungered for me, in his him carry me. I would not allow it, suppressed efforts to feed, clothe, and educate me. He had my pain, and went on till I dropped in a swoon." been an officer in the army, had distinguished "Oh!" cried Margaret, with tears in her eyes, himself in many a battle, was decorated, on account "how much you have suffered; and I am learn. of his bravery, with the Order of St. Louis, and ingit now for the first time, and you never told discharged as an invalid. That was a sad mis- me this sad history." BEFORE THE MARRIAGE. 71 "I forgot every thing sad when I began to love names of those who were to receive answers to rou, Margaret, and I did not want to trouble you their petitions —the name of my father was not with my stories. Why should we darken the among them! But we comforted ourselves with clear sky of the present with the clouds of the the thought, it was not possible to receive answers past? the future will unquestionably bring its own so quickly, and on the next day we went to the clouds. I tell you all this now, in order that you gallery again, and so on for fourteen Successive may understand my feelings. Now hear me fur- days, but all in vain; the name of my father was ther, Margaret! At'last, after long-continued never called. Still we-went every day to the galefforts, we reached Versailles, and it seemed to us lery and took our old place there, only the counas if all suffering and want were taken away from tenance of my father was daily growing paler, us when we found ourselves in a dark, poor inn, his step weaker, and his poor boy more trustand lay down on the hard beds. On the next, my less and weak. We had no longer the means of father put on his uniform, decorated his breast stilling our hunger, we had consumed every thing, with the order of St. Louis, and, as the pain in his and my father's cross of St. Louis was our last eyes prevented his going alone, I had to accom- possessioh. But that we dared not part with, pany him. We repaired to the palace and entered for it was our passport to the palace, it opened the great gallery which the court daily traversed to us the doors of the great gallery, and there on returning from mass in the royal apartments. was still one last hope.'We go to-morrow My father, holding in his hand the petition which for the last time,' said my father to me on I had written to his dictation, took his place near the fifteenth day.'If it should be in vain on the the door through which the royal couple must morrow, then I shall sell my cross, that you, Louis, pass. I stood near him and looked with curious may not need to be hungry any more, and' then eyes at the brilliant tlrong which filled the great may God have mercy upon us!' So we went the hall, and at the richly-dressed gentlemen who next day to the gallery again. MZy father was towere present and held petitions in their hands, in day paler than before, but he held his head erect; spite of their cheerful looks and their fine clothes. he fixed his eye, full of an expression of defance And these gentlemen crowded in front of my father, and scorn, upon the talkative, laughing gentleshoved him to the wall, hid him from the eye.of men around him, who strutted in their rich the king, who passed through the hall at the side of clothes, and overlooked the poor chevalier who the queen, and with a pleasant face received all stood near them, despised and alone. In my poor the petitions which were handed to him. Sadly boy's heart there was a fearful rage against these we turned home, but on the following day we re- proud, supercilious men, who thought themselves paired to the gallery again, and I had the courage so grand because they wore better clothes, and to crowd back some of the elegantly-dressed men because they had distinguished acquaintances and who wanted to press before my father, and to relations, and yet were no more than my fathersecure for him a place in the front row. I was no more than suppliants and petitioners; tears of rewarded for my boldness. The king came, and anger and of grief filled my eyes, and the depth of with a gracious smile took the petition from the our poverty exasperated my soul against the in. hand of my father, and laid it in the silver basket justice of fate. All at once the whispering and which the almoner near him carried." talking ceased,-the king and the queen had en"Thank God," cried Margaret, with a sigh of tered the gallery. The king advanced to the midrelief, "thank God, you were saved!" dle of the. hall, the grand almoner called the "That we said too,: Margaret, and that restored names, and the favored ones approached the king, my father's hope and made him again happy and to receive from him the fulfilment of their wishes, or well. We went the next day to the gallery. The at least keep their hope alive. Near him stood the king appeared, the grand almoner announced the young queen, and while she was conversing with 72 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. some gentlemen of the court, her beautiful eyes here to-morrow at this hour-I myself will bring glanced over to us, and lingerea upon the noble you the king's answer.' We left the palace with but sad form of my father. I had noticed that new courage, with new hope. We felt no longer on previous days, and every time it seemed to me that we were tiredt and hungry, and heeded not as if a ray from the sun had warmed my poor the complaints of our host, who declared that he trembling heart-as if new blossoms of hope were, had no more patience, and that he would no putting forth in my soul. To-day this sensation, longer give us credit for the miserable chamber when the queen looked at us, was more intense which we had. His scolding and threatening than before. My father looked at the king and troubled us that day no more. We begged him to whispered softly,'I see him to-day for the last have patience with us till to-morrow. We told time!' But I saw only the queen, and while I him our hopes for the future, and we rejoiced in pressed the cold, moist hand of my father to my our own cheerful expectations. At length the lips, I whispered,' Courage, dear father, cour- next day arrived, the hour of the audience came, age! The queen has seen us.' She stopped and we repaired to the great gallery. My heart short in her conversation with the gentleman and beat so violently that I could feel it upon my lips, advanced through the hall with a quick, light and my father's face was lighted up with a glow step directly to us; her large gray-blue eyes of hope; his eye had its old fire, his whole being beamed with kindness, a heavenly smile played was filled with new life, his carriage erect as in around her rosy lips, her cheeks were flushed with our happy days. At last the doors opened.and feeling; she was simply dressed, and yet there the royal couple entered.'Pray for me, my son,' floated around her an atmosphere of grace and my father whispered-' pray for me that my nobleness.'My dear chevalier,' said she, and hopes be not disappointed, else I shall fall dead to her voice rang like the sweetest music,'my dear the earth.' But I could not pray, I could not chevalier, have you given a petition to the king?' think. I could only gaze at the beautiful young'Yes, madame,' answered my father trembling, queen, who seemed to my eyes as if beaming in a'fourteen days ago I presented a petition to the goldef cloud surrounded.by all the stars of heaven.. king.'' And have you received no answer yet?' The eyes of the queen darted inquiringly through she asked quickly.'I see you every day here the hall; at last she caught mine and smiled. Oh with the lad there, and conclude' you are still hop- that smile i it shot like a ray of sunlight through ing for an answer.'' So it is, madame,' answered my soul, it filled my whole being with rapture. I my father,' I expect an answer, that is I expect sank upon my knee, folded my hands, and now I a decision involving my life or death.''Poor could think, could pray:'A blessing upon the man!' said the queen, with a tone of deep sympa- queen! she comes to save my dear father's life, for thy.'Fourteen days of such waiting must be she frees us from our sufferings.' The queen apdreadful! I pity you sincerely. Have you no one proached, so beautiful, so lovely, with such a to present your claims?''Madame,' answered beaming eye. She held a sealed paper in her my father,'I have no one else to present my hand and gave it to my father with a. gentle incliclaims than this empty sleeve which lack's a right nation of her head.'Here, sir,' she said,' the annrm-no other protection than the justice of my king is happy to be able to reward, in the name cause.''Poor man!' sighed the queen,'you of France, one of his best officers. The king must know the world very little if you believe grants you a yearly pension of three hundred that this is enough. But, if you allow me, I will louis-d'or, and I wish for you and your son that undertake your protection, and be your interces- you may live yet many years to enjoy happiness sor with the king. Tell me your name and ad- and health. Go at once with this paper to the dress.' My father gave them, the queen listened treasury, and you will receive the first quarterly attentively and smiled in friendly fashion.'Be payment.' Then, when she saw that my father BEFORE THE MARRIAGE. 73 was almost swooning, she summoned with a loud an independent, free man,' said he to me. Learn voice some gentlemen of the court, and commanded to depend on your own strength and your own them to take care of my father;to take him out will alone. Use the powers of your mind, become into the fresh air, and to arrange that he be sent a soldier of labor, and so serve your country. I home in a carriage. Now all these fine gentlemen know, indeed, that if the hour of danger ever were busy in helping us. Every one vied with comes, you will be a true, bold soldier for your the others in being friendly to us; and the poor queen, and fight for her till your last breath.' I neglected invalid who had been crowded to the had to promise him on his death-bed that I would wall, the overlooked officer Toulan, was now an so do. Even then be saw the dark and dangerous object of universal care and attention. We rode days approach, which have now broken upon the home to our inn in a royal carriage, and the host realm-even then he heard the muttering of the did not grumble any longer; he was anxious to pro- tempest which now so inevitably is approaching; cure us food, and very active in caring for all our and often when I went home to his silent chainneeds.' The queen had saved us from misfortune, ber I found him reading, with tears in his eyes, the queen had made us happy and well to do." the pamphlets and journals which had come from " A blessing upon the dear head of our queen i " Paris to us at Rouen, and which seemed to us cried Margaret, raising her folded hands to heav- like the storm-birds announcing the tempest. en. "Now I shall doubly love her, for she is the'The queen is so good, so innocent,' he would benefactor of him I love. Oh, why have you sigh,'and they make her goodness a crime and waited until now before telling me this beautiful, her innocence they make guilt! She is like a touching story? Why have I not enjoyed it be- lamb, surrounded by tigers, that plays thoughtlessfore? But I thank you from my heart for the ly with the flowers, and does not know the poison good which it has done me." that lurks beneath them. Swear to me, Louis,' "My dear one,"' answered Toulan, gravely, that you will seek, if God gives you the power, to "there are experiences in'the human soul that free the lamb from the bloodthirsty tigers. Swear one may reveal only in the most momentous to me that your whole life shall be devoted to epochs of life-just as in the Jewish temple the her service.' And I did swear it, Margaret, not Holy of Holies was revealed only on the chief merely to my dear father, but to myself as well. feast-days. Such a time, my dear one, is to-day, Every day I have repeated,'To Queen Marie Anand I withdraw all veils from my heart, and let toinette belongs my life, for every thing that you see and know what, besides you, only God makes life valuable I owe to her.' When my sees and knows. Since that day when I retvrned fath;-r died, I left Pouei and "emc-Ged tc Paris, with my father from the palace, and,7lheo the the=] to lrsu. my >ushi-l-s at a boYselr'-. -. queen had made us happy again —since that Ay g sus:eionz tola me sat t.a time woud so co:c l my whole soul has belonged to the queen. I.-he. thte rieh2c? of'Me K'een -mus r"all) trou:.-. thanked her for all, for the contentment of my her, and must perhaps put a mask over their father, for every cheerful hour which we spent faces, in order to sustain themselves until the together; and all the knowledge I have gained, all days of real danger. That time has now come, the studies I have-attempted, I owe to the beauti- Margaret; the queen is in danger! The tigers ful, noble Marie Antoinette. We went to our have surrounded the lamb, and it cannot escape. home, and I entered the high-school in order to Enemies everywhere, wherever you look!-enefit myself to be a merchant, a bookseller. My mies even in the palace itself. The Count de father had enjoined upon me not to choose a sol- Provence, her own brother-in-law, has for years dier's lot. The sad experience of his invalid life persecuted her with his epigrams, because he canhung over him like a dark clqud, and he did not'not forgive it in her that the king pays more atwish that I should ever enter into the same.' Be tention to her counsels than he does to those of 7'4 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. his brother, who hates the Austrian. The, Count reached an independent position. The confidence d'Artois, formerly the only friend of Marie An- of my fellow-citizens has made me a councillor. 1 toinette in the royal family, deserted her when have accepted the position, not out of vanity or the queen took ground againut the view of the ambition, but because it will give me opportunity king's brothers in favor of the double representa- to serve the queen. I wear a mask before my tion of the Third Estate, and persuaded her bus- face. I belong to the democrats and agitators. ] band to comply with the wishes of the nation and appear to the world as an enemy of the queen, in call together the States-General. He has gone order to be able to do her some secret service as over to the camp of her enemies, and rages a friend; for I say to you, and repeat it before God, against the queen, because she is inclined to favor to the queen belong my whole life, my whole bethe wishes of the people. And yet this very peo- ing, and thought. I love you, Margaret! Every ple is turned against her, does not believe in the thing which can make my life happy will come love, but only in the hate of the queen, and all from you, and yet I shall be ready every hour to parties are agreed in keeping the people in leave you-to see my happiness go to ruin without this faith. The Duke d'Orleans revenges him- a complaint, without a sigh, if I can be of service self upon the innocent and pure queen for the to the queen. You my heart loves; her my scorn which she displays to this infamous prince. soul adores. Wherever I shall be, Margaret, The aunts of the queen revenge themselves for if the call of the queen comes to me, I shaIll the obscure position to which fate has consigned follow it, even if I know that death lurks at them, they having to play the second part at the the door behind which the queen awaits me. brilliant court of Versailles, and be thrown into We stand before a dark' and tempestuous time, the shade by Marie Antoinette. The whole court- and our country is to be torn with fearful strife. all these jealous, envious ladies-revenge.themn All passions are unfettered, all want to fight for selves for the favor which the queen has shown freedom, and against the chains with which the to the Polignacs, They have undermined her royal government has held them bound. An good name; they have fought against her with abyss has opened between the crown and the the poisoned arrows of denunciation, calumny, nation, and the States-General and the Third pamphlets, and libels. Every thing bad that has Estate will not close it, but:only widen it. I tell happened has been ascribed to her. She has been you, Margaret, dark days are approaching; I see held responsible for every evil that has happened them coming, and I cannot, for your sake, withto the nation. The queen is accountable for the draw from them, for I am the soldier of the financial troubles that have broken over us, and queen. I must keep guard before her door, and, since the ministry have declared the state bank- if I cannot save her, I must die in her service. rupt, Parisians call the queen Madame Deficit. Know this, Margaret, but know, too, that I love Curses follow her when she drives out, and even you. Let me repeat, that from you alone all forwhen she enters the theatre. Even in her own tune and.happiness can come to me, and then do gardens of St. Cloud and Trianon men dare to in- you decide. Will you, after all that I have told suit the queen as she passes by. In all the clubs you,-still accept my hand, which I offer you in of Paris they thunder at the queen, and call her tenderest affection? Will you be my wife, knowthe destruction of France. The downfall of Marie ing that my life belongs not to you alone, but Antoinette is resolved upon by her enemies, and still more to another? Will you share with me the time has come when her friends must be ac- the dangers of a stormy time, of an inevitable tive for her. The time has come for me to pay the future with me, and devote yourself with me to vow which I made to my dying father and to my- the service of the queen? Examine yourself, Marself. God has blessed my efforts and crowned garet; before you answer. Do not forget your my industry and activity with success. I have great and noble heart; consider that it is- a vast BEFORE THE MARRIAGE. 75 sacrifice to devote your life to a man who is pre- He offered her his arm, and, both smiling, both pared every hour to give his life for another with beaming faces, left the room, and joined the woman-to leave the one he loves, and to go to wedding guests who had long been waiting for his death in defence of his queen. Prove your them with growing impatience. They entered the heart; and, if you find that the sacrifice is too carriages and drove to the church. With joyful great, turn your face away from me, and I will faces the bridal pair pledged their mutual fidelity quickly go my way-will not complain, will think before the altar, and their hands pressed one that it happens rightly, will love you my whole another, and their ey6s met with a secret underlife long, and thank you for the pleasant hours standing of all that was meant at that wedding. which your love has granted to me." They both knew that at that moment they were He had dropped from the divan upon his knee, pledging their fidelity to the queen, and that, while and looked up to her with supplicating and anx- seeming to give themselves away to each other, ious eyes. they were really giving themselves to their sovBut Margaret did not turn her face away from ereign. him. A heavenly smile played over her features, At the conclusion of the ceremony, they left the her eye, beamed with love~ and emotion. And as church of St. Louis to repair to the wedding dinher glance sank deep into the heart of her lover, ner, which Councillor Bugeaud had ordered to be he caught the look as if it had been a ray of sun- prepared in one of the most brilliant restaurants light. She laid her arms upon his shoulders, and of Versailles. pressing his head to her bosom, she bowed over "Will you not tell me now, my dear son," he him and kissed his black, curly hair. said to Toulan —" will you not tell me now why " Ah! I love you, Louis," she whispered. "I you wish so strongly to celebrate the wedding in am ready to devote my life to you, to share your Versailles, and not in Paris, and why in the dangers with you, and in all contests to stand by church of St. Louis? " your side. Soldier of the queen, in me you shall "I will tell you, father," answered Toulan, always have a comrade. With you I will fight pressing the arm of his bride closer to his heart. for her, with you die for her, if it must be. We " I wanted here, where the country erects its altar, will have a common love for her, we will serve where in a few days the nation will meet face to her in common, and with fidelity and love thank face these poor earthly majesties; here, where in her for the good which she has done to you and a few days the States-General will convene, to your father." defend the right of the people against the pre" Blessings upon you, Margaret!" cried Toulan, rogative of the sovereign, here alone to give to as breaking into tears he rested his head upon my life its new consecration.' Vcrsailles will the knee of his affianced. "Blessings on you, from this time be doubly dear'to me. I shall angel of my love and happiness!" Then he owe to it my life's happiness as a man, my freesprang up, and, drawing the young girl within his dom as a citizen. They have done me the honor arms, he impressed a glowing kiss upon her lips. in Rouen to'elect me to a place in the Third "That is my betrothal kiss, Margaret; now you Estate, and as, in a few days, the Assembly of the are mine; in this hour our souls are united in Nation will meet here in Versailles, I wanted my never-ending love and faithfulness. Nothing can whole future happiness to be connected with the separate us after this, for we journey-hand in hand place. And I wanted to be married in St. Louis's upon the same road; we have the same great and church, because I love the good King Louis. He hallowed goal 1 Now come, my love, let us take is the true and sincere friend of the nation, and our place before the altar of God, and testify with he would like to make his people happy, if the an oath to the love which we cherish toward our queen, the Austrian, would allow it." queen i" "Yes, indeed," sighed the councillor, who, in '76 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. spite of his relation to Madame de Campan, be- main door of the hall, the commoners were allonged to the opponents of the queen —"yes, lowed to enter by a rear door, opening into a indeed, if the Austrian woman allowed it. But dark and narrow corridor, where, crowded to. she is not willing that France should be happy. gether, they were compelled to wait till the doors Woe to the queen; all our misery comes from were opened. her!" Almost two hours elapsed before they were allowed to pass out of this dark place of confinement into the great hall, at a signal from the Marquis de Briz6, the master of ceremonies. A splendid scene now greeted their eyes. The CHAP T ER I X. Salle de Menus, which had been fitted up for the reception of the nobility, displayed within two TILE OPENING OF THE STATES-GENERAL. rows of Ionic pillars, which gave to the hall an ON the morning of the 5th of May, 1'789, the unwonted air of dignity and solemnity. The solemn opening of the States-General of France hall was lighted mainly from above, through a was to occur at Versailles. This early date was skylight, which was covered with a screen of appointed for the convocation of the estates, in white sarcenet. A gentle light diffused itself order to be able to protract as much as possible throughout the room, making one object as disthe ceremonial proceedings. But at the same cernible as another. In the background the time this occasion was to be improved in pre- throne could be seen on a richly ornamented paring a sensible humiliation for the members of estrade and beneath a gilded canopy, an easythe Third Estate. chair for the queen, tabourets for the princesses, In the avenue of the Versailles palace a large and chairs for the other members of'the royal and fine hall was fixed upon as the most appro- family. Below the estrade stood the bench depriate place for receiving the twelve hundred voted* to the ministers and the secretaries of representatives of France, and a numerous com- state. At the right of the throne, seats had been pany of spectators besides; and, being chosen, placed for the clergy, on the left for the nobility; was appropriately fitted up. Louis XVI. hinr- while in front were the six hundred chairs devoted self, who was very fond of sketching and drawing to the Third Estate. architectural plans, had busied himself in the The Marquis de Briz6, with two assistant masmost zealous way with the arrangerments and ters of ceremonies, now began to assign the com dc"ora';ons?%f thc hali. mo~.rs:'- tfhir h.ats,.n ac-ordt,.-e w:ih tLq Of. Ad d 1o0 b.an a matte: of Is fcia.:uterst to I sitatioi of tLe districts whi(; the;, rep-.'.ente. tni king to' 11, the -oom which waL to e'eivt [ s t'L Du'-e d'Orlea,: apnear.b in the &.dst thc repesenatl, —c be tht nat;-n, im a i.ann. 1 o~ the'the- dept. ies Iu Cre.ny,'here'ros,e from which would be worthy of so significant an occa- the amphitheatre, where the spectators sat, a sion. He had himself selected the hangings and gentle sound of applause, which increased in the curtains which were to protect the audience volume, and was repeated by some of the comfrom the too glaring light of the day. moners, when it was noticed that the duke made When the members of the Third Estate arrived, a' clergyman, who had gone behind him in the they saw with the greatest astonishment that they delegation from this district, go in front of him, were not to enter the hall by the same entrance and did not desist till the round-bellied priest which was appropriated to the representatives of had really taken his place before him. the nobility and the clergy, who were chosen at In the mean time the bench of the ministers the same time with themselves. While for the had begun to fill. They appeared as a body, last two the entrance was appointed through the clothed in rich uniforms, heavy with gold. Only THE OPENING OF THE STATES-GENERAL. 77 one single man among them appeared in simple " I did not bend my knee to the crown, but to the citizen's clothing, and bearing himself as naturally queen as a beautiful woman." as if he were engaged in business of the state, or' Mirabeau made no reply, but turned his flaming in ordinary parlor conversation, and by no means eyes to the king. as if taking part in an extraordinary solemnity. Louis XVI. appeared that day arrayed in the As soon as he was seen, there arose on all sides, great royal ermine; and wore upon his head a as much in the assembly as on the tribune, a plumed hat, whose band glistened with great diamovement as of joy which culminated in a gen- monds, while the largest in the royal possession, eral clapping of hands. the so-called Titt, formed the centre, and threw its The man who received this salutation was the rays far and wide. The king appeared at the newly-appointed minister of finance, Necker, to outset to be deeply moved at the reception which whom the nation was looking for a reestablish- had been given him. A smile, indicating that his ment of its prosperity and of its credit. feelings were touched, played upon his face. But Necker manifested only by a thoughtful smile, afterward, when all was still, and the king saw which mounted to'his earnest, thought-furrowed the grave, manly, marked faces of the commoners face, that he was conscious to whom the garland opposite him, his manner became confused, and' of supreme popularity was extended at this mo- for an instant he seemed to tremble. ment. The queen, however, looked around her with a Next, the deputation of Provence appeared, in calm and self-possessed survey. Her fine eyes the midst of which towered Count Mirabeau, with swept slowly and searchingly over the rows of his proud, erect bearing, advancing'to' take the grave men who sat opposite the royal couple, and place appointed for him. His appearance was the dwelt a moment on Toulan, as if she recalled in sign for a few hands to commence clapping in a him the young man who, two years before, had distant part of the hall, in honor of a man so brought the message of Cardinal Rohan's acquitmuch talked of in France, and of whom such tal. A painful smile shot for an instant over her strange things were said. But at this instant the fine features. Yes, she had recognized him; the king appeared, accompanied by the queen, fol- young man who, at Madame de Campan's room, lowed by the princes and princesses of the royal had sworn a vow of eternal fidelity to her. And family. now he sat opposite her, on the benches of the At the entrance of the king, the whole assem- commoners, among her enemies, who gazed at bly broke into a loud, enthusiastic shout of ap- her with angry looks. That was his way of fulplause and of joy. The Third Estate as well, at filling the vow which he had made of his own free a signal from Count Mirabeau, had quickly risen, will! but continued to stand without bending the knee, But Marie Antoinette wondered at nothing now; as had been, at the last time when all the es- she, had witnessed the falling away of so many tates weire assembled, the invariable rule. Only friends, she had been forsaken by so many who one of the representatives of the Third Estate, a were closely associated with her, and who were young man with energetic, proud face, and dark, indebted to her, that it caused her no surprise glowing eyes, bent his knee when he saw the that the young man who hardly knew her, who queen entering behind the king. But the power- had admired her in a fit of youthful rapture, had ful hand of his neighbor was laid upon his shoul- done like all the rest in joining the number of her der and drew him quickly up. enemies. " Mr. Deputy," whispered this-neighbor to him, Marie Antoinette sadly let her eyes fall. She " it becomes the representatives of the nation to could look at nothing more; she had in this solstand erect before the crown." emn moment received a new wound, seen a new "It is true, Count Mirabeau " answered Toulan. deserter! '78 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Toulan read her thoughts in her sad mien, on Philip d'Orleans thought of this at this mo her throbbing forehead, but his own countenance ment, as he stared at the queen with his laughremained cheerful and bright. ing face, while his looks were threatening ven"She will live to see the day when she will geance and requital. confess that I am her friend, am true to her," he The king now began the speech with which he said to himself. "And on that day I shall be proposed to open the assembly of his estates. The repaid for the dagger-thrust which I have just re- queen listened with deep emotion; a feeling of ceived from her eyes. Courage, Toulan, courage! unspeakable sorrow filled her soul, and despite all Hold up your head, and be strong. The contest her efforts her eyes filled with tears, which leihas begun; you must fight it through or die!"' surely coursed down her cheeks. When, at the But the queen did not raise her head again. close of his address, the king said that he was She looked unspeakably sad in her simple, un- the truest and most faithful friend of the people, adorned attire-in her modest, gentle bearing- and that France had his whole love, the queen and it was most touching to see the pale, fair looked up with a gentle, beseeching:expression, features which sought in vain to disclose nothing and her eyes seemed as if they wanted to say of the painful emotions of her soul. to the deputies, " I, too, am a friend of the peoThe king now arose from his throne and re- pie! I, too, love France! " moved his plumed hat. At once Marie Antoi- The king ended his address; it was followed by nette rose from her arm-chair, in order to listen a prolonged and lively clapping of, hands, and standing to the address of the king sitting down. upon the chair of the throne, he " Madame," said the king, bowing to her light- covered his head with the jewelled chapeau. ly, "madame, be seated, I beg of you." At the same moment all tne noblemen who "Sire," answered Marie Antoinette, calmly, were in the hall put on their own hats. At once "allow me to stand, for it does not become a sub- Count Mirabeau, the representative of the Third ject to sit while the king is standing." Estate, put on his hat; other deputies followed A murmur ran through the rows of men, and his example, but Toulan, whom Mirabeau had loud, scornful laughter from one side. Marie An- before hindered from kneeling-Toulan now toinette shrank back as if an adder had wounded wanted to prevent the proud democrats covering her, and with a flash of wrath her eyes darted themselves in presence of the queen. in the direction whence the laugh had come. It " Hats off! " he cried, with a loud voice, and was from Philip d'Orleans. He did not take the here and there in the hall the same cry was retrouble to smootn down his features; he looked peatea. with searching, defiant gaze over to the queen, But from other sides there arose a different proclaiming to her in this glance that he was her. cry, "I Hats on! r Be covered! " death-foe, that he was bent on revenge'for the Scarcely had the ear of the king caught the scorn which she had poured out on the spend- discordant cry which rang up and down the hall, thrift-revenge for the joke which she had once when he snatched his hat from his head, and at made at his expense before the whole court. It once the whole assembly followed his example. was at the time when the Duke d'Orleans, spend- Toulan had gained his point, the assembly rethrift and miser at the same time, had rented mained uncovered mn presence of the queen. the lower rooms of his palace to be used as At. last; after four long, painful hours, the cerstores. On his next appearance at Versailles, Ma- emony was ended; the queen followed the examrie Antoinette said: "Since you have become a pie of the king, rising, greeting the deputies with shopkeeper, we shall probably see you at: Ver- a gentle inclination of her head, and leaying the sailles only on Sundays and holidays, when your hall at the side of the king. stores are closed!" Some of the deputies cried, "Long live the THE INHERITANCE OF THE DAUPHIN. 79 king!" but their words died away without finding insensibility. She opened her eyes, and seeing any echo. Not a single voice was raised in honor Campan kneeling before her bed, she threw her of the queen! But outside, on the square, there arms around the faithful friend, and with gasp. were confused shouts; the crowd of people pressed ing breath bowed her head upon her shoulder. hard up to the door, and called for the queen. "Oh, Campan," she cried, with loud, choking They had seen the deputies as they entered the voice, "ruin is upon me. I am undone! All my hall; they had seen the king as he had attended happiness is over, and soon my life will be over divine service at the church of St. Louis. Now too! I have to-day tasted of the bitterness of the people were curious to see the queen! death! We shall never be happy more, for deA joyful look passed over the face of the queen struction hangs over us, and our death-sentence as she heard those cries. For a long time she is pronounced!" had not heard such acclaims. Since the unfortunate 1'786, since the necklace trial, they had become more rare; at last, they had ceased altogether, and at times the queen, when she appeared in public, was hailed with loud hisses and angry OiAPTER X. murmurs. "The queen! The queen!" sounded louder THE INHERITANCE OF THE DAUPHIN. and louder in the great square. MarieAntoinette FOR four weeks the National Assembly met obeyed the cry, entered tl:e great hall, had the daily at Versailles; that is:to say, for four weeks doors opened which led to the balcony, went out the political excitement grew greater day by day, and'showcd herseif to th:e people, and greeted the struggle of the parties more pronounced and them with friendly smiles. fierce, only with this qualification, that the parBut, instead of the shouts of applause which ty which attacked the queen was stronger than she had expected, the crowd relapsed at once into that which defended her. Or rather, to express a gloomy silence. Not a hand was raised to the exact truth, there was no party for Marie greet her, not a mouth was opened to cry " Long Antoinette; there were only here and there delive the queen!" voted friends, who dared to encounter the'odium Soon, however, there was heard a harsh wo- which their position called down upon them — man's voice shouting, "Long live the Duke d'Or-. dared face the calumnies which were set in cirleans! Long life to the friend of the people!" culation by the other parties: that of the people, The queen, pale and trembling, reelec back the democrats; that of Orleans; that of the from the balcony, and sank almost in a swoon princes and princeses of the royal family. All into the arms of the Duchess de Polignac, who these united their forces in order to attack the was behind her. Her eyes were closed, and a "Austrian," to obscure the last gleams of the convulsive spasm shook her breast. love and respect which were paid to her in hapThrough the opened doors of the balcony the pier days. shouts of the people could be heard all.the time, When Mirabeau made the proposition in the " Long live the Duke d'Orleans!" National Assembly that the person of the king The queen, still in her swoon, was carried into'should be declared inviolable, there arose from all her apartments and laid upon her bed; only these four hundred representatives of the French Madame de Campan remained in front of it to nation only one man who dared to declare with a watch the queen, who, it was supposed, had fallen loud voice and with defiant face, "The persons of asleep. the king and queen shall be declared inviolable!" A deep silence prevailed in the room, and the This was Toulan, the " soldier of the queen." stillness awoke Marie Antoinette from her half But the Assembly replied to this demand only 80 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. with loud murmurs, and scornful laughter; not a you are right, but you don't know my unhappy voice was raised in support of this last cry in favor condition; I yield only to necessity, and my bad of the queen, and the Assembly decreed only this: luck urges me forward.'" * "The person of the king is inviolable." "Ah! madame," said the minister with a sigh, "That means," said the queen to the. police " would that they who accuse you of mingling in minister Brienne, who brought the queen every politics out of ambition and love of power-would morning tidings of what had occurred at Paris that they could hear your majesty complain of and Versailles, "that means that my death-war- yourself in these moving words!" rant was signed yesterday." "My friend," said Marie Antoinette, with a sad "Your majesty goes too far! " cried the minis- smile, " if they heard it they would say that it was ter in horror, " I think that this has an entirely only something learned by heart, with which I was different meaning. The National Assembly has trying to disarm the righteous anger of my ene. not pronounced the person of the queen inviola- mies. It is in vain to want to excuse or justify ble, because they want to say that the queen has myself for no one will hear a word. I must be nothing to do with politics, and therefore it is un- guilty, I must be criminal, that they who accuse necessary to pass judgment upon the inviolability me may appear to have done right; that they of the queen." may ascend while they pull me down. But let us "Abh! " sighed the queen, " I should have been not speak more of this! I know my future, I feel happy if I had not been compelled to trouble my- it clear and plain in my mind and in my soul that self with these dreadful politics. It certainly was I am lost, but I will at least fight courageously not in my wish nor in my character. My enemies and zealously till the last moment; and, if I mustgo have compelled me to it; it is they who have down, it shall be at least with honor, true to myturned the simple, artless queen into an intriguer." self and true to the views and opinions in which I Ah! madam " said the minister, astonished, have been trained. Now, go on; let me know the " you use there too harsh a word; you speak as new libels and accusations which have been disif they belonged to your enemies." seminated about me." " No, I use the right word," cried Marie Antoi- The minister drew from his portfolio a whole nette, sadly. "My enemies have made an in- package of pamphlets, and spread them upon a littriguer of me. Every woman who goes beyond her tle table before the queen. knowledge and the bounds of her duty in meddling "So much at once! " said the queen, sadly, turnwith politics, is nothing better than an intriguer. ing over the, papers. "How much trouble I You see at least that I do not flatter myself, make to my enemies, and how much they must although it troubles me to have to give myself so hate me that I have such tenacity of life! Here is bad a name. The Queens of France are happy a pamphlet entitled'Good advice to Madame only when they have nothing to trouble them- Deficit to leave France as soon as possible.''Madselves about, and reserve only influence enough to ame Deficit!' that means me, doesn't it?" give pleasure to their friends, and reward their "It is a name, your majesty, which the wickedfaithful servants. Do you know what recently ness of the Duke d'Orleans has imposed upon happened to me? " continued the queen, with a your majesty," answered the minister, with a sad smile. "As I was going into the privy coun- of his shoulders. cil chamber to have a consultation with the king, The eyes of the queen fashed in anger. She I heard, while passing (Eil de Bmuf, one of the opened her lips to utter a choleric word, but she musicians saying so loud that I had to listen to governed herself and went on turning over the every word,' A queen who does her duty stays in pamphlets and caricatures. While doing that, her own room and busies herself with her sewing * The queen's own words. —See "Mmoires de Madan and knitting.' I said within myself,' Poor fellow, de Campan," vol Hi., p. 82. THE INHERITANCE OF THE DAUPHIN. 81 while reading the words charged with poison of There upon the bed, beneath the gold-fringed wickedness and hate, the tears coursed slowly canopy, lay the pale, motionless boy, with open, over her cheeks, and once in a while a convul- staring eyes, with parched lips, and wandering sive gasp forced itself from her breast. mind —and it was her child, it was the Dauphin of Brienne pitied the deep sorrow of the queen. France. He begged her to discontinue this sad perusal. Around his bed stood the physicians, the He wanted to gather up again the contumelious quickly-summoned priest, and the servants, lookwritings, but Marie Antoinette held his hand back. ing with sorrowful eyes at the poor, deathly-pale "I must know every thing, every thing," said creature that was now no more than a withered she. " Go on bringing pme every thing, anld do flower, a son of dust that must return to dust; not be hindered by my tears. It is of course then they looked sadly at the pale; trembling natural that I am sensitive to the evil words that wife who crouched before the bed, and who now are spoken about me, and to the bad opinion that was nothing more than a sorrow-stricken mother, is cherished toward me by a people that I love, who must bow before the hand of Fate, and feel and to win whose love I am prepared to make that she had no more power over life and death every sacrifice.* than the meanest of her subjects. At this moment the door of the cabinet was She bent over the bed; she put her arms tendashed open without ceremony, and the Duchess derly around the little shrunken form of the poor de Polignac entered. child that had long been sick, and that was now "Forgiveness! your majesty, forgiveness that confronting death. She covered the pale face of I have ventured to disturb you, but-" her son with kisses, and watered it with her tears. "What is it?" cried the queen, springing up. And these kisses, these tears of his mother, "You come to announce misfortune to me, duch- awakened the child out of his stupor, and called ess. It concerns the dauphin, does it not? His him back to life. The Dauphin Louis roused up illness has increased?" once more, raised his great eyes, and, when he "Yes, your majesty, cramps have set in, and saw the countenance of his mother above him the physicians fear the worst." bathed in tears, hie smiled and sought to raise his "0 God! 0 God!" cried the queen, raising head and move his hand to greet her. But Death both her hands to heaven, "is every misfortune had already laid his iron bands upon him, and to beat down upon me? I shall lose my son, my held him back upon the couch of his last sufdear child! ~ Here I sit weeping pitiful tears about ferings. the malice of my enemies, and all this while my "Are you in pain, my child: " whispered Marie child is wrestling in the pains of death! Fare- Antoinette, kissing him affectionately. "Are you well, sir, I must go to my child." suffering?" And the queen, forgetting every thing else, The boy looked at her tenderly. "I do not thinking only of her child-the sick, dying dau- suffer," he whispered so softly that it sounded phin-hurried forward, dashing through the room like the last breath of a departing spirit. " I only with such quick step that the duchess could- suffer if I see you weep, mamma." * scarcely follow her. Marie Antoinette quickly dried her tears, and, "Is he dead?" cried Marie Antoinette to the kneeling near the bed, found power in het mothservant standing in the antechamber of the dau- erly love to summon a smile to her lips, in order phin. She did hot await the reply, but burst for- that the dauphin, whose eyes remained fixed upon ward, hastily opened the door of the sick-room, her, might not see that she was suffering. and entered. A deep silence prevailed now in the apartment; * The queen's own words. —See Malleville, "Histoire * The very words of the dying dauphin.-See Weber, de Marie Antoinette," p. 197. "M6moires," vol. i., p. 209. 6 82 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. nothing was heard but the gently-whispered pray- the lips of happy mothers may bless the day on ers of the spectators, and the slow, labored breath- which my boy died. Have the goodness to bring ing of the dying child. me to-morrow morning a list of the children born Once the door was lightly opened, and a man's to-day." figure stole lightly in, advanced on tiptoe to the " Come, Marie," said the king, "the body of' bed, and sank on his knees close by Marie Antoi- our son belongs no more to the living, but to the nette. It was the king, who had just been sum- grave of our ancestors in St. Denis; his soul to moned from the council-room to see his son die. God. The dauphin is dead! Long live the dauAnd now with a loud voice the priest began phin! Madame de Polignac, conduct the dauphin the prayers for the dying, and all present softly to us in the cabinet of his mother." repeated them. Only the queen could not; her And with the proud and dignified bearing eyes were fastened upon her son, who now saw which was peculiar to the king in great and moher no more, for his eyes were fixed in the last mentous epochs, he extended his arm to the death-struggle. queen and conducted her out of the death-chamStill one last gasp, one last breath; then came ber, and through the adjacent apartments, to her a cry from Marie Antoinette's lips, and her head cabinet. sank upon the hand of her son, which rested in "Ah!" cried the queen, " here we are alone; her own, and which was now stiff. A few tears here I can weep for my poor lost child." coursed slowly over the cheeks of the king, and And she threw her arms around the neck of his hands, folded in prayer, trembled. her husband, and, leaning her head upon his breast, The priest raised his arms, and with a loud, wept aloud. The king pressed her closely to his solemn voice cried: "The Lord gave, the Lord heart, and the tears which flowed from his own bath taken away, blessed be the name of the eyes fell in hot drops upon the head of the queenLord. Amen." Neither saw the door beyond lightly open, and " Amen, amen," whispered all present. the Duchess de Polignac appear there. But when " Amen," said the king, closing with gentle she saw the royal pair in close embrace, when she pressure the open eyes of his son. "God has heard their loud weeping, she drew back, stooped taken you to Himself, my son, perhaps because down to the little boy who stood by her side, He wanted to preserve you from much trouble whispered a few words to him, and, while gently and sorrow. Blessed be His name!" pushing him forward, drew back herself, and But the queen still bowed over the cold face of gently closed the door behind them. The little her child, and kissed his lips. "Farewell, my fellow stood a moment irresolutely at the door, son," she whispered, " farewell! Ah, why could fixing his eyes now upon his father and mother, I not die with you-with you fly from this pitiful, now upon the nosegay of violets and roses which sorrow-stricken world?" he carried in his hand. The little Louis Charles Then, as if the queen regretted the words was of that sweet and touching beauty that brings which the mother had spoken with sighs, Marie tears into one's eyes, and fills the heart with sadAntoinette rose from her knees and turned to the ness, because the thought cannot be suppressed, priest, who was sprinkling the corpse of the dau- that life, with its rough, wintry storms, will have phin with holy water. no pity on this tender blossom of innocence, and "Father," said she, "the children'of poor that the beaming, angel-face of the child must one parents, who may be born to-day in Versailles,'dav be changed into the clouded, weather-beaten, are each to'receive from me the sum of a thou- furrowed face of the man. A cheering sight to sand francs. I wish that the death-bed of my look upon was the little, delicate figure of the son may be a day of joy for the poor who have four-year-old boy, pleasing in his whole appearnot, like me, lost a child, but gained one, and that ance. Morocco boots, with red tips, covered his THE INHERITANCE OF THE DAUPHIN. 83 little feet; broad trousers, of dark-blue velvet, " My son," said the king, solemnly, " God haIi came to his knees, and were held together at the been pleased to give you another name and anwaist by a blue silk sash, whose lace-tipped' ends other calling. Your poor brother, Louis, has left fell at his left side. He wore a blue velvet jacket, us forever. He has gone to God, and you are with, a tastefully embroidered lace ruffle around now Dauphin of France!" the neck. The round, rosy face,t:with the ruby "And God grant that it be for your good," lips, the dimple in the chin, the large blue eyes, said the queen, with a sigh. shaded by long, dark lashes, and crowned by the The little prince slowly shook his locks. " It broad, lofty brow, was rimmed around with a certainly is not for my good," said he, "else profusion of golden hair, which fell in long, heavy mamma would not weep." locks upon his shoulders and over his neck. The "She is weeping, my child," said the queenchild was as beautiful to look upon as one of the " she is weeping, because your brother, who was angels in Raphael's " Sistine Madonna," and he the dauphin, has left us." might have been taken for one, had it not been for "And will he never come back?" asked the the silver-embroidered, brilliant star upon his left child, eagerly. side. This star, which designated his princely "No, Louis, he never will come back." rank, was for the pretty child the seal of his mor- The boy threw both his arms around the neck tality-the seal which ruin had already impressed of the queen. "Ah!" he cried, "how can any upon his innocent child's breast. one ever leave his dear mamma and never come One moment the boy stood indecisively there, back? I will never leave you, mamma!" looking at his weeping parents; then he turned "I pray God you speak the truth,' sighed the quickly forward, and, holding up his nosegay, he queen, pressing him tenderly to herself. "I pray said: " Mamma, I have brought you some flowers God I may die before you both!" from my garden." "Not before me-oh, not before me!" ejacuMarie Antoinette raised her head, and smiled lated the king, shuddering. "Without you, my through her tears as she looked at her son. The dear one, my life were a desert;. without you, the king loosened his embrace from the queen, in King of France were the poorest-man in the whole order to lift up the prince. land!" "Marie," said he, holding him, up to his wife, He smiled sadly at her. "And with me he "Marie, this is our son —this is the Dauphin of will perhaps be the most unfortunate one," she France." whispered softly, as if to herself. Marie Antoinette took his head between her " Never unfortunate, if you are with me, and if hands, and looked long, with tears in her eyes, you love me," cried the king, warmly. "Weep and yet smiling all the while, into the lovely, rosy no more; we must overcome our grief, and comface of her boy. Then she stooped down, and fort ourselves with what remains. I say to you impressed a long, tender kiss upon his smooth once more: the dauphin is dead, long live the forehead. dauphin!" "God love you, my child!" said she, solemnly. "Papa king," said the boy, quickly, "you say "God bless you, Dauphin of France! May the the dauphin is dead, and has left us. Has he storms, which now darken our horizon, have long taken every thing away with him that belongs to been past when you shall ascend the throne of him?" your fathers! God bless and defend you, Dau- "No, my son, he has left every thing. You are phin of France!" now the dauphin, and some time will be King of "But, mamma," asked the boy, timidly, "why France, for you are the heir of your brother." do you call me dauphin to-day? I am your little " What does that mean, his heir?" asked the Louis, and I am called Duke de Normandy." child. 84 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "It means," answered the king, "that to you At this moment the door softly opened, and belong now the titles and honors of your brother." a little black dog stepped in, and ran forward, "Nothing but that?" asked the prince, tim- whining, directly up to the prince. idly. "I do not want his titles and honors." "Mouffiet," cried the child, falling upon his "You are the heir to the throne; you have now knee, "Moufflet!" the title of Dauphin of France." The little dog, with its long, curly locks of hair, The little one timidly grasped the hand of his put its fore-paws upon the shoulders of the boy mother, and lifted his great blue eyes suppli- and eagerly and tenderly licked his laughing, rosy catingly to her. "Mamma queen," he whispered,, face. "do you not think the title of Duke de Normandy " Now, my Louis," asked the queen, "have I sounds just as well, or will you love me more, if I guessed right?-wasn't it the doggy that you am called Dauphin of France?" wanted so much?" "No, my son," answered the queen, "I shall "Mamma queen has guessed it," cried the boy not love you better, and I should be very happy joyfully, putting his arms around the neck of the if you were now the Duke de Normandy." dog. " Does Mouffiet belong to my inheritance too? "Then, mamma," cried the boy, eagerly, "I Do I receive him, since my brother has left him am not at all glad to receive this new title. But behind? " I should like to know whether I have received "Yes, my son, the little dog belongs to your any thing else from my dear sick brother." inheritance," answered the king, with a sad "Any thing else? " asked the king in amaze- smile. ment; "what would you desire, my child?" The child shouted with pleasure, and pressed The little prince cast down his eyes. " I should the dog close to his breast. " Moufflet is mine " not like to tell, papa. But if it is true that the he cried, glowing with joy, " Moufflet is my inheritdauphin has left us and is not coming back again. ante!" and yet has not taken away every thing which The queen slowly raised to heaven her eyes, belongs to him, there is something which I should red with weeping. "Oh, the innocenc'e of childvery much like to have, and which would please hood, the happiness of childhood! " said she, softly, me more than that I am now the dauphin." "why do they not go with us through life? why The king turned his face inquiringly to the must we tread them under feet like the violets and queen. " Do you understand, Marie, what he roses of my son? A kingdom falls to him as his wants to say?" he whispered. portion, and yet he takes pleasure in the lit" I think I can guess," answered Marie Antoi- tle dog which only licks his hands'! Love is the nette softly, and she walked quickly across the fairest inheritance, for love remains with us till room, opened the door of the adjoining apartment, death!" and whispered a few words to ~the. page who was there. Then she returned to the king, but while doing so she stepped upon the bouquet which had fallen out of the boy's hands when his father lifted him up. CHAPTER XI. "Oh, my pretty violets, my pretty roses," KING LOUIS THE SIXTEENTH. cried the prince, sadly, and his face put on a sorrowful expression. But he quickly brightened, THE.14th of July had broken upon Paris and, looking up at the queen, he said, smiling, with its fearful events. The revolution had for "Mamma queen, I wish you always walked on the first time opened the crater, after subterranean flowers which I have planted and plucked for thunder had long been heard, and after the you!" ground of Paris had long been shaken. The KING LOUIS XVI. 85 glowing lava-streams of intense excitement, popu- suppressed voice, " in the discharge of my office, lar risings, and murder, had broken out and which permits the closest approach to your maflooded all Paris, and before them judgment, dis- jesty, I have undertaken to bring you tidings cretion, and truth even,, had taken flight. which are now so confirmed, and which are so The people had stormed the Bastile with arms, important and dreadful, that it would be a folly. killed the governor, and for the first time the dread- to try to keep what has happened longer from ful cry "To the lamp-post!" was heard in the your knowledge." streets of Paris; for the first time theiron arms of "You speak of the occurrences in the capithe lamp-posts had been transformed to gallows, tal? " asked the king, slightly drawing'back. on which those were suspended whom the people "I have been told that your majesty has not had declared guilty. yet been informed," continued the duke, " and Meanwhile the lava-streams of revolution had yet in the course of yesterday the most dreadful not yet flowed out as far as Versailles. events occurred in Paris. The head of the army On the evening of the 14th of July, peace had not ventured to send your majesty and the and silence had settled early upon the pal- cabinet any report. It was known yesterday in ace, after a whole day spent in the apartments of Versailles at nightfall that the people, with arms the king and queen with the greatest anxiety, and in their hands, had stormed and destroyed the after resolution had followed resolution in the Bastile. I have just received a courier from Parefforts to come to a decision. is, and these tidings are confirmed with the most Xarie Antoinette had early withdrawn to her horrible particularity. Sire, I held it my duty as rooms. The king, too, had retired to rest, and a faithful servant of the crown to break the sihad already fallen into a deep slumber upon his lence which has hitherto hindered your majesty bed. He had only slept a few hours, however, from seeing clearly and acting accordingly. Il when he heard something moving near his bed, Paris, not only has the Bastile been stormed by with the evident intention of awakening him. the people, but truly dreadful crimes and murThe king recognized his valet, who, with signs of ders have taken place. The bloody heads of Dethe greatest alarm in his face, announced the launay and Flesselles were carried'on pikes Duke de Liancourt, grand maitre de la garde-robe through the city by wild crowds of people. A of his majesty, who was in the antechamber, and part of the fortifications of the Bastile have been who pressingly urged an immediate audience with levelled. Several of the invalides, who were the king. Louis trembled an instant, and tried to guarding the fort, have been found suspended think what to do. Then he rose from his bed from the lantern-posts. A want of fidelity has with a quick and energetic motion, and ordered begun to appear in the other regiments. The the valet to dress him at once. After this had armed people now arrayed in the streets of Paris been done with the utmost rapidity, the king or- are estimated at two hundred thousand men. dered that the Duke de Liancourt should be sum- They fear this very night a rising of the whole moned to the adjacent apartment, when he would population of the city." receive him. The king had listened standing, as in a sad As the king went out in the greatest excitement, dream. His face had become pale, but his bearhe saw the'duke, whose devotion to the per- ing was unchanged. son of the king was well known, standing be- "There is then a revolt I" said Louis XVI., affore him with pale, distorted countenance and ter a pause, as if suddenly awakening from deep trembling limbs. thought. "What has happened, my friend? " asked the "No, sire," answered' the duke, earnestly, " it king, in breathless haste. is a revolution." "Sire," answ ered the Duke de Liancourt, with "The queen was right," said the monarch, 86 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. softly, to himself; "and now rivers of blood gether withCount d'Artois, entered. Both broth would be necessary to hide the ruin that has ers of the king appeared to be in the greatest exgrown so great. But my resolution is taken; the citement. From their appearance and gestures it blood of the French shall not be poured out." could be inferred that the news brought by the " Sire," cried Liancourt, with a solemn gesture, Duke de Liancourt had reached the palace of Ver"the safety of France and of the royal family sailles. lies in this expression of your majesty. I ought Liancourt at once approached the Count d'Arto be and I must be plain-spoken this hour. The tois, and said to him in decisive tones: greatest danger lies in your majesty's following "Prince, your head is threatened by the pe.the faithless counsels of your ministers. How I ple. I have with my own eyes seen the poster bless this hour which is granted me to stand face which announces this fearful proscription." to face with your majesty, and dare to address The prince uttered a cry of terror at'these myself to your own judgment and to your heart! words, and stood in the middle of the room like Sire, the spirit-of the infatuated capital will make one transfixed. rapid and monstrous steps forward. I conjure "It is good, if the people think so," he said you make your appearance in the National Assem- then, recovering himself. " I am, like the people, bly to-day, and utter there the word of peace. for open war. They want my head, and I want Your appearance will work wonders; it will dis- their heads. Why do we not fire? A fixed poliarm the parties and make this body of men the cy, no quarter to the so-called freedom ideastruest allies of the crown." cannon well served! These alone can save us! " The king looked at him with a long, penetra- "His majesty the king has come to a different ting glance. The youthful fire in which the noble conclusion!" said the Duke de Liancourt, bowing duke had spoken appeared to move the king. He low before the king, who stood calmly by with extended his hand-and pressed the duke's in his folded arms. own. Then he said softly: "You are, yourself "I beg my brothers, the Count de Provence one of the most influential members of this Na- and the Count d'Artois, to accompany me this tional Assembly, my lord duke. Can you give morning to the Assembly of States-General," said me your personal word that my appearance the king, in a firm tone. "I wish to go thither there will be viewed as indicating the interest of in order to announce to the Assembly my resoluthe crown in the welfare of France " tion to withdraw my troops. At the same time I At this moment the first glow of the morning shall announce to them my decided wish that they entered the apartment, and overpowered the pale may complete the work of their counse's in peace, candle-light which till then had illuminated the for I have no higher aim than through them to room. learn the will of the nation." "The Assembly longs every day and every Count d'Artois retreated a step in amazement. hour for the conciliatory words of your majesty," Upon his mobile face appeared the sharp, satiricried Liancourt. " The doubts and disquiet into cal expression which was peculiar to the characwhich the National Assembly is falling more and ter of the prince. It was different with Provence, more every day are not to be dispelled in any who, at the king's words, quickly approached him other way than by the appearance of your majes- to press his hand in token of cordial agreement ty's gracious face. I beseech you to appear to- and help. day at the National Assembly. The service of At this moment the door of the chamber was to-day, which begins in a few hours, may take the opened, and the queen, accompanied by severae most unfortunate turn, if you, sire, do not, take persons, her most intimate companions, entered this saving step." in visible excitement. Just then, the door opened, and Monsieur, to- " Does your majesty know wht- has hap. KING LOUIS XVI. 87 pened.?" she asked, with pale face and tearful The king smiled and nodded in friendly manner eyes, as she violently grasped the king's hand. to the count. "It will be all well yet," said the king, with "It seems to me," he said, "that the time is gentle dignity; "it will prove a help' to us that approaching for us to go to the Assembly. Their we have nothing as yet to accuse ourselves with. royal highnesses Count de Provence. and Count I am resolved to go to-day to the National As- d'Artois will accompany me. I commission the sembly, and to show it a sign of my personal con- Duke de Liancourt to go before us to the Salle fidence, in announcing the withdrawal of my des Menus, and to announce to the Assembly,,ditroops from Paris and Versailles." rectly after the opening of the session, that we The queen looked at her husband with the shall appear there at once in person. greatest amazement; then, like one in a trance, On this the king dismissed all who were presshe dropped his hand and stood supporting her ent. The queen took tender leave of him, in a fair head upon her hand, with a thoughtful, pained manner indicating her excited feelings. She had expression. never seen her royal husband bearing himself in "By doing so your majesty will make the revo- so -decided and confident a manner, and it almost lution an irrevocable fact," she then said, slowly awakened new confidence in her troubled breast. raising, her eyes to him; "and it troubles me, But at the same moment all the doubts and cares sire, that you will again set foot in an Assembly returned, and sadly, with drooping head, the numbering so many dreadful and hostile men, and queen withdrew. in which the resolution made last month to dis- In the mean time, close upon the opening of band it ought to have been carried into effect the National Assembly that morning, stormy delong ago." bates had begun about the new steps which they " Has the Assembly, in fact, so many dreadful were going to take with the monarch. members? " asked the king, with his good-natured Count Mirabeau- had just been breaking out smile. "Yet I see before me here two extremely into an anathema in flaming words about the amiable members of that Assembly, and their holiday which the king had given to the new regilooks really give me courage to appear there. ments, when the Duke de Liancourt, who that There is my old, true friend, the Duke de Lian- moment entered the hall, advanced to the speakcourt, and even in the train of your majesty there er's desk and announced that the king was just is the valiant Count de la Marck, whom I heartily on the point of coming to the Assembly. The welcome. May I not, Count de la Marck, depend greatest amazement, followed immediately by inupon some favor with your colleagues in the Na- tense disquiet, was expressed on all sides at heartional Assembly?" asked the king, with an amia- ing this. Men sprang up from their places and ble expression. formed scattered groups to talk over this unex"Sire," answered the count, in his most per- pected circumstance and come to an understandfeet court manner, "in the variety of persons con- ing in advance. They spoke in loud, angry iwords stituting the Assembly, I do not know a single about the reception which should be given to the one who would be able to close his heart to the king in the National Assembly, when Mirabeau direct word of the monarch, and such condescend- sprang upon the tribune, and, with his voice ing grace. The nobility, to whose side I belong, towering above every other sound, cried that would find itself confirmed thereby in its fidelity; " mere silent respect should be the only recepthe clergy would thank God for the manifestation tion that we give to the monarch. Ili a moof royal authority which shall bring peace; and ment of universal grief, silence is the true lesson the Third Estate would have to confess in its as- of kings." * tonishment that safety comes only from the mon* Mirabeau's own words.-See "Memoires du Comte arch's hands." de Mirabeau," vol. ii., p. 301. $8 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. A resounding bravo accompanied these words, thanks of the Assembly in a few words, the king which appeared to produce the deepest impression prepared to leave the hall. At that instant all upon all parties in the Assembly. present rose in order to follow the king's steps. Before the room was silent, the king, accom- Silently the whole National Assembly became the panied by his brothers, but with no other retinue retinue of the king, and accompanied him to the besides, entered the hall. Notwithstanding all street. the plans and efforts which had been made, his The king wished to return on foot to the palappearance at this moment wrought so powerfully ace. Behind him walked the National Assembly that, as soon as they saw him, the cry "Long in delighted, joyful ranks. The startling imporlive the king!" was taken up and repeated so tance of the occasion seemed to have overpowered often as to make the arched ceiling ring. the most hostile and the most alienated. An imThe king stood in the midst of the Assembly, mense crowd of people, which had gathered bebearing himself modestly and with' uncovered fore the door of the hall, seeing the king suddenhead. He did not make use of an arm-chair ly reappear in the midst of the whole National which was placed for him, but remained standing, Assembly; broke into jubilant cries of delight. as, without any ceremony, he began to address The shouts, "Long live the king! Long live the the Assembly with truly patriarchal dignity. nation! " blended in a harmonious concord which When at the very outset he said that as the rang far and wide. Upon the Place d'Armes' chief of the nation, as he called himself, he had were standing the gardes du corps, both the Swiss come with confidence to meet the nation's repre- and the French, with their arms in their hands. sentatives, to testify his grief for what had hap- But they, too, were infected with the universal pened, and to consult them respecting the re- gladness, as they saw the procession, whose like establishing of peace and order, a pacified expres- had never been seen before, move on. sion appeared upon almost all faces. The cries which to-day solemnized the happy With gentle and almost humble bearing the reconciliation of the king and the people now king then entered upon the suspicions that had were united with the discordant clang of trumpets breathed, that the persons of the deputies were and the rattle of drums on all sides. not safe. With the tone of an honest burgher he Upon the great balcony of the palace at Verreferred to his own "well-known character," sailles stood the queen, awaiting the return of the which made it superfluous for him to dismiss king. The thousands of voices raised in behalf such a suspicion. " Ah!-" he cried," it is I who of Louis XVI. and the nation had drawn Marie have trusted myself to:- you! Help me in these Antoinette to the balcony, after remaining in her painful circumstances to Strengthen the welfare own room with thoughts full of evil forebodings. of the state. I expect it of the National Assem- She held the dauphin in her arms, and led her bly." little daughter. Her eyes, from which the heavy Then with a tone of touching kindness he said:- veils of sadness were now withdrawn, cast joyful "Counting upon the love and fidelity of my sub- glances over the immense, shouting crowds of jects, I have given orders to the troops to with- people approaching the palace, at whose head she draw from Paris and Versailles. At the same joyfully recognized her husband, the king, weartime I commission and empower you to convey ing an expression of cheerfulness which for a time these my orders to the capital." she had not seen on his face. The king now closed his address, which had been When the king caught sight of his wife, he interrupted by frequent expressions of delight hastened to remove his hat and salute her. But and enthusiasm, but which was received at the few of the deputies followed the royal example, close with a thunder of universal applause. After and silently, without any salutation, without any the Archbishop of Brienne had expressed the cries of acclamation, they looked up at the queen. KING LOUIS XVI. 89 Marie Antoinette turned pale, and stepped back manded at Paris, had, with the exception of thle with her children into the hall. king's other brother, been so overcome with "It is all over," she said, with a gush of tears, their anxieties as to resolve upon flight. They "it is all over with my hopes. The Queen of were followed on the next day by the new minisFrance is still to be the poorest and most unhappy ters, who now, yielding to the demands of the woman in France, for she is not loved, she is de- National Assembly, had handed in their resignaspised." tion to the, king, but did not consider it safe to Two soft young arms were laid around her remain within range of the capital. neck, and with a face full of sorrow, and with But another offering, and one more painful to tears in his great blue eyes, the dauphin looked the queen, had to be made to the hatred of the up to the disturbed countenance of his mother. people and the hostile demands of the National " Mamma queen," he whispered, pressing fondly Assembly. Marie Antoinette herself felt it, and up to her, " mamma queen, I love you and every- had the courage to express,it. Her friends the body loves you, and my dear brother in heaven Polignacs must be sent away. In all the libellous prays for you." pamphlets which had been directed against the With a loud cry of pain, that escaped her queen, and which Brienne had sedulously given to against her will, the queen pressed her son to her her, it was one of the main charges which had heart and covered his head with her kisses. been hurled against her, that the queen had given "Love me, my son, love me," she whispered, to her friends enormous sums from the state's choking, "and may thy brother in heaven pray treasury; that the Duchess Julia, as governe-s of for me that I may soon be released from the pains the royal children, ani her husband the Duke de which I suffer! " Polignac, as director of the royal mews, received But as she heard now the voice of the king a yearly salary of two million francs; and that the without, taking leave of his retinue with friendly whole Polignac family together drew nearly six words, Marie Antoinette hastily dried her tears, million francs yearly from the national treasury. and putting down the dauphin, whispered to him, Marie Antoinette knew that the people hated the "Do not tell papa that I have been crying," and Polignacs on this account, and she wanted at least in her wonted lofty bearing, with a smile upon to put her friends in a place of safety. her trembling lips, she went to meet her hus- At the same hour in which the brothers of the band. king and the princes of the royal family left VerAs it grew late and dark in the evening, several sailles, the Duke and the Duchess de Polignae baggage-wagons heavily laden and tightly closed were summoned to the queen, and Marie Antoimoved noiselessly and hastily from the inner nette had told them with trembling voice that courts of the palace, and took the direction tow- they too must fly, that they must make their esard the country. In these carriages were the cape that very night. But the duchess, as well Count d'Artois, the Duke d'Angoul~me, and the as the duke, refused almost with indignation to Duke de Berry, the Prince de Conde, the Duke de comply with the request of the queen. The Bourbon, and the Duke d'Enghien, who were duchess, who before had been characterized by so leaving the kingdom in secret flight. calm a manner, now showed for the first time a Louis XVI. had tried to quiet the anxieties of glow of affection for her royal friend, and unhis brother, the Count d'Artois, by advising him reckoning tenderness. " Let us remain with you, to leave France for some time, and to remain in a Marie," she said, choking, and throwing both her foreign land, until the times should be more quiet arms around the neck of the queen. "Do not and peaceful. The other princes, although not drive me from you. I will not go, I will share so sorely threatened with popular rage as the your'perils and will die for you,. if it must be." Count d'Artois, whose head had already been de-. But Marie Antoinette found now in her great DO MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. love the power to resist these requests-the power trembling, he silently bowed to his friends, and to hold back the tears which started from her hastily withdrew. heart and to withdraw herself from the arms of "You have heard what the king commands," her friend. said Marie Antoinette, eagerly, " and you will not "It must be," she said. "In the name of our venture to disobey him. Hear also this: I too, friendship I conjure you, Julia, take your departure the Queen of France, command you to take your at once, for, if you are not willing to, I shall die departure this very hour." with anxiety about you. There is still time for The duke bowed low before the queen, who you and yours to escape the rage of my enemies. stood with pale cheeks, but erect, and with a They hate you not for your own sake, and how noble air. would it be possible to hate my Julia? It is for "Your majesty has commanded, and it becomes my sake, and because they hate me, that they per- us to obey. We shall go! " secute my dearest friend. Go, Julia, you ought The duchess sank, with a loud cry of grief, on not to be the victim of your friendship for me." her knee before the queen, and buried her face in "No, I remain," said the duchess, passionately. the royal robe. "Nothing shall separate me from my queen." Marie Antoinette did not disturb her, did not " Duke," implored the queen, " speak the venture to speak to.her, for she knew that, with word, say that it is necessary for you to fly!" the first word which she should utter, the pain of "Your majesty," replied the duke, gravely, "I her heart would find expression on h'er lips, and can only repeat what Julia says: nothing shall she would be composed; she would not let her separate us from our queen. If we have in the friend see how severe the sacrifice was which her days of prosperity enjoyed the favor of being per- love compelled her to make. mitted to be near your majesty, we must claim it "Let me remain with you," implored the as the highest favor to be permitted to be near duchess, "do not drive me from you, Marie, my y.ou in the days of your misfortune!" Marie! " Just then the door opened and the king en- The queen turned her great eyes upward, and tered. her looks were a prayer to God to give her power "Sire,' said the queen, as she advanced to and steadfastness. Twice then she attempted to meet him, "help me to persuade these noble speak, twice her voice refused to perform its duty, friend's that they ought to leave us! " and she remained silent, wrestling with her grief, "The queen is right," said Louis, sadly, " they and at last overcoming it. must go at once. Our misfortune compels us to " Julia," she said-and with every word her part with all who love and esteem us. I have voice became firmer and stronger —"Julia, we just said farewell to my brother, now I say the must part. I should be doubly unhappy to draw same to you; I command you to go. Pity us, you and yours into my misfortunes; it wMill, in all but do not lose a minute's time. Take your chil- my troubles, be a consolation to; me, that I have dren and your servants with you. Reckon at all been able to save you. I do not say, as the king times upon me. We shall meet again in happier did, that we shall meet again in happier days, days, after our dangers are past, and then you and after our perils are past-fcr I do not believe shall both resume your old places. Farewell! in any more happy days-we shall not be able to Once more I command you to go!" * survive those perils, but shall perish in them. I And as the king perceived that the tears were say, farewell, to meet not in this, but in a starting into his eyes, and that his voice was better world! Not a word more. I cannot bear * The king's own words. This intense parting scene is it! Your queen commands you to go at once! strictly historical, according to the concurrent communica Farewell " tions of Montjoie in his " Histoire de Marie Antoinette." Compan, Mem., ii. Weber, Memn, i. She extended her hand firmly to her, but she THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER, 1789. 91 could not look at her friend, who lay at her feet the daylight came late to Paris, as if fearing to weeping and choking; she saluted the duke with see what had taken place on the streets and a mere wave of the hand, turned quickly away, squares. The national guard, summoned together and hastened into the adjoining room, and then by the alarm-signal of drum-beats and the clangor on till. she reached her own toilet-room, where of trumpets and horns, collected in the gray mornEMadame de Campan was awaiting her. ing light, for a fearful rumor had been spread "Campan," she cried, in tones of anguish, through Paris the evening before, and one. has "Campan, it is done! I have lost my friend! whispered to another that to-morrow had been I shall never see her again. Close the door, draw appointed by the clubs and by the agitators for the bolt, that she cannot come in, I-I shall a second act in the revolution, and the people are die!" And the queen uttered a loud cry, and too quiet, they must be roused to new deeds. sank in a swoon. " The people are too quiet," thatwas the watchAt midnight two well-packed carriages drove word of the 4th of October, in all the clubs, and out of the inner courts of the palace. They were it was Marat who had carried it. the Polignacs; they were leaving France, to take On the platform of the Club de Cordeliers, the refuge in Switzerland. cry was raised loudly and hoarsely: " Paris is in In the first carriage was the Duchess de Poli- danger of folding its hands in its lap, praying and gnac, with her husband and her daughter. She going to sleep. They must wake out of this state held two letters in her hand. Campan had, given of lethargy, else the hateful, tyrannical monarchy her both, in the name of the queen, as she was will revive, and draw the nightcap so far over the stepping into the carriage. ears of the sleeping capital, that-it will, stick as if One was directed to Minister Necker, who, a.ler covered with pitch, and suffer itself to relapse into his dismissal, had withdrawn to. Bsle. Since the bondage. We must awaken Paris, my friends; National Assembly, the clubs, the whole popula- Paris must not sleep." lation of Paris, desired Necker's return, and de- And on the night of the 4th of October, Paris claied him to be the only man who could restore had not slept, for the agitators had kept it the shattered finances of the country; the queen awake. The watch-cry had been: "The bakers had persuaded her husband to recall the minister, must not bake to-night! Paris must to-morrow although an opponent of hers, and appoint him morning be without bread, that the people may again minister of finance. The letter of the open their eyes again and awake. The bakers queen, which the Duchess Julia was commis-night!" sioned to give to Necker, contained his recall, an- All the clubs had caught up their watch-cry, nounced to him in flattering words, and their emissaries had spread it through thd The second letter was a parting word from the whole city, that all the bakers should be informed queen to her friend, a last cry from her heart. that whoever should "open his store in the morn"Farewell," it ran-" farewell, tenderly-loved ing, or give any other answer than this'There friend! How dreadful this parting word is! is no more meal in Paris; we have not been able But it is needful. Farewell! I embrace thee to bake!' will be regarded as a traitor to the in spirit! Farewell!" national cause, and as such, will be punished. Be on your guard!" The bakers had been intimidated by this threat, and had not baked. When Paris awoke on the o IH A P T E R X I 1.morning of the 5th of October, it was without THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER, 1789. bread. People lacked their most indispensable THE morning dawned-a windy October morn- article of food. ing, surrounding the sun with thick clouds; so At the outset, the women, who received these 92 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. dreadful tidings at the bake-shops, returned dumb where Marat was standing, and near him Simon with horror to. their families, to announce to their the cobbler, on whose broad shoulders, as upon a households and their hungry children: "There is desk, Marat was resting one hand. no bread to-day! The supply of flour is ex- "Silence!"' cried the giantess. "Marat, the hausted! We must starve! There is no more people's friend, is going to speak! Let us listen, bread to be had!" for it will certainly do us good. Marat is clever And from the dark abode of the poor, the sad and wise, and loves the people!" cry sounded out into the narrow and dirty streets Marat's green, blazing eyes fixed themselves and all the squares, "Paris contains no bread! upon the gigantic form of the woman; he shrank Paris must starve!" back as if an electrical spark had touched him, The women, the children uttered these cries in and with a wonderful expression of mingled triwild tones of despair. The men repeated the umph and joy. words with clinched fists and with threatening "Come nearer, goodwife!' he exclaimed; "let looks: "Paris contains no more bread! Paris me press your hand, and bring all the excelmust starve!" lent, industrious, well-minded women of Paris to "And do you know why Paris must starve? " take Marat, the patriot, by the hand! " cioaked out a voice into the ears of the people The woman strode to the place where Marat who were crowding each other in wild confusion was standing and reached him her hand. No one on the Place de Carrousel. " Do you know who in the crowd noticed that this hand of unwonted is the cause of all this misery and want?" delicacy and whiteness did not seem to comport "Tell us, if you know! " cried a rough man's well with the dress of a vender of vegetables voice. from the market; no one noticed that on one of "Yes, yes, tell us!" shouted other voices. " We the tapering fingers a jewel of no ordinary size want to know!" glistened. " I will tell you," answered the first, in rasping Marat was the only one to notice it, and while tones; and now upon the stones, which indicated pressing the offered hand of the woman in his where the carriage-road crossed the square, a lit- bony fist,~ he stooped down and whispered in her tle, shrunken, broad-shouldered figure, with an ear: unnaturally large head, and ugly, crafty face, "Monseigneur, take this jewelled ring off, and could be seen. do not press forward too much, you might be " Marat! " cried some man in the crowd. " Ma- identified!" rat!" yelled the cobbler Simon, who had been "I be identified! " answered the woman, turi since August the friend and admirer of Marat, ing pale. "I do not understand you, Doctor Maandwas to be seen everywhere at his side. "Lis- rat!" ten, friends, listen! Marat is going to speak to "But I do," whispered Marat, still more softly, us; he will tell us how it happens that Paris has for he saw that Simon's little sparkling eyes were bread no more, and that we shall all have to starve turned toward the woman with a look of curiosity. together! Marat is going to speak!" "I understand the Duke Philip d'Orleans very "Silence, silence!" scattered men commanded well. He wants to rouse up the people, but he is here and there. " Silence! " ejaculated a gigantic unwilling to compromise his name or his title. woman, with broad, defiant face, around which And that may be a very good thing. But you are her black hair hung in dishevelled masses, and not to disown yourself before Marat, for Marat is which was gathered up in partly-secured knots your very good friend, and will keep your secret under her white cap. With her broad shoulders honorably." and her robust arms she forced-her way through "What are you whispering about?" shouted the crowd, directing her course toward the place Simon. " Why do you not speak to the people? THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER, 1789. 93 You were going to tell us why Paris has no bread, Versailles, and we will tell the baker's wife that and who is to blame that we must all starve." our children have no bread, while she is giving her "Yes, yes, that is what you were going to tell apprentices cakes. We will demand of her that us!" was shouted on all sides. "We want to she give our children bread, and if she refuses know it." it, we will compel her to come with her baker "Tell us, tell us! " cried the giantess. " Give and her whole brood to Paris and starve with us! me your hand once more, that I may press it in Come, let us go to Versailles!" the name of all the women of Paris! " " Yes, yes, let us go to Versailles!" was the Marat with an assuring smile reached his great, hideous cry which echoed across the square; " the bony hand to the woman, who held it in both of baker's wife shall give us bread! " her own for a moment, and then retreated and "She keeps the keys to the stores!" howled was lost in the crowd. Marat, "she prevents the baker opening them." But in Marat's hand now blazed the jewelled "She shall give us the keys! " yelled the great ring which had a moment before adorned.the woman. "All the mothers and all the women large, soft hand of the woman. He, perhaps, did of Paris must go to Versailles to the baker's not know it himself; he paid no attention to it, wife!" but turned all his thoughts to the people who now "All mothers, all women to Versailles! " refilled the immense square, and hemmed him in sounded in a thousand-voiced chorus over the with thousands upon thousands of blazing eyes. square, and then through the streets, and then "You want to know why you have nro bread? " into the houses. snarled he. "You ask why you starve? Well, And all the mothers and wives caught up these my friends and brothers, the answer is an easy thundering cries, which came to them like unone to give. The baker of France has shut up seen voices from the air, commissioning them to his storehouse because the baker's wife has told engage in a noble, an exalted mission, calling to him to do so, because she hates the people. and them to save Paris and procure bread for their wants them to starve! But she does not intend children. to starve, and so she has called the baker and the " To Versailles, to Versailles! All mothers and little apprentices to. Versailles, where are her women to Versailles!" storehouses, guarded by her paid soldiers..What Who was able to resist obeying this command, does it concern her if the people of Paris are mis- which no one had given, which was heard by no erably perishing? She has an abundance of bread, single ear, yet was intelligible to every heartfor the bakermnust always keep his store open for who could resist it? her, and her son eats cake, while your children The men had stormed the Bastile, the women are starving! You must always keep demanding must storm the heart of the baker's wife in Verthat the baker, the baker's wife, and the whole sailles, till it yield and give to the children of the brood come to Paris and live in your midst, poor the bread for which they hunger. and then you will see how they keep their flour, "Up, to Versailles! All wives and mothers!" and you will then compel them to give you of their The cry sweeps like a hurricane through the superfluous supplies." streets, and everywhere finds an echo in the mad. "Yes, we will make her come! " cried Simon dened, pain-stricken, despairing, raging hearts of the cobbler, with a coarse laugh. "Up, brothers, the women who see their children hunger, and up I We must compel the baker and his wife to suffer hunger themselves. open the flour-store to us!" "The baker's wife feeds her apprentices with "Let us go to Versailles!" roared the great cakes, and we have not a crumb of bread to give woman, who had posted herself among a group to our poor little ones!" of fishwives. "Come, my friends, let us go to In whole crowds the women dashed into the 94 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND THER SON. largest squares,,.where were the men who foment- heart of the queen! How could we conquer ed the revolution, Marat, Danton, Santerre, Chau- them with weapons of steel? We must let them mette, and all the rest, the speakers at the clubs; go! But we must take precautions that the king there they are, giving their counsels to the mad- and the queen do not fall into danger." dened women, and spurring them on! "That will be all the more necessary, general, "Do not be afraid, do not be turned aside! Go as the women will certainly be accompanied by to Versailles, brave women! Save your children, armed crowds of men, and excitement and conyour husbands, from'death by starvation! Com- fusion will accompany them all the way to Verpel the baker's wife to give bread to you and for sailles. Make haste, general, to defend Versailles, us all! And if she conceals it from you, storm The columns of women are already in motion, and, her palace with violence; there will be men there as I have said to you, they will be accompanied to help you. Only be brave and undismayed, God by armed men!" will go with mothers who aire bringing bread to "It would not be well for me to take my soltheir children, and your husbands will protect diers to Versailles," said Lafayette, shaking his you!" head. " You know, M. de Bailly, to what follies They were brave and undismayed, the wives the reactionaries of Versailles have already led and mothers of Paris. In broad streams they the royal family. All Paris speaks of nothing rushed on; they broke over every thing which else than of the holiday which the king and was in their way; they drew all the women into queen have given to the royal troops, the regitheir seething ranks. "To Versailles! To Ver- ment of Flanders, which they have summoned to sailles!" Versailles. The king and the queen, with the It was to no avail that De Bailly, the mayor dauphin, were present. The tri-colored cockade of Paris, encountered the women on the street, was trodden under foot, and the people were arand urged them with pressing words to return to rayed in white ribbons. Royalist songs were their families and their work, and assured them sung, the National Guard was bitterly talked of, that the bakers had already opened their shops, and an oath was given to the king and queen and.had been ordered to bake bread. It was in that commands would only be received of them. vain that the general of the National Guard, La- My soldiers are exasperated, and many of my offayette, had a discussion with the women, and ficers have desired of me to-day that we should tried to show them how vain and useless was their repair to Versailles and attack the regiment of action. Flanders and decimate them. It is, therefore, Louder and louder grew the commanding cry, perilous to take these exasperated National Guards "To Versailles! We will bring the baker and to Versailles." his wife to Paris! To Versailles!" "And yet something must be done for the proThe crowds of women grew more and more tection of the king," said Bailly; "believe me, dense, and still mightier'was the shout, "To Ver- these raging troops of women are more dangersailles!" ous than the exasperated National Guards. Come, Bailly went with pain to General Lafayette. General Lafayette, we will go to' the city hall, and "We must pacify them, or you, general, must summon the magistracy and the leaders of the prevent them by force!" National Guard, to take counsel of them." "It is impossible," replied Lafayette. "How An hour later the drumns beat through all the copld we use force against defenceless women? streets of Paris, for in the city hall the resolve Not one of my soldiers would obey my commands, had been taken that the National Guard. of Paris, for these women are the wives, the mothers, the under the lead of General Lafayette, should repair sisters of my soldiers! They have no other weap- to Versailles to protect the royal family against ons than their tongues with which to storm the the attacks of the people, but at the same time THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER, 1789. 95 to protect the National Assembly against the at- his realm have bowed his head. The schooltacks of the royalist troops. house, too, is desolate, and the learned master no But long before the troops were in motion, and longer writes.his satires arid jokes upon the had really begun their march to Versailles, the great blackboard in the school-room. He now troops of women were already on their way. writes libels and pamphlets, but they are now diSoldiers of the National Guard and armed men rected against the queen, against the former misfrom the people accompanied the women, and se- tress of Trianon. And there is the fish-pond, cured among them a certain military discipline. along whose shores the sheep used to pasture, They marched in ten separate columns, every one where the courtly company, transformed into of which consisted of more than a thousand wo- shepherds and shepherdesses, used to lie on thc men. Each column was preceded by some sol- grass, singing songs, arranging tableaux, and lisdiers of the National Guard, with weapons on tening to the songs which the band played behind their shoulders, who, of their own free will, had the thicket. All now is silent. No joyous tone undertaken to be the leaders. On both sides of now breaks the melancholy stillness which fills each column marched the armed men from the' the shady pathways of the grove where Marie people, in order to inspire the women with cour- Antoinette, the mistress of Trianon, now walks age when they grew tired, but at the same time with bended head and heart-broken spirit; only to compel those who were weary of the long jour- the recollection of the past resounds as all echo ney, or sick of the whole undertaking, and who in her inner ear, and revives the cheerful strains wanted to return to Paris, to come back into which long have been silent. the ranks and complete what they had begun, A. t the fish-pond all is still, no flocks grazing on and carry the work of revolution still further. the shore, no picturesque groups, no songs. The "On to Versailles! " spinning-wheel no longer whirls, the hand of th. All was quiet in Versailles that day. No one queen no longer turns the spindle; she has learnedl suspected the horrors which it was to bring to hold the sceptre and the pen, and to weave pub forth. The king had gone with some of his gen- lic policy, and not a net of linen. The trees tlemen to Meudon to hunt: the queen had gone with their variegated autumn foliage are reflected to Trianon alone-all alone i in the dark water of the pond; some weepingNo one of her friends was now at her side, she willows droop with their tapering branches down had lost them all. No one was there to share the to the water, and a few swans come slowly sailing misery of the queen of all who had shared her across with their necks raised in their majestic happiness. The Duchess de Polignac, the prin- fashion. As they saw the figure on the shore, cesses of the royal house, the cheery brother of they expanded their wings and sailed quicker on, the king, Count d'Artois, the. Count de Coigny,. to pick up the crumbs which the white hands of Lords Besenval and Lauzun, where, are they all the queen used to throw to them. now,:the friends, the suppliant of former days? But these hands have to-day no gifts for the Far, far away in distant lands, flown from the mis- solitary, forgotten swans. All the dear, pleasfortune that, with its dark wings sinking, was hov- ant customs of the past are forgotten, they have ering lower and lower over Versailles, and dark- all ceased. ening with its uncanny shadows this Trianon which Yet the swans have not forgotten he,; they had once been so cheerful and bright. All now sail unquietly hither and thither along the shore of is desolate and still! The mill rattles no more, the pond, they toss up their slender necks, and then the open window is swung to and fro by the wind, plunge their red beaks down into the dark water and the miller no more looks out with his good- seeking for the grateful bits which were not there. natured, laughing face; the miller of Trianon is But when they saw that they were disappointed, no longer the king, and the burdens and cares of they poured forth their peculiarly mournful song 9A MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. and slowly sailed away down the lakelet into' the queen, hastily. "It was you, was it not, who obscurity of the distance, letting their complain- brought me the sad news of the acquittal of Roing notes be heard from time to time. han?" "They are singing the swan's song of my happi- It' appears, your majesty, that a cruel misforness," whispered the queen, looking with tearful tune has always chosen me to be the bearer of eyes at the beautiful creatures. " They too turn evil tidings to my exalted queen. And to-day I away from me, and now I am alone, all alone." come only with such." She had spoken this loudly, and her quivering "What is it? " cried the queen, eagerly. "Has voice wakenedthe echo which had been artistically any thing happened to my husband? Are my contrived there, to repeat cheery words and merry children threatened? Speak quickly, say no or laughter. yes. Let me know the whole truth at once. Is "Alone! " sounded back from the walls of the the king dead? Are my children in danger? " Marlborough Tower at the end of the fish-pond. "No, your majesty." "Alone!" whispered the water stirred with the "No," cried the queen, breathing a breath of swans. "Alone!" was the rustling cry ofthebushes. relief. " I thank you, sir. You see that you ac"Alone! " was heard in the heart of the queen, cused Fate falsely, for you have brought me good and she sank down upon the grass, covered her tidings. And yet again I thank you, for, I re. face with her hands, and wept aloud. member, I have much to thank you for. It was AUl at once there was a cry in the distance, you who raised your voice in the National Assem " The queen, where is the queen? " bly, and voted for the inviolability of the queen. Marie Antoinette sprang up and dried her eyes. It was not your fault, and believe me not mine No one should see that she had wept. Tears be- either, that your voice was alone, that no one long only to solitude, but she has no longer even joined you. The king has been declared'inviosolitude. lable, but not the queen, and now I am to be atThe voice comes nearer and nearer, and Marie tacked, am I not? Tell me what is it? Why Antoinette follows the sound. She knows that she does my faithful Campan send you to me? " is going to meet a new misfortune. People have " Your majesty, to conjure you to come to Vernot come to Trianon to bring her tidings of joy; sailles." they have come to tell her that destruction awaits "What has happened there? " her in Versailles, and the queen is to give audi- "Nothing as yet, your majesty, but-I was ence to it. early this morning in Paris, and what I saw there A man came with hurried step from the thicket determined me to come hither at once, to bring down the winding footpath. Marie Antoinette the news and warn your majesty." looked at him with eager, sharp eye.'Who is he, " What is it? Why do you hesitate? Speak this herald of misfortune? No one of the court out freely." servants, no one of the gentry. He wears the "Your majesty, all Paris is in motion, all Paris simple garments of a citizen, a man- of the people, is marching upon Versailles! " of that Third Estate which has prepared for the "What do you mean by that?" asked Marie poor queen so much trouble and sorrow. Antoinette, passionately. "What does Paris He had perhaps read her question in her face, want? Does it mean to threaten the National for, as he now sank breathless'at her feet, his lips Assembly? Explain yourself, for you see I do murmured: "Forgive nme, your majesty, forgive not understand you." me that I disturb you. I am Toulan, your most "Your majesty, the people of Paris hunger. devoted servant, and it is Madame de Campan The bakers have made no bread, for they assert iho sends me." that there is no more meal. The enemies of the "Toulan, yes, I recognize you now," said the realm have taken advantage of the excitement to ........................................................................................................................................................... 4:, n id:4 1................ b V: 0;:X: c 2.......................!implied file' ain't::....................... 7........... WN.......... X........................................ M.............. Z*x........... M......................UN p.................. THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER, 1789. 97 stir up the masses and even the women. The tion. Every one had lost his senses. Every one people are hungry; the people are coming to asked, and no one answered, for the. only one who Versailles to ask the king for bread.- Ten thou- could answer, the king, was not there. He had sand women are on the road to Versailles, accom- not yet returned from the hunt in Mendon. panied by armed bodies of men." But the queen was there, and with a grand "Let us hasten, sir, I must go. to my children," calmness and matchless grasp of mind she undersaid the queen, and with quick steps she went took the duties of the king. First, she sent forward. Not a glance back, not a word of fare- the chief equerry, the Marquis de Cubiares, to well to the loved plantation of Trianon, and yet it meet the king and cause him to hasten fhome at is the last time that Marie Antoinette is to look once. She intrusted Count St. Priest, minister upon it. She will never return hither, she turns of the interior, with a division of the guards in her back forever' upon Trianon. the inner court of the palace. She inspired the With flying steps she hurries on; Toulan does timid women with hope. She smiled at her chilnot venture to address her, and she has perhaps dren, who, timid and anxious at the confusion entirely forgotten his presence. She does not which surrounded them, fled to the queen for know that a faithful one is near her; she only refuge, and clung to her. knows that her children are in Versailles, and Darker and darker grew the reports that came that she must go to'them to protect them, and to meanwhile to the palace. They were the stormthe king too, to die with him,'if it must be, birds, so to speak, that precede the tempest. They When they were not far from the great mall announced the near approach of the people of of the park at Versailles, the Count de St. Priest Paris, of the women, who were no longer uncame running, and his frightened looks and pale armed, and who had been joined by thousands of ~face confirmed the news that Mr. Toulan had the National Guard, who, in order to give the brought. train of women a more imposing appearance, had " Your majesty," cried the count, breathless, brought two cannon with them, and who, armed "I took the liberty of looking for your majesty with knives and guns, pikes and. axes, and singing at Trianon. Bad news has arrived." wild war-songs, were marching on as the escort "I know it," answered the queen, calmly. of the women. " Ten thousand women are marching upon Ver- The queen heard all without alarm, without sailles, Mr. Toulan has informed me, and you see fear. She commanded the women, who stood I am coming to receive the women." around her weeping and wringing their hands,' to All at once she stood still and turned to Toulan, withdraw to their own apartments, and protect who was walking behind her like the faithful ser- the dauphin and the princess, to lock the doors vant of his mistress. behind them and to admit no one-no one, ex"Sir," said she, "I thank you, and I know that cepting herself. I may reckon upon you. I am sure that to-day She took leave of the children with a kiss, and as always you have thought upon our welfare, bade them be fearless and untroubled. She did and that you will remain mindful of the oath of not look at them as the women took them away. fidelity which you once gave me. Farewell! Do She breathed firmly as the doors closed behind you go to the National Assembly. I will go to them. the palace, and may we each do our duty." She "Now I have courage to bear e'ery thing," saluted Toulan with a gentle inclination of her she said to St. Priest. " My children are in safehead and with beaming looks of gratitude in her ty! Would only that the king were here!" beautiful eyes,. and then hurried on up the grand At the same instant the door opened and the mall to the palace. king entered. Marie Antoinette hastened to meet In Versailles all was confusion and consterna- him, threw herself with a cry of joy into his arms, 7 98t M MRIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. andrested her head, which had before been erect The queen, pale and yet calm, had withdrawn with courage, heavily on his shoulder. to the adjoining apartment. There she leaned " Oh, sire, my dear sire! thank God that you against the door and listened'to the words of the are here. Now I fear nothing more! You will ministers, and to the new reports which were all not suffer us to perish in misery! You will the time coming in from the streets. breathe courage into these despairing ones, and The crowd had reached Versailles, and was tell the. inexperienced what they have to do. streaming through the streets of the city in the Sire, Paris is marching against us, but with us direction of the palace. The National Guard of there are God and France. You will defend the Versailles had fraternized with the Parisians. honor of France and your crown against the Some scattered soldiers of the royal guard had rebels?" been threatened and insulted, and even dragged The king answered confusedly, and as if in a from their horses! yielding frame of mind. "We must first hear The queen heard all, and heard besides the what the people want," he said; "we must not consultation of the king and his ministers-still approach them threateningly, we must first dis- coming to no decisive results, doubting and lesicuss matters with them." tating, while the fearful crisis was advancing from "Sire," answered the queen, in amazement, the street. "to discuss with the rebels now is to imply that Already musket-shots were heard on the great they are in the right, and you will not, you can- square in front of the palace; wild cries, and loud, not do that!" harsh voices. Marie Antoinette left her place at "I will consult with my advisers," said the the door and hurried to the window, where a view king, pointing at the ministers, who, summoned could be had of the whole square. by St. Priest, were then entering the room. She saw the dark dust-cloud which hung over But what a consultation was that! Every one the road to Paris; she saw the unridden horses, made propositions, and yet no one knew what to running in advance of the crowd, their riders, do. No one would take the responsibility of the members of the royal guard, having been killed; matter upon himself, and yet every' one felt that she heard the raging discords, which surged up the danger increased every minute. But what to to the palace like a wave driven by the wind; do? That was the question which no one was she saw this black, dreadful wave sweep along able to answer, and before which the king was the Paris road, roaring as it went. mute. Not so the queen, however. What a fearful mass! Howling, shrieking "Sire!" cried she, with glowing cheeks, "sire, women, with loosened hair, and with menacing you have to save the realm, and to defend it from gestures, extended their naked arms toward the revolution. The contest is here, and we cannot palace defiantly, their eyes flaming, their mouths withdraw from it. Call your guards, put your- overflowing with curses. Wild men's figures, self at their hcad, and allow me to remain at your with torn blouses, the sleeves rolled up over side. We ought not to yield to revolution, and dusty and dirty arms, and- bearing pikes, knives, if we cannot control it, we should suffer it to enter and guns, here and there members of the Nathe palace of the kings of France only over our tional Guard marching with them arm in arm, dead bodies. Sire, we must either live as kings, pressed on toward the palace. Sometimes shrieks or know how to die as kings!" and yells, sometimes coarse peals of laughter, But Louis replied to this burst of noble valor or threatening cries, issued from the confused in a brave woman's soul, only with holding back crowd. and timidity. Plans were made and cast aside. Nearer and nearer surged the dreadful wave of They went on deliberating till the wild yells of the destruction to the royal palace. Now it has people were heard even within the palace. reached it. Maddened fists pounded upon the THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER, 1789. 99 iron gates before the inner court, and threatening dened, more shameless every monent. Thou. voices demanded entrance; hundreds and hun- sands and thousands of arms are trying the gates, dreds of women shrieked with wild gestures: and guns are fired with steady aim at the guards "We want to come in! We want to speak with I beg your majesty to empower me to repel this the baker! We will eat the queen's guts if we attack of mad women!" cannot get any thing else to eat!" "What an idea, captain!" cried Louis, shrugAnd thousands upon thousands of women's ging his shoulders. "Order to attack a company voices repeated-" Yes, we will eat the queen's of women! You are joking, prince!" * guts, if we get nothing else to eat!" And the king turned to Count de la Marck, who Marie Antoinette withdrew from the window; was entering the room. "You come with new her bearing was grave and defiant, a laugh of news. What is it, count?" scorn played over her proudly-drawn-up upper- " Sire, the women are most desirous of speaklip, her head was erect, her step decisive, digni- ing with your majesty, and presenting their grievfled. ances." She went again to the king and his ministers. "I will hear them," cried the king, eagerly. "Sire," said she, " the people are here. It is now " Tell the women to choose six of their number too late to supplicate them, as you wanted to do. and bring them into my cabinet. I will go there Nothing remains for you except to defend your- myself." self, and to save the crown for your son the dau- " Sire, you are going to give audience to revophin, even if it falls from your own head." lution," cried Marie Antoinette, seizinig the arm "It remains for us," answered the king, grave- of the king, who was on the point of leaving the ly, " to bring the people back to a sense of duty. room. " I conjure you, my husband, do not be They are deceived about us. They are excited. overpowered by your magnanimous heart! Let We will try to conciliate them, and to show them not the majesty of the realm be defiled by the our fatherly interest in them." raging hands of these furies! Remain here. Oh, The queen stared in amazement at the pleasant, sire, if my prayers, my wishes have any power smiling face of the king; then, with a loud cry of with you, remain here! Send a minister to treat. pain, which escaped from her breast like the last with these women in your name. But do not gasp of a dying man, she turned around, and confront their impudence with the dignity of the went up to the Prince de Luxemburg, the captain crown. Sire, to give them audience is to give of the guard, who just then entered the hall. audience to revolution; and from the hour when "Do you come to tell us that the people have it takes place, revolution has gained the victory taken the palace? " cried the queen, with an angry over the kingly authority! Do not go, oh do not burst from her very soul. go!" "Madame," answered the prince, "had that "I have given my word," answered Louis, been the case, I should not have been here alive. gently. " I have sent word to the women that I Only over my body will the rabble enter the: pal- would receive them, and they shall not say that ace." the first time they set foot in the palace of " Ah," muttered Marie Antoinette to herself, their king, they were deceived by him. And see, "there are men in Versailles yet, there are brave there comes the count to take me!" men yet to defend us!" And the king followed with hasty step Count "What news do you bring, captain?" asked de la Marck, who just then appeared at the the king, stepping up. door. "Sire, I am come to receive your commands," Six women of wild demeanor, with dusty, dirty answered the prince, bowing respectfully. " This * The king's own words.-See Weber, "M6moires," mob of shameless shrews is growing more mad- vol. i., p. 488. 100 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. clothes, their hair streaming out from their round "Give us the heart of the queen," was now the white caps, were assembled in the cabinet of the cry, " give us the heart of the queen!" king, and stared at him with defiant eyes as he Marie Antoinette heard the words, but she ap. entered. But his gentle demeanor and pleasant peared not to be alarmed. With dignity and com-. voice appeared to surprise them; and Louise posure, she cast a look at the ministers and gen. Chably, the speaker, who had selected the wo- tlemen, who, pale and speechless, had gathered men, found only timid, modest words, with which around the royal couple. to paint to the king the misfortune, the need, and "I know that this crowd has come from Paris the pitiable condition of the people, and with to demand my head! I learned of my mother which to entreat his pity and assistance. not to fear death, and I shall meet it with courage " Ah, my children," answered the king with a and steadfastness." * sigh, "only -believe me, it is not my fault that And firmly and fearlessly Marie Antoinette reyou are miserable, and I am still more unhappy mained all this dreadful evening, which was now than you. I will give directions to Corbeil and beginning to overshadow Versailles. Outside of D'Estampes, the controllers of the grain-stores, to the palace raged the uproar; revolutionary songs give out all that they can spare. If my commands were sung; veiled forms, the leaders of the revoha'd always been obeyed, it would be better with lution, stole around, and fired the people with new us all! If I could do every thing, could see to rage against the baker and the baker's wife. it that my commands were everywhere carried in- Torches were lighted to see by, and the blood-red to effect, you would not be unhappy; and you must glare shone into the faces there, and tended to confess, at least, that your king loves you as a exasperate them still more. What dances were father his children, and that nothing lies so closely executed by the women, with torches in their at his heart as your welfare. Go, my children, and hands! and the men roared in accompaniment, tell your friends to prove worthy of the love of ridiculing the king and threatening the queen their king, and to return peaceably to Paris." * with death. "Long live the king! Long live our father!" At times the torches threw their flickering'cried the touched and pacified women, as trem- glare into the windows of the palace, where were bling and with tears in their eyes, they left the the ministers and servants of the king, in silent royal cabinet, in order to go to the women below, horror. Among all those counsellors of the king, and announce to them what the king had said. there was at this time but one Man, Marie AntoiBut the royal words found no response among nette! She alone preserved her steadfastness and the excited masses. discretion; she spoke to every one friendly, inspirit. " We are hungry, we want bread," shouted the ing words.. She roused up the timid; at times women.'" We are not going to live on words any she even attempted to bring the king to some de. more. The king shall give us bread, and then we cisive action, and yet she did not complain when shall see it proved that he loves us like a father; she found herself unable to do so. then we will go back to Paris. If the baker be- Once her face lighted up in hope and joy. lieves that he can satisfy us with words and fine That was when a company of deputies, headed by speeches, he is mistaken." Toulan, entered the hall, to offer their services to " If he has no bread, he shall give us his wife the royal couple, and to ask permission to be alto eat! " roared a man with a pike in his hand and lowed to remain arouni the king and queen. a red cap on his head. "The baker's wife has But scarcely had this request been granted, eaten up all our bread, and it is no more than when both the secretaries of the president of the fair that we should eat her up now." National Assembly entered, warning the mem~ The king's own words.-See A. de Beauchesne, " Louis * The words of the queen. —See "H' istoire die Maris XVI., sa Vie, son Agonie," etc., vol. i., p. 43. Antoinette," p. 19,. THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER, 1789. 101 bers, m the name ot tne president, to return at " Sire," answered she, calmlky, "I was at my once to the hall and to take part in the night ses post." * sion which was to be held. Louis, overcome by the sublimity of a mother's "They call our last friends away from us," love, hastened to his wife and locked her in his murmured the queen, "for they want us to be arms. entirely defenceless! " "Remain with me, Marie," he said.,i Do not All at once the cries on the square below'were leave me. Breathe your courage and your decismore violent and loud; musket-shots were heard; ion into me." at the intervals between rose the thousand- The queen sighed and sadly shook her head. voiced clamor, and at one time the thunder of a She had not a word of reproach; she did not say cannon. There was a rush of horses, and clash of that she no longer believed in the courage and arms, more musket-shots, anct then the cry of the decision of the king, but she had no longer any wounded. hope. The king had withdrawn to hold a last consul- But the doors of the room now opened. tation with his ministers and a few faithful friends. Through one came the maids of the queen and At this fearful noise, this sound of weapons, this the governess of the dauphin; through the other, shout of victory, his first thought was of the some gentlemen of the court, to call the king queen. He rose quickly and entered the hall. back into the audience-hall. No one was there; the red glare of the torches After the first panic, every one had come back was thrown from below into the deserted room, to consciousness again, and all vied in devoting and showed upon- the wall wondrous shadows of themselves to the king and the queen. The gencontorted human figures, with clinched fists and tlemen brought word that something new had with raised and threatening arms. occurred, and that this was the cause of the The king walked hastily through the fearfully dreadful tumult below upon the square. The Nailluminated hall, called for the queen with a loud tional Guard of Paris had arrived; they had fravoice, burst into the cabinet, then into her sleep- ternized with the National Guard of Versailles, ing-room, but no Marie Antoinette was to be and with the people; they had been received by found-no one gave reply to the anxious call of the women with shouts of applause, and by the the king. men with a volley of musket-shots in salutatiGn. More dreadful grew the wild shrieks and howls, General Lafayette had entered the palace to ofler the curses and maledictions which came in from his services to the king, and he now asked for an without. audience. The king sprang up the little staircase which " Come, madame," said Louis quickly, cheered led to the rooms of the children, and dashed up, "let us receive the general. You see that through the antechamber, where the door was things are not so bad with us as you think. We open that led to the dauphin's sleeping-room. have faithful servants yet to hasten to our assistAnd here Louis stood still, and looked with a ance." breath of relief at the group which met his tearful The queen made no reply. Quietly she foleye. The dauphin was lying in his bed fast asleep, lowed the king into the hall, in which Lafayette, with a smile on his face. Marie Antoinette stood surrounded by the ministers and gentlemen, was erect before the bed in an attitude of proud com- standing. On the entrance of the royal couple, posure. the general advanced to meet them with a iever" MarIe," said the king, deeply moved-" Marie, ential salutation. I was looking for you." " Sire," said Lafayette, with cheerful confidence The queen slowly turned her head toward him * This conversation, as well as this whole scene, is hisand nointed at the sleeping prince. torical.-See Beauchesne's "Louis XVII.," vol. 1. 102 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. — "sire, I have come to protect your majesties had already fallen asleep. The queen, too, had and the National Assembly against all those who gone to rest, and while laying her wearied and shall venture to threaten you." heavy head upon the cushions, she tenderly be"Are you assured of the fidelity and trustwor- sought both her maids to lie down too. All was thiness of your troops? " asked the queen, whose quiet now in the dark palace of Versailles. The flaming eyes rested upon Lafayette's countenance king and the queen slept. as if she wanted to read his utmost thoughts. But through the dark, deserted halls which that But these eyes did not confuse —the cheerful day had witnessed so much pain and anxiety, recalmness of the general. sounded now the clang of the raging, howling " I know, madame, that I can rely upon the voices which came up from the square, and hurled fidelity of my soldiers," answered he, confidently. their curses against the queen. "They are devoted to me to the death, and as I In the palace of Versailles they were asleep, shall command them, they will watch over the but without, before the palace, Uproar and Hate security of the king and queen, and keep all in- kept guard, and with wild thoughts of murder jury from them." stalked around the palace of the Kings of France. The queen detected the touch of scorn in these How soon were these thoughts to become fact I loud-sounding words, but she pretended to believe Sleep, Marie Antoinette, sleep! One last hour of them. At last she really did believe them, for peace and security Lafayette repeated emphatically that from this One last hour! Before the morning dawns time nothing more was to be feared for the royal Hate will awaken thee, and Murder's terrible family, and that all danger was past The guard voice will resound through the halls of the Kings should be chosen this night from his own troops; of France! the Paris National Guard should restore peace again in Versailles, and keep an eye upon the crowds which had encamped' upon the great square before the palace. Lafayette promised well for his army, for the CH A P T E I I. howling, shrieking women, for the cursing, raging THE NIGHT OF HORROR. men. And the king was satisfied with these assur- MARIE ANTOINETTE slept! The fearful exciteances of General Lafayette, and so, too, was Ma- ment of the past day and of the stormy evening, rie Antoinette at last. Louis ordered the gardes crowded with its events, had exhausted the'powdu corps to march to Rambouillet, and reserved ers of the queen, and she had fallen into that only the necessary sentinels in the palace. In deep, dreamless sleep which sympathetic and grathe imrMediate neigl.oorhood the soldiers of La- cious Nature sometimes sends to those whom Fate fayette were stationed. The general once more pursues with suffering and peril. zrnde the rounds, and then, As if every thing was Marie Antoinette slept! In the interior of the in a positicA of the gr~'atest security, he went palace a deep calm reigned, and Lafayette had into the palace to spnad the night there, and in withdrawn from the court in order to sleep too. peaceful slumbers to refresh himself for the labors But below, upon this court, Revolution kept her of the day. vigils, and glared with looks of hatred and venThe king, too, had retired to his apartments, geance to the dark walls behind which the queen and the valets who had assisted his majesty to was sleeping. undress had not left the sleeping-room, when the The crown of France had for centuries sinned loud, uniform breathing which issued from the so much, and proved false so much, that the love silken curtains of the bed told them that the king of the people had at last been transformed into THE NIGHT OF HORROR. 103 hate. The crown had so long sown the wind, ond maid must lie down too. You all need rest that it could not wonder if it had to reap the after this evil day, and sleep is so refreshing. whirlwind. The crimes and innovations which Go, Campan, good-night!"' Louis XIV. and Louis XV. had sown upon the soil Madame de Campan had to obey, and stepped of France, had created an abyss between the out into the antechamber, where were the two crown and the people, out of which revolution other maids. must arise to avenge those crimes and sins of the "The queen is asleep," she said, "and she has past upon the present. The sins of the fathers commanded us to go to rest too. Shall we do had to be visited upon the children to the third so? " and fourth generation. The two women answered onlywith a shake of Marie Antoinette did not know it; she did not the head and a shrug of the shoulders. see the abyss which had opened between the "I know very well that we are agreed," said crown and the people; the courtiers and flatterers Madame de Campan, reaching her hand to them. had covered it with flowers, and with the sounds "For us there must be no sleep to-night, for we of festivity the cries of a distressed people had must watch the queen.l Come, my friends, let us been drowned. go into the antechamber. We shall find Mr. VariNow the flowers were torn away, the festive court, who will tell us what is going on outside." sounds had ceased, and Marie Antoinette saw the On tiptoe the three women stole out into the abyss between the crown and the people; she second antechamber, which was'lighted only with heard the curses, the raging cries of these exas- a couple of glimmering wax tappers, and in its perated men, who had been changed from weak, desolate disorder, with the confusion of chairs, obedient subjects into threatening, domineering divans, and tables, brought back sad recollections rebels. She looked with steady eye down into of the wild women who had on the day before the abyss, and saw the monster rise from the pressed into this apartment in their desire to speak depths to destroy herself and her whole house; with the queen. Somebody had told them that this but she would not draw back, she would not yield. was the Antechamber of the queen, and they had She would rather be dragged down and destroyed withdrawn in order to go to the antechamber of the than meekly and miserably to make her way to king. But they now knew the way that led to the the camp of her enemies, to take refuge with apartments of the queen; they knew now that if them. Better to die with the crown on her head one turned to the left side of the palace, he would than to live robbed of her crown in lowliness and come at once into the apartments occupied by the in a subject condition. royal family, and that the queen occupied the adThus thought Marie Antoinette, as at the close jacent rooms, directly behind the hall of the Swiss of that dreadful day she went to rest; this was her Guard. prayer as she sank upon her couch: Madame de Campan thought of this, as she "Give me power, 0 God, to die as a queen, if cast her glance over this antechamber which adI can no longer live as a queen! And strengthen joined the Swiss hall, and this thought filled her my husband, that he may not only be a good man, with horror. but a king too!" Varicourt had not yet come in; nothing disWith this prayer on her trembling lips, she had turbed the silence around her, except the dreadful fallen asleep. But when Campan stole on tiptoe shouting and singing outside of the palace. to the queen's ted to watch her mistress while "Let us go back into the waiting-room," whis. she slept, Marie Antoinette opened her eyes again, pered her companions, "it is too gloomy here. and spoke in her friendly way to her devoted ser- Only hear how they shout and laugh! 0 God, it vant. is a fearful night! " "Go to bed, Campan," said she, "and the sec- "Yes, a fearful night," sighed Madame de Cam 104 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. pan, "and the day that follows it may be yet "And no one shall ascend the great staircase more fearful. But we must not lose our courage. so long as I live," said Varicourt. "Adieu now, All depends upon our having decision, upon our ladies, and listen carefully to every sound. If a defying danger, and defending our mistress. And voice calls to you,'It is time,' wake the queen see, there come! Mr. Varicourt," she continued, and save her, for danger will then be right upon earnestly, as the door quickly opened, and an her. Hark, it is striking three, that is the hour ofllcer of the Swiss guard came in with great of changing guard. Farewell!" haste. He went quickly to the door, but there he "Tell us, my friend, what news do you bring stood still, and turned once more around. His us? " glance encountered that of his friend, and Mad"Bad news," sighed Varicourt. "The crowd dame de Campan understood its silent language is increasing every moment. New columns have well, for she hastened to him. arrived from Paris, and not only the common "You have something to say to me?" people, but the speakers and agitators are here. "Yes," he whispered softly, "I have a presenEverywhere are groups listening to the dreadful timent that I shall not survive the horrors of this speeches which urge on to regicide and revolu- night. I have one whom I love, who, as you tion. It is a dreadful, horrible night. Treach- know, is betrothed to me. If I fall in the servi6e ery, hatred, wickedness around the palace, and of the king, I ask you to see my Cecilia, and tell cowardice and desertion pass out from the palace her that I died with her name upon my lips I to them, and open the doors. Many of the royal Tell her not to weep for me, but at the same time soldiers have made common cause with the peo- not to forget me. Farewell." ple, and walk arm in arm with them around the He hurriedly opened the door and hastened square." away. Madame de Campan repressed the tears "And what do these dreadful men want?" which would fill her eyes, and turned to the two asked Campan. "Why do they encamp around maids. the palace? What is their object?" " Now," said she, with decisive tones, "let us Mr. Varicourt sadly bowed his head, and a return to the waiting-room and watch the'door of loud sigh came from his courageous breast. the queen's chamber.;' "They want what they shall never have while I With a firm step she walked on, and the ladies am alive," he then said, with a decided look. "I followed. Without any noise they. entered the have sworn fidelity to the king and queen, and I little hall, where in the mornings those ladies shall keep it to death. My duty calls me, for the of the court used to gather who had the right to hour of changing guards is near, and my post is be present while the queen dressed herself. below at the great staircase which leads up here. Madame de Campan locked the door through We shall meet at daylight, if I am then alive. which they had entered, behind her, drew out the But till then we shall do our duty. I shall guard key and hid it in her pocket. the grand staircase, do you guard the sleeping- "No one will enter here with my will," said room of the queen." she. " Now we will place chairs before the door "Yes, we will do our duty," answered Madame of the sleeping-room, and sit there. We shall de Campan, extending her hand to him. "We then have erected a barricade before our queen, will watch over those to whom we have devoted a wall which will be as strong as any other, for ourselves, and to whom we have vowed fidelity. there beat three courageous hearts within it." No one shall pass into the chamber of the queen They sat down upon the chairs, whose:high while we are alive, shall there? " backs leaned against the door of the queen's "Never," replied both of the women, with room, and, taking one another's hands, began their courageous decision. hallowed watch. THE NIGHT OF HORROR. 105 All was still and desolate around them. No crackle of musketry was more noticeable, and one of the women could break the silence with a every now and then there seemed to be heavy word or a remark. With dumb lips, with open strokes as if directed against the palace, sounding eyes, the three watchers sat and hearkened to the as if the people were attempting to force the iron sounds of the night. At times, when the roaring gate of the front court. without was uncommonly loud and wild, they'"I must know what is going on," whispered pressed one another's hands, and spoke to one Campan, and with cool decision she put the key another in looks; but when the sounds died into the door, turned it, entered the antechamber, away, they turned their eyes once more to the and flew to the window, where there was a view windows and listened. of the whole court; and a fearful sight met her Slowly, dreadfully slowly moved the fingers of there. The crowd had broken the gate, pressed the great clock above on the chimney. Madame into the court, and was surging in great masses de Campan often fixed her gaze upon it, and it toward the palace doors. Here and there torches seemed to her as if time must have ceased to go threw their glare over these masses, disclosing on, for it appeared to be an eternity since Vari- men with angry gestures, and women with streamcourt had taken leave of her, and yet the two ing hair, swinging their arms savagely, and seemlonger fingers on the dial had not indicated the ing like a picture of hell, not to'be surpassed in fourth hour after midnight. But the pendulum horror even by the phantasms of Dante. Women still continued its regular, even swinging; the changed to furies and bacchanalians, roaring and time went forward; only every moment made the shouting in their murderous desires; men, like horror, the fear of unknown danger seem like an bloodthirsty tigers, preparing to spring upon eternity! their prey, and give it the death-stroke; swingAtlast, slowly, with calm stroke, the hour began ing pikes and guns,. which gleamed horribly in to strike four. o'clock. And amid the dreadful the glare of the torches; arms and fists bearing sounds outside the palace, the women could recog- threatening daggers and knives! All this was nize the deep tones of the great clock on the Swiss pressing on upon the palace-all these clinched hall. Four o'clock! One solitary, dreadful hour fists would soon be engaged in hammering upon is passed! Three hours more, three eternities the walls which separated the king and queen before daylight comes! from the people-the executioner from his vicBet hark! what new, fearful noise without? tim! That is no more the sound of singing and shout- All at once there rang out a fearful, thundering ing, and crying-that is the battle-cry-that is the cry, which made the windows rattle, and called rattle and clatter of muskets. The three women forth a terrible echo,above in the deserted hall; sprang up, moved as if by one thought, animated for through all these shrieks and howls, there reby one purpose. They moved the chairs back sounded now a piercing cry, such as only the from the door, ready, as soon as danger should greatest pain or the most instant need can extort approach, to go into the chamber of the queen from human lips. and awaken her. Campan then slipped across the "That was a death-cry," whispered Madame room to the door of the antechamber, which she de Campan, trembling, and drawing back from had locked before. She laid her ear to the key- the window. " They have certainly killed the hole, and listened. All was still and quiet in the Swiss guards, who are keeping the door; they next room; no one was in the antechamber. will now pour into the palace. O God! what There was no immediate danger near, for Vari- will become of Varicourt? I must know what is court's voice had not yet uttered the cry of warn- going on!" ing. She flew through the antechamber and opened But more fearful grew the noise outside.. The the door of the Swiss halL It was empty, but 106 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. outside of it could be heard a confused, mixed the room, and opened the door leading to the mass of sounds, cries, and the tramping as of queen's chamber. hundreds and hundreds of men coming on-. At that moment a fearful crash was heard, Nearer and nearer came the sound, more distinct then a loud shout of triumph in the outer anteevery moment. All at once the door was flung chamber. open on the other side of the Swiss hall, the door " The queen i We want the heart of the which led out, and Varicourt appeared in it, queen!" pushed backward by the raging, howling mass. "They have broken down the door of the ante. He still sought to resist the oncoming tramp of chamber-they are in the waiting-room!" whis. these savage men, and, with a movement like pered Campan. "There is no time to be lost. lightning, putting his weapon across the door, Come, friends, come!" he was able for one minute to hold the place And she hastened to the bed of the queen, who against the tide-just so long as the arms which was still lying in that heavy, unrefreshing sleep held the weapon had in them the pulse of life! which usually follows exhaustion and intense exVaricourt looked like a dying man; his uniform citement. was torn and cut, his face deathly pale, and on "Your majesty, your majesty, wake! " one side disfigured by the blood which was "What is it, Campan?" asked Marie Antoi. streaming down from a broad wound in his fore- nette, opening her eyes, and hastily sitting up in head. bed. "Why do you waken me? What has hap" It is time, it is time! " he cried, with a loud pened? " tremulous voice, and, as he saw for an instant the The fearful sounds without, the crashing of the face of Campan at the opposite door, a flash of door of the little waiting-room, gave answer. The joy passed over his face. rough, hard voices of the exasperated women, " Save the queen! They will murder her! "e separated now from the queen by only one thin Madame de Campan hastily closed the door, door, quickly told all that had happened. drew the great bolt, and then sprang through the Marie Antoinette sprang from her bed. "Dress antechamber into the waiting-room, and bolted its me quick, quick!" door too. Then, after she had done that-after "Impossible! There is no time. Only hear she had raised this double wail between the sleep- how the gunstocks beat against the door! They ing queen and the raging mob-she sank upon her will break it down, and then your majesty is knees like one who was utterly crushed, and lost! The clothes on without stopping to fasten raised her folded hands to heaven. them! Now fly, your majesty, fly! Through the "Have mercy on his soul, O God! take him side-door-through the CEil de Bweuf!" graciously to heaven!" whispered she, with Madame de Campan went in advance; the two trembling lips. women supported the queen and carried her loose "For whom are you praying? " asked the two clothes, and then they flew on through the still women, in low voices, hurrying up to her. " Who and deserted corridors to the sleqping-room of the is dead?" king. "Mr. Varicourt," answered Campan, with a It was empty-no one there! sigh. "I heard his death-cry, as I was bolting "0 God! Campan, where is the king? I must the door of the antechamber. But we cannot go to him. My place is by his side! Where is stop to weep and lament. We must save the the king?" queen!" "Here I am, Marie, here!" cried the king, who And she sprang up from her knees, flew through just then entered and saw the eager, anxious face of his wife. " I hurried to save our most costly * Varicourt's last words.-See "M6moires de Madame de Campan," vol ii., p. 77. possessions!" THE NIGHT OF HORROR. 107 He laid the dauphin, only half awake, and lying fortunately had in their flight brought the mate. on his breast, in the arms which Marie Antoinette rials. extended to him, and then led her little daughter Wfile the queen, was dressing and the king to her, who had been brought in by Madame breakfasting with the children, the cabinet of the Tourzel. king began to fill. All Louis's faithful servants, "Now," said the king, calmly, "now that I then the ministers and some of the deputies, had have collected my dearest treasures, I will go and hurried to the palace to be at the side of the see what is going on." king and queen at the hour of danger. But Marie Antoinette held him back. "There is Every one of them brought new tidings of hordestruction, treachery, and murder outside. Crime ror. St. Priest told how he, entering the Swiss may break in here and overwhelm us, but we room, at the door leading into the antechamought not to go out and seek it." ber of the queen, had seen the body of Vari"Well," said the king, " we will remain here court covered with wounds. The Duke de Lianand await what comes." court had seen a dreadful man, of gigantic size, And turning to his valet, who was then enter- with heavy beard, the arms of his blouse rolled ing, Louis continued: "Bring me my chocolate, up high, and bearing a heavy hatchet-knife in his I want to take advantage of the time to breakfast, hand, springing upon the person of the faithful for I am hungry! " Swiss, in order to sever his head from his body. "Sire, now? shall we breakfast now? " asked The Count de Borennes had seen the corpse of the the queen, amazed. Swiss officer, Baron de Deshuttes, who guarded "Why not?" answered Louis calmly. " If the the iron gate, and whom the people murdered as body is strengthened, we look at every thing more they entered., The Marquis de Croissy told of composedly and confidently. You must take the heroism with which another Swiss, Miomandre breakfast too, Marie, for who knows whether we of St. Marie, had defended the door between the shall find time for some hours after this? " suites of the king and queen, and had gained time "I! oh, I need no breakfast," cried Marie An- to draw the bolt and barricade the door. And during toinette; and as she saw Louis eagerly taking a all these reports, and while the cabinet was filling cup of chocolate from the hands of a valet, and more and more with pale men and women, the was going to enjoy it, she turned away to repress king went composedly on dispatching his breakthe tears of anger and pain which in spite of fast. herself pressed into her eyes. The queen, who had long before completed her "Mamma queen," cried the dauphin, who was toilet, now went up to him, and with gentle, yet in her arms, "I should like my breakfast too. tremulous voice conjured him to declare what My chocolate-I should like my chocolate too!" should be done-to come at last out of this silence, The queen compelled herself to smile, carried and to speak and act worthy of a king. the child to its father, and softly set him down on Louis shrugged his shoulders and set the rethe king's knee. plenished cup which he was just lifting to his " Sire," said she, " will the King of France teach mouth, on the silver waiter. At once the queen his son to take breakfast, while revolution is beckoned to the valet Hue to come up. thundering without, and breaking down, with "Sir," said she, commandingly, "take these treasonable hands, the doors of the royal palace? things out. The king has finished his breakfast." Campan, come here-help me arrange my toilet; Louis sighed, and with his eye followed the I want to prepare myself to give audience to revo- valet, who was carrying the breakfast into the lution!" garde-robe. And wnithdrawing to a corner of the room, the " Now, sire," whispered Marie Antoinette, " show queen finished her toilet, for which her women yourself a king." 108 ITARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. " My love," replied the king, quietly, " it is very Marie Antoinette turned to him, her eyes suf hard to show myself a king when the people do fused with tears, and let Toulan see her face dark. not choose to regard me as one. Only hear that ened with grief and despair. shouting and yelling, and then tell me what I can "No," she whispered, " I have only to obey; I do as a king to bring these mad men to peace and have no commands to give!" reason? "Lafayette," was now heard in the corridor"Sire, raise your voice as king; tell them that "General Lafayette is coming!" you will avenge the crimes of this night, take the The queen advanced with hasty steps toward sword in your hand and defend the throne of your the entering general. fathers and the throne of your son, and then you "Sir," she cried, "' is this the peace and security will see these rebels retire, and you will collect that you promised us, and for which you pledged around you men who will be animated with fresh your word? Hear that shouting without; see us courage, and who will take new fire from your ex- as if beleaguered here, and then tell me how it ample. Oh, sire, disregard now the pleadings of agrees with the assurances which you made to your noble, gentle heart; show yourself firm and me! " decided. Have no leniency for traitors and "Madame, I have been myself deceived," anrebels!" swered Lafayette. "The most sacred promises "Tell me what I shall do," murmured the king, were made to me; all my requests and proposiwith a sigh. tions were yielded to. I succeeded in pacifying Marie Antoinette stooped down to his ear. the crowd, and I really believed and hoped that "Sire," whispered she, "send at once to Vin- they would continue quiet; that —" cennes, and the other neighboring places. Order " Sir," interrupted the queen, impatiently, the troops to come hither, collect an army, put "Whom do you mean by' they?' Of whom are yourself at its head, march on Paris, declare war you speaking in such tones of respect?" on the rebellious capital, and you will march as "Madame, I am speaking of the people, with conqueror into your recaptured city. Oh, only no whom I came to an understanding, and who yielding, no submission! Only give the order, promised me to keep the peace, and to respect sire; say that you will do so, and I will summon the slumbers of your majesty." one of my faithful ones to give him orders to "You are not speaking of the people, but of hasten to Vincennes." the rebels, the agitators," cried Marie Antoinette, And while the queen whispered eagerly to the with flashing eyes. " You speak of high traitors, king, her flashing glance sped across to Toulan, who break violently into the palace of the king; who, in the tumult, had found means to come in, of murderers, who have destroyed two of our and now looked straight at the queen. Now, as faithful subjects. Sir, it is of such crime that her glance came to him as an unspoken command, you speak with respect; it is with such a rabble he made his way irresistibly forward through the that you have dealt, instead of ordering your solcrowd of courtiers, ministers, and ladies, and now diers to cut them down." stood directly behind the queen. " Madame," said Lafayette, turning pale, " had " Has your majesty orders for me'? " he asked, I attempted to do that, your majesty would riot softly. have found refuge in this chamber. For the anShe looked anxiously at the king, waiting for ger of the mob is like the lightning and thunder an answer, an order. But the king was dumb; of the tempest, it heeds neither door nor bolt, in order not to answer'his wife, he drew the dau- and if it has once broken loose, nothing, can rephin closer to him and caressed him. strain or stop it." " Has your majesty commands for me?" asked " Oh," cried the queen, with a mocking laugh, Toulan once more. "it is plain that Mr. Lafayette has been pursuing THE NIGHT OF HORROR. 109 his studies in America, at the university of revo- ble cry which drives all these hearts to rage, and lutions. He speaks of the people with a defer- to which they give unconditional belief!" ence as if it were another majesty to bow to." "I will show myself to the people," said Louis. "And in that Lafayette is right," said the king, " I will tell them that they have been deceived. rising and approaching them. "Hear the yell, I will give them my royal word that I have no madame! it sounds like the roaring of lions, and hostile designs whatever against Paris." you know, Marie, that the lion is called. the king General Lafayette sighed, and dropped his head of beasts. Tell us, general, what does the lion heavily upon his breast. want, and what does his roaring mean?" "Do you counsel me not to do this? " asked "Sire, the enemies of the royal family, the agi- the king, timidly. tators and rebels, who have within these last Sire," answered the general, with a shrug, hours come from Paris, have urged on the people! " the people are now in such an excited, unreasonafresh, and kindled them with senseless calum- able state, that words will not longer be sufficecnt nies. They have persuaded the people that your to satisfy them. Your majesty might assure them majesty has summoned hither the regiments from ever so solemnly that you entertain no hostile all the neighboring stations; that you are collect- intentions whatever against Paris, and that youl ing an army to put yourself at its head and march will not call outside help to your assistance, and against Paris." the exasperated people would mistrust your asLouis cast a significant look at his wife, which surances! For in all their rage the people have was answered with a proud toss of her head. a distinct consciousness of the crimes they are "I have sought in vain," continped Lafayette, engaged in committing in creating this rebellion " to make the poor, misguided men conscious of against the crown, and they know that it were not the impossibility of such a plan." human, that it were divine, for your majesty to " Yet, sir," broke in Marie Antoinette, fiercely, forgive such crimes, and therefore they would not " the execution of this plan would save the crown credit such forgiveness." from dishonor and humiliation!" " How well General Lafayette knows how to "Only, madame, that it is exactly the execu- interpret the thoughts of this fanatical rabble, tion of it which is impossible," answered Lafay- whom he calls'the people!"' ejaculated the ette, gently bowing. "If you could give wings queen, with a scornful laugh. to the soldiers of the various garrisons away from At this instant a loud, thundering cry was here, the plan might be good, and the army might heard below, and thousands upon thousands of save the country! But as, unfortunately, this voices shouted, "The king! We want to see the cannot be, we must think of other means of help, king! " for your majesty hears the danger knocking now Louis's face lighted up. With quick step he at the door, and we must do with pacificatory hurried to the window and raised it. The people measures what we cannot do with force." did not see him at once, but the king saw. He " How will you use pacificatory measures, saw the immense square in front of the palace, sir? " asked Marie Antoinette, angrily. which had been devoted to the rich equipages of Lafayette cast upon her a sad, pained look, and the nobility, occupied by the humbler classes-the turned to the king. "Sire," said he, with loud, troops of his staff marching up in their gala uni. solemn voice, " sire, the people are frightfully car- forms-he saw it filled with a dense mass of men ried away. Stimulating speeches have driven whom Lafayette had called "the people," whom them to despair and to madness. It is only with the queen had termed- a "riotous rabble," surging difficulty that we have succeeded in keeping the up and down, head pressed to head, here and mob out of the palace, and closing the door there faces distorted with rage, eyes blazing, fists again. Caris shall be laid in ashes!' is the horri- clinched, arms bare, and pikes glistening in the 110 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. morning light, while a great roar, like that which "To Paris, to Paris! " thundered up from becomes from the sea in a tempest, filled the air. low. " The king shall go to Paris!" "You are right, Lafayette," said the king; who Louis withdrew from the window and joined looked calmly at this black sea of human life — the circle of his ministers, who, with their pale "you are right, this is the people; there are faces, surrounded him. here probably twenty thousand men, and Heaven "Gentlemen," said the king, "you are my defend me from regarding all as criminals and counsellors. Well, give me your counsel. Tell rabble! I believe-" me now what I shall do to restore peace and A tremendous shout now filled the air. The quiet." king had been seen, some one had noticed him at But no one replied. Perplexed and confused the open window, and now all heads and all looks they looked down to the ground, and only Necker were directed to this window, and twenty thou- found courage to answer the king after a long sand voices cried, "Long live the king! Long pause. live the king!" "Sire," he said, "it is a question that might Louis turned with a proud, happy look to the be considered for days which your majesty has gentlemen and ministers who stood near him, submitted to us, and on its answer depends, perMarie Antoinette having withdrawn to the farthest haps, the whole fate of the monarchy. But, as corner of the room, where, throwing her arms you. wish to know the opinions of your minisaround both of the children, and drawing them ters, I will venture to give mine: that it would to her bosom, she had sunk into a chair. be the safest and most expedient course for "What do you say now, gentlemen?" asked your majesty to comply with the wishes of the the king. "Did they not want to make me be- people, and go to Paris! " lieve that my good people hate their king, and "I supposed so," whispered the king, dropping wish him ill? But when I show myself to them, his head. hear how they shout to greet me!" "To Paris! " cried the queen, raising her head. "To Paris! " was now the roar of the mob be- " It is impossible. You cannot be in earnest in low. "We want the king should go to Paris!'" being willing to go of your own accord down into " What do they say?' What do they want? " the abyss of revolution, in order to be destroyed asked Louis, turning to Lafayette, who now stood there! To Paris!" close beside him. "To Paris!" was the thundering cry from be"Sire, they are shouting their wishes to you, low, as if the words of the queen had awakened that you and the royal family should go to Paris." a fearful, thousand-voiced echo. " To Paris! The "And you, general, what do you say?'I asked king and the queen shall go to Paris!" the king. "And never come from there!" cried the queen, " Sire, I have taken the liberty already to say with bursting tears. that words and promises are of no more avail to " Speak, Lafayette!" cried the king. "What quiet this raving, maddened people, and to make do you think? " them believe that you have no hostile designs." Sire, I think that there is only one way to reagainst Paris." store peace and to quiet the people, and that "But if I go to Paris and reside there for a is, for your majesty to go to-day with the royal time, it is your opinion, as I understand it, that family to Paris." the people would be convinced that I have no evil "It is my view, too," said Louis, calmly. intentions against the city-that I should not un- "Then go, Lafayette, tell the people that the king dertake to destroy the city in which I might live. and queen, together with the dauphin and the That is your meaning, is it not? " princess, will journey to-day to Paris." "Yes, sire, that is what I wanted to say." The simple and easily spoken words had two THE NIGHT OF HORROR. 111 very different effects in the cabinet on those who where every other human voice is overwhelmed by heard them. Some faces lightened up with joy, the thunder of the storm!" some grew pale with alarm; there were sighs of "And you think that this is such a moment?" despair, and cries of fresh hope. Every one felt asked the king. "You think that I ought mythat this was a crisis in the fate of the royal far. self to announce to the people what I mean to ily —some thinking that it would bring disaster, do?" others deliverance. Lafayette bowed and pointed to the window, The queen alone put on now a grave, decided which shook even then with the threatening cry, look; a lofty pride lighted up her high brow, and "The king! We will see the king! He shall go with an almost joyful expression she looked at to Paris! The king, the king!" her husband, who had been induced to do some- Louis listened awhile in thoughtful silence to thing-at least, to take a decisive step. this thundering shout, which was at once so full "The king has spoken," she said, amid the of majesty and horror; then he quickly raised his profoundest silence, " and it becomes us to obey head. the will of the king, and to be subject to it. "I will follow your advice, general," said he, Madame de Campan, make all the preparations calmly. "I will announce my decision to the for my departure,' and do it in view of a long people. Give me your hand, madame, we will go stay in Paris!" into the balcony-room. And you, gentlemen, fol" Now, Lafayette," asked the king, as the gen- low me! " eras still delayed in the room, " why do you not The queen took the hand of her husband withhasten to announce my will to the people?" out a word, and gave the other to the little dan" Sire," answered Lafayette, solemnly, "there phin, who timidly clung to her, while her daughare moments when a people can only be pacified ter Therese quietly and composedly walked near by the voice either of God or of its king, and them. BOO]K III. Paris, and there take up my residence. Return HA P T E R XIV. thither, my children, I shall follow you in a few hours and come to Paris!" TO PARIS. Then, while the people were breaking out into WITHOUT speaking a word, and with hasty a cry of joy, and were throwing arms, caps, and steps, the royal couple, followed by the ministers clothes up into the air, Louis stepped back from and courtiers, traversed the two adjoining apart- the balcony into the hall. ments, and entered the balcony-room, which, sit- Instantly there arose a new cry below. " The uated at the centre of the main building, com- queen shall show herself! We want to see the manded a wide view of the inner court and the queen! The queen! the queen! the queen!" square in front of it. And in tones louder, and more commanding, and The valet Hue hastened, at a motion from the more terrible every moment, the summons came king, to throw open the great folding doors, and in through the balcony door. the king, parting with a smile from Marie Antoi- The queen took her two children by the hand nette, stepped out upon the balcony. In an in-, and advanced a step or two, but the king held her stant, as if the arm of God' had been extend- back. ed and laid upon this raging sea, the roaring "Do not go, Marie," he cried, with trembling ceased; then, as soon as the king was recog- voice and anxious look. "No, do not go. It is nized, a multitudinous shout went up, increasing such a fearful sight, this raging'mass at one's every moment, and sending its waves beyond the feet, it'confuses one's senses. Do not go, M -. square, out into the adjoining streets. rie " "The king! Long live the king! " But the cry below had now expanded into the Louis, pale with emotion and with tears in his volume of a hurricane, and made the very walls eyes; went forward to the very edge of the bal- of the palace shake. cony, and, as a sign that he was going to speak, "You hear plainly, sire," cried Marie Antoiraised both hands. The motion was under- nette; "there is just as much danger whether we stood, and the loud cries were hushed which see or do not see it. Let me do, therefore, what now and then burst from the mighty mass of peo- you have done! Come, children!" ple. 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The crowd did not now break mamma queen," cried he, "stay with me, don't go out into shouts of joy. They cried, and roared, out again to these dreadful men, I am afraid of and howled: "The queen alone! No children! them-oh, I am afraid!" We want no one but the queen! Away with Marie Antoinette took the little boy in her arms, the children!" and with her cold, pale lips pressed a kiss upon It was all in vain that Louis advanced to the his forehead. For one instant it seemed as if she edge of the platform; in vain that he raised his felt herself overcome by the fearful scene through arms as if commanding silence. The sound of which she had just passed-as if the tears which his voice was lost in the roar of the mob, who, were confined in her heart would force themselves with their clinched fists, their pikes and other into her eyes. But. Marie Antoibette overcame weapons, their horrid cry, so frightened the danu- this weakness of the woman, for she felt that a. phin thathe could not restrain his tears. this hour she could only be a queen. The royal family drew back and entered the With the dauphin in her arms, and pressing hir apartment again, where they were received by the closely to her heart, she advanced to the king, pale, trembling, speechless, weeping courtiers and who, in order not to let his wife see the tears which servants. flooded his face, had withdrawn to the adjoining But the mob below were not pacified. They apartment and was leaning against the door. appeared as though they were determined to give "Sire," said Marie Antoinette, entering the laws to the king and queen, and demand obedi- room, and presenting the dauphin to him, "sire, ence from them. I conjure you that, in this fearful- hour, you will "The queen! we. will see the queen! " was the make one promise to me," cry again and again. "The queen shall show "What is it, Marie? " asked the king, "what herself!" do you desire?" " Well, be it so!" cried Marie Antoinette, with "Sire, by all that is dear to you and me," concool decision, and, pressing through the courtiers, tinued the queen, "by the welfare and safety of who wanted to restrain her, and -even impatiently France, by your own and by the safety of this thrusting back the king, who implored her not to dear child, your successor, I conjure you to promgo, she stepped out upon the balcony. Alone, ise me that, if we ever must witness such a scene without any one to accompany her, and having of horror again, and if.you have the means to esonly the protection which the lion-tamer has when cape it, you will not let the opportunity pass. " he enters the cage of the fierce monsters-the look *The king, deeply moved -by the noble and of the eye and the commanding mien! glowing face of the queen, by the tones of her And the lion appeared to be subdued; his fear- voice, and by her whole expression, turned away. ful roar suddenly ceased, and in astonishment He wanted to speak, but could not; tears choked all these thousands gazed up at the queen, the his utterance; and, as if he were ashamed of his daughter of the Casars, standing above in proud weakness, he pushed the queen and the dauphin composure, her arms folded upon her breast, and back from him, hastened through the room, and looking down with steady eye into the yawning disappeared through the door on the opposite side. and raging abyss. Marie Antoinette looked with a long, sad face The people, overcome by this royal composure, after him, and then returned to the balcony-room. broke into loud shouts of applause, and, during the A shudder passed through her soul, and a dark, zontinuance of these thousand-voiced bravos, the dreadful presentiment made her heart for an inlueen, with a proud smile-upon her lips, stepped * The very words of the queen.-See Beauchesne,,ack from the balcony into the chamber. "Louis XVL, sa Vie,"-etc., p. 145. 8 114 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. stant stop beating. She remembered that this Some hours later two cannon were discharged chamber in which she had that day suffered such upon the great square before the palace. They immeasurable pain —that this chamber, which now announced to the city of Versailles that the king, echoed the cries of a mob that had this day for the the queen, and their children, had just left the first time prescribed laws to a queen, had been the proud palace-were then leaving the solitary residying-chamber of Louis XIV.* A dreadful dence at Versailles-never to return! presentiment told her that this day the room had From the lofty tower of the church of St. Louis, become the dying-chamber of royalty. Like a in which recently the opening of the Statespale, bloody corpse, the Future passed before her General had been celebrated, the bell was just eyes, and, with that lightning speed which accom- then striking the first hour after mid-day, when panies moments of the greatest excitement, all the the carriage drove out of the great gate through old dark warnings came back to her which she' which the royal family must pass on its way to had previously encountered. She thought of Paris. A row of other carriages formed the escort the picture of the slaughter of the babes at of the royal equipage. They were intended for Bethlehem, which decorated the walls of the room the members of the States-General. For as soon in which the dauphin passed his first night on as the journey of the king to Paris was announced, French soil; then of that dreadful prophecy which the National Assembly decreed that it regarded Count de Cagliostro had made to her on her itself as inseparably connected with the person of journey to Paris, and of the scaffold which he the king, and that it would follow him to Paris. showed her. She thought of the hurricane which A deputation had instantly repaired to the palace, ~had made the earth shake and turn up trees by to communicate this decree to the king, and had their roots, on the first night which the dauphin been received by Louis with cordial expressions had passed in Versailles. She thought too of the of thanks. dreadful misfortune which on the next day hap- Marie Antoinette, however, had received the pened to hundreds of men at the fireworks in tidings of these resolves of the National AssernParis, and cost them their lives. She recalled bly with a suspicious smile, and an angry flash the moment at -the coronation when the king darted into her eyes. caught up the crown which the papal nuncio was "And so, the gentlemen of the Third Estate have just on the point of placing on his' head, and gained their point!" cried she, in wrath. "They said at the same time, "It pricks me." f And alone have produced this revolt, in order that the now it seemed to her to be a new, dreadful rea- National Assembly may have a pretext for going son for alarm, that the scene of horror, which to Paris. Now, they have reached their goal! she had just passed through, should take place in Yet do not tell me that the revolution is ended the dying-chamber of that king to whom France here. On the contrary, the hydra will now put owed her glory and her greatness. forth all its heads, and will tear us in pieces. But, " We are lost, lost!" she whispered to herself. very well! I would rather be torn to pieces by "Nothing can save us. There is the scaffold! " them than bend before them! " With a silent gesture, and a gentle inclination And, with a lofty air and calm bearing, Marie of her head, the queen took her leave of all pres- Antoinette entered the great coach in which the ent, and returned to her own apartments, which royal family was to make the journey to Paris. were now guarded by Lafayette's soldiers, and Near her sat the king, between them the dauphin. which-now conveyed no hint of the scene of hor- Opposite to them, on the broad, front seat, were ror which had transpired there a few hours before. their daughter Therese, the Princess Elizabeth, and Madame de Tourzel, governess of the royal * Historical.-See' Goncourt, "Marie Antoinette," children. p. 195. t Historical. Behind them, in a procession, whose end could <..,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~..1.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.........~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~................. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -~........... x, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I —, TO PARIS. 15 not be seen, followed an artillery train; then the rest, or wait for the oncoming train-but to have mob, armed with pikes, and other weapons-men the hair of the two heads dressed by friseurse covered with blood and dust, women with dishevel- in order, as Jourdan announced with fiendish led hair qnd torn garments, the most of them laughter to the yelling mob, that they might drunken with wine, exhausted by watching during make their entrance into the city as fine gentlemen. the night, shouting and yelling, and singing low While before them and behind them these songs, or mocking the royal family with scorn- awful cries, loud singing and laughing resounded, ful words. Behind these wild masses came two within the carriage that conveyed the royar famhundred gardes du corps without weapons, hats, ily there was unbroken silence. The king sat and shoulder-straps, every one escorted by two leaning back in the corner, with his eyes closed, grenadiers, and they were followed by some sol- in order not to see the horrid forms which from diers of the Swiss guard and the Flanders regi- time to time approached the window of the carment. In the midst of this train rattled loaded riage, to stare in with curious looks, or with cannon, each one accompanied by two soldiers. mocking laughter and equivoques, to heap misery But still more fearful than the retinue of the royal on the unfortunate family. equipage were the heralds who preceded it-her- The queen, however, sat erect, with proud, digailds consisting of the most daring and defiant of nified bearing, courageously looking the horrors these men and women, impatiently longing for of the day in the face, and not a quiver of the the moment when they could announce to the eyelids, nor a sigh, betraying the pain that torcity of Paris that the revolution in Versailles had tured her soul. humiliated the king, and given the people victory. " No, better die than grant to this triumphing They carried with them the bloody tokens of this rabble the pleasure of seeing~what I sufer! Betvictory, the heads of Varicourt and Deshuttes, the ter sink with exhaustion than complain." faithful Swiss guards, who had died in the service Not a murmur, not a sigh, came from her lips; of their king. They had hoisted both these heads and yet, when the dauphin, after four hours of upon pikes, which two men of the mob carried this sad journey, turned with a supplicatory.exbefore the procession. Between them strode, pression to his mother, and said to her with his with proud, triumphant mien, a gigantic figure, sweet voice, "Mamma queen, I am hungry," with long, black beard, with naked blood-flecked the proud expression withdrew from the features arms, with flashing eyes, his face and hands wet of the queen, and two great tears slowly ran down with the blood with which he had imbued him- over her cheeks. self, and'in his right hand a slaughter-knife which At last; after a ride of eight hours, the frightstill dripped blood. This was Jourdan,.who, from ful train reached Paris.' Not a window in all the his cutting. off the heads of both the Swiss guards, streets through which the royal procession went had won the name of the executioner-a name was empty. In amazement and terror the people which he understood. how to keep during the of the middle class gazed at this hitherto unseen whole revolution.* spectacle-the King and the Queen of France Like storm-birds, desirous to be the first to an- brought in triumph to the capital by the lowest nounce to Paris the triumph of the populace, and people in the city! A dumb fear took possession impatient of the slow progress of the royal train, of those who hitherto had tried to ignore the these heralds of victory, bearing their bloody revolution, and supposed that every thing would banner, hastened on in advance of the procession subside again into the old, wonted forms. Now, to Paris. In SRvres they made a halt-not to no one could entertain this hope longer; now, the most timid must confess that a revolution had * Jourdan, the executioner, had, until that time, been indeed come, and that people must accustom a model in the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture themselves to look at it eye to eye. 116 MMARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Slowly the train moved forward-slowly down whom, too, destiny had appointed to work a revo. The quay which extends along by the garden of lution, although only in the theatrical world, to the Tuileries. The loungers who were in the recreate the drama-this young man's name garden hurried to the fence, which then bordered was Talma; the park on the side of the quay, in order to watch this frightful procession from this point: to see an unbridled populace dash in pieces the prescriptive royalty of ages.~ CHAPTER XV. Scorn and the love of destruction were written on most of the face of these observers, but many MAMMA QUEEN. were pale, and many quivered with anger -and thing passes over, every thing has an grief. In the front ranks of the rjpctators stood end; one must only have courage and think of two young men, one of them in simple civilian'sntoinette, with a gentle smile, that," said Marie Antoinette, with a gentle smile, costume, the other in the uniform of a sub-lieu- she as on the morning after her arrival in Paris, she tenant. The face of the young officer was pale, had risen from her bed and drunk her chocolate but it lightened up with rare energy; and with in the improvised sitting-room. "ere we re in the improvised sitting-room. "Here we are his noble, antique profile, and flaming eyes, it en- installed in the Tuileies and have slept while installed in the Tuileries, and have slept, while chanted every look, and fixed the attention of'we yesterday were thinking we were lost, and that every one who observed him. only death could give us rest and peace again." As the howling, roaring mob passed him, the "It was a fearful day," said Madame de Camyounug officer turned to his companion with an pan, with a sigh, "but your majesty went through expression of fiery indignation. "0 God," he cried, it like a heroine." " how is this possible? Has the king no cannon "Ah, Campan," said the queen, sadly,"'I have to destroy this canaille e. to destroy this canlle?" * not the ambition to want to be a heroine, and I "My friend," answered the young man, smiling, should be very thankful if it were allowed me " remember the words of our great poet Corneille: from this time on to be a wife and mother, if it The people give the king his purple and take is no longer allowed me tobe a queen." it back when they please. The beggar, king only At this instant the door opened; the little by the people's grace, simply gives back his pur- dauphin, followed by his teacher, the Abbe Dapie to the people."' "vout, ran in and flew with extended arms to Ma"Ah!" cried the young lieutenant, smiling, rie Antoinette.' what once has been received should be firmly "Oh, mamma queen!" cried he, with winning held. I, at least, if I had once received the voice, "let us go back again to our beautiful purple by the people's grace, would not give it purple by the people's grace, ould not give it palace; it is dreadful here in this great, dark back. But come, let us go on, it angers me to house." see this car. aitle,. upon which you bestow the fine "Hush, my child, hush'! " said the queen, pressname of'the people." He hastily grasped the arm g the boy close to her. "You must not say tifg the boy close to her. "You must not say of his friend, and turned to a more solitary part of so; you must accustom yourself to be contented the garden of the Tuileries. everywhere." This young sub-lieutenant, who saw with such "Mamma queen," whispered the child, tenderindignation this revolutionary procession pass him, revolutionary ly nestling close to his mother, " it is true it is and whom destiny had appointed one day to dreadful here, but I will always say it so low bring this revolution to an end —thisyoung lieuthat nobody except you can hear. But tell me, tenant's name was Napoleon Bonaparte. who owns this hateful house? And why do we The young man who walked at his side, and want to stay here, when we have such a fine His own words. —See Beauchesne, vol., i p. M. palace and a beautiful garden in Versailles?" MAMMA QUEEN. 117'"My son," answered the queen with a sigh, to their reckoning those who occasioned the scenes " this house belongs to us, and it is a beautiful of yesterday," answered the king. A deputaand famous jalace. You ought not to say that tion from the Court of Chatelet have come to the it does not please you, for your renowned great- Tuileries, and desire of me an authorization to grandfather, the great Louis XIV., lived here, and bring to trial those who are guilty, and of you made this palace celebrated all over Europe." any information which you can give about what "Yet I wish that we were away from here," has taken place. The mob have accompanied the whispered the dauphin, casting his large blue deputation hither; and hence arise these cries. I eyes with a prolonged and timid glance through am come to ask you, Marie, to receive the deputhe wide, desolate room, which was decorated tation of Chatelet." sparingly with old-fashioned, faded furniture. "As if there were any choice left us to refuse " I wish so, too," sighed Marie Antoinette, to to see them," answered Marie Antoinette, sighing. herself; but softly as she had spoken the words, The populace who are howling and crying with. the sensitive ear of the child had caught them. out are now the master of the men who come to us " You, too, want to go? " asked Louis Charles, with a sneer, and ask us whether we will grant in amazement. " Are you not queen now, and them an audience. We must submit 1 " can you not do what you want to?"' The king did not answer, but shrugged his The queen, pierced to the very heart by the shoulders, and opened the door of the antechaminnocent question of the child, burst into tears. ber. "Let them enter," he said to the chamber"My prince," said the Abb6 Davout, turning lains there. to the dauphin, "you see that you trouble the The two folding doors were now thrown open, queen, and her majesty needs rest. Come, we and the loud voice of an officer announced, "The will take a walk." honorable judges of Cbatelet!" But Marie Antoinette put both her arms around Slowly, with respectful mien and bowed head, the child and pressed its head with its light locks the gentlemen, arrayed in -their long black robes, to her breast. entered the room, and remained humbly standing "No," she said, " no, he does not trouble me. near the door. Let me weep. Tears do me good. One is only Marie Antoinette. had advanced a. few steps. unfortunate when she can no longer weep; when- Not a trace of grief and disquiet was longer to be but what is that?" she eagerly asked, rising seen in her face. Her figure was erect,her glance from her easy-chair. "What - does that noise was proud and full of fire, and the expression of mean?" her countenance noble and majestic. She was And in very fact in the street there were loud still the queen, though not surrounded by the shouting and crying, and intermingled curses and solemn pomp which attended the public audiences threats. at Versailles. She did not stand on the purple. "Mamma," cried the dauphin, nestling close carpeted step of the throne, no gold-embroidered up to the queen, "is to-day going to be just like canopy arched over her, no crowd of brilliant yesterday?" * courtiers surrounded her, only her husband stood The door was hastily opened, and the king en- near her; her son clung to her side, and his tered. teacher, the Abbe Davout, timidlv withdrew "Sire," asked Marie, eagerly advancing toward into the background. These formed all her suite. him, "are they going to renew the dreadful scenes But Marie Antoinette did not need external pomp of yesterday? " to be a queen; she was so in her bearing, in every "On the contrary, Marie, they are going to bring look, in every gesture. With commanding dignity she allowed the deputation to approach her, The very words of the dauphin. —See Beauchesne, Vol. iL and to speak with her. She listened with calm 118 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. attention to the words of the speaker, who, in the The side-door now opened, and Madame de name of the court, gave utterance to the deep Campan entered. horror with which the treasonable actions of the "Your majesty," said she, bowing low, "a day before had filled him. He then humbly great number of ladies from the Faubourg St. begged the queen to give such names of the riot- Germain are in the small reception-room. They ers as might be known to her, that they might be wish to testify their devotion to your majesty." arrested, but Marie Antoinette interrupted him in "I will receive them at once," cried Marie Anhis address. toinette, with an almost joyful tone. "6Ah, only " No, sir," she cried, "no, never will I be an see, husband, the consolations which misfortune informer against the subjects of the king."* brings. These ladies of the Faubourg St. GerThe speaker bowed respectfully. "Then let main formerly cut me; they could not forget that nme at least beg of you, in the name of the. High- I was an Austrian. To-day they feel that I am Court of the Chatelet, to give us your order to the Queen of France, and that I belong to them. bring the guilty parties to trial, for without such Pardon me, sire, for leaving you." a charge we cannot prosecute the criminals who She hastened away with a rapid step. The have been engaged in these acts." king looked after her with. an expression of pain, "Nor do I wish you to bring any one to trial," "Poor queen," he whispered to himself " how cried the queen, with dignity. " I have seen all, much she is misjudged, how wrongly she is calnumknown all, and forgotten all! Go, gentlemen, go! niated! And I cannot change it, antd must let it My heart knows no vengeance; it has forgiven all be." those who have wounded me. Go!" t He sank with a deep sigh, which seemed much With a commanding gesture of her hand, and like a groan, into an arm-chair, and was lost in a gentle nod of her head, she dismissed the depu- painful recollections. A gentle touch on his hand, tatton, who silently withdrew. which rested on the side-arm of the chair, restored' Marie,>' said the king, grasping the hand of him to consciousness. Before him stood the daulis wife with unwonted eagerness, and pressing phin, and looked gravely and thoughtfully out of it tenderly to his lips, "'Marie, I thank you in the his large blue eyes up into his father's face. name of all my subjects. You have acted this "Ah, is it you, my little Louis Charles?" said hour not only as a queen, but as the mother of the king, nodding to him. " What do you want my people." of me, my child?" "Ah, sir," replied the queen, with a sad smile, "Papa king," answered the boy, timidly, "I "only that the children will not believe in the should like to ask you something-something love of their mother-only that your subjects do really serious i" not consider me their mother, but their en- "Something really serious!" replied the king. emy." "Well, what is it? Let me hear!" "They have been misguided," said the king. "Sire, replied the dauphin, with a weighty and "Evil-minded men have deceived them, but I thoughtful air, "sire, Madame de Tourzel has alhope we shall succeed in bringing the people ways told me that I must love the people of back from their error." France very much, and treat every one very "Sire," sighed Marie Antoinette, " I hope for friendly, because the people of France love my nothing more; but," added she, with still firmer pupap and my mamma so much, and I ought to be voice, "I also fear nothing more. The worst very grateful for it. How comes it then, sire, that may break over me-it shall find me armed!" the French peoplb are now so bad to you, and that they do not love mamma any longer? What * ~Marie Antoinette's own words.- See Goncourt, have you both done to make the people so angry, Marie Antoinette," pp. 196, 197. t Ibid. because I have been told that the people are sub MAMMA QUEEN. 119 ject to your majesty, and that they owe you obe- "Oh! yes, papa," cried the child, who had dience and respect? But they were not obedient listened with open eyes and breathless,attention, yesterday, and not at all respectful, your subjects, "I understand all very well. But I don't like it. were they? How is this, papa?" It seems to me that if a man is king, every thing The king drew the little prince to his knee, and belongs to him, and that the king ought' to have put his arm around the slight form of the boy. all the money so as to give. it to the people. They "I will explain it to you, my son," he said, "and ought to ask him, and not he them! " listen carefully to what I say to you." "In former and more happy times it was so," " I will, sire," answered the boy eagerly. "I said the, king, with a sigh. "But many kings have at least am an obedient subject of my king, for misused their power and autllority, and now the the Abbe Davout has told me that I am nothing. king cannot pay out money unless the people unbut a subject of your majesty, and that, as a son derstand all about it and consent! " and a subject, I must'give a good example to the " Have you given out money, papa, without askFrench'people, how to love and obey the king. ing the people's leave? Was that the reason they And I love you very much, papa, and I am just came to Versailles yesterday, and were so wicked, as obedient as I can be. But it seems as though ah! so very wicked? For those bad men-they my good example had made no difference with the were the people, were they not?" other subjects. How comes that about, papa "No, my son," answered Louis, " I hope they king?" were not the people. The people cannot come to. "My son," answered Louis, "that comes be- me in such great masses; they must have their cause there are bad men who have told the people representatives. The representatives of the that I do not love'them.. We have had to have people I have myself called to me; they are the great wars, and wars cost a deal of money. And States-General,' which I assembled at Versailles. I so I asked money of my people-just as my an- asked of them money for the outlays which I had cestors always did." to make for the people, but they asked things of "But, papa," cried the dauphin, " why did you me that I could not grant, either for my own do that? Why did you not take my purse, and pay sake, or for yours, my son, who are some day to out of that? You know that I receive every day be my successor. Then wicked men came and stirmy purse all filled with new francs, and-but red up the people, and told them that I did then, he interrupted himself, " there would be not love the people any more, and, that I wantnothing left for the poor children, to whom I al- ed to trouble my subjects, And the poor ways give money on my walks. And, oh! there people have believed what these evil advisers are so many poor children, so very many, that and slanderers have told- them, and have been my purse is empty every day, when I return from led astray into making the riot against me. my walk, and yet I give to each child only one But every thing will come out right again, and poor franc-piece. So your' people have money, -my subjects will-see that I love them, and am more money than you yourself? " ready to share every thing with them.'That is "My child, kings- receive all' that they have the reason I have come to Paris, to live here from their people, but they give it all back to the among my people. It is certainly not so pleasant people again; the king is the one appointed by as in Versailles; our rooms are not so fine and God to govern his people, and the people owe re- convenient, and we do not have the beautiful garspect and obedience to the king, and have to pay dens here that we had there. But we must learn taxes to him. And so, if he needs money, he is to be contented here, and put up with what we justified in asking his subjects -for it, and so does have. We must remember that there is no one what is called'laying taxes' upon them. Do you in Paris better than we, and that the Parisians understand me? " must acknowledge, that the king loves them, foi 120 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. he has given up his beautiful Versailles, in order gether too proud to let them see what we suffer. to live with them, and share all their need,. and all I have this pride, but when I see you suffer it the disagreeable things which they have to bear." takes away all my strength. You remember our "Papa king, I have understood every thing, ride from Versailles here, my son? How the bad and I am very much ashamed that I have com- men who surrounded us, mocked at me and said plained before. I promise you, sire,"' he contin- foul things to me! I was cold and calm, but I ued, with earnest mien, and laying his hand upon could not help weeping, my child, when you comhis breast, " yes, sire, I promise you, that I will plained of being hungry." take pains to give the people a good example, and "Mamma," cried the child, with flashing eyes, to be really good and kind. I will never complain " I will never complain again, and the bad men again that we are living in Paris, and I will take shall never have the pleasure of seeing me weep." pains to be happy and contented here." "But good men, my child, you must always And the dauphin kept his word. He took pains treat kindly, and behave very prettily to them." to be contented; he said not another word about " I will do so," answered the dauphin, thought the old pleasant life at Versailles, but appeared to fully. (' But, mamma queen, tell me who the have forgotten all about ever having. been any- good men are!" where but in this great, desolate palace, with its "You must believe, Louis, that all men are halls filled with faded tapestry; stately, solemn good, and therefore you must be kind to all. If furniture, their golden adornments having grown then they despise your goodness 6r friendliness, dim, and their upholstery hard; he seemed never and cast it from them, it will not be your fault, to have known any garden but this, only one little and our heavenly Father and your parents will corner of which was set apart for the royal fam- be pleased with you." ily, and through the iron gate of which threatening "But, mamma," cried the'prince, and a shadow words were often heard, and spiteful faces seen. passed over his pure, beautiful child's face, " but., One day, when the dauphin heard such words, mamma, I cannot see that all men are good. and saw such faces beyond the paling, he shrank When they were abusing us, and cursing us, and back, and ran to his mother, earnestly imploring speaking bad words at us in the carriage, and her with trembling voice to leave the garden, and were talking so angrily at you, dear mamma, the go into the palace. But Marie Antoinette led men were not good, and I never could treat them him farther into the garden, instead of complying friendly if they should come again." with his wish. In the little pavilion which stood "They will not come again, Louis. No, we at the corner of the enclosure on the side of the will hope that the bad men will not come again, quay, she sat down, and lifting her boy up in her and that those who come to see us here are good arms, set him before her on the marble table, men; so be very kind and polite to everybody, wiped away his tears with her handkerchief, and that all may love you, and see that their future tenderly implored him not to weep or feel badly king is good and polite, even while a child." any more. "Good?" cried the boy, spiritedly. "I will "If you weep, my child," she said, sadly, as be good and polite to everybody, that you may the dauphin could not control his tears, "if you be satisfied with me. Yes, just for that will I. weep, I shall have no courage left, and it will be be so." as dark and dreary to me as if the sun had gone Marie Antoinette pressed the pretty boy to her. down. If you weep, I should want to weep with self, and kissed his lips. Just then an officer enyou; and you see, my son, that it would not be tered and announced General Lafayette and Bailly, becoming for a queen to weep. The wicked the mayor of Paris. people, who want to hurt our feelings, thev find "Mamma," whispered the prince, as the two pleasure in it, and therefore we must be alto- gentlemen entered-" mamma, that is the general MMMMA QUEEN. 121 that was at Versailles, then. I can never be kind of the park and the promenade on the quay to be to him, for he belongs to the bad men." closed. That will close every thing, and we shall "Hush! my child-hush!" whispered the at least gain the freedom thereby of being able to queen. "For God's sake, do not let anybody take walks at any time, without first sending inhear that. No, no, General Lafayette does not formation to General Lafayette." belong to our enemies, he means well toward us. "Madame, I expected that you would answer Treat him kindly, very kindly, my child." me so," said Lafayette, sadly, " and I have thereAnd Marie Antoinette took her son by the fore brought M. de Bailly with me, that he might hand, and, with a smile upon her lips, went to join me in supplicating your majesty to graciousmeet the two gentlemen, in order to inquire the ly abstain from taking measures of violence, and. reason for their appearing at this unwonted time. not to further stir up the feelings of the people, aland place. ready so exasperated." "Madame," said General Lafayette, "I have "And so you are of this opinion, sir?" asked come to ask your majesty whether you will not Marie Antoinette, turning to M. Bailly. "You, have the goodness to let me know the hours in too, regard it as a compulsory measure, for the which you may wish to visit the park and the king to claim his own right, and to keep out of garden, that I may make my arrangements ac- his property those who insult him." cordingly." " Your majesty, the king is, unfortunately, not "That means, general," cried the queen, "that free to make use of this right, as you call it." it is not to depend upon my free-will when and " You will not say, sir, that if it pleases the at what times I am to walk in the park, but it king not to allow evil-disposed persons to enter nwill be allowed.me only at certain hours, just as the park of the Tuileries, he has not the right to prisoners are allowed to take their walks at cer- close the gates?" tain hours." " Madame, I must indeed take the privilege of "I beg your pardon, madame," said the gen- saying so,". answered M. de Bailly, with a gentle eral, with great respect; " your majesty will gra- obeisance. "King Henry IV. gave the Parisians: ciously believe, that to me, the peace and security the perpetual privilege of having the park of the of your exalted person is sacred above every Tuileries open to them always, and free to be thing, and that I "regard it as my first duty to used in their walks. The palace of the Tuileries protect you against every insult, and every thing was, as your majesty knows, originally built by that may be disagreeable." Queen Catherine de Medicis, after the death of her " And so it has come to that," cried Marie An- husband, for the home of her widowhood. All toinette, angrily. "The Queen of France must sorts of stories were then current about the unbe protected against insults and disagreeable canny things which were said to occur in the things. She is not to go out when she will into park of the Tuileries. They told about laboratoher park, because she has to fear that, if General ries in which Queen Catherine prepared her poiLafayette has not previously made his special sons; of a pavilion in which there was a martyr's preparations, the people will insult her. But if chamber; of subterranean cells for those who had this is so, sir, why do you not close the gates of been buried alive; and all these dreadful stories the park? It is royal property, and it probably made such an impression that no one dared ap. will be allowed to the king to defend his private proach this place of horrors after sunset. But property fiom the brutality of the rabble. I will when Queen Catherine had left Paris, and King myself, general, see to it that I be protected from Henry IV. resided in the Louvre, he lad this insults, and that, at any time when it pleases me, dreaded Tuileries garden, with all its horrors, I may go into the park and the inner gardens. I opened to the Parisians, and out of the queen's will ask his majesty the king to allow the gates garden he made one for the people, in order that 122 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. the curse which rested upon it might be changed raised his ~great blue eyes to the face of his into a blessing." mother an instant with a supplicatory expression. "And now you suppose, Mr. Mayor, that it Lafayette took the extended hand of the prince, would change the blessing into a curse again, if and a flush of deep emotion passed over his face we should want to close the gates that Henry that was just before kindling, with anger. As if IV. opened? touched with reverence and astonishment, he bent "I do fear it, madame, and therefore venture to his knee before this child, whose countenance ask that the right to enter the Tuileries gardens* beamed with innocence, love, and goodness, and may not be taken from the people, nor their en- pressed to his lips the little hand that rested in his joyment interfered with.' own. "Not the people's enjoyment, only ours, is to "My prince,"' said he, deeply moved, "you be interfered with," cried Marie Antoinette, bit- have just spoken to me with the tongue of ap terly. "They are doubtless right who call the angel, and I swear to you, and to your exalted people now the real king of France, but they for- royal mother, that I will never torget this moget that this new king has usurped the throne ment; that I will remember it so long as I live. only by treachery, rebellion, and murder, and that The kiss which I have impressed upon the hand the wrath of God and the justice of man will one of my future king is at once the seal of the solday hurl him down into the dust at our feet. In emn vow, and the oath of unchangeable fidelthis day I hope, and until then I will bear in pa- ity and devotion which I consecrate to my king tience. and with unshaken courage what fate may and to the whole royal family, and in which nothing lay upon me. The wickedness and brutality of shall make me waver; nothing, not even the anmen shall at least not intimidate me, and fear ger and the want of favor of my exalted queen. shall not humiliate me to the state of a prisoner Dauphin of France, you have to-day gained a solwho takes her walks under the protection of.M. dier for your throne who is prepared to shed his de Lafayette, the general of the people, at appoint- last drop of blood for you and your house, and ed hours." on whose fidelity and devotion you may contin"Your majesty," cried Lafayette, turning pale. ually count." "What is your pleasure?" -interrupted the With tears in his eyes, his brave, noble face queen, with a proud movement of her head. "You quivering with emotion, Lafayette looked at the were a gentleman, and knew the customs and child that with cheeks all aglow and with a pleasmode of our court before you went to America. ant smile was gazing wit.h great, thoughtful child's Has the want of manners there so disturbed your eyes up to the strong man, who placed himself so memory that you do not know that it is not per- humbly and devotedly at his feet. Behind him mitted to speak in the presence of the queen with- stood M. de Bailly, with bended head. and folded out being asked or permitted by her to do so?" hands, listening with solemn thoughtfulness to the "General," cried the dauphin, at this instant, words of the general, upon whose strong shoulders with loud, eager voice, running forward to Lafay- the fate of the monarchy rested, and who, at this ette, and extending to him his little hand-" gen- time, was the mightiest and most conspicuous eral, I should like to salute you. Mamma told me man in France, because the National Guard of that I must be kind to all those who are good to Paris was still obedient to him, and followed his us and love us, and just as you were coming in commands. with this gentleman, mamma told me that Gen- Close by the dauphin stood the queen, in her eral Lafayette does not belong to our enemies, old, proud attitude, but upon her face a striking but means well to us. Let me, therefore, greet change had taken place. The expression of anyou kindly and give you my hand." And while ger and suspicion which it had before displayed saying so and smiling kindly at the general, he had now completely disappeared. The cloud MAMMA QUEEN. 123 which had gathered upon her lofty forehead was glittered there like a star fallen from heaven. dissipated, and her face shone out bright and Marie Antoinette did riot see it, did not know clear. The large, grayish-blue eyes, which before that the tear which she was trying to conceal was had shot angry darts, now glowed with mild fire, now glistening on the brow of her son-on that and around her lips played an instant that fair, brow which was never to wear any other diadem pleasant smile which, in her happier days, had than the one that the tears of love placed on his often moved the favorites of the queen to verses innocent head. of praise, and which her enemies had so often "Heaven defend your majesty ever being commade a reproach to her. pelled to become accustomed to insult!" cried LaWhen the general ceased there was silence — fayette, deeply moved. "I hope we have seen our that eloquent solemn silence which accompanies worst days, and that after the tempest there will those moments in which the Genius of History be sunshine and bright weather again. The peohovers over the heads of tnen, and, touching them ple will look back with shame and regret upon the with its pinions, ties their tongues and opens the wild and stormy scenes to which they have allowed eyes of the spirit, so that they can look into the themselves to be drawn by-unprincipled agitators; future, and, with presaging horror, read all the se- they will bow in love and obedience before the royal crets of coming time as by a flash of lightning; couple who, with so much confidence and devoSuch a critical moment in history was that in tion, leave their beautiful, retired home at Verwhich Lafayette, at the feet of the dauphin, swore sailles, in order to comply with the wish of the eternal fidelity to the monarchy of France in the people and come to Paris. Will your majesty presence of the unfortunate mayor of Paris, who have the goodness to ask the mayor of Paris, and was soon to seal his loyalty with his own blood, he will tell you, madame, how deeply moved all and in presence of the queen, whose lofty char- the good citizens of Paris are at the truly nobleacter was soon to make her a martyr. spirit which prompted you to refuse to initiate an The moment passed by, and Marie Antoinette investigation respecting the night of horrors at bowed to Lafayette with her gracious smile. Versailles, and to bring the ringleaders to justice." "Rise, general," she said, in gentle tones, "Is it true, M. de Bailly? " asked the queen, "God has heard your oath,'and I accept it in the eagerly. "Was my decision approved 2 Have I name of the French- monarchy, my husband, my friends still among the people of Paris?" son, and myself. I shall always continue mindful "Your majesty," answered M. de Bailly, bowof it, and I hope that you will also. And I beg ing low, "all good citizens of Paris have seen you, too," she continued, in a low voice, and with with deep emotion the noble resolve of your maa deep flush upon her face, " I beg you to forgive jesty, and in all noble and true hearts the royal me if I have hitherto cast unworthy reproaches words are recorded imperishably, which your maupon you. I have lived through so many sad and jesty spoke to the judges of the Chatelet,' I have dreadful days, that it will be set. down to my fa- heard all, seen all, and forgotten all!' With tears vor if my nerves are agitated and easily excited. of deep feeling, with a hallowed joy, they are reI shall probably learn to accept evil days with peated through all Paris; they have-become the calmness, and to bow my head patiently beneath watchword of all the w'ell-inclined and faithful, the the yoke which my enemies are laying upon me! evangel of love and forgiveness for all women, of But still I feel the injury, and the proud habits fidelity and devotion for all men! It has been seen of my birth and life war against it. But only and confessed that the throne of France is the wait, and I shall become accustomed to it." possessor not only of goodness and beauty, but of While saying this she stooped down to the forgiveness and gentleness, and that your majesty dauphin and kissed his golden hair. A tear fell bears rightly the title of the Most Christian from her eyes upon the forehead of her son, and Queen. These nine words which your majesty 124 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. has uttered, have become thes acred banner of "Madame, time must be granted to the mis. all. true souls, and they will cause the golden days guided people to return to the right way," said to come bagk, as they once dawned upon Paris Lafayette, almost with a supplicating air.." They when the Dauphin of France made his entry into must be dealt with as we deal with defiant, naughthe capital, and it could be said with truth to the ty children, which can be brought back to obefuture queen, Marie Antoinette,' Here are a hun- dience and submission' better by gentle speech dred thousand lovers of your person.' " and apparent concession than by rigidity and seThe queen was no longer able to master her verity. On this account I ventured to ask your deep emotion. She who had had the courage to majesty to intrust me for a little while with the display a proud and defiant mien to her enemies care of your sacred person, and, in order that I and assailants, could not conceal the intensity of may satisfy my duty, that you would graciously her feeling when hearing words of such devotion, appoint the time when your majesty will take your and uttered a cry, then choked with emotion, and walks here in the park and garden, so that I can at length burst into a torrent of tears. Equally make my arrangements accordingly." astonished and ashamed, she covered her face with "In order to make a fence out of your National her hands, but the tears gushed out between her Guards, protected by which the Queen of France white tapering fingers, and would not be withheld. may not become visible to the hate of the people, They had been so long repressed behind those and behind which she may be secure against the proud eyelids, that now, despite the queen's will, attacks of her enemies.! " cried Marie Antoinette. they forced their way with double power and in- "No, sir, I cannot accept this! It shall at least tensity. be seen that I am no'coward, and that I will not But only for a moment did the proud-spirited hide myself from those who come to attack me!" queen allow herself to be overcome by the gentle "Your majesty," said Bailly, " I conjure you, and deeply-moved woman; she quickly collected do this out of compassion for us, for all your herself and raised her head. faithful servants who tremble for the peace. and "I thank you, sir, I thank you," she said, security of yourmajesty, and allow M. de Lafaybreathing more freely, "you have done me' good, ette to keep the brutality of the people away and these tears, though not the first which grief from you, and protect you in your walks." and anger have extorted, are the first for a long' Sufficient, gentlemen," cried'Marie Antoinette, time which have sprung from what is almost joy. impatiently. "You now know my fixed resolve, Who knows whether I shall ever be able to shed and it is not necessary to discuss it further. I such tears again! And who knows," she contin- will not hide myself from the people, and I will ued, with a deep sigh, " whether I do not owe confront them under the simple protection of God. these tears more to your wish to do me good, than Defended by Him, and sustained by the convicto true and real gains? I bethink me now-you tion that I have not merited the hate with which say all good citizens of Paris repeat my words, all I am pursued, I will continue to meet the subjects the well-disposed are satisfied with my decision. of the king fearlessly, with an unveiled head, and But, ah! I fear that the number of these is very only God and my fate shall judge between me small, and that the golden days of the past will and them! I thank you, gentlemen, for your zeal never return! And is not your appearance here and your care, and you may be sure that I shall to-day a proof of this? Did you not come here never forget it. But now farewell, gentlemen! because the people insult and calumniate me, It is growing cold, and I should like to return to and because you considered it needful to throw the palace." around me your protection, which is now migh- "Will your majesty not have the kindness to tier than the royal purple and the lilies of the allow us both to mingle with your train, and ae. throne of France?" company you to the palace?" asked Lafayette. MAMMA QUEEN. 125 "I came hither, attended by only two lackeys, be like the Chevalier Bayard, about whom the who are waiting outside the pavilion," answered Abbe talked with me to-day. I want to be sans the queen. "You know that I have laid aside peur et sans reproche, like Bayard." the court etiquette which used to attend the "Very well, chevalier," said the queen, with a queen upon her walks, and which do not allow smile, "then walk alone and free by my side." the free enjoyment of nature. My enemies "No, mamma, if you will allow me, I will walk charge me with this as an offence, and consider it before you. The knights always walk in advance improper that the Queen of France should take a of the ladies, so as to ward off any danger which walk without a brilliant train of courtiers, and may be in the way. And I am your knight, mamlike any other human being. But I think that ma, and I want to be as long as I live. Will you the people ought not to be angry at this, and allow it, my royal lady?" they may take it as a sign that I am not so proud "I allow it! So go in front, Chevalier Louis and unapproachable as I am generally believed Charles! We will take the same way back by to be. And so farewell, gentlemen!" which we came." She graciously waved her hand toward the The dauphin sprang over the little square in door, and, with a gentle inclination of her head, front of the pavilion, and down the alley which dismissed the two gentlemen, who, with a sad led to the Arcadia Walk along the side of the bearing, withdrew, and left the pavilion. quay. " Come, my son," said the queen, " we will re- Before the little staircase which led up to this tqrn to the palace." walk, he stopped and turned his pretty head "By the samne way that we came, shall we not, round to the queen, who, followed by the two mamma? " asked the dauphin, taking the extend- lackeys, was walking slowly and quietly along. ed hand of the queen, and pressing it to his lips. "Well, Chevalier Bayard," asked the queen "You will not weep again if the people shout with a smile, " what are you stopping for?" and laugh?" asked Marie Antoinette. " You "I am only waiting for your majesty," replied the will not be afraid any more?" child, gravely.' "Hire is where my knightly sex"No, I will not be afraid any more. Oh, you vice commences, for here it is that danger beshall be satisfied with me, mamma queen! I have gits." paid close attention to all that you said to the two "It is true," said the queen, as she stopped at gentlemen, and I am very glad that you did not the foot of the steps and listened to the loud allow M. de Lafayette to walk behind us. The shouting which now became audible. "One people would then have believed that we are. would think that a storm had been sweeping over afraid, and now they shall see that we are not so the ocean, there is such a thundering sound. But at all." you know, my son, that the storms lie in God's "Well, come, my child, let us go," said Marie hand, and that He protects those who trust in Antoinette, giving her hand to her son, and pre- Him. Think of that, my child, and do not be paring to leave the pavilion. afraid!" But on the threshold the dauphin stopped, and "Oh, I am not afraid!" cried the boy, and looked imploringly up into the face of his mother. he sprang up the stairs like a gazelle. "I should like to ask you something, mamma The queen quickened her steps a little, and queen." seemed to be giving her whole attention to her "Well, what is it, my little Louis? What do son, who went before her with such a happy flow you wish?" of spirits, and appeared to hear nothing of what "I should like to have you allow me to go was passing around her. And yet, behind the alone, else the people would believe that I am fence which ran along the left side of the Arcadia afraid, and want you to lead me. And I want to Walk all the way to the quay, was a dense mass 126 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND. HER SON. of people, head behind head, and all their blazing the manoeuvre of the man who w as forcing his eyes were directed at the queen, and words of arm still farther in, stopped their shouting and hate, malediction, and threatening followed her lapsed into a breathless, eager silence, as someevery step which she took forward. times is the case in a storm, between the succes-'See, see," cried a'woman, with dishevelled sive bursts Of wind and thunder. hair, which streamed out from her round cap, and Every one felt that the touch of that threatenfell down over her red, angry face —" see, that is ing arm and that little child might be like the the baker's woman, and the monkey that jumps contact of steel and flint, and elicit sparks which ir front of her is the apprentice-boy! They can should kindle the fires of another revolution. It dress themselves up and be fine, for all is well was this feeling which made the crowd silent; with them, and they can eat cakes, while we have the same feeling compelled the queen to quicken to go hungry. But wait, only wait! times will be her steps, so that she was close to the dauphin different by and by, and we shall see the baker- before he had reached this terrible turnpikewoman as hungry as we. But when we have the bar. brdad, we will give her none-no, we will give her "Come here, my son," cried the queen, "give none!" me your hand!" "No, indeed, we will give her none!" roared, But before she had time to grasp the hand of and cried, and laughed, and howled the mob. the little prince, he sprang forward and stood diAnd they all pressed closer up to the fence, and rectly in front of the outstretched arm. naked arms and clinched fists were thrust through "My God! what will he do?" whispered the the palings, and threatened the queen, and the queen to herself. dauplin, who walked in front of his mother. At the same instant, there resounded from be"Will he be able to bear it? Will my poor hind the fence a loud, mighty bravo, and a thouboy not weep with fear and anxiety?" That was sand voices took' it up and cried, "Bravo! brathe only thought of the queen, as she walked on vo!" past the angry roars of the crowd. To the dau- The dauphin had stretched up his little white phin alone all her looks were directed; not once hand and laid it upon the brown, clinched fist did she glance at the fence, behind which the pop- that was stretched out toward him, and nodded ulace roared like a pack of lions. pleasantly at the man who looked down so fiercely All at once the breath of the queen stopped, upon him. and her heart ceased beating, with horror. She "Good-day, sir!" he said, with a loud voicesaw directly at the place where the path turned "good-day!" and ran away from the fence, but where, before And he took hold with his little hand of the making the turn, it ran very near the fence, the great hand of the man and shook it a little, as in bare arm of a man extended through the paling friendly salutation. as far as possible, and stretching in fact half-way "Little knirps," roared the man, " what do your across the path, as if it were a turnpike-bar stop- mean, and how dare you lay your little paw on ping the way. the claws of the lion? " The eyes of the queen, when they fell upon this "Sir," said the boy, smiling, "I thought you dreadful, powerful arm, turned at once in deep were stretching out your hand to reach me with alarm to the dauphin; She saw him hesitate a it, and so I give you mine, and say,' Good-day, little in his hurried course, and then go slowly sir!'" forward. The queen quickened her steps in or- "And if I wanted, I could crush your hand in der to -come up with the dauphin before he my fist as if it were in a vice," cried the man, should reach the danger which confronted him. holding the little hand firmly. The people outside of the fence, when they saw You shall not do it," cried hundreds and hun MAMMA QUEEN. 127 dreds of voices in the crowd. "N No, Simon, you away your arm, that my mam.la can go on in her shall not hurt the child." walk." "Who of you could hinder me if I wanted to?" " But, suppose that I do not do as you want me asked the man, with a loud laugh. "See here, I to?" asked the cobbler, defiantly. " I suppose it hold the hand of the future King of France in my would come that your mamma would dictate to fist, and I can break it if I want to, and make it me, and perhaps call some soldiers, and order so that it can never lift the sceptre of France. them to shoot the dreadful people?" The little monkey thought he would take hold of " You know, Master Simon, that I give no such my hand and make me draw it back, and now my command, and never gave any such," said the hand has got his and holds it fast. And mark queen, quickly. "The king and I love our people, this, boy, the time is past when kings seized us and never would give orders to our soldiers to fire and trod us down; now we seize them and hold upon them." them fast, and do not let them go unless we "Because you would.not be sure, madame, that will." the soldiers would obey your commands, if you " Sir!" cried the queen, motioninl back with should," laughed Simon. "Since we got rid of a commanding gesture the two lackeys who were the Swiss guards, there are no soldiers left who hurrying up to release the dauphin from the hand would let themselves be torn in pieces for their of the man, "sir, I beg you to withdraw your king and queen; and you know well that if the hand, and not to hinder us in our walk." soldiers should fire the first shot at us, the people " Ah! you are there, too, madame, the baker's would tear the soldiers in pieces afterward. Yes, wife, are you?" cried the man, with a horrid yes, the fine days at Versailles are past; here, in laugh. "We meet once more, and the eyes of Paris, you must accustom yourselfto ask, instead our most beautiful queen fall again upon the dirty, of command, and the arm of a single man of the pitiable face of sucn a poor, wretched creature as, people is enough to stop the Queen and the Danin your heavenly eyes, the cobbler Simon is!" phin of France." "Are you Simon the cobbler?" asked Marie Y' You are mistaken, sir," said the queen, whose Antoinette. "It is true,'I bethink me now, I proud heart could no longer be restrained, and have spoken with you once before. It was when allow her to -take this humble stand; "the Queen I carried the prince here, for the first time, to of France and her son will no longer be detained Notre Dame, that God would bless him, and that by you in their walk." the people might see him. You stood then by my Aud with a quick movement she caught the carriage, sir!" dauphin, struck back at the same moment the "Yes, it is true," answered Simon, visibly fiat- fist of the cobbler, snatched the boy away like tered. "You have, at least, a good memory, lightning, and passed by before Simon had time queen. But you ought to have paid attention to to put his arm back. what I said to you. -I am no'sir,' I am a simple The people, delighted with this energetic and cobbler, and earn my poor bit of bread in the. courageous action of the queen-the people, wno sweat of my brow, while you strut about in your would have howled with rage, if the queen had glory and happiness, and cheat God out of day- ordered her lackeys to push the cobbler back, light. Then I held the hand of your daughter in now roared with admiration and with pleasure, to my fist, and she cried out for fear, merely be- see the proud-hearted woman have the boldness cause a poor fellow like me touched her." to repel the assailant, and to free herself from "But, Mr. Simon, you see very plainly that I him. They applauded, they laughed, they shouted do not cry out," said the dauphin, with a smile. from thousands upon tho'usands of throats, " Long " I know that you do not want to do me any live the queen! Long live the dauphin!" and the harm, and I ask you to be so good as to take cry passed along like wildfire through the whole 128 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. mass of spectators behind the fence, and all eyes there were the lackeys behind her; there was her followed the tall and proud figure of the queen as little son, looking up to her with his great eyes; she walked away. and there was that dreadful cry coming up from Only the eyes of Simon pursued her with a the quay like the roaring of the sea. malicious glare, and his clinched fists threatened The queen could not utter a word of grief or her behind -her back. sorrow, she could not sink to the ground in her "She shall pay for this!, " he muttered, with a weakness; she had to show a cheerful, face to withering curse. " She has struck back my hand her son, and a proud brow to her servants. God to-day, but the day will come when she will feel it only could look into her heart and see the tears upon her neck, and when I will squeeze the han'd which glowed there like burning coals. Yet in of the little rascal so that he shall cry out with all her sadness she had a feeling of triumph, of pain!'I believe now, what Marat has so often proud satisfaction. She had preserved her free, told me, that the time of vengeance is come, and dom, her independence; she was not Lafayette's that we must bring the crown down and tread it prisoner! No, the Queen of France had not put under our feet, that the people may rule! I will herself under the protection of the people's genhave my share in it. I will help bring it down, eral; she had not given him the power of watchand tread it under foot. I hate the handsome ing her with his hated National Guard, and of Austrian woman, who perks up her nose, and saying to them: "At this or that hour the queen tlhinks herself better than my wife; and if the takes her walks, and, that she may recreate her-,olden time has come of which Marat speaks, self, we will protect her against the rage of the when the people are the master, and the king is the people!" servant, Marie Antoinette shall be my waiting- No, she had defended herself, she had remained maid, and her son' shall be my chore-boy, and his the queen all the while, the free queen, and she buckle shall make acquaintance with my shoe- had gained a victory over the people by showing straps!" them that she did not fear them. And while Master Simon was muttering this to "Mamma," cried the dauphin, interrupting her himself, he was making a way through the crowd in her painful and proud thoughts —" mamma, with those great elbows of his, a slipping along there comes the king, there comes my papa! Oh, the fence, to be able to follow as long as possible he will be glad to hear that I was so courageous!" the tall figure of the queen, who was now leading The queen quickly stooped down and kissed the dauphin by the hand, traversing the Arcadian him. "Yes, truly, my little Bayard, you have Walk. At the end of it was the fence which led done honor to your great exemplar, and you have into the little garden reserved for the royal fam- really been a little chevalier sans peur et sans Xreily. Through the iron gate, hard by, adorned proche. But, my child, true bravery does not with the arms of the kings of France, Marie An- glory in its great deeds, and does not desire toinette entered an asylum, which had been saved others to admire them; but. keeps silent and to the crown, free from the intrusion of the people, leaves it to others to talk about them! " and she drew a free breath when one of the lack- "Mamma, I will be silent, too," cried the boy, eys closed'the gate, and she heard the key grate with glowing eyes. " Oh, you shall see that I call in the lock. be silent, and not talk at all about myself." She stood still a moment to regain her com- The king meanwhile, followed by some gentle, posure, and then she felt that her feet were trem- men.and servants, was coming forward with un. bling, and that she scarcely had the power to go accustomed haste, and, in his eagerness' to reach farther. It would have been a- relief to her to his wife, he had not noticed the beds, but was ha.ve fallen there upon her knees, and poured all treading under foot the last fading flowers of her sorrows and trials into the ear of God. But autumn. AMM3A QUEEN. 12 "You are here at last, Mlarie," said he, when he said, softly, "you yourself are binding tighter was near enough to speak. "I wanted to go to and tighter the chains of our imprisonment. Tomeet you, to conduct you hither out of the park. day you limit our freedom to two poor hours, and You were gone very long, and I worried about that will be a precedent for others to continue you." what you have begun. We shall after this walk "Why worried, sire?" asked the queen. for two hours daily under the protection of M. di "What danger could threaten me in our gar- Lafayette, but there will come a time when his den?" protection will not suffice, and no security will be "Do not seek to hide any thing from me, great enough for us. For the royal authority Marie," said Louis, with a sigh. "I know every which shows itself weak and dependent, and thing! The hate of the people denies us any wJhicl does not draw power from itself-the longer the enjoyment of the open air i Lafayette royalty which suffers its crown to be borne up and Bailly were with me after they were dismissed for it by the hands of others, confesses thereby by you. They told me that you had given no that it is too weak to bear the burden itself. Oh1, favor to their united request, and that you would sire, I would rather you had let me break away not grant to General Lafayette the right to protect from the rage. of the people, while I might be you while you are taking your walks." walking unguarded, than be permitted to take "I hope your majesty is satisfied with me," my daily walks under the protection of M. de answered Marie Antoinette. " You feel, like me, Lafayette!" that it is a new humiliation for us if we are to "You see every thing in too dark and sad a allow our very enjoyment of nature to be under light," cried the king. "Every thing will come the control of the people's general, and if even out right if we are only wise and carefully conthe air is no longer to be the free air for us! " form to circumstances,- and by well-timed conces"I have only thought that in such unguarded sions and admissions propitiate this hate and walks you would be threatened with danger," an- bring this enmity to silence." swered the king, perplexed. "Lafayette has The queen did not reply; she stooped down to painted to me in such dark and dreadful colors, the dauphin, and, pressing a kiss upon his locks, and I have so painfully had to confess that be whispered: ":Now you may tell every thing, Louis. speaks the truth, that I could only think of your It is not longer necessary to keep silent about safety, and take -no other point of view than to any thing, for silence were useless! So tell of see you sheltered from the attacks of your ene- your heroism, my son!" mies, and from the rage of these factions. I have "Is it of heroism that you talk? " said the king, therefore approved Lafayette's proposal, and al- whose nice ear had caught the words of the lowed him to protect your majesty on your queen. walks." "Yes, of heroism, sire," answered Marie An. ".But you have not fixed definite hours for my toinette. "But it is with us as with Don Quix walks? You have not done that, sire, have ote; we believed that we were fighting for our you? " honor and our throne; now we must confess that "I have indeed done that," answered the king, we only fought against windmills. I beg you gently. "I am familiar with your habits, and now, sire, to inform General Lafayette that it is know that in autumn and winter you usually take not necessary to call out his National Guards on your walks between twelve and two, and in sum- my account, I shall not walk again!" mer afternoons between five and seven. I have And the queen kept her word. Never again therefore named these hours to General Lafay- during the winter did she go down into the garette." dens and park of the Tuileries. She never gave The queen heaved a deep sigh. "Sire," she Lafayette occasion to protect her, but she at 9 130 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. least gained thereby what Lafayette wanted to delightful evening, and one of those charming reach by his National Guard-she held the popu- idyls at Trianon.. The brothers of the king, the lace away from the Tuileries. At first they stood schoolmaster and mayor of Trianon, had left in dense masses day after day along the fence of France and had located themselves at Coblentz on the park and the royal garden, but when they saw the Rhine; the Polignacs had fled to England; that Marie Antoinette would no more expose her- the Princess Lamballe, too, had, at the wish of self to their curious and evil glances, they grew the queen, gone to negotiate with Pitt, in order to tired of waiting for her, and withdrew from the implore the all-powerful minister of George III. neighborhood of the Tuileries, —but only to re- to give to the oppressed French crown more mar pair to their clubs and listen to the raving terial and effectual support than was afforded by speeches which Marat, Santerre, and other offi- the angry and bitter words which he hurled in cers, hurled like poisoned arrows at the queen- Parliament against the riotous and rebellious only to go into the National Assembly and hear French nation. The Counts de Besenval and Mirabeau and Robespierre, Danton, Chenier, Pe- Coigny, the Marquis de Lauzun, and Baron d'Adtion, and all the rest, the assembled representa- h6mar, all the privileged friends of the summer tives of the nation, launch their thundering days at Trianon and the winter days of Versailles, philippics against a royalty appointed by the all, all, were gone. They had fled to Coblentz, and grace of God, and causing the people to believe were at the court of the French princes. There that it was a' royalty appointed by the wrath of they spun their intrigues, sought to excite a EuroGod. pean war against France; from there they hurled their flaming torches into France, their calumnies against Queen Marie Antoinette, the Austrian woman. She alone. was accountable for all the misfortunes and the disturbances of France, she CHAPTER XVI. alone had given occasion for the distrust now felt against royalty. On her head fell the curse IN ST. CLOUD. and the burden of all the faults and sins which the THE winter was passed-a sad dismal winter for French court had for a hundred years committed. the royal family, and for Marie Antoinette in par- There must be a sacrificial lamb, to be thrown inticular! None of those festivities, those diver- to the arms glistening with spears and daggers, of sions, those simple and innocent joys, which are a revolution which thirsted for blood and venwont to adorn the life of a woman and of a geance, and Marie Antoinette had to be the victim. queen! In her bleeding heart the spirits glowing with Marie Antoinette is no more a queen who com- hate might cool themselves, and there the evil mands, who sees around her a throng of respect- which her predecessors had done, was to be ful courtiers, zealously listening to- every word atoned for. Many a wrong had been done, and that falls from her lips; Marie Antoinette is a the French nation had, no doubt, a right to be grave solitary woman, who works much, thinks angry and to rage as does the lion for a long much, makes many plans for saving the kingdom time kept in subjection, when at last, touched and the throne, and sees all these plans ship- too much by the iron of its keeper, it rises in its wrecks on the indecision and weakness of her wildness, and with withering greed, tears him in husband. pieces from whom it has suffered so long and so Far away from the queen lay those happy much. The French people rose just as the times when every day brought new joys and new incensed lion does, and determined to wreak their diversions; when the dawn of a summer morning vengeance on their keepers, on those whom they made the queen happy, because it promised hera had so long called their lords and rulers. IN ST. CLOUD. 131 To pacify the lion some prey must be thrown and the French people! They, perhaps, may fill to him, and to him who thirsts for vengeance and it up, and then a way may be made for the Count blood, a human offering must be brought to pro- de Provence, the successor of his brother. pitiate him. The Count d'Artois was once the friend of the Marie Antoinette had to be the offering to the queen, the only one of the royal family who lion! Her blood had to flow for the sins of the wished her well, and who defended her sometimes Bourbons! On her all the anger, the exaspera- against the hatred of the royal aunts and sisterstion, the rage of the people must concentrate! in-law, and the crafty brother. But while living She must bear the blame of all the miseries and in Coblentz, the Count d'Artois had become the the needs of France! She must satisfy the hun- embittered enemy of Marie Antoinette. He had ger for vengeance, in order that when the lion is heard it so often said on all sides that the queen appeased it can be made placable and patient:by her levity, her extravagance, and her intrigues, again, the chains put on which he has broken in was the cause of all, that she alone had brought his rage-the chains, however, to which, when his about the revolution, that he at last believed it, rage is past, he must again submit. and turned angrily against the royal woman, The queen, the queen is to blame for all! Ma- whose worst offence in the eyes of the prince lay rie Antoinette has brought royalty into discredit; in this, that she had been the occasion of his enthe Austrian woman has brought the hatred of forced exile to Coblentz. the French nation upon herself, and she must And Marie Antoinette knew all these inatone for it, she alone! trigues which were forged by the prince in CobLibels and calumnies are forged against the lentz against herself-knew about all the calumqueen by those who were once the friends and nies that were set in circulation there; she read cavaliers of the queen-cavaliers no longer, but' the libels and pamphlets which the storm-wind cavillers now; the poisoned arrows are sent to of revolution shook from the dry tree of monarFrance to be directed against the head of the chy like withered autumn leaves, and scattered queen, to destroy first her honor and good name, through all France, that they might be everyand then to make her a prey for scorn and con- where found and read. tempt. "They will kill me," she would often say, with If the lion stills his rage and cools his hate a sigh, after reading these pamphlets steeped with with Marie Antoinette as his victim, he will relax hate, and written in blood-" yes, they will kill me, again and bow to his king, for it is time for these but with me they will kill the king and the monroyal princes to return to France and their loved archy too. The revolution will triumph over us Paris once more. all, and hurl us all together down into the grave." The Count de Provence is the implacable enemy But still she would make efforts to control the of the queen; he can never forgive her for gain- revolution and restore the monarchy again out of ing the heart'of the king her:husband, and leav- its humiliations. The Emperor Joseph II., ing no influence for his wise, clever brother. The brother of the queen, once said of himself, "I a-n Count de Provence is avaricious and crafty. He a royalist, because that is my business." Marie sees that an abyss has opened before the throne Antoinette was a royalist not because it was her of the lilies, and that it will'not close again! It business; she was a rdyalist by conviction, a roymust, therefore, be filled up! A reconciliation alist in her soul, her mind, and her inmost nature. will not be possible in a natural way, and artificial For this she would defend the monarchy; for methods must be found to accomplish it. Louis this she would contend'against the revolution, XVI. will not be saved, and Marie Antoinette until she should either constrain it to terms or be shall not be! The two, perhaps, can fill up the swallowed up in it. abyss that yawns between the throne of the lilies All her efforts, all her cares, were directed only 132 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. to this, to kindle in the king the same courage whose beautiful hair showed the traces of that that animated her, to stir him with the same fire dreadful night in October. She had her picture that burned in her soul. But alas! Louis XVI. painted, in order to send it to London, to the truwas no doubt a good man and a kind father, but est of her friends, the Princess Lamballe, and he was no king. He had no doubt the wish to with her own hands she wrote beneath it the restore the monarchy, but he lacked the requisite words: "Your sorrows have whitened your energy and strong will. Instead of controlling hair." the revolution with a fiery spirit, he sought to con- And yet in this life full of cares, full of work, ciliate it by concession and mild measures; and full of pain and humiliation-in these sad days of instead of checking it, he himself went down trouble and resignation, there were single gleams before it. of sunshine, scattered moments of happiness. But Marie Antoinette could not and would not It was a ray of sunshine when this sad winter give up hope. As the king would not act, she in the Tuileries was past, and the States-General would act for him; as he would not take part in allowed the royal family to go to St. Cloud and politics, she would do so for him. With glowing spend the summer there.. Certainly it was a new zeal she plunged into business, spent many hours humiliation for the king to receive permission to each day with the ministers and dependants of the reside in his own summer palace of St. Cloud. But court, corresponded with foreign lands, with her the States-General called themselves th e pillars of brother the Emperor Leopold, and her sister, the throne, and the king who sat upon this shakQueen Caroline of Naples, wrote to them in a ing throne was very dependent upon its supcipher intelligible only to them, and sent the- let- port. ters through the hands of secret agents, implor- In St. Cloud there was at least a little freedom, ing of them assistance and help for the mon- a little solitude and stillness. The birds sang in archy. the foliage, the sun lighted up the broad halls of In earnest labor, in unrelieved care and busi- the palace, in which a few faithful ones gathered ness, the queen's days now passed; she sang, she around the queen and recalled at least a touch of laughed no more; dress had no longer charms the past happiness to her brow. In St. Cloud she for her;'she had no more conferences with Mad- was again the queen, she held her court there. emoiselle Bertin, her milliner; her hair-dresser, But how different was this from the court of M. Leonard, had no more calls upon his genius for former days. new coiffures for, her fair hair; a simple, dark No merry laughter, no cheerful singing redress, that was the toilet of the queen, a lace sounded through these spacions halls; no pleashandkerchief round the neck, and a feather was ant ladies, in light, airy, summer costume swept her only head-dress. through the fragrant apartments; M. d'AdheOnce she had rejoiced in her beauty, and mar no longer sits at the spinet, and sings with smiled at the flatteries which her mirror told her his rich voice the beautiful arias from the opera when it reflected her face; now she looked with "Richard of the Lion Heart," in which royalty indifference at her pale, worn face, with its sharp had its apotheosis, and in which the singer Garat grave features, and it awoke no wonder within had excited all Paris to the wildest demonstraher when the mirror told her that the queen of tions of delight I And not all Paris, but VerFrance, in spite of her thirty-six years, was old; sailles as well, and in Versailles the royal court! that the roses on her cheeks had withered, and Louis XVI. himself had been in rapture at the that care had drawn upon her brow those lines aria which Garat sang with his flexible tenor which age could not yet have done. She did not voice in so enchanting a manner-" Oh, Richard! grieve over her lost beauty; she looked with com- oh, mon roi! "-an aria which had once procured placency at that matron of six-and-thirty years him a triumph in the very theatre. For when IN ST. CLOUD. 13 Q Carat began this air with his full voice, and every to the mighty influence of the queen that his countenance was directed to the box where the opera "Alcestes" was brought upon the stage; royal family were sitting, the whole theatre rose, but at its first representation the Lullyists gained and the hundreds upon hundreds present had the victory, and condemned it. In despair, Gluck joined in the loud, jubilant strains-" Oh, Rich- left the opera-house, driven by hisses into tLe ard! oh, mon roi:' dark street. A friend followed him and detained Louis XVI. was grateful to the spirited singer, him, as he was hurrying away, and spoke in the who, in that stormy time, had the courage to gentlest tones. But Gluck interrupted him with publicly offer him homage, and he had therefore wild violence: "Oh, my friend!" cried be, fallacceded to the request of the queen, that Garat ing on the neck of him who was expressing his should be invited to the private concerts of the kindly sympathy, "'Alcestes' has fallen T" But queen at Versailles, and give her instruction on his friend pressed his hand, and said, "Fallen? those occasions in the art ofsinging. Yes,'Alcestes' has fallen! It has fallen from Marie Antoinette thought of those pleasant heaven!" days of the past, as she sat in the still, deserted The queen thought of this as she sat before the music-room, where the instruments stood silent spinet —thought how moved Gluck was when he by the wall-where there were no hands to entice related this answer of his friend, and that he, who the cheerful melodies from the strings, as there had been so kind, was the Duke d'Adhemar. had once been. She had thanked him for this gracious word by " I wish that I had never sung duets with giving him her hand to kiss, and Adhemar, kneelGarat," whispered the queen to herself. "The ing, had pressed his lips to her hand. And that king allowed me, but yet I ought not to have was the same Baron Adhemar who was now done it. A queen has no right to be free, merry, at Coblentz assisting thile prince to forge libels and happy. A queen can practise the fine arts against herself, and who was himself the author only alone, and in the silence of her own apart- of that shameless lampoon which ridiculed the ments. I would I had never sung with Garat."* musical studies of the queen, and even the duet She sat down before the spinet and opened it. which she had sung with Garat! Her fingers glided softly over the keys, and for Softly glided her fingers over the keys, softly the first time, in long months of silence, the room flowed over her pale, sunken cheeks two great resounded with the tones of music. tears-tears which she shed as she thought of the But, alas! it was no cheerful music,which the past-tears full of bitterness and pain! But no, fingers of the queen drew from the keys; it was no, she would not weep; she shook the tears from only the notes of pain, only cries of grief; and her eyes, and struck the keys with a more vigoryet they recalled the happy by-gone times-those ous touch. Away, away, those recollections of golden, blessed days, when the Queen of France ingratitude and faithlessness! Art shall engage was the friend'of the arts, and when she received her thoughts in the music-room, and to Gluck and her early teacher, the great maestro and chevalier, " Alcestes" the hour belongs! Gluck, in Versailles; when she took sides for him The. queen struck the keys more firmly, and against the Italian maestro Lully, and when all Paris began to play the noble " Love's Complaint," of livided into two parties, the Gluckists and Lully- Gluck's opera. Unconsciously her lips opened, ists, waging a bloodless war against each other. and with loud voice and intense passionate exHappy Paris! At that time the interests of art pression, she sang the words, "Oh, crudel, non alone busied all spirits, and the battle of opinions posso in vere, tu lo sui, senza dite! " was conducted only with the pen. Gluck owed it At the, first notes of this fine voice the door in the rear of the room had lightly opened-the one The queeans own wo. leadin to the garden-as.-Se Meores de curly head ofame the de Campan," vol iH. leading to the garden-and the curly head of the 134 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. dauphin was thrust in. Behind him were Mad- eyes fell upon the group they lighted up with joy, ame de Tourzel and Madame Elizabeth, who, like and then turned upward to God with a look of the prince, were listening in breathless silence to thankfulness. the singing of the queen. A few minutes before she had felt alone and As she ended, and when the voice of Marie An- sad: she had thought of absent friends in bitter toinette was choked in a sigh, the dauphin flew pain, and now, as if fate would remind her of the with extended arms across the hall to his mother. happiness which still remained to her, it sent her "Mamma queen," cried he, beaming with joy, the son and the sister-in-law, both of whom loved "are you singing again? I thought my dear her so tenderly, and the gentle and affectionmamma had forgotten now to sing. But she has ate Madame de Tourzel, whom Marie Antoinette begun to sing again, and we are all happy once knew to be faithful and constant unto death. more." The flatterers and courtiers, the court ladies Marie Antoinette folded the little fellow in her and cavaliers, are no longer in the music-room; arms, and did not contradict him, and nodded the enraptured praises no longer accompany the smilingly to the two ladies, who now approached songs of the queen; but, out of'the easy-chair, and begged the queen's pardon for yielding to the in which the Duchess de Polignac had sat so pressing desires of the dauphin, and entering, with- often, now looks the beautiful blond face of her out permission. son, and his beaming countenance speaks more I" Oh, mamma, my dear mamma queen," said eloquently to her than the flatteries of friends. the prince, in the most caressing way, "I have On the tabouret, now occupied by her sister-inbeen very industrious to-day; the abbe was sat- law, Madame Elizabeth, De Dillon has often gatisfied with me, and praised me, because I wrote the handsome Dillon, and his glowing, admiringl well and learned my arithmetic well. Won't you looks have often, perhaps, in spite of his own give me a reward for that, mamma queen?" will, said more to the queen than she allowed "What sort of a reward do you want, my herself to understand, as her heart thrilled in child?" asked the queen, smiling. sweet pain and secret raptures under those " Say, first, that you will give it." glances! How pure and innocent is the face "Well, yes, I will give it, my little Louis; now which now looks out fiom this chair-the face of tell me what it is." an angel who bears God in his heart and on his "Mamma queen, I want you to sing your little countenance I Louis a song; and," he added, nodding at the two "Pray for me; pray that God may let me drink ladies, " that you allow these friends of mine to of Lethe, that I may forget all that has ever beeun hear it." Pray that I may be satisfied with what remains, "Well, my child, I will sing for you," answered and that my heart may bow in humility and paMarie Antoinette, "and our good friends shall tience!" hear it." Thus thought the queen as she began to sing, The countenance of the boy beamed with pleas- not one of her great arias which she had studied ure; with alacrity he rolled an easy-chair up to' with Garat, and which the court used to applaud, the piano, and took his seat in it in the most dig- but one of those lovely little songs, full of feeling nified manner'. and melody, which did not carry one away in adMadame Elizabeth seated herself near him on a miration, but which filled the heart with joy and tabouret, and Madame de Tourzel leaned on the deep emotion. back of the dauphin's chair. With suspended breath, and great eyes directed "Now sing, mamma, now sing," asked the fixedly to Marie Antoinette, the dauphin listened, dauphin. but gradually his eyes fell, and motionless and Marie Antoinette played a prelude, and as her with grave face the child sat in his arm-chair. IN ST. CLOUD. 135 Marie Antoinette saw it, and began to sing one may not in the future plunge down into the abyss of those cradle-songs of the " Children's Friend," which the revolution has opened. which Berquin had written, and Gretry had set to No, the dauphin, Louis Charles, shall not then music so charmingly. think reproachfully of his parents; he shall not How still was it in the music-room, how full and have cause to complain that through want of spirit touching was the voice of the queen as she began and energy they have imperilled or lost the sacred the last verse: heritage of his fathers. "Oh, sleep, my child, now go to sleep, No, Queen Marie Antoinette may not halt and Thy crying grieves my heart; lose courage,-not even when her husband has Thy mother, child, has cause to weep, done so, and when he is prepared to humbly But sleep and feel no smart." * bow his sacred head beneath that yoke of revoAll was still in the music-room when the last lution, which the heroes and orators selected by words were sung; motionless, with downcast eyes, the nation have wished to put upon his neck in sat the dauphin long after the sad voice of the the name of France. queen had ceased. This makes hers a double duty, to be active, to "Ah, see," cried Madame Elizabeth, with a plan, and work; to keep her head erect, and look smile, "I believe now our Louis has fallen with searching eye in all directions to see whence asleep." help and deliverance are to come. But the child quickly raised his.head and looked Not from without can they come, not from forat the smiling young princess with a reproachful eign monarchs, nor from the exiled princes. glance. Foreign armies which might march into the coun"'Ah, my dear aunt," cried he, reprovingly, try would place the king, who had summoned " how could any one sleep when mamma them to fight with his own people, in the light of a sings? t traitor; and the moment that they should pass the Marie Antoinette drew the child within her frontiers of France, the wrath of the nation would arms, and her countenance beamed with delight, annihilate the royal couple. Never had the queen received so grateful a com- Only from those who had called down the danpliment from the most flattering courtier as these ger could help come. The chiefs of the revoluwords of her fair-haired boy conveyed, who threw -tion, the men who had raised their threatening his arms around her neck and nestled up to her. voices against the royal couple, must be won over The Queen of France is still a rich, enviable to.become the advocates of royalty. woman, for she has children who love her; the And who was more powerful, who more conQueen of France ought not to look- without cour- spicuous among all these chiefs of the revolution, age into the future, for the future belongs to her and all the orators of the National Assembly, than son. The throne which now is so tottering and Count Mirabeau! insecure, shall one day belong to him, the darling When he ascended the Speaker's tribune of the of her heart, and therefore must his mother strug- National Assembly all were silent, and even his gle with all her power, and with all the means opponents listened with respectful attention to his at her command contend for the throne for the words, which found an echo through all France; Dauphin of France, that he may receive the in- when he spoke, when from his lips the thunder heritance of his father intact, and that his throne of his speeches resounded, the lightning flashed in his eyes, and his head was like the head of a ~ "Dors, mon enfant, clos ta paupiere, e "Dore,.mo denfa ent, cbta panpire, lion, who, with the shaking of his mane and the Tes cris me ddchirent la cceur; Dors, mon enfant, ta pauvre mere power of his anger, destroyed every thing which A bien assez de sa duleur." dared to put itself in his way. And the French t The dauphin's own words.-See Beauchesne, vol. L, p. 2T. nation loved this lion, and listened in reverential 136 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. silence to the thunder of his speech, and the hurries him on?" asked Count de la Marck, sad throne shook before him. And the excitable ly. " The temple which Samson pulled down was populace shouted with admiration whenever they not built again, that Samson might be taken from saw the -lion, and deified that Count Mirabeau, its ruins; it remained in its dust and fragments, who, with his powerful, lace-cuffed hand, had and its glory was gone forever. Oh, I. beseech thrust these words into the face of his own caste: your majesty, do not listen to the voice of your "They have done nothing more than to give them- righteous indignation, but only to the voice of pruselves the txouble to be born." dence. Master your noble, royal heart, and seek The people loved this aristocrat, who was ab- to reconcile your adversaries, not to punish horied by his family and the men of his own them!" rank; this count whom the nobility hated because "What do you desire of me?" asked Marie the Third Estate loved him. Antoinette, in amazement. " What shall I do?" "Your majesty must chain the lion," whis-.pered the count. "Your majesty must have the grace to change Mirabeau the enemy into M]irabeau the devoted ally and friend!" "Impossible, it is impossible!" cried the queen, C H A P T E R X V I. in horror. "I cannot descend to this. I never can view with friendly looks this monster who is aMIRABEAU. accountable for the horrors of those October days. "COUNT MIRABEAU must be won over," Count I can only speak of this man, who has created his de la Marck ventured to say one day to Marie reputation out of his crimes, who is a faithless Antoinette. " Count Mirabeau is now the migh- son, a faithless husband, a faithless lover, a faithtiest man in France, and he alone is able to bring less aristocrat, and a faithless royalist-I can the nation back again to the throne." only speak of him in words of loathing, scorn, "It is he," replied the queen, with. a glow, and horror! No, rather die than accept assist" who is most to blame for alienating the- nation ance from Count Mirabeau! Do you not know,'from the throne. Never will the renegade count count, that he honors me his queen with his enbe forgiven! Never can the king stoop so low mity and his contempt? Is it not Mirabeau who as to pardon this apostate, who frivolously pro- caused the States-General to accept the words fesses the new religion of'liberty,' and disowns' the person of the king is inviolable,' and to rethe faith of his fathers." ject the words and' that of the queen!' Was it "Your majesty," replied Count de la Marck, not Mirabeau who once, when my friends exhorted with a sigh,- " it may be that in the hand of this him to moderation, and besought him to soften renegade lies the future of your son." his words about the Queen of France, had the The queen trembled, and the proud expression grace to answer with a shrug,'Well, she may on her features was softened. keep her life!' Was it not Mirabeau who was "The future of my son?" said she. "What to blame for the October days? Was it not do you mean by that? What has Count Mirabeau Mirabeau who publicly said:'The king and the to do with the dauphin? His wrath follows us queen are lost. The people hates them so, that only, his hatred rests upon us alone! I grant they would even destroy their corpses?'" * that at present he is powerful, but over the future "Your majesty, Mirabeau sail that, not as a he has no sway. I hope, on the contrary, that the threat, but out of pity, and deep concern and symfuture will avenge the evil that Mirabeau does to pathy." us in the present." I * The queen's own words.-See Goncourt, "Marie ABn "But how does it help, madame, if vengeance toinette," p. 205. MIRABEAU. 13' "Sympathy!" repeated the queen, "Mirabeau, her word and conformed to it, and commissioned who hates us! " Count de la Marck to tell his friend Mirabeau "No, your majesty, Mirabeau, who honors his that the queen would grant him an audience. queen, who is ready to give his life for you and But in order that this audience might be of ad. for the monarchy,'if your majesty will forgive him vantage, it must be conducted with the deepest arid receive him as a defender of the throne!" secrecy. No one ought to suspect that Mirabeau, The queen shuddered, and looked in astonish- the tribune of the people, the adored hero of the inent and terror at the excited face of Count de la revolution-Mirabeau, who ruled the National AsMarck. "Are you speaking of Mirabeau, thei sembly, and Paris itself, whom the freest of the tribune of. the people," she asked, "the fiery free hailed as their apostle and saviour, who orator of the National Assembly?" with the power of his eloquence ruled the spirits "I am speaking of Count Mirabeau, who yes- of thousands and hundreds of thousands of men, terday was the enemy of the throne, and who to- -no one could suspect that the leader of the day will be a zealous defender, if your majesty revolution would now become the devoted dewill only have it so-if your majesty will only pendant-upon the monarchy, and the paid servant speak a gracious word to him." of the king. " It is impossible, it is impossible!" whispered Two conditions Mirabeau had named, when the queen. Count de la Marck had tried to gain him over in De la Marck continued: "Since he has fre- the name of the king: an audience with the queen, quently seen your majesty-since he has had occa- and the payment of his debts, together with a sion to observe your proud spirit and lofty resig- monthly pension of a hundred louis-d'or. nation-a change has taken place in the character "I am paid, but not bought," said Mirabeau, of Mirabeau. He is subdued as the lion is sub- as he received his first payment. "Only one of dued, when the beaming eye of a pure soul looks my conditions is fiulfilled, but what will become it in the face. He might be of service again, he of the other?" might be reconciled! He writes, he speaks of his "And so you still insist on having an audience exalted queen with admiration, with enthusiasm; with the queen? " asked La Marck. he glows with a longing desire to confess his sins "Yes, I insist upon it," said Mirabeau, with at the feet of your majesty, and to receive your flaming eyes. " If I am to battle and speak for forgiveness." this monarchy, I must learn to respect it. If I " Does the king know this?" asked Marie An- am to believe in the possibility of restoring it, toinette. "Has any one told his majesty?" I must believe in its capacity of life; I must see " I should not have taken the liberty of speak- that I have to deal with a brave, decided, noble ing'to your majesty about these things if the king man. The true and real king here is Marie Anhad not authorized me," replied Count de la toinette; and there is only one man in the whole Marck, bowing. "E His majesty recognizes it to surroundings of Louis XVI., and that is his wife. be a necessary duty to gain Mirabeau to the I must speak with her, in order to hear and to see throne, and he hopes to have in this matter the whether shdis worth the risking of my life, honor, cooperation of his exalted wife." and popularity. If she really is the heroine that I Marie Antoinette sadly shook her head. " I hold her to be, we ivill both united save the monwill speak with his majesty about it," she said, archy, and the throne of Louis XVI., whose with a sigh, " but only under circumstances of king is Marie Antoinette. The moment is soon extreme urgency can I submit to this, I tell you to come when we shall learn what a woman in advance." and a. child can accomplish, and whether the But the case was of extreme urgency, and when daughter of Maria Theresa with the dauphin in Marie Antoinette had seen it to be so, she kept her arms cannot stir the hearts of the French as 188 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. her great mother once stirred the Hunga- " I do not know," he said, and his voice, which rians." * so often had made the windows of the assembly "Do you then believe the danger is so great," hall shake with its thunder, was now weak and asked La Marck, "that it is necessary to resort to tremulous, " I do not know why this dreadfull proe extreme, heroic measures?" sentiment creeps over me all at once, and why Mirabeau grasped his arm with a sudden move- voices whisper to me,' Turn back, Mirabeau, turn ment, and an expression of solemn earnestness back! Do not step over the threshold of this filled his lion-like face. door, for there you are stepping into your open "I am convinced of it," he answered, "and I grave!'" will add, the danger is so great, that if we do not "Follow this voice, uncle, there is still time," soon meet it and in heroic fashion, it will not be implored M. de Saillant; "it is with me as it is possible to control it. There is no other securi- with you. I, too, have a sad, anxious feeling! " ty for the queen than through the reestablish- "May they not have laid snares for me here? " ment of the royal authority. I believe of her, that whispered Mirabeau, thoughtfully. " They are she does not desire life without her crown, and I capable of every thing, these artful Bourbons. am certain that, in order to keep her life, she Who. knows whether they have not invited me must before all things preserve her crown. And here to take me prisoner, and to cast me, whom I will help her and stand by her in it; and for they hold to be their most dangerous enemy, into this end I must myself speak with her and have one of their oubliettes, their subterranean dunan audience." t geons? My friend," he continued, hastily, "wait And Mirabeau, the first man in the revolu- for me here, and if in two or three hours I do not tion had his audience with Marie Antoinette, the return, hasten to Paris, go to the National Assemdying champion of monarchy. bly, and announce to them that Mirabeau, moved On the 3rd of July, 1790, the meeting of the by the queen's cry of distress, has gone to St. queen and Mirabeau took place in the park of St. Cloud, and is there held a prisoner." Cloud. Secrecy and silence surrounded them, and "I will do it, uncle," said the marquis, "but I extreme care had been taken to let no one sus- do not believe in any such treachery on the part pect, excepting a few intimate friends, what was of the queen or her husband.' They both know taking place on this sequestered, leaf-embowered that without Mirabeau they are certainly lost, and grass-plat of St. Cloud. that he, perhaps, is able to save them. I fear A bench of white marble, surrounded by high something entirely different." oleander and taxus trees, stood at the side of "And what do you fear? " this grass-plat. It was the throne on which "I fear your enemies in the National AssemMarie Antoinette should receive the homage of bly," said M. de Saillant, and with.a pained expresher new knight. Mirabeau had on the day before sion. "I fear these enraged republicans, who gone from Paris to the estate of his niece, the have begun to mistrust you since you have beMarchioness of Aragan. There he spent the gun to speak in favor of royalty and monarchy, night; and the next morning, accompanied by his and since you have even ventured to defend the nephew, M. de Saillant, he walked to the park of -queen personally against the savage and mean atSt. Cloud. tacks which Marat hurls against Marie Antoinette At the nether gate of the park, which had been in his journal, the Ami du Peuple." left open for this secret visit, Mirabeau took leave "It is true," said Mirabeau, with a smile, of his companion, and extended him his hand. "they have mistrusted me, these enraged republi* Mirabean's own words.-See "Marie Antoinette et sa cans, since then, and they tell me that Petion, this Famille.a" Par M. de Lesc-re, p 478. republicanf of steel and iron, turned to Danton at tMirabeau's own words. —Sce Count de la Marck, " Mirabeall," vol. iii., P. 80. the close of my speech, and said:'This Mirabeau MIRABEAU. 139 is dangerous to liberty, for there is too much of " Turn, back, Mirabean, turn back! for with every the blood of the count flowing through the veins step forward you are only going deeper into your of the tribune of the people.' Danton answered grave." He stopped, and with his handkerchief him with a smile:'In that case we must draw wipe: away-the drops of cold sweat which gathoff the count's blood from the tribune of the ered upon his forehead. people, that he may either be cured of his reac- "It is folly," he said, "perfect folly. Truly I tionary disease or die of it!'" am as tremulous as a girl going to her first ren"And when they told Marat, uncle, that you dezvous. Shame on you, Mirabeau, be a man!" had spoken angrily and depreciatingly of his at- He shook his head as if he wanted to dispel tacks upon the queen, he raised his fist threaten- these evil forebodings, and hastened forward to ingly, and cried:' Mirabeau is a traitor, who wants meet Count de la Marck, who appeared at the to sell our new, young liberty to the monarchy. bending of the allge. But he will meet the fate of Judas, who sold the "The queen is already here, and is waiting for Saviour. He will one day atone for it with his you, Mirabeau," said the marquis, with a slight head, for if we tap him for his treachery, we shall reproach in his voice. do for him what Judas did for himself. This Mirabeau shrugged his shoulders instead of reMirabeau Judas must takecare of himself.'" plying, and went on more rapidly. There soon "And do you suppose that this disputatious opened in front of them a small grass-plat, surlittle toad of a Marat will hang me? " asked Mira- rounded by bushes, and on the bench opposite, beau, with a scornful smile. the lady in the white, neat dress, with a straw "I think that you must watch him," answered hat on her arm, her hair veiled with black laceM. de Saillant. " Last evening, in the neighbor- that lady was Marie Antoinette. hood of our villa, I met two disguised men, who, Mirabeau stopped in his walk, and fixed a long, I would swear, were Petion and Marat; and on searching look upon her. When he turned again our way here, as I looked around, I feel certain to his friend, his face was pale, and bore plain that I saw these same disguised figures following traces of emotion. us i" "My friend," whispered he to La Marck, "I "What if it be? " answered Mirabeau, raising know not why, but I have a strange feeling I himself up, and looking around him with a proud have not wept since the day on which my father glance. "The lion does not fear the annoying drove me with a curse from the house of my aninsect that buzzes about him, he shakes it off with cestors, but, seeing yonder woman; I could weep, his mane or destroys it with a single stroke of his and an unspeakable sympathy fills my soul." paw. And Mirabeau fears just as little such in- The queen had seen him, too, and had grown sects as Petion and Marat; they would much bet- pale, and turned tremblingly to the king, who ter keep out of his way.' I will tread them un- stood beside her, half concealed by the foliage. der foot, that is all! And now, farewell, my dear "There is the dreadful man! " said Marie An. nephew, farewell, and wait for me here! " toinette, with a shudder. " My God! a thrill of He nodded familiarly to his nephew, passed horror creeps through all my veins, and if I only over the threshold, and entered the park, from look at this monster, I have a feeling as though I whose entrance the popular indignation had long should Sicken with loathing!" * since removed the obnoxious words, De par la " Courage, my dear Marie, courage," whispered Reine, the garden belonging now to the king only the king. " Remember that the welfare of our because the nation willed it so. future, and of our children, perhaps, depends Mirabeau hastened with an anxious mind and upon this interview. See, he is approaching. Re. a light step along the walk, and again it seemed * The queen's own words.-See "Madame de Campan,' to him as if dark spirits were whispering to him, vol. ii. 140 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. ceive him, kindly, Marie. I will draw back, for or, if you prefer, of death, which stands between you alone shall have -the honor of this day, and the French people and the monarchy? " asked the monarchy has in you its fairest representative." queen, sadly. "But remain so near me, sire, that you can "Yes, I am convinced of that," answered MIhear me if I call for help," whispered Marie An- rabeau. "But I still hope that we- can answer toinette. the question in favor of the monarchy, provided The king smiled. "Fear nothing, Marie," he that the right means are applied in season." said, " and believe that the danger for Mirabeau "And what, according to your views, are the is greater than for you. The name of criminal right means, count? " will be fastened not to us, but to Mirabeau, if it Mirabeau smiled and looked with amazement shall be known that he has come to visit us here. into the noble face of the queen, who, with such I will withdraw, for there is Mirabeau." easy composure, had put inito this one short quesAnd the king withdrew into the thicket, while tion what for centuries had perplexed the greatest Mirabeau stopped near the queen, and saluted her thinkers and statesmen to answer. with a profound bow. "Will your majesty graciously pardon me if I Marie Antoinette rose from her marble seat. crave permission, before I answer, to put a quesAt this moment she was not the queen giving an tion in like manner to my exalted queen?" audience, but the anxious lady, advancing to meet "'Ask on, count," replied Marie Antoinette, danger, and desirous to mitigate it by politeness with a gentle inclination of her head. and smiles. "Well, madame, this is my question:'Does " Come nearer, count," said Marie Antoinette, your majesty purpose and aim at thQ rebstablishstill standing. But as he approached, the queen ment of the old regzme, and do you deem it possank slowly upon the seat, and raised her eyes to sible to roll the chariot of human history and of Mirabeau, with an almost timid look, who now did politics backward?'" not seem to her a monster, for his mien was dis- "You have in your question given the answer turbed, and his eyes, which had always been rep- as well," said Marie Antoinette, with a sigh. "It resented as so fearful, had a gentle, respectful ex- is impossible to reirect the same edifice out of its pression. own ruins. One must be satisfied if out of them "Count," said the queen, and her voice trem- a house can be built, in which one can manage to bled a little-" count, if I found myself face to live." face with an ordinary enemy, a man who was "Ah, your majesty," said Mirabeau, with feelaiming at the destruction of monarchy, without ing, "this answer is the first ray of light which seeing of what use it is for the people, I should breaks through *the heavy storm-clouds! The be taking at this moment a very useless step. new day can be descried and hailed with delight! But when one talks with a Mirabeau, one is be- After hearing this noble answer of your mayond the ordinary conditions of prudence, and jesty, I look up comforted, and the clouds do hope of his assistance is blended with wonder at not terrify me longer, for I know that they will the act.* soon be past-that is, if we employ the -right "Madame," cried Mirabeau, deeply moved, " I means." have not come here as your enemy, but as your "And now I repeat my question, count, What, devoted servant, who is ready cheerfully to give according to your view, are the right means?" his life if he can be of any service to the mon- "First of all, the recognition of what is wrong," archy." answered Mirabeau, "and then the cheerful and "You believe, then, that it is a question of life, honest will to do what is found to be necessary." " Well, tell me, what it is that is wrong? " * The queen's own words.-See " Marie Antoinette et 6a Famille." Par M. de Lescure, p. 484. Mirabeau bowed, and then began to speak to her MIRABEAU. 141 in his clear, sharp way, which was at the same time the soul nor the thoughts of the daughter of Maria so full of energy, of the situation of France, the Theresa, and little reckoned upon having such an relation of the various political parties to one exalted mediator. I contended for the rights of another, to the court, and the throne. In strong- the throne when I was only mistrusted, when cally-outlined sentences he characterized the chiefs of umny dogged all my steps, and declared me guilty the political clubs, the leaders of the parties in the of treachery! I served the monarchy, then, when National Assembly, and spoke of the perilous I knew that from my rightful, but misled king, I goal which the demagogues, the men of the ex- should receive neither kindness nor reward. What treme Left, aimed at. He did not, from delicacy, shall I do now, when confidence animates my speak the word " republican," but he gave the spirit, and gratitude has made my duties run diqueen to understand that the destruction of the rectly in the current of my principles? I shall be monarchy and the throne, the annihilation of the and remain what I have always been, the defender royal family, was the ultimate object aimed at by of monarchy governed by law, the apostle of liball the raving orators and leaders of the extreme erty guaranteed by the monarchy." * Left. "I believe you, count," cried Marie Antoinette, The queen had listened to him with eager, fixed with emotion. " You will serve us with fidelity attention, and, at the same time, with a dignified and zeal, and with your help all will yet be well. composure; and the earnest, thoughtful look of I promise you that we will follow your counsels, her large eyes had penetrated and moved Mira- and act in concord with you. You will put yourbeau more and more, so that his words came from self in communication with the king; you will his lips like a stream of fire, and kindled a new consult him about needful matters, and advise hope even in himself. him about the things which are essential to his "All will yet be well," he cried, in conclusion; welfare and that of the people." "we shall succeed in contending with the hidden "Madame," replied Mirabeau, "I take the libpowers that wish to undermine your majesty's erty of adding this to what has already been said. throne, and to take from the hands of your ene- The most necessary thing is that the royal court mies these dangerous weapons of destruction. I leave Paris for a season!" shall apply all my power, all my eloquence to "That we flee?" asked Marie Antoinette, this. I will oppose the undertakings of the dema- hastily. gogues; I will show myself to be their public op- "Notflee, but withdraw," answered Mirabeau. ponent, and zealously serve the monarchy, making " The exasperated people menace the monarchy, use of all such means of help as are adapted to and therefore the threatened crown must for a move men's minds, and not to trouble and ter- while be concealed from the people's sight, that rify them, as if freedom and self-government were they may be brought back to a sense of duty and to be taken from them, and yet which will restore loyalty. And, therefore, I do not say that the the credit and power of the monarchy." court must flee; I only say it must leave Paris, " Are you, then, with honest and upright heart, for Paris is the furnace of the revolution! The a friend of ours?" asked Marie Antoinette, almost royal court must withdraw, as soon as possible, to supplicatingly. "Do you wish to assist us, and the very boundaries of France! It must there stand by us, with your counsel and help? " gather an army, and put it under the command Mirabeau met her inquisitive and anxious look of some faithful general,. and with this army with a cordial smile, a noble and trustworthy ex-. march against the riotous capital; and I will be pression of face. there to smooth the way and open the gates!" " Madame," he said, with his fine, resonant "I thank you, count, I thank you!" cried Ma. voice, " I defended monarchical principles when I -o * Mirabeau's own Fords.-See'Mimoires du Comte saw only their weakness, and when I did not know de Mirabeau,"' vol. iii., p. 290. 142 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. rie Antoinette, rising from her seat. " Now, I "Oh!" said he, with a breath of relief, laying doubt no more about the future, for my own his hand upon the shoulder of Saillant, "what thoughts coincide with those of our greatest have I not heard and seen! She is very great, statesmen! I, too, am convinced the court ought very noble, and very unhappy, Victor! But," to leave Paris-that it must withdraw, in order to cried he, with a loud, earnest voice, "I will save escape new humiliations, and that it ought to re- her-I will save her!" " turn only in the splendor of its power, and with Mirabeau was in earnest in this purpose; and an army to put the rebels to flight, and breathe not because he had been bought over, but becourage into the timid and faithful. Oh! you must cause he had been won-carried away with the tell the king all this; you must show him that noble aspect of the queen-did he become from our removal from Paris is not only a means of this time a zealous defender of the monarchy, an salvation to the crown, but to the people as well. eloquent advocate in behalf of Marie Antoinette. Your words will convince the noblest and best of But he was not now able to restrain the dashing monarchs; he will follow your counsels, and, waves of revolution; he could not even save thanks to you, not we alone, but the monarchy himself from being engulfed in these raging will be saved! No, go to the work, count! Be waves. active in our behalf; bring your unbounded in- Mirabeau knew it well, and made no secret of fluence, in favor of the king and queen, to bear the peril of his position. On the day when, before upon all spirits, and be sure that we shall be the division, he spoke in defence of the monarchy grateful to you so long as we live. Farewell, and and the royal prerogative, and undertook to deremember that my eye will follow all your steps, cide the question of peace or war-on that day and that my ears will hear every word which he first announced himself openly for the king, Mirabeau shall speak in the National Assembly." and raised a storm of excitement and disgust in Mirabeau bowed respectfully. "Madame," said the National Assembly. Still he spoke right he, "when your exalted mother condescended to bravely in behalf of the crown; and while doing favor one of her subjects with an audience, she so, ha cried, "I know well that it is only a single never dismissed him without permitting the fa- step from the capitol to the Tarpeian rock! " vored one respectfully to kiss her hand." Step after step! And these successive steps " It is true," replied Marie Antoinette, with a Mirabeau was soon to take. Petion had not in pleasant siaile, " and in this, at least, I can fol- vain characterized Mirabeau as the most danlow the example of my great mother! " gerous enemy of the republic. Marat had not asAnd, with inimitable grace, the queen extended serted, without knowing what he said, that Mira. ner hand to him. Mirabeau, enraptured, beside beau must let all his aristocratic blood flow from himself at this display of courtesy and favor, his veins, or bleed to death altogether! Not with dropped upon his knee and pressed his lips to impunity could Mirabeau encounter the rage of the delicate, white hand of the queen. parties, and fling down the gauntlet before them, " Madame," cried he, with warmth, "this kiss saying, at the same moment, "He would defend saves the monarchy! " * the monarchy against all attacks, from what side " If you have spoken the truth, sir," said the soever, and from what part soever of the kingdom queen, with a sigh, rising and dismissing him, they might come." with a gentle inclination of her head. The leaders of the republican factions knew With excited and radiant looks, Mirabeau re- very well how to estimate the power of Mirabeau; turned to his nephew, who was waiting for him at they knew very well that Mirabeau was able to fit the gate of the park. together the fragments of the crown which he had helped to break. And, to prevent his doing this, * Mirabeau's own words.-See "M6moires de Mirabeau," vol. iv., p. 208. * " Marie Antoinette et sa Famille," p. 480. MIRABEAU. 14i they knew that he must be buried beneath these After one especially painful and distressing fragments. night, Mirabeau had his physician Cabanis and Soon after his interview with the queen-after his friend Count de la Marck summoned to his his dissenting speech in behalf of the prerogative bed, and extended to them both his hands. " My of the king-Mirabeau began to fail in health. friends," he said- to themn with gentle voice and His enemies said that it was only the result of with peaceful face, "my friends, I am going to over-exertion, and a cold which he had brought die to-day. When one has been brought to that on by drinking a glass of cold water during a pass, there is only one thing that remains to be done: speech in the National Assembly. His friends to be perfumed, tastefully dressed, and surrounded whisperqd about a deadly poison which had been with flowers, so as to fall agreeably into that last mingled with this glass of water, in order to rid sleep from which there is no waking. So, call my themselves of this powerful and dangerous oppo- servants! I must be shaved, dressed, and nicely nent. arrayed. The window must be opened, that the Mirabeau believed this; and the increasing tor- warm air may stream in, and then flowers must por of his limbs, the pains which he felt in his be brought. I want to die in the sunshine and bowels, appeared to him to be the sure indica- flowers." * tions of poison given him by his enemies. His friends did not venture to oppose his last The lion, who had been willing to crouch at the wish. The gladiator wanted to make his last foot of the throne for the purpose of guarding it, toilet, and be elaborately arrayed in order to fall was now nothing but a poor, sick man, whose in the arena of life as a hero falls, and even in voice was lost, and whose power was extinguished. death to excite the wonder and the applause of For a season he sought to contend against the the public. malady which was lurking in his body; but one All Paris was in this last scene the public of day, in the midst of a speech which he was this gladiator; all Paris had, in these last days of' making in behalf of the queen, he sank in a his battle for life, only one thought, "How is it fainting-fit, and was carried unconsciously to with Mirabeau? Will he compel the dreadful his dwelling. After long efforts on the part of enemy Death to retire from before him, or will he his physician, the celebrated Cabanis, Mirabeau fall as the prey of Death?" This question was opened his eyes. Consciousness was restored, written on all faces, repeated in all houses and in but with it a fixed premonition of his approach- all hearts. Every one wanted to receive an answer ing death. from that still house, with its closely-drawn cur" I am dying! " he said, softly. " I am bearing tains, where Mirabeau lived. All the streets which in my heart the funeral crape of the monarchy. led thither were, during the last three days before These raging partisans want to pluck it out, de- his death, filled with a dense mass of men, and no ride it, and fasten it to their own foreheads. And carriage was permitted to drive through the neighthis compels them to break my heart, and this borhood, lest it should disturb. Mirabeau. The they have done!" * theatres were closed, and, without any consultation Yes, they had. broken it-this great strong together, the merchants shut their stores as they heart, in which the funeral crape of monarchy lay. do on great days of national fasting or thahksgivAt first the physician and his friends hoped that ing. it might be possible to overcome his malady, but On the morning of the fourth day, before life Mirabeau was not flattered by any such hope; he had begun to move in the streets of Paris, and be. felt that the pains which were racking his body fore the houses were opened, a cry was heard in would end only with death. the great highways of the city, ringing up into all * Mirabeau's own words. —ee "M6moires sur Mira- * Mirabean's words.-See "Memoiros sur Mirabean,' beau," vol. iv., p. 296. vol. iv., p. 296. t144 1MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. the houses, and entering all the agitated hearts will plunge down and bury us beneath its ruins, if we that heard it: "Flowers, bring flowers! Mira- do not hasten to save ourselves! [Mirabeau's bebeau wants flowers! Bring roses and violets for quest was his counsel to speedy and secret flight! Mirabeau! Mirabeau wants to die amid flow- We must follow his advice, we must remove from ers!" Paris. May the spirit of Mirabeau Enlighten the This cry awoke slumbering Paris the 2d of heart of the king, that he may be willing tp do April, 1791, and, as it resounded through the what is necessary,-that he may be willing to streets, windows and doors opened, and hundreds, leave Paris!" thousands of men hastened from all directions toward Mirabeau's house, carrying nosegays, bouquets, whole baskets of flowers. One seemed to be transferred from cool, frosty spring weather to the warm, fragrant days of summer; all the CHAPTER XVIII. greenhouses, all the chambers poured out their floral treasures to prepare one last summer day REVOLUTION IN TRE THEATRE. for the dying tribune of the people. His whole ALL Paris was again in commotion, fear, and uphouse was filled with flowers and with fragrance. roar. The furies of the revolution, the marketThe hall, the staircase, the antechamber, and the women, went howling again through the streets on d:rawing-room were overflowing with flowers; and the 20th of June, 1791, uttering their horrid curses there in the middle of the drawing-room lay Mira- upon the king and the Austrian. woman, and beau upon a lounge, carefully dressed, shaved and hurling their savage words and dirty songs powdered, as if for a royal festival. The most against Madame Veto, against la chienne dLAubeautiful of the flowers, the fairest exotics sur- triche. rounded his couch, and bent their variegated Around the Tuileries stood in immense masspetals down to the pale, death-stricken gladiator, es the corps of the National Guard, with grave who still had power to summon a smile to his and threatening mien, and with difficultyholding lips, and with one last look of affection to bid back the people, who were filling the whole farewell to his weeping friends-farewell to the broad square in front of the palace, and who flowers and the sunlight! could only with great effort be prevented from On his lofty brow, on his smiling lips, there was breaking through those strong cordons of guards written, after Death had claimed him, after the who held both ends of the street leading to the gladiator had fallen, "The dying one greets you!" Tuileries, and kept at least the middle of the way The day of his death was the day of his last free and open. triumph; and the flowers that all Paris sent to It was a way for the king, the queen, and the him, were to Mirabeau the parting word of love royal family, who were to reenter Paris that day. and admiration! Lafayette had, at the order of the National AsFour times daily the king had sent to inquire sembly, gone with some regiments of the guard after Mirabeau's welfare, and when at noon, on to Varennes, to conduct the king back to the the 2d of April, Count de la Marck brought the capital. Thousands upon thousands had hurried tidings of his death, the king turned pale. "Dis- out after him in order to observe this return of aster is hovering over us," he said, sadly, "Death the representatives of monarchy, and to take too arrays himself on the side of our enemies!" part in this funeral procession! Marie Antoinette was also very deeply moved For it was a funeral of the monarchy which was by the tidings. " He wanted to save us, and there- celebrated that day; and this great, heavy carfore must die! The burden was too heavy, the riage, surrounded by soldiers, and the ribald, pillar has broken under the weight; the temple mocking populace-this great carriage, which now REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE. 145 drove along the streets leading to the Tuileries, During the first week after the sad return, the amid the thunder of cannon, and the peals of spirit of the queen seemed to be broken, her enbells from towers, was the funeral car of monarchy. ergies to be impaired forever. She had no more The king, the queen, the royal children, the hope, no more fear; she threw out no new plans sister of the king, Madame Tourzel, and the two for escaping, she neither worked nor wrote. She deputies whom the National Assembly had sent to only sat still and sad for hours, and before her Varennes to accompany the royal family, P6tion eyes passed the dreadful pictures of the time just and Barnave, were in this carriage. gone by, presenting themselves with dreadful They had tried to follow the advice of the dy- vividness, and in the recollection anguishing her ing Mirabeau, and to save themselves from the spirit. She recalled the excitement and anxiety revolution. That was the -offence of this king of the day which preceded the flight. She saw and this queen, who were now brought back in herself, as with trembling hands she put on triumph to the Tuileries, the palace of kings, and the garments of one of her waiting-maids, and from that time a royal prison. then disguised the dauphin in girl's clothes; she Tri-colored banners waved from all roofs and heard the boy asking anew, with his pleasant from all windows; placards were displayed every- smile: "Are we going to play theatre, mamma where, bearing in immense letters the words: queen?" Then she. saw herself on the street "Whoever -applauds the king shall be scourged; alone, waiting without any protection or company whoever insults him shall be hanged! " for the carriage which was to take her up, after They had wished to escape, these unhappy taking up at another place the king and the two ones, who are now brought back from Varennes, children. She recalled the drive in the dark where they were identified and detained. Now'night, the-heat in the close, heavy carriage, the they were returning, no longer the masters, but dreadful alarm when suddenly, after a twelve theprisoners of the French nation! The National hours' drive7 the carriage broke, and all dismountAssembly had passed a decree, whose first article ed to climb the hill to the village which lay before was: "The king is temporarily set aside from the them, and where they had to wait till the carriage functions of royalty;" anad whose second and could be repaired. Then the journey on, the dethird articles were, "that so soon as the king and lay in Varennes, the cry, " They are recognized." his family shall be brought back to the Tuileries, Then the confusion, the march, the anguish of the a provisional watch shall be set over him, as well -hours following, and finally that last hour of hope as over the queen and the dauphin, which, under when, in the poor chamber of the shopkeeper the command of the general-in-chief of the Na- Sauce, his wife standing near the bed on which tional Guard of 1Paris, shall be responsible for the little prince slept, she conjured his wife to their safety and for their detention." save the king and find him a hiding-place. Then The king and the queen returned to Paris as she heard again before her ears the woman's hard prisoners, and Lafayette was their jailer. The voice answering her: "Madame, it cannot be; I master of France, the many-headed King of the love my husband, too, and I also have children, French nation, was the National Assembly. but my husband were lost if I saved yours." Sad, dreadful days of humiliation, of resigna- Then she heard afresh the cries, the march; saw tion, of perils and anxieties, now followed for the the arrival of the Paris regiments and the depuroyal family, the prisoners of the Tuileries, who ties whom the National Assembly sent to conduct were watched day and night by spying eyes, and the royal refugees back to Paris. Then she rewhose doors must remain open day and night, in called the drive back, crowded into the carriage order that officers on guard might look without with the deputies, and the ribald populace roaring hinderance into the apartments in which the pris- around. As she thought of all these things, a oners of the French natian lived. shudder ran through the form of the unhappy 10 146 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. queen, and tears streamed unrestrainedly from And Marie Antoinette would sustain herself it her eyes. view of the great day when the people's love But gradually she gained her composure and should be given back; she would seek to bring spirit, and even the daily humiliation and trials that day back, and reconcile the people to the which she encountered awakened in her the fire throne.' On this account she would show the peoand defiance of her earlier days. ple that she cherished no fear of them; that she The king and the queen were, after their return would intrust herself with perfect confidence to from Varennes, the prisoners of their own people, them, and greet them with her smiles and all the and the Tuileries formed the prison in which with favor of former days. She would make one never-sleeping cruelty the people watched their more attempt to regain her old popularity, and royal captives. reawaken in their cold hearts the love which the The chiefs of the battalions constituting the people had once displayed to her by their loud National Guard took turns in sentry duty over the acclamations. She found power in herself to let royal'couple. They had received the rigid order her tears flow, not visibly, but within her heart; to constantly watch the royal family, and not to to disguise with her smile the pain of her soul, leave them for a moment alone. Even the sleep- and so she resolved to wear a cheerful and pleasing-room of the queen was not closed to the es- ant face, and appear again publicly in the theatre, pionage of the guards; the door to the drawing- as well as in open carriage-drives through the room close by had always to be open, and in this city. drawing-room was the officer of the guard. Even They were then giving in the great opera-house in the'night, while the queen lay in her bed,,this Gluck's "Alceste," the favorite opera of the door remained open, and the officer, sitting in an queen-the opera in which a few years before arm-chair directly opposite to the door, kept his she had received so splendid a triumph; in which eyes directed to the bed in which the queen sought the public loudly encored, "Chantons, clMbrons to sleep, and wrestled with the pains and fear notre reine I " which the choir had sung upon the which she was too proud to show to her persecu- stage, and, standing with faces turned toward the tors. The queen had stooped to make but one royal box, had mingled their voices with those of request; she had asked that at least in the morn- the singers, and repeated in a general chorus, ing, when she arose and dressed, she might close " Chantons, celgbrons notre reine /" the doors of her sleeping-room, and they had "I will try whether the public remembers that been magnanimous enough to comply' with her evening," said Marie Antoinette, with a faint smile, wish.* to Mademoiselle de Bugois, the only lady who had But Queen Marie Antoinette had met all these been'permitted to remain. with her; "I will go humiliations, these disenchantments, and trials, this evening to the opera; the public shall at least full of hope of a change in her fortune. Her see that I intrust myself with confidence to it, proud soul was still unbroken, her belief in the and that I have not changed, however much'may victory of'monarchy under the favor of God ani- have been changed around." mated her heart with a last ray of hope, and sus- Mademoiselle de Bugois looked with deep sadtained her amid all her misfortune. She still ness at the pale face of the queen, that would would contend with her enemies for the love of show the public that she had not altered, and this people, of whom she hoped that, led astray upon which, once so fair and bright, grief had by Jacobins and agitators, they would at last con- recorded its ineradicable characters, and almost fess their error, respect the voice of their king extinguished its old beauty. Deeply moved, the and queen, and return'to love and regretfulness. waiting-lady turned away in order not to let the tears be seen which, against her will streamed * "Histoire de Marie Antoinette," par Edmond et Jules de Goncourt, p. 261. from her eyes. REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE. 147 But Marie Antoinette had seen them neverthe- tocracy. But now the aristocracy did not dare less. With a sad smile she laid her hand upon to sit there. The most of them, friends of the the shoulder of the lady-in-waiting. "Ah i " said queen, had fled, giving way before her enemies she, mildly, "do not conceal your tears. You and persecutors; and in the boxes where are much happier than I, for you can shed tears; they once sat, now were the chief members of mine have been flowing almost two years in the National Assembly, together with the leadsilence, and I have had to swallow them! * ing orators of the clubs, and the societies of Jac"But I will not weep this evening," she con- obins. tinued, "I will meet these Parisians at least in To the box above, where the people had once composure. Yes, I will do more, I will try to been accustomed to see Princess Lamballe, the smile to them. They hate me now, but perhaps eyes of the public were directed again and again. they will remember then that once they truly Marie Antoinette had been compelled to send loved me. There is a trace of magnanimity in away this last of her friends to London, to have a the people, and my confidence will perhaps touch conference with Pitt. Instead of the fair locks it. Be quick, and make my toilet. I will be of the princess, was now to be seen the head of fair to-day. I will adorn myself for the Parisians. a man, who, resting both arms on the velvet linThey will not be my enemies alone who will be at ing of the box, was gazing down with malicious the theatre; some of my friends will be there, looks into the surging masses of the parterre. and they at least will be glad to see me. Quick, This man was Marat, once the veterinary of the mademoiselle, let us begin my toilet." Count d'Artois, now the greatest'and most forAnd with a liveliness and a zeal which, in her midable orator of the wild Jacobins. threatened situation, had something touching in it, He too. had come to see the hated she-wolf, as he Marie Antoinette arrayed herself for the public, had lately called the queen in his " Arni du Peufor the good Parisians. ple," and, to prepare for her a public insult, sat The news that the queen was to appear that drunk with vanity in the splendid box of the Prinevening at the theatre had quickly run through all cess Lamballe; his friends and confidants were in Paris; the officer on duty told it at his relief to the theatre, among them Santerre the brewer, and some of the guards, they to those whom they Simon the cobbler, often looking up at Marat, met, and it spread like wildfire. It was therefore waiting for the promised motion which should be very natural that, long before the curtain was his signal for the great demonstration. raised, the great opera-house was completely At length the time arrived for the opera to befilled, parquette, boxes, and parterre, with a pas- gin, and, although the queen had not come, the disionately-excited throng. The friends of the rector of the orchestra did not venture to detain queen went in order to give her a long-looked-for the audience even for a few minutes. He went triumph;' her enemies-and these the poor queen to his place, took his baton, and gave the sign. had in overwhelming numbers-to fling their The overture began, and all was silent, in parhate, their malice, their scorn, into the face of quette and parterre, as well as in. the boxes. Marie Antoinette. Every one seemed to be listening only to the muAnd enemies of the queen had taken places for sic, equally full of sweetness and majesty-only to themselves in every part of the great house. They have ears for the noble rhythm with which Gluck even sat in the boxes of the first rank, on those begins his " Alceste." velvet-cushioned chairs which had formerly been Suddenly there arose a dull, suppressed sound occupied exclusively by the enthusiastic admirers in parquette, parterre, and boxes, and all heads of the court, the ladies and gentlemen of the aris- which had before been directed toward the stage, were now turned backward toward the great royal 2 Marie Antoinette's own words. —See Goncourt, p. 264. box. No one paid anymore attention to the mu 148 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. sic, no one noticed that the overture was ended panions, gave the signal by raising the right and that the curtain was raised. hand. Amid the blast of trumpets, the noise of vio- Suddenly the applause was overborne by loud lins and clarionets, the public had-heard the light whistling and shouting, derisive laughter, and noise of the opening doors, had noticed the en- wild curses. trance of the officers, and this sound had made "The civil war has begun! " cried Marat, rubthe Parisians forget even their much-loved music. birig his hands together with delight. There now appeared in the open box-door a The royalists continued to applaud and to woman's form. shout, " Vive la reine I" Their opponents tried The queen, followed by Mademoiselle de Bu- to silence them by their hisses and whistling. gois, advanced slowly through the great box to Marat's face glowed with demoniacal pleasure. the very front. All eyes were directed to her, all He turned to the boxes of the second tier, and looks searched her pale, noble face. nodded smilingly to the men who sat there. Marie Antoinette felt this, and a smile flitted At once they'began to cry, "The chorus, the over her?ace like the evening glow of a summer's chorus, let them sing' Chantons, celhbrons notro day. With this smile and a deep blush Marie reinel' Antoinette bowed and saluted the public. "Very well," said Marat. "I am a good A loud, unbounded cry of applause resounded royalist, for I have trained the people to the cry." through the vast room. In the parquette and in "Sing, sing! " shouted the men to the performthe'boxes hundreds of spectators arose and hailed ers on the stage-" sing the chorus,' Chantons, the queen with a loud, pealing" Vive la reine /I" celibrons notre reine I/ " and clapped their hands like pleased children, and And in the boxes, parquette, everywhere was looked up to the queen with joyful, beaming the cry, "Sing the chorus,' Chantons, cilEbron. countenances. notre reine'! " " Oh, my faith has not deceived! " whispered "No," roared Santerre, "no, they shall not sing Marie Antoinette into the ear of her companion. that! " " The good Parisians love me still; they, like me, " No," cried Simon, "we will not hear the monremember past times, and the old loyalty is awak- key-song!" ing in them." And hundreds of men in the parterre and the And again she bowed her thanks right and left, upper rows of boxes echoed the cry, "No, we and again the house broke out into loud applause. will not hear the monkey-song!" A single, angry glance of Marat's little eyes, "The thing works well! " said Marat. "I hold peering out from beneath the bushy brows, met my people by a thread, and make them gesticuthe queen. late and spring up and down, like the concealed "Only wait," said Marat, rising from his seat man in a Punch and Judy show." and directing, his glances at the parterre. There The noise went on; the royalists would not stood the giant Santerre, and not far from him cease their applause and their calls for the choSimon the cobbler, in the midst of a crowd of rus, " Chantons, celhbrons notre reine I" The savage-looking, defiant fellows, who all looked at enemies of the queen did not cease hissing and their leaders, while they, Santerre and Simon, di- shouting, "We do not want to hear any thing rected their eyes up to the box of Marat. about the queen; we will not hear the monkeyThe glance of the chief met that of his two song!" friends. A scornful, savage expression swept "Oh, would I had never come here!" whisover Marat's ash-colored, dirty face, and he nod- pered the queen, with tearful eyes, as she sank ded lightly to his allies. Santerre and Simon re- back in her arm-chair, and hid her face in her turned the nod, and they, turning to their com- handkerchief. REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE. 149 Pethaps because the real royalists saw the agi- leaned forward, to see what was going on. Her tation of the queen, and out of compassion for glance, which was directed to the stage, fell upon her were willing to give up the controversy-per- the singer Clairval, who was just then beginning haps Marat had given a sign to the false royalists to give, with his wonderfully full and flexible that they had had enough of shoutiug and con- voice, the great aria in which the friend comes fusion; at all events the cry " Vive la reine" to console the grief-burdened, weeping Queen and the call for the chorus died away suddenly, Alceste, and to dry her tears by assuring her of the applause ceased, and as the enemies of the the love of her faithful adherents. queen had now no opposition to encounter, nothing Clairval had advanced in the aria to that celewas left to them but to be silent too. brated passage which had given to Marie Antoi"The first little skirmish is over I " said Marat, nette a half year before her last great triumph. resting his bristly head on the back of his velvet -It ran: arm-chair. "Now we will listen to the music a "Reine infortun6e, ah I que ton coeur little, and look at the pretty theatre girls." Ne soit plus navr6 do douleur I I1 vous reste encore des amis I" And in fact the opera had now begun; the director of the orchestra had. taken advantage of But scarcely had Clairval begun:the first strophe the return of quiet to give a sign to the singers when the thundering voice of Santerre called, on the stage to begin at once, and with fortunate "None of that, we will not hear the air I " presence of mind his command was obeyed. "No, we will not hear the air! " shouted hunThe public, wearied it may be with the shout- dreds and hundreds ofvoices. ing and noise, remained silent, and seemed to "Poor Gluck," whispered Marie Antoinette, give its attention exclusively to the stage, the de- with tears in her eyes, " because they hate me, velopment of the plot, and the noble music. they will not even hear your music! " Marie Antoinette breathed freely again;. her " Sing it, sing it! " shouted hundreds and hunpale cheeks began to have color once more, her dreds of voices from all parts of the house. eyes were again bright, and she seemed transported "No, do not sing it! " roared the others; "we beyond the sore battles and dreadful discords of will not hear the air." her life; she listened respectfully. to the sweet And suddenly, above the cries of the contestmelodies, and the grand harmonies of the teacher ants, rose a loud, yelling voice: of her youth, the great Gluck. Leaning back in "I forbid the singer'Clairval ever again singher arm-chair, she allowed the music to flow into ing this air. I forbid it in the name of'the peoher soul, and the recollection of past days awoke ple! " afresh in her mind. She dreamed of the days of It was Marat who spoke these words. Standher childhood: she saw herself again in Schon- ing on the arm-chair of the Princess de Lamballe, brunn; she saw her teacher Gluck. enter the blue and raising his long arms, and directing them music-room, in which she with her. sisters used to threateningly toward the stage, he turned his face, wait for him; she saw the glowing. countenance aglow with hate and evil, toward -the queen. of her mother, the great Maria Theresa, entering Marie Antoinette, who had turned her head in her room, in order to give Gluck a proof of her alarm in the direction whence the voice proceedhigh regard, and to announce to him herself that ed, met with her searching looks the eyes of MaMarie Antoinette had betrothed herself to the rat, which were fixed upon her with an expression Dauphin of France, and that she would soon bid equally stern and contemptuous. her teacher farewell, in order to enter upon her She shrank back, and, as if in deadly pain, put new and brilliant career. her hand to her heart. A low hum in the theatre awakened the queen " 0 God! " she whispered to herself, " that is from her reveries; she raised herself up and no man, that is an infernal demon, who has risen 150 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. there to take the place of my dear, sweet Lam- imbittered and exasperated faces were confront. balle. Ah, the good spirit is gone, and the de- ing each other, and here and there clinched fists mon takes its place-the demon which will destroy were seen, threatening to bring a shouting neighus all! " bor to silence by the use of violence. "Long live Marat!" roared Santerre, and his The queen, trembling in every limb, had let her comrades. "Long live Marat, the great friend of head fall powerlessly on her breast, in'order that the people, the true patriot!" no one might see the tears which ran from her Marat bowed on all sides, stepped down from eyes over her death-like cheeks. the easy-chair, and seated himself comfortably in, " God," whispered she, "we are lost, hope. it. lessly lost, for not merely our enemies injure us, Clairval had stopped in the air; pale, confused, and bring us into danger, but our friends still and terrified, he had withdrawn, and the director more. Why must that woman turn to me and whispered.to the orchestra and the singers to be- direct her words to me? She wanted. to give me gin the next number. a triumph, and yet she has brought me a new huThe opera went on, and the public again ap- miliation. Suddenly she shrank back and raised peared to give itself during some scenes to the her head. She had caught the first tones of that enjoyment of the music. But soon this short sharp, mocking voice, which had already pierced quiet was to be disturbed again. One of the sing- her heart, the voice of that evil demon who now ers, Madame Dugazont, a zealous royalist, wanted occupied the place of the good Princess Lamballe. to give the queen a little triumph, and show her The voice cried: "The people of Paris are that, although Clairval had been silenced, the right. We want no queen! And more than all love and veneration of Dugazont were still alive other things, no mistress 1 Only slaves acknowland ready to display themselves. edge masters over them. If the Dugazont venSinging as the attendant of Alceste, Dugazont tures to sing again,'I love my queen, I love my had these words to give in her part: " Ah! comme mistress,' she will be punished as slaves are punj'aime la reine, comme j'aime ma maitresse!" ished —that is, she will be flogged!'? She advanced close to the footlights, and turn- "Bravo, Marat, bravo!" roared Santerre, with ing her looks toward the royal box, and bowing his savage rabble. "Bravo, Marat, bravo!" low, sang the words: " Cromme j'aime la reine, cried his friends in the boxes; "she shall be comme fJaime ma maitresse I" flogged!" And now, as if this had been the battle-cry of a Marat bowed on all sides, and turned his eyes, new contest, a fearful din, a raging torrent of gleaming with scorn and hatred, toward the royal sound began through the whole house. At first box, and menaced it with his clinched fists. it was a mixed and confused mass of cries, roars, "But not alone shall the singer be flogged," hisses, and applause. Now and then single voices cried he, with a voice louder and sharper than could be heard above the horrid chaos of sounds. before —" no, not alone shall the singer be flogged, "We want no queen!" shouted some. "We but greater punishment have they deserved who want no mistress! " roared others; and mingled urge on to such deeds. If the Austrian woman with those was the contrary cry, ", Long live- the comes here again to turn the heads of sympaqueen! Long live our mistress!" thizing souls with her martyr looks, if she un"Hi!" said Marat, full of delight, twisting his dertakes again to move us with her tears and bony form up into all kinds of knots-" hi! this her face, we will serve her as she deserves, we is the way they shout in hell. Satan himself will go whip in hand into her box!" * would like this!" The queen rose from her chair like an exasperMore and more horrible, more and more wild became the cries of the rival partisans. Already * Goncourt's "Histoire de Marie Antoinette," p. 26.. REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE. 151 ated lioness, and advanced to the front of the that her favor brought misfortune to those who box. Standing erect, with flaming looks of anger, shared it; that he on whom she bestowed a smile with cheeks. like purple, she confronted them was the object of the people's suspicion. there-the true heir of the COesars, the coura- The public continued to shout her name, but geous daughter of Maria Theresa-andhad already the queen felt herself exhausted, and drawing opened her lips to speak and overwhelm the trai- back from the front of the box, she beckoned to tor with her wrath, when another voice was heard her companion. " Come," she whispered, " let us giving answer to Marat. go while the public are calling' Long live Marie It cried: "Be silent, Marat, be silent. Who- Antoinette!' Who knows whether they will not ever dares to insult a woman, be she queen or be shouting in another minute,'Away with the beggar, dishonors himself, his mother, his wife, queen! we want no'queen!' It pains my ear and his daughter. I call on you all, I call on the so to hear that, so let us go." whole public, to take the part of a defenceless And while the public were yet crying, Marie Anwoman, whom Marat ventures to mortally insult. toinette left the box and passed out into the corYou all have mothers and wives; you may, perhaps, ridor, followed by Mademoiselle Bugois and the some day have daughters. Defend the honor of two officers in attendance. woman! Do not permit it to be degraded in But the corridor which the queen had to pass, your presence. Marat has insulted a woman;,we the staircase which she had to descend in order to owe her satisfaction for it. Join with me in the reach her carriage, were both occupied by a dense cry,' Long live the queen! Long live Marie An- throng. With the swiftness of the wind the news toinette t' " had spread through Paris that the queen was goAnd the public, carried away with the enthu- ing to visit the opera that evening, and that her siasm of this young, handsome man, who had visit would not take place without witnessing risen in his box, and whose slender, proud figure some extraordinary outbreak. towered above all-the public broke into one The royalists had hastened thither, to salutethe united stirring cry: "Long live the queen! Long queen, and at least to see her on the way. The live Marie Antoinette!" curious, the idle, and the hostile-minded had Marat, trembling with rage, his countenance come to see what should take place, and to shout suffused with a livid paleness, sank back in his as the majority might shout. The great operachair. house had therefore not accommodated half who "I knew very well that Barnave was a traitor," wanted to be present, and all those who had he whispered. "I shall remember this moment, been refused admittance had taken their station and Barnave shall one day atone for it with his on the stairway and the corridor, or before the head." main entrance. And it was natural that those "Barnave, it is Barnave," whispered the queen who stood before the door should, by their merely to herself. "He has rescued me from great dan- being there, excite the curiosity of passers-by, so ger, for I was on the point of being carried away that these, too, stood still, to see what was goby my wrath, and answering the monster there ing on, and all pressed forward to the staircase as he deserves." to see every thing and to hear every thing. "Long live the queen! Long live Marie An- But the civil war which was raging within the toinette!" shouted the public. theatre had given rise to battles outside as well; Marie Antoinette bowed and. greeted the audi- the same cries which had resounded within, ence on all sides with a sad smile, but not one pealed along the path of the queen. She could look did she cast to the box where Barnave sat, only advance slowly; closer and closer thronged with not one smile did she-thank him for the ser- the crowd, louder and louder roared around Marie vice he had done her. For the queen knew well, Antoinette the various battle-cries of the parties. 15-2 MARIE- ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "Long live the queen " "Long live the Na- When the king came to visit his wife, the guard tional Assembly! Down with the queen I" came too and remained, hearing every word and Marie Antoinette appeared to hear neither the standing at the door till the king retired. In like one nor the other of these cries. With proudly manner, both entrances to the apartments of the erected head, and calm, grave looks, she walked queen were always watched; for before the one forward, untroubled about the crowd, which the sat an officer appointed by the National Assembly, National Guards before her could only break and before the other a member of the National through by a recourse to threats and violence, in Guard stood as sentry. order to make a passage for the queen. With a deep sigh the queen entered her sleepAt last the difficult task was done; at last she ing-room. The officer sat before the open door had reached her carriage, and could rest upon its of the adjacent room, and looked sternly and cushions, and, unobserved by spying looks, dould coldly in. For an instant an expression of anger give way to her grief and her tears. But alas! flitted over the face of the queen, and her lips this consolation continued only for a short time. quivered as though she wanted to speak a hasty The carriage soon stopped; the Tuileries, that sad, word. But she suppressed it, and withdrew besilent prison of the royal family, was sooA reached, hind the great screen, in order to be disrobed by and Marie Antoinette quickly dried her tears, and her two waiting-maids and be arrayed in her compelled herself to appear calm. night-dress. "Do not weep more, Bugois," she whispered. Then she dismissed the maids, and coming out "We will not give our enemies the triumph of from behind the screen, she said, loudly enough seeing that they have forced tears from us. Try to be heard by the officer: "I am weary, I will to be cheerful, and tell no one of the insults of sleep." this evening." At once he arose, and turning to the two The,carriage door was opened, the queen dis- guards, who stood at the door of the anteroom, mounted, and, surrounded by National Guards and said: officers, returned to her apartments. "The queen is retiring, and the watch in the No one bade her welcome, no one received her black corridor can withdraw. The National Asas becomes a queen. A few of the servants only sembly has given. command to lighten the service stood in the outer room, but Marie Antoinette had of the National Guard, by withdrawing as much no looks for them. She had been compelled as a of the force as possible. As long as the queen constitutional queen ought, to dismiss her own is lying in bed, two eyes are enough to watch tried and faithful servants; her household had her, and they shall watch her well!" been reorganized, and she knew very well that The soldiers left the anteroom, and the officer these new menials were her enemies, and served returned to the entrance of the sleeping-room. as spies for the National Assembly. The queen He did not, however, sit down in the easy-chair therefore passed them without greeting, and en- before the door, but walked directly into the tered her sitting-room. chamber of the queen. But even here she was not alone; the door of Marie Antoinette trembled and reached out her the anteroom was open, and there sat the officer hand for the bell which stood by her on the of the National Guard, whose duty of the day it table. was to watch her. "Be still, for God's sake, be still! " whispered Marie Antoinette had no longer the right of be- the officer. " Make.no noise, your majesty. Look ing alone with her grief, no longer the right of at my face." And, kneeling before the queen, he being alone with her husband. The little corridor raised his head and looked at her with an expreswhich ran from the apartments of the queen to sion almost of supplication. "I am Toulan," he tLose of the king, was always closed and guarded. whispered, "the faithful servant of my queen, REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE. 152 Will your majesty have the goodness to recall the queen. "I thank you, sir-I thank you tome? Here is a letter from my patroness, Mad- day as a wife; perhaps the day may come when I ame de Campan, who speaks well for me. Will can thank you as a queen; I accept your magyour majesty read it?" nanimous kindness. Yes, I will turn the night The queen ran over the paper quickly and into day, and, thanks to you, I shall be able to turned with a gentle smile to the officer, who spend several hours undisturbed with my husband was still kneeling before her, and who, in all her and my children. And do you say that you shall humiliation and misfortune, still paid her the be here quite often?" homage due to majesty. "Yes, your majesty, I shall be here once every "Stand up, sir," she said, mildly. " The throne week at your majesty's order." lies in dust, and my crown is so sadly broken, "Oh! I have lost the habit of ordering," said that it is no longer worth the trouble to kneel be, Marie Antoinette, with a pained look. "You see fore it." that the Queen of France is powerless, but she is " Madame, I see two crowns upon your noble not wholly unfortunate, for she has- friends still. head," whispered Toulan —" the crown of the:You belong to these friends, sir; and that we may queen, and the crown of misfortune. To these both retain the memory of this day, I will always two crowns I dedicate my service and my fidelity, call you my faithful one." and for them I am prepared to die. It is true, I No, the queen is not wholly unfortunate, she can do but little for your majesty, but that little has friends who are ready, with her, to suffer; shall be faithfully done. Thanks to my bitter with her, if it must be, to die. The Polignacs are hatred of royalty, and my rampant Jacobinism, I gone, but Princess Lamballe, whom the queen have carried matters so far, that I have been put had sent to London; to negotiate with Pitt, has upon the list of officers to keep watch, and, there- returned, in spite of the warnings and pleadings fore, once every week I shall keep guard before of the queen. Marie Antoinette, when she learned your majesty's sleeping-room." that the princess was on the point of leaving Eng-' And will you do me the favor to so put your land, had written to her: "Do not come back at chair that I shall not see you —that during the a moment so critical. You would have to weep night I may not always have the feeling of be- too much for us. I feel deeply, believe me, how ing watched?" asked the queen, in supplicant good you are, and what a true friend you are. tones. But, with all my love, I enjoin you not to come " No, your majesty," said Toulan, moved. " I here. Believe me, my tender friendship for you will remain in my chair, but your majesty will will cease only with death." prefer, perhaps, to turn the night into day, and The warning of her royal friend had, meanremain up; as during my nights you will not be while, not restrained Princess Lamballe from disturbed." doing what friendship commanded. She had re"What do you mean by that?" asked Marie turned to France, and Marie Antoinette had, at Antoinette, joyfully. least, the comfort of having a tender friend at her "I mean, that, as during the day your majesty side. can never speak with the king without witnesses, No, the queen was not wholly unfortunate. we must call the night to our assistance, if you Besides this friend, she had her children, too —her wish to speak confidentially to his majesty. Your sweet, blooming little daughter, and the dauphin, majesty has heard, that during the night the the pride and joy of her heart. watch is withdrawn from the corridor, and your The dauphin had no suspicion of the woes and majesty is free to leave your room and go to the misfortunes which were threatening them. Like chamber of the king." flowers that grow luxuriantly and blossom upon A flash of joy passed over the countenance of graves. so grew and blossomed this beautiful boy 154 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. in the Tuileries, which was nothing more than Versailles a little garden of his own, which he the grave of the old kingly glory. himself worked, planted, and digged, and froin But the dauphin was like sunshine in this dark, whose flowers he picked a bouquet every mornsad palace, and Marie Antoinette's countenance ing, to bring it with beaming countenance to his lightened when her eye fell upon her son, looking mamma queen. up to her with his tender, beaming face. From For this painfully-missed garden of Versailles, the fresh, merry smile of her darling, she herself the little garden on the terrace had to compenlearned to smile again and be happy. sate. The child was delighted with it; and every Gradually, after the first rage of the people was morning, when his study-hours were over, the appeased, the chains with which she was bound dauphin hastened to his little parterre, to dig and were relaxed. The royal family was at least per- to water his flowers. The garden has, since that mitted to leave the close, hot rooms, and go down day, much changed; it is enlarged, laid out on a into the gardens, although still watched and ac- different plan, and surrounded with a higher fence, companied by the National Guard. They were but it still remains the garden of the Dauphin permitted to close the doors of their rooms Louis Charles, the same garden that Napoleon again, although armed sentries still stood before subsequently gave to the little King of Rome; tem. the same that Charles X. gave to the Duke de There were even some weeks and months in Bordeaux, and that Louis Philippe gave to the this year 1791, when it appeared as if the exas- Count de Paris. How many recollections cluster perated spirits would be pacified, and the throne around this little bit of earth, which has always be reestablished with a portion of its old dignity. been prematurely left by its young possessors! The king had, in a certain manner, received for- One died in prison scarcely ten years old; another, giveness from the National Assembly, while ac- hurried away by the tempest, still younger, into a cepting the constitution and swearing-as indeed foreign land, only lived to hear the name of his he could but swear, all power having been taken father, and see his dagger before he died. The from him, and he being a mere lay-figure-that third and'fourth were hurled out by the stormwould control all his actions, and govern accord- wind like the first two, and still wear the mantle tng to the expressed will of the National Assem- of exile in Austria and England. And many as bly. are the tears with which these children regard But the king, in order to make'peace with his their own fate, there must be many which they people, had even made this sacrifice, and accepted must bestow upon the fate of their fathers. One the constitution. The people seemed grateful to died upon the scaffold, another from the knife of him for this, and appeared to be willing to return an assassin, a third from a fall upon the paveto more friendly relations. The queen was no ment of a highway; and the last, the greatest of longer insulted with contemptuous cries when she them all, was bound, like Prometheus; to a rock, appeared in the garden of the Tuileries, or in the and fed on bitter recollections till he met his Bois de Boulogne, and it even began to be the death. fashion to speak about the dauphin as a miracle This little garden, on the river-side terrace of of loveliness and beauty, and to go to the Tuile- the Tuileries park, which has come to have a ries to see him working in his garden. world-wide interest, was then the Eldorado of the This garden of the dauphin was in the imme- little Dauphin of France; and to see him behind diate neighborhood of the palace, at the end of the fence was the delight of the Parisians who the terrace on the river-side; it was surrounded used to visit there, and long for the moment when with a high wire fence, and close by stood the the glance of his blue eye fell upon them, and for little pavilion where dwelt Abbe Davout, the some days and months had again become emnthu. teacher of the dauphin. The dauphin had had in siastic royalists. REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE. 155 When the prince went into his little garden, he bouquets for your mamma " said one of the was usually accompanied by a detachment of boys. the National Guard, who were on duty in the "Oh!" answered the dauphin, with a smile, Tuileries; and the dauphin, who was now receiving " that will not hinder my taking care of my flowinstruction in the use of weapons, generally wore ers. Many of these gentlemen have little gardens, himself the uniform of a member of the National too, as they have told me. Very well, they can Guard. The Parisians were delighted with this follow the example of their colonel, and love the little guard of six years. His picture hung in all queen, and then mamma will receive whole registores, it was painted on fans and rings, and it ments of flowers every day." was the fashion, among the most elegant ladies The majority of this regiment consisted, at the of the Faubourg St. Germain, and among the outset, of children of the highest ranks of society, market-women as well, to decorate themselves and it was therefore natural that they, practised with the likeness of the dauphin. How his brow in the most finished courtesy, should pay some beamed, how his eye brightened, when, accompa- deference to their young colonel. But they were nied by his escort, of which he was proud, he expressly forbidden showing any thing of this feelentered his garden! When the retinue was not ing toward their comrade. " For," said the king, large, the prince took his place in the ranks. One " I want him to have companions who will stimuday, when all the National Guards on duty were late his ambition; but I do not want him to have very desirous of accompanying him, several of flatterers, who shall lead him to live to himself them were compelled to stand outside of the gar- alone." Soon the number of little soldiers inden. "Pardon me, gentlemen," said the dau- creased, for every family!onged for the honor of phin; "it is a great pity that my garden is so having its sons in the regiment of the royal dausmall that it deprives me of the pleasure of re- phin. The people used always to throng in great ceiving you all." Then he hastened to give flow- masses when this regiment went through its exerers to every one who was near the fence, and re- cises in the Place de la Carrousel. It was a minceived their thanks with great pleasure. iature representation of the French guards, with The enthusiasm for the dauphin was so great, their three-cornered hats and white jackets; and that'the boys of Paris envied their elders the nothing could be more charming than this regihonor of being in his service, and longed to be- ment of blooming boys in their tasteful uniforms, come soldiers, that they might be in his retinue. and their little chief, the dauphin, looking at his There was, in fact, a regiment of boys formed, regiment with beaming eyes and smiling lips. which took the name of the Dauphin's Regiment. The enthusiasm of the little soldiers of the The citizens of Paris were anxious to enroll the Royal Dauphin Regiment for their colonel was so names of their sons in the lists of this regiment, great, that they longed to give him a proof of and to pay the expenses of an equipment. And their love. One day the officers of the regiment when this miniature regiment was formed, with came into the Tuileries and begged the king's perthe king's permission, it marched to the Tuileries, mission to make a present to the dauphin, in the in order to parade before the dauphin. The name of the whole regiment. The king gladly prince was delighted with the little regiment, acceded to their request, and he himself conducted and invited its officers to visit his garden, that the little officers into the reception-room, where they might see his flowers, his finest treasures. was the dauphin, standing at the side of his "Would you do us the'pleasure to be the colonel mother. of our regiment? " one of the officers asked the The little colonel hastened to greet them. dauphin. " Welcome, my comrades, welcome! " cried he, "Oh! certainly," he answered. extending his hand to them. "My mamma queen "Then you must give up getting flowers and tells me that you have brought me something MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. which willgive me pleasure. But it gives me pleas- phin." The marble of the box was taken from ure to see you, and nothing more is needed." the altar-slab in the chapel. In the middle was a "But, colonel, you will not refuse our pres- golden relief, representing a face. ent?" "That is my papa king," cried the dauphin, "Oh, certainly not, for my papa king says that joyfully, looking at the representation. a colonel is not forbidden taking a gift from his " Yes," replied Palloy, the speaker of the little regiment. What is it?" company, "every one of us bears him in his "Colonel, we bring you a set of dominoes," heart. And like the king, you will live for the said a little officer, named Palloy, who was the happiness of all, and like him you will. be the idol speaker of the delegation —" a set of dominoes of France. We, who shall one day be French solentirely made out of the ruins- of the Bastile." diers and citizens, bring to- you, who will then be And-taking the-wrapper from the white marble our commander-in-chief and king, our homage as box, bound with gold, he extended it to the dau- the future supporters of the throne which is desphin, and repeated with a solemn face the follow- tined for you, and which the wisdom of your ing lines: father has placed under the unshakable power of law. The gift which we offer you is but small, "Those gloomy walls that once awoke our fear Are changed into the toy weoffer here: but each one of us adds his heart to it." * Are changed into the toy.we offer here: And when with joyful face the gift you view, "And I: give all of you my heart in return for Think what the people's mighty love can do." * it," cried the dauphin, with a joyful eagerness, " and I shall take great pains to be good, and to Poor little dauphin! Even when they wanted learn well, that I may be allowed to amuse myself to do him homage, they were threatening him; and the present which affection offered to the And the little fellow fixed his large, blue eyes royal child was at the same time a bequest of upon the queen with a tender look, took her hand Revolution, which even then lifted her warning finger, and pointed at the past, when the hate of " My dear mamma queen," he said7 caressingly, the people destroyed those " gloomy walls," which "if I am real good, and study hard, we can both had been erected by kingly power. In his innocence and childish simplicity, the play dominoes together, can't we A sadsmile played around the lips of the queen, dauphin saw nothing of the sting whichb unknown e and no one saw the distrustful, timid look.which even to the givers, lurked within this gift. Hee, she cast at the box which to her was merely the enjoyed like a child the beautiful present, and lismemorial of a dreadful day. tened with eagerness while the manner of playing "Yes, my child," she replied, mildly, " we will the game was described to him. All the stones ere taen fro the mantel of blac marble iplay dominoes often together, for you certainly were taken from the mantel of black marble in will be good and industrious." the reception-room of Delaunay, the governor of She controlled herself sufficiently to thank the the Bastile, who had been murdered by the people. On the back of each'of these stones was a boys with friendly words for the present which they had made to the dauphin, and then the depuletter set in gold, and when the whole were artation, accompanied by the king and the little ranged in regular order, they formed the senprince, withdrew. But as soon as they had gone, tence: " Vie le. Roi, vive la Reine, et A~. le Dauthe smile died away upon her lips, and with an ex pression of horror she pointed to the box. D "De ces affreunx cachots, la terreur des F'angais, Vous voyez let d6ebris transformes en hochets; "Take it away-oh, take it away!" she cried, Puissent-ils, en servant aux jeux de votre enfance, to Madame de Tourzel. "It is a dreadful re. Du peuple vous prouver l'amour et la puissance." Benuchesne, "Louis XVIL Sa Vie, son Agonte," etc., vol iv., p. 825. * The very words of the little officer. REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE. 151 minder of the past, a terrible prophecy of the fu- seeing them obscured by recollections of hate, ture. The stones of the Bastile, which the peo- and who have no joys that have not bitter drops ple destroyed, lie in this box! And the box it- of grief mingled with them! The revolution self, does it not look like a sarcophagus? And sends us storm-birds, and we are to regard them this sarcophagus bears the face of the king! as doves bringing us olive-branches. Believe me, Oh, the sorrow and woe to us unfortunate ones, I see into the future, and I discern the deluge who can not even receive gifts of love without which will drown us all!" BO OK IV. and show deference to the son of the king. C HAP T E R XIX. The little regiment had been compelled, in order to escape the mockery and contempt, the hatred JUNE 20 AND AUGUST 10, 1'792. and persecution which followed them, to disband MARIE ANTOINETTE was right. The revolution after a few months; and around the fence, when was sending its storm-birds to the Tuileries. They the dauphin- appeared, there now stood none but beat with their strong pinions against the win- men sent there by the revolutionists to deride the dows of the palace; they pulled up and broke dauphin when he appeared, and shout their wild with their claws the flowers and plants of the gar- curses against the king and queen. den; so that the royal family no longer ventured One day, when a crowd of savage women stood to enter it. But they had not yet entered the. behind the fence, and were giving vent to their palace itself; and within its apartments, watched derision of the queen, the poor dauphin could not by the National Guard, the queen was at least restrain his grief and indignation. With gloweafe from the insults of the populace. ing cheeks and flaming eyes he turned upon the No, not even there longer, for the storm-birds wild throng. of the revolution beat against the windows, and "You lie-oh, you lie!" he cried, with angry these windows had once in a while to be opened voice. " My mamma queen is not a wicked woto let in a little sunshine, and some fresh air. man, anid she does not hate the people., My Marie Antoinette had long given up her walks in mamma queen is so good, so good that-" the garden of the Tuileries, for the rabble which His tears choked his voice, and flowed in clear stood behind the fence had insulted her so often streams down over his cheeks. Ashamed, as it with cries and acts, that she preferred to give up were, of this indication of weakness, the dauphin her exercise rather than to undergo such con- dashed out of the garden, and hastened so rapidly temptuous treatment. to the palace that the Abbe Davout could scarcely The king, too, in order to escape the scornful follow him. Weeping and sobbing, the dauphin treatment of the populace, had relinquished his passed through the corridor, but when they walks, and before long things came to such a reached the broad staircase which led to the pass that the dauphin was not allowed to visit apartments where the queen lived, the dauphin his little garden. Marat, Santerre, Danton, and stopped, suppressed his sobs, and hastily dried Robespierre, the great leaders of the people, had, his eyes. by their threats against the royalists and their " I will not weep any more," he said, " it would insurrectionary movements among the people, trouble mamma. I beg you, abb6, say nothing gained such power, that no one ventured to ap- to mamma. I will try to be cheerful and merry, proach the garden of the prince to salute him, for mamma queen likes much to have me so JUNE 20 AND AUGUST 10, 1792. 159 Sometimes, when she is sad and-has been weep- The child blushed. "o Oh, it is not on that acing, I make believe not to notice- it, and then I count," he said. "I do not dislike grammar belaugh and sing, and jump about, and then her cause it is hard, but merely because it is te beautiful face will clear up, and sometimes she dious." even smiles a little. So, too, I will be right "And I will wager that on that account you merry, and she shall notice nothing. You would have forgottenwhat we went over in our last not suspect that I have been weeping, would grammar hour. We were speaking of the three you? " comparatives. But you probably do not remem "No, my prince, no one would think you had," ber them." answered the abb6, looking with deep emotion " You are mistaken," replied the dauphin, smil into the great blue eyes which the dauphin turned ing. "In proof, hear me. If I say,' My abb6 is up to his with an inquiring look. a good abbe,' that is the positive. If I say,'My "Well, then, we will go to my mamma queen," abb6 is better than another abb6,' that is the cried the dauphin, and he sprang forward and comparative. And," he continued, turning his opened the door with a smile, and, half concealed eyes toward the queen with an expression of inbehind the curtains, he asked, in a jesting tone, tense affection, "if I say,'My mamma is the whether he might have permission to enter her dearest and best of all mammas,' that is the sumajesty's presence. perlative." * Marie Antoinette bade him'heartily welcome, The queen drew the boy to her heart and kissed and opened her arms to him. The dauphin em- him, while her tears flowed down upon his auburn braced her and pressed a glowing kiss upon her locks. eyes and upon her lips. On the next day, at the time of his accustomed " You are extraordinarily affectionate to-day, walk, the queen went into the dauphin's room to my little Louis Charles," said the queen, with a greet him before he went into the garden. smile. " What is the cause of that?" "Mamma, I beg your permission to remain "That comes from the fact that to-day I have here,i' said the dauphin. "My garden does not nothing to give you excepting kisses-not a sin- please me any longer." gle flower. They are all withered in my garden, "Why not, my son," asked Marie Antoinette, and I do not like to go there any more, for there "has any thing happened to you?" are no more bouquets to pluck for my dear "Yes, mamma," he answered,'"something has mamma queen. Mamma, this is my bouquet." happened to me. There are so many bad people And he kissed and caressed the queen afresh, always standing around the fence, and they look and brought a glow to her eyes and a smile to her at me with such evil eyes, that I am afraid of lips. them, and they scold and say such hard things. " Come now, my child, you see that the abb6 They laugh at me, and say that I am a stupid is waiting, and I believe it is time for the study- jack, a baker's boy that does not know how to hours to begin. What comes first to-day." make a loaf, and they call me a monkey. That "We have first, grammar," answered the abbe, angers me and hurts my feelings, and if I begin laying the needful books upon the little table at to cry I am ashamed of myself, for I know that it which the dauphin always took his lessons in- the is very silly to cry before people who mean ill to presence of the queen. us. But I am still a poor little boy, and my tears "Grammar! " cried the dauphin; "I wish it are stronger than I. And so I want you, mamma, were history. That I like, but grammar I hate!" not to let me go to the garden any more. Mouf" That comes because you make so many mis- flet and I would a great deal rather play in my takes in it," said the abb; "and, certainly, gram* The dauphin's own words. —See Beauchesne's "Louis mar is very hard." XVII.," vol. i., p. 13388. 160 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. room. Come here, Moufflet, make your compli- which will be forwarded to you with a large packments to the queen, and salute her like a regular age. We are* guarded like criminals, and this grenadier." restraint is truly dreadfully hard to bear! —conAnd smiling, he caught the little dog by the stantly too apprehensive for one another, not to be fore-paws, and made him stand up on his hind able to approach the window without being loadlegs, and threatened Mouffilet with his hand till ed with insults; not to be able to take the poor he made him stand erect and let his fore feet-hang children out into the air without exposing the down very respectfully. dear innocents to reproaches, what a situation is The queen looked down with a smile at the ours, my dear heart! And when you think that couple, and laughed aloud.when the dauphin, still I suffer not for myself alone, but have to tremble waving his hand threateningly to compel the dog for the king as well, and for our friends who are to stand as he was, jumped up, ran to the table, with us, you will see that the burden is well-nigh caught up a paper cap, which he had made and unbearable.! But, as I have told you before, you painted with red stripes, and put it on Moufflet's absent ones, you keep me up. Adieu, dear heart, head, calling out to him: "Mr. Jacobin, behave let us hope in God, who looks into our conrespectfully I Make your salutations to her ma- sciences, andwho knows whether we are not anijesty the queen I" mated by the truest love for this land. I emAfter that day, the dauphin did not go into his brace you! garden again, and.the park of the Tuileries was "P. S.-The king has just come in and wants now the exclusive property of the populacd, that to add a word." took possession of it with furious eagerness. "I will only say, duchess, that you are not forThe songs of the revolution, the wild curses of gotten, that we regret receiving so few letters the haters of royalty, the coarse laughter and from you, and that, whether near or far away, you shouting of the rabble-these were the storm- and yours are always loved. Louis." * birds which were beating at the windows of the- Not to be able to show one's self near the win. royal apartments. dow without being showered with insults! Yes, Marie Antoinette had still one source of enjoy- and even into the very middle of her room they ment left to her in her sufferings, her correspond- followed her. Even when sitting far away from ence with her absent friends, and the Duchess de the window, she could not help hearing the loud Polignac before all others. Once in a while there cries which were thundered out on the pavement was a favorable opportunity to send a letter by below, as the hucksters offered to the laughing the hands'of some faithful friend around her, and crowd the infamous pamphlet, written with a the queen had then the sad satisfaction at least poisoned pen, and entitled "The Life of Marie of being able to express to some sympathizing Antoinette." heart what she was undergoing, without fearing At times her anger mastered hler, her eyes that these complaints would be read by her ene- flashed, her figure was straightened up, and the mies, as was the case with all letters which were suffering martyr was transformed, for an instant sent by post. into the proud, commanding queen. One of these letters to the Duchess de Polignac, "I will not bear it I" she cried, wainmg up which history has preserved, gives a faithfuil and and down with great strides. "I will speak to touching picture of the sorrows and grief of the them; they shall not insult me without hearing queen. A translation of it runs thus: my justification. Yes, I will go down to these "I cannot deny myself the pleasure of embra- people, who call me a foreigner. I will say to cing you, my dear heart, but it must be done them,'Frenchmen, people have had the want of quickly, for the opportunity is a passing one, although a certain one. I can only write a word, * Beauchesne, " Louis XVII.," vol. i., p. 148. JUNE 20 AND AUGUST 10, 1792. 1.61 feeling to tell you that I do not love France, I, save the queen. Secret tidings came to her that the mother of a dauphin, I —'" * all was ready for her escape. It was against hei But her voice choked in her tears, and she fled that the popular rage was chiefly directed, and to the extreme end of the room, fell sobbing on her life was even threatened. Twice had the ather knees, and held both her hands to her ears, tempt been made to kill the queen, and the most in order not to hear the dreadful insults which violent denunciations of the populace were directcame up from below and through her windows. ed against her. It was therefore the queen whom Thus, amid trials which renewed themselves her friends wanted most to save. Every thing dailv, the months passed by. The queen had no was prepared for the flight, true and devoted longer any hope. She had given up every thing, friends were waiting for her, ready to conduct her even the hope of an honorable end, of a death to the boundaries of France, where she should such as becomes a queen, proud and dignified be- meet deputies sent by her nephew, the Emperor neath the ruins of a palace laid low by an exas- Francis. The plan was laid with the greatest perated populace. She knew that the king would care; nothing but the consent of the queen was never bring himself to meet such a death, that needed to bring it to completion, and save her his weakness would yield to all humiliation, and from certain destruction. But Marie Antoinette his good-nature resist all measures that might per- withheld her acquiescence. " It is of no consehaps bring help. She had sought in vain to in- quence about my life," she said. "I know that spire him with her zeal. Louis was a good man, I must die, and I am prepared for it. If the king but a bad king; his was not a nature to rule and and my children cannot escape with me, I regovern, but rather to serve as the scape-goat for main; for my place is at the side of my husband the sins of his fathers, and to fall as a victim for and my children." the misdeeds which his ancestors had committed, At last the king himself, inspired by the courand through which they had excited the wrath of age and energy of his wife, ventured to oppose the people, the'divine Nemesis that never sleeps. the decisions and decrees of the all-powerful AsThe queen knew and felt this, and this knowl- sembly. It had put forth two new decrees. It edge lay like a mourning veil over her whole had resolved upon the deportation of all priests thought and being, filling her at times with a beyond the limits of France, and also upon the moody resignation, and at times with a swiitly- establishment of a camp of twenty thousand men kindling and wrathful pain. on the Rhine frontier. With the latter there had'' I am content that we be the victims," cried been coupled a warning, threatening with death she, wringing her hands, "but I cannot bear to all who should spend any time abroad, and enthink that my children too are to be punished for gage in any armed movement against their own what they have not committed." country. This thought of her children was the pillar To both these decrees Louis refused his sanewhich always raised the queen up again, when tion; both he vetoed on the 20th of June, 1792. the torture of her daily life cast her to the ground. The populace, which thronged the doors of the She would, she must live for her children. She National Assembly in immense masses, among must, so long as a breath remained in her, devote whom the emissaries of revolution had been very all her powers to retain for her son the dauphin active, received the news of the king's veto with at least the crown beneath whose burden his a howl of rage. The storm-birds of revolution father sank. She wanted nothing more for her- flew through the streets, and shouted into all the self, all for her son alone. windows: " The country is in dafiger! The king There were still true friends who wanted'to has been making alliances abroad. The Austrian woman wants to summon the armies of her own * The queen's own words. —See Campan, "'Mmoires woman wans to summon the armies of her own vol. ii. land against France, and therefore the king has 11 162 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND IIER SON. vetoed the decree which punishes the betrayers the second officer of the National Guard, M of their country. A curse on 3I. Veto! Down Acloque. He burst in, and, kneeling before the with Madame Veto! That is the cry to-day for king, conjured him, with tears in his eyes, to the revolutionary party. A curse on M. Veto! show himself to the. people, and by his presence Down with Madame Veto!" to calm the savage multitude. The watch-cry rolled like a peal of thunder By this time the two cllildren were no longer through all the streets and into all the houses; able to control their feelings and suppress their and, while within their closed doors, and in the fear. The dauphin burst into tears and loud stillness of their own homes, the well-disposed cries; he clung affrighted to the dress of his praised the king for having the courage to protect mother; he implored her With the most moving the priests and the &n1igres, the evil-disposed bel- tones to take him away, and go with him to his lowed out their curses through all the streets, and room. Marie Antoinette stooped down to the called upon the rabble to avenge themselves upon poor little fellow, and pressed him and Theresa, Monsieur and Madame Veto. who was weeping calmly, to her heart, whisperNobody prevented this. The National Assem- ing a few quieting words into their ears. bly let every, thing go quietly on, and waited with While the mother was comforting her children, perfect indifference to see what the righteous Louis, yielding to Acloque's entreaties, had left anger of the people should resolve to do. the room, in order to show himself to the people. Immense masses of howling, shrieking people Madame Elizabeth, his sister, followed him through rolled up, on the afternoon of the 20th of June, to the corridor into the great hall, passing through the Tuileries, where no arrangements had been the seething crowd, which soon separated her made for defence, the main entrances not even be- from the king. Pushed about on all sides, Maing protected that day by. the National Guard. dame Elizabeth could not follow, and was now The king gave orders, therefore, that the great alone in the throng, accompanied only by her doors should be opened, and-the people allowed equerry, M. Saint-Pardoux. Armed men pressed to pass in unhindered. up against the princess, and horrid cries surged In a quarter of an hour all the staircases, corri- around her. dors, and halls were filled by a howling, roaring "There is the Austrian woman! " and at once crowd; the room of the king alone was locked, all pikes, all weapons were directed against the and in this apartment were the royal family and princess. a few faithful friends-the king, bland and calm "For God's sake!" cried M. de Saint Paras ever; the queen, pale, firm, uncomplaining; doux, ".what do you want to do? This is not Madame Elizabeth, with folded hands, praying; the queen!" the two children drawing closely together, softly "Why do you undeceive tlem?" asked Maweeping, and yet suppressing their sobs, because dame Elizabeth, " their error might save the the queen had, in a whisper, commanded them to queen!" keep still. And while she put back one of the bayonets A little company of faithful servants filled the directed against her breast, she said, gently: background of the room, and listened with sus- "Take care, sir, you might wound somebody, pended breath to the axe-strokes with which the and I am convinced that you would be sorry." savage crowd broke down the doors, and heard The people were amazed at this, and respectthe approaching cries of the multitude. fully made way for her to come up with' the king. At last a division of the National Guard reached He stood in the middle of the hall, surrounded by the palace, too late to drive the people out, but a crowd threatening him with wild curses. 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R: — a~~~i::~s:::::: l:.:::::::::j~~~~~Ali: ill! fill::i:f...........~:::::j:::;X 7:::;::..........::i EX............::i~.j"'~i-i:: ~ ~i~iiiii.i~iii~ir' - C~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~.-j:~:::: -i ~-r~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~....... ~ ~~~~~~~~~~1 i~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~............:::f~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~: a~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~::~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:.r;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~..........:" i6,i ~~~~~~~~~~~~r~~~j-a lr al:::i~~~~::::.-:j:::;::::j:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.-..:.:....:_-:::-:::::.:_: 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I:~~~~:::::........ JUNE 20 AND AUGUST 10, 1'792. 163 strangle the whole royal family, and, pulling a mother-at her left, the dauphin, who, with widCbottle and a glass out of his pocket, he filled the open eyes and looks of astonishment, gazed at latter, gave it to the king, and ordered him to the people bursting in. Behind the queen were drink to the welfare of the nation. Princesses Lamballe and Tarente, and icladame The king quietly took the glass. "The nation Tourzel. must know that I love it," said he, "for I have A man, with dishevelled hair and bare bosom, made many sacrifices for it. From the -bottom gave the queen a handful of rods, bearing the itiof my heart I drink to its welfare," and, in spite scription, ":For Marie Antoinette!" Another of the warning cries of his friends, he put the showed her a guillotine, a third a gallows, with glass to his lips and emptied it. the inscription, " Tremble, tyrant! thy hour has The crowd was beside itself with delight, and come!" Another held up before her, on the their cries were answered from without by the point of a pike, a himan heart dripping with demand of the bloodthirsty rabble-" How soon blood, and -cried: " Thus shall they all bleedare you going to throw out the heads of the king the hearts of tyrants and aristocrats!" and the queen?" The queen did not let her eyes fall, her fixed Marie Antoinette had meanwhile succeeded in look rested upon the shrieking and howling mulpacifying the dauphin. She raised herself up, titude; but when this man, with the bleeding and when she saw that the king had gone out, heart, approached her, her eyelids trembled-a she started toward the door. deathly paleness spread over her cheeks, for she Her faithful friends stopped the way; they re- recognized him-Simon the cobbler-and a fearminded her that she was not simply a queen, that ful presentiment told her that this man, who had she was a mother, too. They conjured her with always been for her the incarnationr of hatred, is tears to give ear to prudence-not to rush in novw, when her life is threatened, to be the source vain into danger, and imperil the king still more. of her chief peril. "No one shall hinder me from doing what is From the distance surged in the cries: " Long my duty," cried the queen. "Leave the door- live Santerre i Long live the Faubourg Saint way free." Antoine! Long live the sans-culottes!" But her friends would not yield; they defied And at the head of a crowd of half-naked feleveh the wrath of the queen. At that moment, lows, the brewer Santerre, arrayed in the fantassome of the National Guards came in through tic costume of a robber of the Abruzzo Mountains, another door, and pacified Marie Antoinette, as- with a dagger and pistol in his girdle, dashed into *suring her that the life of the king was not threat- the room, his broad-brimmed hat, with three red ened. plumes, aslant upon his brown hair, that streamIn the mean while the shouting came nearer ed down on both sides of his savage countenance, and nearer, the cries resounded from the guard- like the mane of a lion. room, the doors were torn open, and the people The queen lifted the dauphin up, set him upon surged in, in immense waves, like the sea lashed the table, and whispered softly to him, he must into fury by the storm. The National Guards not cry, he must not grieve, and the child rolled a table before the queen and her children, smiled and kissed his mother's hands. Just then and placed themselves at the two sides to defend a drunken woman rushed up to the table, threw them. a red cap down upon it, and ordered the queen, Only a bit of wood now separated the queen on pain of death, to put it on. from her enemies, who brandished their- weapons Marie Antoinette threw both her arms around at her. But Marie Antoinette had now regained the dauphin, kissed his auburn hair, and turned her whole composure. She stood erect; at her calmly to General de Wittgenhofen, who stood right hand, her daughter, who nestled up to her near her. 16g4 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HIER SON. " Put the cap upon me," said she, and the women "Poor child! " answered the queen, gently; howled with pleasure, while the gexneral, pale with "they have told you so, and you have believed it. rage and trembling with grief, obeyed the queen's What advantage would it bring to me to harm comnmand, and put the red cap upon that hair the nation? You call me the Austrian, but I am which trouble had alreadyRturned gray in a night. the wife of the King of France, the mother of the But, after a minute, General Wittgenhofen took dauphin. I am French with all my feelings of the red cap from the head of the.queen, and laid wife and mother. I shall never see again the it on the table. land in which I was born, and only in France From all sides resounded thus the commanding can I be happy or unhappy. And when you cry: " The red cap for the dauphin! The tri- loved me, I was happy there " color for Little Veto!" And the women tore She said this with quivering voice and moving their three-colored ribbons from their caps and tones, the tears filling her eyes; and while she was. threw them upon the table. speaking the noise was hushed, and even these "If you love the nation," cried the women to savage creatures were transformed into gentle, the queen, "put the red cap on your son." sympathetic women. The queen motioned to Madame Tourzel, who Tears came to the eyes of the young woman put the red cap on the dauphin, and decked his who before had spoken so savagely to the queen. neck and arms with the ribbons. The child did "Forgive me," she said, weeping, "I did not not understand whether it was a joke or a way know you; now I see that you are not bad." of insulting him, and looked on with a smile of "No, she is not bad," cried Santerre, striking astonishment. w ith both fists upon the table, "but bad people Santerre leaned over the table and looked com- have misled her," and a second time he struck the placently at themsingular group. The proud and yet table with his resounding blows. Marie Antoinette gentle face of the queen was so near him, that when trembled a little, and hastily lifting the dauphin he saw the sweat-drops rolling down from beneath from the table, she put him by her side. the woollen cap over the dauphin's forehead, even "Ah! madame," cried Santerre, smiling, he felt a touch of pity, and, straightening him- " don't be afraid, they will do you no harm; but self up, perhaps to escape the eye of the queen, just think how you have been misled, and how he called out, roughly: " Take that cap off from dangerous it is to deceive the people. I tell you that child; don't you see how he sweats?" that in the name of the people. For the rest, you Tih queen thanked him with a mute glance, needn't fear." and took the cap herself from the head of the "I amnot afraid," said Marie Antoinette, calmly; poor child. "no one need ever be afraid who is among brave At this point a horde of howling women pressed people," and with a graceful gesture she extended up to the table, and threatened the queen with her hands to the National Guards who stood by their fists, and hurled wild curses at her. th'e table. " Only see how proudly and scornfully this Aus- A general shout of applause followed the trian looks at us! " cried a young woman, who words of the queen; the National Guards covered stood in the front rank. - " She would like to blast her hands with kisses, and even the women were us with her eyes, for she hates us." touched. Marie Antoinette turned kindly to them: "Why "How courageous the Austrian is! " cried one. should I hate you?" she asked, in gentle tones. "lHow handsome the prince is!" cried anoth"It is you that hate me-you. Have I ever done er, and all pressed up to get a nearer view of the you any harm?" dauphin, and a smile or a look from him. Not to me," answered the young woman, XNot to me," answered the young woman, * The queen's own words.-See Beauchesne, voL i., "not to me, but to the nation." p. 106. JUNE 20 AND AUGUST. 10, 1792. 165 The great eyes of Santerre remained fixed upon Petion now turned to the people and cornthe queen, and resting both arms upon the, table manded them to withdraw. "Fellow-citizens," he leaned over to her until his mouth was close said he, "you began this day wisely and worthily; by her ear. you have proved that you are free. End the day "Madame," he whispered, "you have very un- as you began it. Separate peaceably; do as I do, skilful friends; I know people who would serve return to your houses, and go to bed! " you better, who- " The multitude, flattered by Petion's praises, But as if ashamed of this touch of sympathy, began to withdraw,. and the National Guards eshe stopped, sprang back from the table, and with corted the king into the great council-chamber, a thundering voice, commanded all present to where a deputation of the National Assembly had march out and leave the palace. met to pay their respects to the king. They obeyed his command, filed out in military "Where is the queen, where are the children?" order past the table, behind which stood the cried the king, as, exhausted, he sank into a queen with her children and her faithful friends. chair. A rare procession, a rare army, consisting of His gentlemen hastehed out to bring them, and men armed with pikes, hatchets, and spades, of soon the queen and the children came in. With women brandishing knives and scissors in their'extended arms Marie Antoinette hastened to her hands, and all directing. their countenances, be- husband, and they remained a long time locked fore hyena-like and scornful, but now subdued in their embrace. and sympathetic, to the queen, who with calm eye "Papa king," cried the dauphin, "give me a and gentle look responded to the salutations of kiss, too! I have deserved it, for I was brave the retreating crowd with a friendly nod. and did not cry when the people put the red cap In the mean while the long-delayed help had on my head." reached the king: the National Guards had over- The king stooped down to the child and kissed come the raging multitude, and gained possession his golden hair, and then, pressed his little daughof the great reception-room where Louis was. ter, who was nestling up to him, to his heart. The mayor of Paris, Petion, had come at last, The deputies stood with curious looks around and, hailed loudly by the crowd which occupied the group, to whom it was not granted, even after the whole space in the rear of the National Guards, such a fearful day and such imminent peril, to he approached the king. embrace each other, and thank God for their " Sire," said he, "I have just learned what is preservation, without witnesses. going on here." "Confess, madame," said one of the deputies "Iam surprised at that," answered the king, to Marie Antoinette, in a confidential tonewith a reproachful look, "the mayor of Paris "confess that. you have experienced, great anxought to have learned before this about this tu- iety." mult, which has now been lasting three hours." "No, sir," replied the queen, "I have not been "But is now at an end, sire, since I have come," anxious, but I have suffered severely, because I cried Petion, proudly. "You have now nothing was separated from the king at a moment when more to fear, sire." his life was threatened. I had at least my chil"To fear? " replied Louis with a proud shrug. dren with me, and so could discharge one of my " A man who has.a good conscience does not fear. duties." Feel," he said, taking the hand of the grenadier Feelil) demned to die by the guillotine, because, as stated in who stood at his side, "lay your hand upon my the sentence, he showed himself on the 20th of June, heart, and tell this man whether it beats faster." * -1792, as a common servant of tyranny, and boasted to X__________________________ other citizens that Capet took his hand, laid it upon his * The king's wojds. The grenadier's name whose heart, and said: "Feel, my friend, whether it beats hand the king took, was Lalanne. Later, in the second quicker." —See Hue,' Dernibres A.mnnes de Louis Seize," year of " the one and indivisible republic," he.was con: p. 180. ~1 G 4MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "I will not excuse every thing that took place his hands, he raised his head and turned his blue to-day," said the deputy, with a shrug. "But eyes toward heaven, and, with a sweet voice and confess at least, madame, that the people con- a mild, smiling look, he sang these iwords: ducted themselves very well." "Ciel, entends la priere "Sir, the king and I are convinced of the natu- Qeici je lbps; ral good-nature of the people; they are only bad Conserve un si bon phre when they are led astray." A ses sujets." * Some other deputies approached the dauphin, A deep, solemn silence reigned while the dau. and directed various questions to him, in order to *, phin's voice rang, through the room. The faces convince themselves about his pr'ecocious underof the deputies, hitherto defiant and severe, softstanding that was so much talied about. s. ened, deeply moved. They all looked at the beauOne of the gentlemen, speaking of the day that tiful boy, who was still on his knees, his countehad gone by, compared it with St. Bartholomew's nance beaming, and with a smile upon it like the night. face of one in a blissful dream. No one ventured "The comparison does not hold,"' cried an- to freak the silence. The king, whose arm was other: " here is no Charles the Ninth." thrown around the neck of his daughter, looked "And no Catllerine de Miedicis either," said affectionately at the dauphin; Madame Elizabetih the dauphin, quickly, pressing the hand of the had folded her hands, and was praying; but Marie queen to his lips. Antoinette, no longer able to control her deep " Oh! see the little scholar," cried the by-stand- covered her face emotion, covered her face with her hands, and ers. "Let us see whether he knows as much wept in silence. wept in silence. about geography as about history! " From this day the life of the royal family was And all pressed up to him, to put questions to about testaoanbuaisfF cone of constant excitement-an incessant, feverishl him about the situation and boundaries of France, expectation of coming evil. The king,, bore it all and about the division of the French territory into with an uncomplaining resignation; no one drew departments and districts. The prince answered from him a complaint, no one a rleproach. But all these questions quickly and correctly. After the thought never seemed to occur to him that every answer he cast an inquiring glance at the perhaps even yet safety mig perhaps even yet safety might be attained by queen, and when he read in her looks that his anenergy, by spirit, or even by flight. swer had been correct, his eyes brightened, and his He had surrendered all; he was ready to suffer cheeks glowed with pleasure. as a Christian instead of rising as a king, and pre"Our dauphin is really very learned," cried ferred to fall in honorable battle rather than to one of the deputies. "I should like to know live despised. whether he has paid any attention yet to the arts. Marie Antoinette had given up her efforts to Do you love music, my little prince?" inspire her husband with her own energetic will. "Ah, sir," answered the dauphin, eagerly, She knew that all was in vain, and had accepted "whoever has heard mamma sing and play, must her fate. Since she could not live as a queen, love music!" she would at least die as one. She made her "Do you sing too, prince? " "Do you sing too, prince?" preparations for this calmly and with characThe dauphin raised his eyes to his mother. "MamLma," he asked, " shall I sing the prayer of * See Beauchesne, vol. i., p. 146.' This scene is histor. this morning?" ical. See Hue, "Dernib res Arnnes de Louis XVI." This prayer is from the opera so much admired at that time, Marie Antoinette nodded. "Sing it, my son, "Peter the Great:" for perhaps God heard it this morning, and has "' 0 Heaven, accept the prayer, graciously answered it." 1 offer here; Unto his subjects spare The dauphin sank upon his knees, and folding My father dear." JUNE 20 AND AUGUST 10, 1792. 167 teristic decision. "They will kill me, I know," At last, on the night of the 9th of August, the she said to her maids. "I have only one duty long-feared terror arrived. A guln fired in the left me, to prepare myself to die!" court of the Tuileries announced its advent. She lost her accustomed spirit, wept much, and Marie Antoinette sprang from her bed, and sent exhibited a great deal of feeling Yet she, still her waiting-maid to the king to waken him. The stood guard over the shattered throne like a reso- king had already risen; his ministers and a few lute sentinel, and looked around with sharp and tried friends were now with him. The queen searching glances, to keep an eye on the enemy, wakened her children, and assisted in dressing and to be ready fobr his nearer approach. them. She then went with the little ones to the She still continued to receive news about every king, who received them with an affectionate thing that transpired in Paris, every thing that greeting. At length a blast of trumpets anwas resolved upon in the National Assembly and nounced that the movement had become getndiscussed in the clubs, and had the libels and eral; the thunder of canfion and the peals of bells pamphlets which were directed at her all sent to awakened the sleeping city. her. Marie Antoinette understood the condition The royal family, crowded close together, of the capital and the feeling of the people better silently awaited the stalking of the republic into than did the king (who often sat for hours, and at the halls of the king's palace, or the saving of the times whole days, silent and unoccupied) better monarchy by the grace of God and the bravery of even than did the ministers. She received every their faithful friends. For even then monarchy morning the reports of the emissaries, followed had those who were true to it; and while the the intrigues of the conspirators, and was ac- trumpet-blasts continued and the bells to ring, quainted withl the secret assemblies which Marat to awaken republicans to the struggle, the sounds called together, and the alliances of the clubs. were at the same time the battle-cry o? the She knew about the calling together of the forty- royalists, and told them that the kings was in eight sections of the Paris " fraternity" in one gen- danger and needed their help. eral convention. She knew that Petion, Danton, About two hundred noblemen had remained in and Manuel, three raving republicans, were at the Paris, and had not followed the royal princes to head, and that their emissaries were empowered Coblentz to take arms against their own country. to stir up the suburbs of the city. She knew, too, They had remained in Paris, in order to defend the that the monsters from Marseilles, who had been monarchy to the last drop of their blood, and at active on the.20th of June, were boasting that least to be near the throne, if they were not able they were going to repeat the deeds of that day to hold it up longer. In order not to be suson a greater scale. Nor was it unknown to her that pected, they carried no arms, and yet it was known more than half the deputies in the National As- that beneath the silk vest of the cavalier they consembly belonged to the Jacobin party,'and that cealed the dagger of the soldier, and they received they were looking for an opportunity to strike a in consequence the appellation of " Chevaliers of fresh blow at royalty. Very often, when at dead the Dagger." of night Marie Antoinette heard the noisy chorus At the first notes of the trumpet the nobility of the rioters from Marseilles singing beneath her had hurried on the night of the 10th of August to windows, " Allons, ennfants de la patrie." or the Pa- the Tuileries, which' were already filled with grenarisians chanting the" f a ira, pa ira /" she sprang diers, Swiss guards, and volunteers of every rank, from her bed (she now never disrobed herself on who had hastened thither to protect the royal retiring), hurried to the beds of her children to see family. All the staircases, all the corridors and that they were not in danger, or called her maids rooms, were occupied by them. and commanded them to light the candles, that The " Chevailiers of the Dagger" marched in they might at least see the danger which threatened. solemn procession by them all to the- grand ro 168 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. ception-room, where were the king, the queen, and Dagger," excited mistrust, and a major of the Nai the children. With respectful mien they ap- tional Guard demanded their removal with a loud preached the royal pair, imploring the king's per- voice. mission to die for him, and beseeching the queen "No," cried the queen, eagerly, " these nobleto touch their weapons, in order to make them men are our best friends. Place them before the victorious, and to allow them to kiss the royal mouth of the cannon, and they will show you hand, in order to sweeten death for them. There how death for one's king is met. Do not disturb were cries of enthusiasm and loyalty on all sides. yourselves about these brave people," she con"Long live the king of our fathers!" cried the tinnued, turning to some grenadiers who were apyoung people. "Long live the king of our chil- preaching her, "your interests and theirs are dren!" cried the old men, taking the dauphin in common. Every thing that is dearest to you and their arms and raising him above their heads, as if them-wives, children, property-depends upon he were the living banner in whose defence they your courage and your common bravery." wished to die. The grenadiers extended their hands to the As the morning dawned, the king, at the press- chevaliers, and mutual oaths were exchanged to ing request of his wife, walked with her and the die for the royal family, to save the throne or to children through the halls and galleries of the perish with it.'It was a grand and solemn mopalace, to reanimate the courage of their defenders ment, full of lofty eloquence! The hearts of these who were assembled there, and to thank them for noblemen and these warriors longed impatiently their fidvlity. Everywhere the royal family was for death. With their hands laid upon their received with enthusiasm, everywhere oaths of weapons, they awaited its coming. loyalty to death resounded through the rooms. The populace rolled up in great masses to the The king then went, accompanied by a few faith- palace. Wild shrieks were heard, the thunder of ful friends, down into the park, to review the bat- cannon, the harsh cries of women, and the yells talions of the National Guard who were stationed of men. Within the palace they listened with there. suspended breath. The queen straightened herWhen Louis appeared, the cry, "Long live the self up, grasped with a quick movement the hands king! " began to lose the unanimity which had of her children, drew them to herself, and, with characterized it in the palace. It was suppressed head bent forward and with breathless expectaand overborne by a hostile murmur, and the far- tion, gazed at the door, like a lioness awaiting her ther the king advanced, the louder grew these mut- enemy, and making herself ready to defend her terings; till at last, from hundreds and hundreds young with her own life. of throats, the thundering cry resounded, " Abdi-: The door was suddenly opened, and the atcation or death! Long live Petion! Resignation torney-general Rbderer burst in. or death!" "Sire," cried he, with impassioned utterance, The king turned hastily around, and, with pale " you must save yourself! All opposition is vain. face and forehead covered with drops' of cold Only the smallest part of the National Guard is sweat, he returned to the palace. still to be trusted, and even this part only waits "All is lost i " cried the queen, bitterly. " Noth- the first pretext to fraternize with the populace. in-g more remains for us than to die worthily." The cannoneers have already withdrawn the loadBut soon she raised herself up again, and new ing from the cannon, because they are unwilling courage animated her soul, when she saw that to fire upon the people. The king has no time new defenders were constantly pressing into the to lose. Sire, there is protection for you only in hall, and that even many grenadiers of the Na- the National Assembly, and only the' representa. tional Guard mingled in the ranks of the nobility. tives of the people can now protect the royal Bat these noblemen, these " Chevaliers of the family."' JUNrE 20 AND AUGUST 10, 1792. 169 The queen uttered a cry of anger and horror. "This is the last sacrifice," she said, heavily, "How!" she cried. "What do you say? We'" that I can offer. I submit myself, M. Rdderer," seek protection with our worst enemies? Never, and then with louder tones, as if she wanted to oh, never! Rather will I be nailed to these walls, call all present to be witnesses, she continued, than leave the palace to go to the National As- "will you pledge yourself for the person of the sembly!"' king, and for that of my son?" And turning to the king, who stood silent and "Madame," answered Riderer, solemnly, "I undecided, she spoke to him with flaming words, pledge myself for this, that we are all ready to with glowing eloquence, addressed him as the die at your side. That is all that I can promise." father of the dauphin, the successor of Henrv IV. And now the noblemen and the grenadiers and Louis XIV., sought to animate his ambition pressed up to take the king and queen in their and touch his heart, and tried for the last time to escort. kindle him with her courage and her decision. "For God's sake," cried Riderer, "no demonIn vain, all in vain. The king remained silent stration, or the king is lost!" and undecided. A cry, one single cry of grief, "Remain, my friends," said the king, stolidly, burst from the lips of the queen, and one moment "await our return here." her head sank upon her breast. "We shall soon return," said Marie Antoinette; "Hasten, hasten, sire!" cried Rdderer, "every and leading her two children, she followed the moment increases the peril. In a quarter of or king, who walked slowly through the hall. Prinhour perhaps the queen and the children will be (ess Lamballe and Madame Tourzel brought up lost beyond remedy!" the rear. These words awakened the king from his rev- It was done. The dying monarchy left the erie. He looked up and nodded his head. " We royal palace to put itself under the protection of can do nothing else," he said. "Let us go at the revolution, which was soon to give birth to once to the National Assembly." the republic. "Sir," cried the queen, turning to Riiderer, "is It was six o'clock in the morning when the it true that we are deserted by all?" royal family crossed the threshold of the Tuile"Madame," answered the attorney-general, ries-in front the king, conducting Princess sadly, " all-opposition is in vain, it will only in- Elizabeth on his arm, behind him the queen with crease the danger. Would you suffer yourself, the two children. the king your children, find friends, to be killed? " Before leaving the palace, the king received "God forbid it! Would that I alone could'be tidings that a part of the National Guard had the offering! " withdrawn, in order to protect their families and "Another minute," urged Riderer, "perhaps their property from an attack of- the populacej another second, and it is impossible to guarantee and that another part had declared itself against your life, and perhaps that of your husband and the king and in favor of the revolution. children."' Louis made his way through the seething crowd " My children! " cried the queen, throwing her that scarcely opened to allow a free passage for arms around them, and drawing them to her the royal family, and overwhelmed them with breast. " No, oh no, I will not give them over curses, insults, and abuse. Some members of the to the knife!" National Assembly went in advance, and could One sigh, one last sob, burst from her lips, and themselves scarcely control the raging waves of then she released herself from the children, and popular fury. approached the king and his ministers. On the Terrace des Feuillants the people shoute, "Down with the tyrants! To death, to death * The queen's own words.-See Beauchesne, vol. i., p. 190. M ith them!" 170 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. The dauphin cried alodud with fright, for the deputies looked with dark faces at the rlew bloody hands. of two yelling women were extended comers. No one rose to salute the king, no word after him. A grenadier sprang forward, seized of welcome was spoken. the boy with his strong arm, and raised him upon The king took his place by the side of the presihis shoulder. dent, the queen and her ladies took the chairs of "My son, give me back my son!" cried the the ministers. Then came an angry cry from the queen, wildly.' tribune: " The dauphin must sit with the king, he The grenadier bowed to her. "Do not be belongs to the nation. The Austrian has no afraid, do you not recognize me?" claim to the confidence of the people." Marie Antoinette looked at him, and the hint An officer came down to take the child away, of a smile passed over her face. She did indeed but Louis Charles clung to his mother, fear was recognize him who, like a good angel, was always expressed on his features, tears stood in his eves, present when danger and death threatened and won a word of sympathy, so that the officer her. It was Toulan, the faithful one, by her side did not venture to remove the prince forcibly. in. the uniform of a National Guardsman. " Cour- A deep silence sat in again, till the king rais d age, courage, good queen, the demons are loose,' his voice. "I have come hither," lhe said, " to but good angels are near thee too; and where prevent a great crime, and because I believe that those curse and howl, these brine blessing and I am safest surrounded by the representatives of reconciliation." the nation." "Down with the tyrants!." roared the savage "Sire," replied President Vergniaud, "you women. can reckon upon the devotion of the National As" Do not be afraid, my prince," said the grena- sembly. It knows its duties; its members have dier, to the dauphin whom he carried. upon his sworn to live and to die in defence of the rights shoulder, in order to protect him. from the of the people and of the constitutional authorithronging of the crowd. "Nobody will hurt ties." you." Voices were heard at this point from all sides " Not me, but my dear papa," sobbed the child, of the hall, declaring that the constitution forbids while the tears rolled over his.pale cheeks. the Assembly hlolding its deliberations in the The poor child trembled and was afraid, and how presence of the king and the queen. could he help,it? Even the king was terrified for They then took the royal family into the little a moment, and felt as if the tears were coming low box scarcely ten feet- long, in which the reinto his eyes. The queen too wept, dried her porters of the " Logograph" used to write their actears, and then wept again. The sad march con- counts of the doings of the Assembly. Into this sumed more than an hour, in order to traverse the narrow space were a king, a queen, with her sister bit of way to the Manage, where the National As- and her children, their ministers and faithful sembly met. Before the doors of this building servants, crowded, to listen to the discussions the cries were doubled; the attorney-general ha- concerning the deposition of the king. rangued the mob, and sought to quiet it, and From without there came into the hall the wild pushed the royal family into the narrow corridor, cry of the populace that the Swiss guards had' in which, hemmed in by abusive crowds, they made been killed, and shouts accompanied the heads as their way forward slowly. At last the hall doors they were carridd about on the points of pikes. opened, and as Marie Antoinette passed in behind The crack of muskets was heard, and the roar of the king, Toulan gave the little dauphin to her, cannon. -The last faithful regiments were con. who flung both his arms around the neck of his tending against the army of the revolutionists, mother. while within the hall thie election by the French A death-like silence reigned in the hall. The people of a General Convention was discussed. JUNE 20 AND AUGIUST 10, 1792. 171 This scene lasted the whole day; the whole it needed the energetic command of the officer in day the queen sat in the glowing heat, her son charge to make a free passage for them. The asleep in her lap, motionless, and like a marble, populace drew back, but bellowed and sang into statue. She appeared to be alive only when once the ears of the queen as she passed by: in a while a sigh or a faint moan escaped her. A'Madame Vdto avait promis glass of water mixed with currant-juice was the D'dgorger tout Paris." only nourishment she took through the day. These horrible faces, these threatening, abusive At about five in the afternoon, while the Assemvoices, frightened the dauphin, who clung trembly was still deliberating about the disposal of the blingly to hi mother. Marie Antoinette stooped king, Louis turned composedly around to the valet 0,~~~~~~. ~down to him and whispered a few words in his who was standing back of him. ear. At once the countenance of the boy bright"I am hungry," he said; "bring me something g quickly and joy ened, and he sprang quickly and joyfully up the to eat " staircase; but at the top he stood still, and waited Hue hastened to bring, from a restamuant near Hue hastened to bring, from a restaurant near for his sister, who was so heavy with sleep that by, a piece of roast chicken, some fruit and stewed 7,~~~~~~~, ~~she had to be led slowly up. " Listen, Theresa, plums; a small table was procured, and carried said the prince, joyously, "mamma has promised into the reporters' box of the " Logograph." me that I shall sleep in her room with her, beThe countenance of the king lightened up a cause I was so good before the, bad people."*d little, as he sat down at the table and ate his dinAnd he jumped about delightedly into the rooms ner with a good appetite. He did not hear the which had been opened, and in which a-supper ~uppresscd sobs that issued fi'om a dark corner had been even prepared. But suddenly, his counof the box. To this corner the unhappy woman tenance darkened, and his eyes wandered around had withdrawn, who yesterday was Queen of with an anxious look. France, and whose pale cheeks reddened with "Wlhere is Houfilet?" he asked.' " HIe came shame at this hour to see the king eating with with me, and he was with me when we left the his old relish! box. Moufflet, Moufflet, where are you, MoufThe tears started afresh from her eyes, and, in flet?" and asking this question loudly, the dauorder to dry them, she asked for a handklerchief f phin hurried through the four rooms, everywhere for her own was already wet with her tears, and seeking after the little dog, the inheritance from with the sweat which she had wiped frolmn tlheb his brother, the former Dauphin of France. forehead of her sleeping boy. But no one of her But Moufflet did not come, and all search was friends could reach her a handkerchief that was in vain; no Moufilet was to be found. He had lot red with the blood of those who had been probably been lost in the crowd, or been trodden wounded in the defence of the queen! under foot. It was only at two o'clock in the night'that the When at last silence and peace came, and the living martyrdom of this session ended, and the royal family were resting on their hard beds, royal family were conducted to the cells of.the o sighs and suppressed sobs were heard from where former Convent des Feuillants, which was above the dauphin lay. It was the little fellow weeping the rooms of the Assembly, and which had hastily for his lost dog. The heir of the kings of France been put in readiness for the night quarters of -D had to-day lost his last possession-his little, the royal family. Hither armed men, using their faithful dog. gun-barrels as candlesticks for the tapers which Marie Antoinette stooped down and kissed his they carried, marched, conducting a king and a wet eyes. "Do not cry, my boy; Moufflet will come queen to their improvised sleeping-rooms. A es back again to-mrorrow." dense crowd of people, bearing weapons, surrounded them, and often closed the way, so that * Goncourt.-" Histoilte de Marie Antoinette," p. 284. 172 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SO:". "To-morrow! certainly, mamma?" ence upon her walks from the Logograph's re "Certainly." porters' seat to the rooms in the Convent des The boy dried his tears, and went to sleep with Feuillants. On one of these walks she saw in the a smile upon his lips. garden some respectably dressed people standing But Marie Antoinette did not sleepS sitting and looking without hurling insults at her.erect in her bed, she listened to the cries and Full of gratitude, the queen smiled and bowed to fiendish shoutings which came up from the ter- them. On this, one of the men shouted: "You race of the Feuillants, as the people heaped their needn't take the trouble to shake your head so abuses upon her, and demanded her head. gracefully, for you won't have it much longer! " On the next day new sufferings! The royal " I would the man were right! " said Marie Anfamily had to go again into the little box which toinette softly, going on to the hall of the Assemthey had occupied the day before; they had to bly to hear the representatives of the nation dislisten to the deliberations of the National Assem- cuss the question whether the Swiss guards, who bly about the future residence of the royal family, had undertaken to defend the royal family with which had made itself unworthy to inhabit the weapons in their hands, should not be condemned Tuileries, while even the Luxemburg palace was to death as traitors to the French nation. no suitable residence for Monsieur and Madame At length, after five days of continued sufferings, Veto. the Assembly became weary of insulting and hu.. The queen had in the mean time regained her miliating longer those who had been robbed of self-possession and calmness, she could even sum- their power and dignity; and it was alnnounced mon a smile to her lips with which to greet her to the royal family that they would hereafter children and the faithful friends who thronged reside in the Temple, and be perpetual prisoners around her in order to be near her in these pain- of the nation. ful hours. She was pleased with the attentions of On the morning of the 18th of August two the wife of the English ambassador, Lady Suth- great carriages, each drawn by only two horses, erland, who sent linen and clothes of her own son stood in the court des Feuillants ready to carry for the dauphin. The queen also received from the royal family to the Temple. In the first of Madame Tourzel her watch with many thanks, these sat the king, the queen, their two children, since she had been robbed of'her own and her Madame Elizabeth, Princess Lamballe, Madame purse on the way to the Convent des Feuillants. Tourzel and her daughter; and besides these, PeOn receiving news of this theft, the five gentle- tion the mayor of Paris, the attorney-general, and mnen present hastened to lay all the gold and a municipal officer. In the second carriage were notes that they carried about them on the table the servants of the king and two officials. A debefore they withdrew. But Marie Antoinette tachment of the National Guards escorted the had noticed this. "Gentlemen," she said, with carriages, on both sides of which dense masses thanks and deep feeling, "gentlemen, keep your of men stood, incessantly pouring out their abuse money; you will want it more than we, for you and insults. will, I trust, live longer." * In the Place Vend6me the procession stopped, Death had no longer any terrors for the queen, and with scornful laughter they showed the king for she had too often looked him in the' eye of the scattered fragments, upon the pavements, of late to be afraid. She had with joy often seen the equestrian statue of Louis XIV., which had him take away her faithful servants and friends. stood there, and which had been thrown from its Death would have been lighter to bear than pedestal by the anger of the people. "So shall it the railings and abuse which she had to experi- be with all tyrants!" shouted and roared the mob, raising their fists thrEateninolv. * The queen's own words.-See " Beauchesne" vol. i.,. p. 206. "How bad they arle!" said the dauphin, looking. TO THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JANUARY. 1 73 with widely-opened eyes at the king, between "Aundin thle evening," said Marie Antoinette, whose knees he was standing. nodding playfully to Princess Lamballe, " in the "No," answered Louis, gently, "they are not evening we will read comedies, that the children bad, they areonly misled." may learn of our Lamballe the art of declamation. At seven in the evening they reached the We will seek to forget the past, and turn our gloomy building which was now to be the home thoughts only to the present, whatever it may be. of the King and Queen of France. You see that these four days that we have spent "Long live the nation! " roared themob, which here in the Temple have been good schoolmasters filled the inner court as Marie Antoinette and her for me, and have made me patient, and-but what husband dismounted from the carriage. " Long is that?" exclaimed the queen; " did you not live the nation!-'down with the tyrants!" The hear steps before the door? It must be somequeen paid no attention to the cries; she looked thing unusual, for it is not yet so late as the offidown at her black shoe, which was torn, and out cials are accustomed to come. Where are the of whose tip her white silk stocking peeped. children?" "See," she said, to Princess Lamballe, who was And, in the anxiety of her motherly love, the walking by her side, "see my foot, it would queen hastened up the little staircase which led hardly be believed that the Queen of France has to the second story of the Temple, where was the no shoes." chamber of the dauphin, together with- the general sitting-room. Louis Charles sprang forward to meet his mother, and asked her whether she had come to fulfil her promise, and go out with him into the OLHIA PTE R X X. garden. The queen, instead of answering, clasped him in her arms, and beckoned to Theresa to c6me TO THE 21ST OF JANUARY. to her side. "Oh! my children, my dear chil" WE must look misfortune directly in the eye, dren, I only wanted to see you; I-" and have courage to bear it worthily," said Marie The door opened, and the king, followed by his Antoinette. "We are prisoners, and shall long re-`sister,, Princess Lamballe, and Madame Tourzel, main so! Let us seek to have a kind of house- entered. hold life even in our prison. Let us make a fixed "What is it? " cried Marie Antoinette. " Some plan how to spend-our days." new misfortune, is it not?" "You are right, Marie," replied Louis; "let us She was silent, for she now became aware of arrange how to spend each day. As I am no the presence of both of the municipal officials, who longer a king, I will be the teacher of my son, and bad come in behind the ladies, and in whose prestry to educate him to be a good king." ence she would not complain. Manuel, who, since "Do you believe,'then, husband, that there are the 10th of August, had been attorney-generalto be kings after this in France?" asked Marie Manuel, the enemy of the queen, the chief superAn.toinette, with a shrug. visor of the prisoners in the Temple, was there — " Well,'" answered Louis, "we will at least seek and Marie Antoinette would not grant him the to give him such an education that heshall be able triumph of seeing her weakness. to fill worthily whatever station he may be called "You have something to say to us, sir," said to. I will be his teacher in the sciences." the queen, with a voice which she -compelled to be "And I will interest him and our daughter in calm. music and drawing," said the queen. Yes, Manuel had something to say to her. He "And you will allow' me to teach my niece to had to lay before her and the king a decree of embroider an altar-cover," said Madame Elizabeth. the National Assembly, which ordered old parties 174 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND RER SON. who had accompaniied " Louis Capet and his wife " ness when he succeeded in calling a smile to the to the Temple, either under the name of friends or pale, proud lips of the queen, or in winning a servants, to leave the place at once. word of praise from the king for his industry and The queen had not a word of complaint, but his attention. her pride was vanquished; she suffered Manuel And thus the days went by with the royal famto see her tears. She extended her arms, and ily-monotonous, sad, and dreary. No greeting called the faithful Lamballe to her, mingled her of love, no ray of hope came in from the outer tears with those of the princess; and then gave world, to lighten up the thick walls of the old a parting kiss to Madame de Tourzel and her building. No one brought the prisoners news of daughter. what was transpiring without. They were too The evening of that day was a silent and soli- well watched for any of their friends to be able tary one in the rooms of the Temple. Their last to communicate with them. This was the greatservants had been taken away from the royal est trial for the royal captives. Not a moment,,prisoners, and only Clery, the valet of the king, by day or by night, when the eyes of the sentries had been suffered to remain, to wait upon his mas- were not directed toward them, and their motions ter. The next morning, however, Manuel came observed! The doors to the anterooms were conto inform the queen that she would be allowed to stantly open, xnd in them always there were offihave two other women to wait upon her, and cials, with searcuing looks and with severe faces, gave her a list of names from which she might watching the prisoners in the inner rooms. Even choose. But Marie Antoinette, with proud com- during the night this trial did not cease, and the posure, refused to accept this offer. " We have Queen of France had to undergo the indignity of been deprived of those who remained faithful to having the door of her sleeping-room constantly us out of love, and devoted.their services to- us as open, while the officials, who spent the:night in a free gift, and we will not supply their places by their arm-chairs in the anteroom, drank, played, servants who are paid by our enemies." and smoked, always keeping an eye on her bed,' Then you will have to wait upon yourselves," in order'to be sure of her presence. cried Manuel, with a harsh voice. Even when she undressed herself, the doors of' Yes," answered the queen, gently, "we will the queen's apartment were not' closed; a mere wait upon ourselves, and take pleasure in it." small screen stood at the foot of the bed; this And they did wait upon themselves; they took was removed as soon as the queen had' disrobed the tenderest care one of another, and performed and lain down. all these offices with constant readiness. The This daily-renewed pain and humiliation-this king had, happily, been allowed to retain his valet, being watched every minute-was the lheaviest who dressed him, who knew all his quiet, moder- burden that the prisoners of the Temple had to ate ways, and who arranged everything for the bear, and the proud heart of 3Marie Antoinette king in the little study at the Temple, as he had rose in exasperation every day against these re-'been accustomed to do in the grand cabinet at straints. She endeavored to be patient and to Versailles. The ladies waited' upon themselves, choke the grief that rose within her, and yet she and Marie Antoinette undertook the task of must sometimes give expression to it in tears and dressing and undressing the dauphin. threatening words, which now fell like cold thun The little fellow was the sunbeam which now derbolts from the lips of the queen, and no longe and then would light up even the sombre apart- kindled any thing, no longer dashed any thing in ments of the Temple. With the happy careless- pieces. ness of infancy, he had forgotten the past, and Thus August passed and September began, sad, did not think of the future; he lived only in the gloomy, and hopeless. On the morning of the present, sought to be happy, and found his happi- 3d of September, Manuel -came to the royal pris TO THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JANUARY. 175 oners, to tell thpm that Paris was in great excite- piness which for us is bux.ed forever in the ment, and that they were not to go into the gar- past." dun that day as usual about noon, but were to And yet Marie Antoinette couldI speak to no remain in their rooms. one of her hopes and fears. She must breathe "How is it with my friend, Princess Lam- her prayer in her own heart alone, for the muniballe? " asked Marie Antoinette. cipal officials were there, and the two servants Manuel was perplexed; he even blushed and who had been forced upon the prisoners, Tison c!ast down his eyes, as he answered that that and his wife, the paid servants of their enemies. morning the princess had been taken to the Only the brave look and the clearer brow told prison L:a Force. Then, in order -to divert con- the king of the hopes and wishes of his wife, but versation from this channel, Manuel told the he responded to them with a faint shrug and a prisoners about the tidings which had recently sad smile. reached Paris, and had thrown the city into such All at once, after the royal family had sat down excitem'ent and rage. to take their dinner at the round table-all at The neighboring powers had made an alliance once there was a stir in the building which was against France. The King of Prussia was ad- before so. still. Terrible cries were heard, and vancing with a powerful army, and had already steps advancing up the staircase. The two officonfronted the French force before Chalons, while cials, who were sitting in the open anteroom, the Emperor of Germany was marching against stood and listened at the door. This was sudAlsace. Marie Antoinette forgot the confusion denly opened, and a third official entered, pale, and perplexity which Manuel had exhibited, in the trembling with racge, and raising his clinched importance of this news. She hoped again; she fists tremblingly against the king. found in her elastic spirit support in these tidings, "The enemy is in Verdun," cried he. " We and began to think of the possibility of escape. shall all be undone, but you shall be the first to It did not trouble her that beneath her window suffer!" she heard a furious cry, as the crowd surged up The king looked quietly at, him; but the'danto the prison walls: " The head of the Austrian! phin, terrified at the looks of the angry man and Give us the head of the Austrian!" She had his loud voice, burst into a violent fit of weeping so often heard that-it had been so long the daily and sobbing, and Marie Antoinette and the little refrain to the sorrowful song of riot which filled Theresa strove in vain to quiet the little fellow by Paris —that it had lost all meaning for Marie An- gentle words. toinette. A fourth official now entered, and whispered Nor did it disturb her at all that she heard secretly to his colleagues. the loud beatings of drums approaching like "Is my family no longer in safety here?" muffled thunder, that trumpets were blown, that asked the king. musketry rattled, and loud war-cries resounded in The official shrugged his shoulders. "The rethe distant streets. port has gone abroad that the royal family is no Marie Antoinette paid no heed to this. She longer in the Temple. This has excited the peoheard constantly ringing before her ear Manuel's ple, and they desire that you all show'yourselves words: "The neighboring nations have allied at the windows, but we will not permit it you against France. The King of Prussia is before shall not show yourselves. The public must have Chalons. The Emperor of Germany is advancing' more confidence in its servants." upon Strasburg." " O God of Heaven, be merci- "Yes," cried the other official, still raising his ful to us! Grant to our friends victory over our fists-" yes, that it must; but if the enemy come, enemies. Release us from these sufferings and the royal family shall die!" pains, that our children may at least find the hap- And when at these words the dauphin began 176 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. to cry aloud again, he continued: "I pity the from her lips: "Swear that you love liberty and poor little fellow, but die he must! " equality; swear that you hate the king, the Meanwhile the cries outside were still louder, queen, and every thing pertaining to royalty." and abusive epithets were distinctly heard direct- "I will swear to the first," was the princess's ed at the queen. A fifth official then came in, answer, "but to the last I cannot swear, for it followed by some soldiers, in order to assure does not lie in my heart." themselves, in the name of the people, that the This was the offence of the princess, that hate Capet fiamily was still in the tower. This official did not lie in her heart —the offence of so many demanded, in an angry voice, thatthey should go others who were killed on that 3d of September, to the window and show themselves to the peo- that dreadful'day on which the hordes of Marple. seilles opened the prisons, in order to drag the "No, no, they shall not do it," cried the other prisoners before the tribunals, or to execute them functionaries. without further sentence. "Why not? " asked the king. " Come, Marie." The days passed by, and they had to be borne. Re extended his hand to her, and advanced Marie Antoinette'had regained her composure with her to the window. and her proud calmness. She had to overcome "No, don't do it!" cried the official, rushing to even this great grief, and the heart of the queen the window. had not yet been broken. She still loved, she "Why not?" asked the king, in astonishment. still hoped. She owed it to her husband and "Well," cried the man, with threatening fist, children not to despair, and better days might "the people want to show you the head of Lam- come even yet. " We must keep, up courage," she balle, that you may see how the nation takes ven- said, "to live till the dawn of this better day." geance on its tyrants." And it required spirit to bear the daily torture At that same instant there arose behind the of this life! Always exposed to scorn and abuse! window-pane a pale head encircled with long, fair Always watched by the eyes of mocking, reviling hair; the livid forehead sprinkled with blood, the men! Always scrutinized by Madame Tison, her sereyes lustreless and fixed-the head of Princess vant, who followed every one of her motions as a Lamballe, which the people had dressed by a cat watches its prey, and among all these sentinels friseur, to hoist it upon a pike and show it to the the most obnoxious of all was the cobbler Simon. qu.een. Commissioned by the authorities to surprise The queen had seen it; staggering she fell back the workmen and masons who were engaged in upon a chair; she gazed fixedly at the window, restoring the partially ruined ancient portion of even after the fearful phantom had disappeared. the Temple, Simon had made himself at home Her lips were open, as if for a cry which had been within the building, to discharge his duties more silenced by horror. She did not weep, she did not comfortably. it was his pleasure to watch this complain, and even the caresses of the children, humiliated royal family, to see them fall day by the gentle address of Princess Elizabeth, and the day, and hear the curses that accompanied them comforting words of the king could not rouse her at every step. He never appeared in their presout of this stupefying of ier whole nature. ence without insulting them, and encouraging Princess Lamballe had been murdered, and with loud laughter those who irritated him in this. deep in her soul the queen saw that this was only Some of the officials in charge never spoke exthe prelude to the fearful tragedy, in which her cepting with dreadful abuse of Athe king, the family would soon be implicated. queen, and the children. Poor Princess Lamballe! She had been killed One of them cried to his comrade in presence because she had refused to repeat the impreca- of Marie Antoinette: "If the hangman does not tions aainst the queen, which they tried to extort guillotine this accursed family, I will do it! " TO THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JANUARY. 177 When the royal family went down to take their volved in this, she submitted herself, and every walk in the garden, Santerre used to come up day the royal pair took the dear children into the with a troop of soldiers. The sentries whom they garden again, and bore this unworthy treatment passed shouldered arms before Santerre; but as without complaint, that the children might enjoy soon as he had passed and the king came, they a little air and sunshine. grounded their arms, and pretended not to see One day, the 21st of September, the royal faimhim. In the door that led into the garden, ily had returned from their walk to their sittingRocher, the turnkey, used to stand, and take his room. The king had taken a book and was readpleasure in letting the royal family wait before ing; the queen was sitting near him, engaged in unlocking, while he blew great clouds of smoke some light work; while the dauphin, with his into their faces from his long tobacco-pipe. The sister Theresa, and his aunt Elizabeth, were in National Guards who stood in the neighborhood the next room, and were busying each other with used to laugh at this, and hurl all sorts of low,- riddles. In the open anteroom the two officials vile words at the princesses. Then, while the were sitting, their eyes fixed upon the prisoners royal prisoners were taking their wallk, the can- with a kind of cruel pleasure. noneers used to collect in the allees through Suddenly beneath their windows were heard which they wandered, and dance to the music of the loud blast of trumpets and the rattle of revolutionary songs which some of them sang. drums; then followed a deep silence, and amid Sometimes the gardeners who worked there hur- this stillness the following proclamation was read ried up to join them in this dance, and to encircle with aloud voice: the prisoners in their wild evolutions. One of "The monarchy is abolished in France. All these people displayed his sickle to the king one official documents will be dated from the first. day, and swore that he would cut off the head of year of the republic. The national seal will be the queen with it. And when, after their sad encircled by the words,'Republic of France.' walk, they had returned to the Temple, they were The national coat-of-arms will be a woman sitting received by the sentinels and the turnkey with upon a bundle of weapons, and holding in her renewed insults; and, as if it were not enough to hand a lance tipped. with a liberty-cap." fill the ear with this abuse, the eye too must have The two officials had fixed their eyes upon the its share. The vilest of expressions were written king and queen, from whose heads the crown had upon the walls of the corridors which the royal just fallen.- They wanted to read, with their party had to traverse. You might read there: crafty and malicious eyes, the impression which "Madame Veto will soon be dancing again. Down the proclamation had made upon them. But with the Austrian she-wolf! The wolf's brood those proud, calm features disclosed nothing. must be strangled. The king must be hanged Not for a moment did the king raise his eyes with his own ribbon!" Another time they had from the book which he was reading, while drawn a gallows, on which a figure was hanging the voice without uttered each word with fearful with the expression written beneath, "Louis tak- distinctness. The queen quietly went on with ing an air-bath! " her embroidery, and not for a moment did she And so, even the short walks of the prisoners intermit the regular motion of her needle. were transformed into suffering. At first the Again the blast of trumpets and the rattle of queen thought she could not bear it, and the drums. The funeral of the royalty was ended, promenades were given up; But the pale cheeks and the king was, after this time, to be known of her daughter, the longing looks which the dau- simply as Louis Capet, and the queen as Marie phin cast from the closed window to the garden, Antoinette. Within the Temple there was no warned the mother to do what the queen found longer a dauphin, no longer a Madame Royale, no too severe a task. She underwent the pain in- longer a princess, but only the Capet family! 12 1478 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SSON. The republic had hurled the crowns from the the dauphin was compelled to go with his father, heads of Louis and Marie Antoinette; and when, and be separated from his mother. some days later, the linen which had been long This broke the pride, the royal pride of Marie begged for, had been brought from the Tuileries, Antoinette. She wrung her hands, she wept, she the republic commanded the queen to obliterate cried, she implored with such moving, melting the crown which marked each piece, in addition tones, not to be separated from her son and husto the name. band, that even the heart of Simon the cobbler But their sufferings are by no means ended yet. was touched. Still there are some sources of comfort left, and "I really believe that these cursed women now and then a peaceful hour. The crowns have make me blubber!" cried he, angry with the fallen, but hearts still beat side by side. They have tears which forced themselves into his eyes. And no longer a kingdom, but they are together, they he made no objection when the other officials can speak with looks one to another, they can said to the queen, with trembling voices, that they seek to comfort one another with smiles, they can would allow the royal family to come together at cheer each other up with a passing grasp of the their meals. hand,'that escapes the eye of the sentries! We One last comfort, one last ray of sunshine! only suffer half what we bear in- common with There were still hours in these dismal, monotonous others, and every thing seems lighter, when there days of November, when they could have some is a second one to help lift the load. happiness-hours for which they longed, and for Perhaps the enemies of the king and queen whose sake they bore the desolate solitude of the have an instinctive feeling of this, and their hate remaining time. makes them sympathetic, in order to teach them At breakfast, dinner, and supper, the Capet to invent new tortures and new sufferings. family were together; words were interchanged, Yes, there are unknown pangs still to be felt; hands could rest in one another, and they could their cup of sorrows was not yet full! The parents delight in the pleasant chatter of the dauphin are still left to each other, and their eyes are still when the king told about the lessons he had allowed to rest upon their children! Biut the " one given the boy, and the progress he was making. and indivisible republic" means to rend even these They sometimes forgot, at those meetings, that bonds which bind the royal family together, and Death was perhaps crouching outside the Temple, to part those who have sworn that nothing shall waiting to receive his victims; and they even separate them but death! The republic-which uttered little words of pleasantry, to awaken the had abolished the churches, overthrown the altars, bright, fresh laugh of the dauphin, the only music driven the priesthood into exile-the republic that ever was heard in those dismal rooms. cannot grant to the Capet family that'only death But December took this last consolation from shall separate them, for it had even made Death the queen. The National Assembly, which had its servant, and must accept daily victims from now been transformed -into the Convention, him, offered on the Place de Liberte, in the cen- brought the charge of treason against the king. tre of which stood the guillotine, the only altar He was accused of entering into a secret alliance tolerated there. with the enemies of France, and calling the mon-. In the middle of October the republic sent its archs of Europe to come to his assistance. In an emissaries to the Temple, to tear the king from iron safe which had been set into the wall of the the arms of his wife and his children. In spite of cabinet in the Tuileries, papers had been discovtheir pleadings and cries, he was taken to another ered which compromised the king, letters from the part of the Temple-to the great tower, which refugee princes, from the Emperor of'Germany, from this time was to serve as his lodgings. And and the King of Prussia. These monarchs were in order that the queen might be spared no pang, now on the very confines of France, ready to TO THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JANUARY. 179 enter upon a bloody war, and that was the fault venture to enter upon so momentous and perilous of the king! He was in alliance with the enemies a duty. of his country! He was the murderer of his own But there were such, nevertheless. There were subjects!,On his head the blood should return, still courageous and.noble men who pitied the which had been shed by him,. forsaken king, and who wanted to try to save This was the charge which was brought against him;'not willing to see him atone for the debts the king. Twenty members of the Convention of his predecessors, and bleed for the sins of his went to the Temple, to read it to him, and to hear fathers. And scarcely had the consent of the his reply. Convention been announced, that Louis Capet He stoutly denied having entertained such re- should have three advocates for his defence, lations with foreign princes; he declared, with a when from Paris and all the minor cities letters solemn oath, that he had declined all overtures came in from men who declared themselves ready from such quarters, because he had seen that, in to undertake the defence of the king. order to free an imprisoned king, France itself Even from foreign lands there came letters and must-be threatened. appeals in behalf of the deposed monarch. One The chiefs of the revolution meant to find him of them, written in spirited and glowing language, guilty, Louis Capet must be put out of the way, conjured France not to soil its- noble young freein order that Robespierre and Marat, Danton, Pe- dom by the dreadful murder of an innocent man, tion, and their friends, might reach unlimited who had committed no other offence than that he power. was the son of his fathers, the heir of their crown There may have been several in the Convention and their remissness. It was written by a'Gerwho shrank from this last consequence of their man poet, Frederick Schiller.* doings, but they did not venture to raise their From the many requests to serve as his advovoices' they chimed in with the terrorism which cates, Louis chose only two to defend him. The the leaders of the revolution exercised upon the first of these was his former minister, the philosConvention. They knew that behind these lead- opher Lamoignon des Malesherbes, then the aders stood the savage masses of the streets, armed vocate Trouchet, and finally, at the pressing rewith hatred against monarchy and the aristocra- quest of ]Malesherbes, the distinguished young cy, and ready to tear in pieces any one as an en- advocate Destges. To those three men was comemy of the country who ventured to join -the mitred the trust of defending the king against the number of those who were under the ban and the dreadful charge of treason to his. country, to be sentence of the popular hate. substantiated by hundreds and hundreds of letters Still there were some courageous, faithful ser- and documents. vants of the king who ventured to take his part After the preliminary investigations were even there. Louis had now been summoned to closed, the-public charge was made in the Conthe bar as an accused person, and the Convention vention, which Ltill held its. sessions in the had transformed itself into a tribunal whose func- Manuge. To this building, situated near the Tuition was to pass judgment on the guilt or inno- Ileries, the king, accompanied by his three' defendcence of the king! ers and two municipal defenders, and surrounded In order to satisfy all the forms of the law, the by National Guards, was conducted from the Temking should have had an advocate allowed him, ple. The people danced around the carriage with and the benefit of legal counsel. The Convention wild shouts of joy and curses of the king. Within demanded that those who were ready to under- the vehicle sat Louis, completely calm and selftake this task should send in their names. It was possessed. a form deemed safe to abide by, because it was * Schiller's defence of the king is preserved in the na. believed that there would be no one who would tional archives.-See Beauchesne, vol. i., p. 365. 180 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "This man must be filled with a singular fanat- The sentence of death was pronounced on Jan.. icism," said Colombeau, one of the leading offi- uary 26, 1793. Louis received it calmly, and de. cials, in the report which he gave to the Conven- sired merely to see his family, to have a confessor tion of the ride. "It is otherwise inexplicable come to him, and to prepare himself for his how Louis could be so calm, since he had so death. much reason to fear. After we had all entered During these dreadful weeks Marie Antoinette the carriage, and were driving through the streets, was separated from her husband, alone with her Louis entered upon conversation, which soon children, who no longer were able to smile, but turned upon literature, and especially upon some who sat day after day with fixed eyes and silent Latin authors. He gave his judgments with re- lips. The queen knew that the king had been imarkable correctness and insight, and it appeared accused, had made a private reply to the charges to me that he took pleasure in showing his learning. brought against him, and had been brought beOne of us said that he did not enjoy Seneca, be- fore the Convention. But not a word, not a sylcause his love for riches stood in marked contrast lable of the trial which followed, reached her. with his pretended philosophy, and because it Madame Tison, the female dragon who guarded could not easily be forgiven him that before the her, watched her too well for any tidings to reach senate he apologized for' the crimes of Nero. This her.' reflection did not seem to affect Louis in the least. At last, however, the word was brought which When we spoke of Livy, Capet said that he the heart of the queen had so long anticipated seemed to have taken satisfaction in composing tremblingly, for which she had prepared herself great speeches which were never uttered to any during the long nights with tears and prayers, other audience than that which was reached from and which now filled her with grief, anger, and de. his.study-table;'for,' he added,' it is impossible spair. The king was condemned to death! -He that generals really delivered such long speeches wanted only to see his family, to take his leave of in front of their armies.' He then compared them! Livy with Tacitus, and thought that the latter The Convention had granted this privilege to was far superior to the former in point of style." * him, and had even gone so far in its grace as to The king went on talking about Latin authors permit the family to be without the presence of while the carriage was carrying him through the witnesses. The meeting was appointed, however, roaring mob to the Convention, which Desbge in the little dining-room of the king, because a addressed in his defence in these courageous glass door led into the adjoining room, and the words: "I look for judges among you, but see officials could then look in upon the royal family. only accusers." The functionary had withdrawn in order to conThe king was completely calm, yet he knew duct the queen, the children, and the king's sister that his life was threatened, and that he was from the upper tower. The king was awaiting standing before a tribunal of deak. As on the day them, walked disquietly up and down, and then when he was first taken to the Convention, he re- directed Clery, who was arranging the little room, quested Malesherbes to forward a note to the to set the round table, which was in the middle priest whose attendance he desired, and who he of the apartment, on one side, and then to bring believed would not deny his presence and atten- in a carafe of water and some glasses. " But," tions. His name was Edgewarth de Firmont. he added, considerately, "not ice-water, for the The time was not distant when not the services queen cannot bear it, and she might be made un. of advocates were wanted by the king, but exclu- well by it." sively those of the priest. But all at once the king grew pale, and, standing still, he laid his hand upon his loudly-beating * See Beauchesne, vol. L, p. 896. heart. He had heard the voice of the queen. /-,, (~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~iiii~~ii~i?,!~~~~~~~~~~~.... ii ~!~i~~~~~i~::~i~-~.~~ ~ ~..., i!~ii! ili~,i ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~7'p"'"i'.",."',','-.' i~ iiil i~i!x Ai!, K!~?iiii'~!:!!ii~~~~~11!i TO THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JANUARY. 181 The door opened and they came in-all his the same. Promise me, Marie, that you will never dear ones. The queen led the dauphin by the think how you may avenge my death." hand; Madame Elizabeth walked with the Prin- A smile full of sadness and despair flitted over ress Theresa. the pale lips of the queen. The king went toward them and opened his "I shall never be in a situation to take'enarms to them. They all pressed up to him and geance upon them," she said. " But,"she, added, clasped him in their midst, while loud sobs and quickly, " even if I should ever be able, and the heart-rending cries filled the room. Behind the power should be in my hands, I promise that I door were the officials, but they could not look will exact no vengeance for this deed." in upon the scene, for their own eyes were filled The king stooped down and imprinted a kiss with tears. In the king's cabinet, not far away, upon her forehead. the Abbe Edgewarth de Firmont was upon his "I thank you, Marie, and I know that you all, knees, praying for the unfortunates whose wails my dear ones, will sacredly regard my last testaand groans reached even him. ment, and that my wishes and words will be enGradually the sobs died away. They took their graven on your hearts. But, my son"-and- he places-the queen at the left of her husband; took the dauphin upon his knee, and looked down Madame Elizabeth, his sister, at his right; oppo- into his face tenderly-" you are still a child, and site to him, his daughter, Maria Theresa, and be- might forget. You have heard what I have said, tween his knees the dauphin, looking up into his but as an oath is more sacred than a word, raise father's face with widely-opened eyes and a sad your hand and swear to me that you will fulfil my smile. wish and forgive all our enemies." Louis was the first to speak. He told them of The boy, turning his great blue eyes fixedly on his trial, and of the charges which they *had the king, and his lips trembling with emotion, brought against him. But his words were gentle raised-his right hand, and even the officials inll the and calm, and he. expressed his pity for the next room could distinctly hear the sweet child's "poor, misled men" who had condemned him. voice repeating the words: "I swear to you, papa He asked his family, too, to forgive them. They king, that I will forgive all our enemies, and will answered him only with sobs, embraces, tears, do no harm to those who are going to kill my dear and kisses. father!" Then all was still. The officials heard not a A shudder passed through the hearts of the word, but they saw the queen, with her children men in the next room; they drew back from the and sister-in-law, sink upon their knees, while the door with pale faces. It seemed to them as if king, standing erect in the midst of the group, they had heard the voice of an angel, and a feelraised his hands and blessed them in gentle, noble ing of inexpressible pain and regret passed through words, which' touched the heart of the Abb6 Edge- their souls. warth, who was kneeling behind the door of the Within the king's room all now was still, and neighboring cabinet. the abbe in the cabinet heard only the gentle The king then bade the family rise, took them murmuring of their prayers, and the suppressed again in his arms, and kissed the queen, who, weeping and sobs. pale and trembling, clung to him, and whose At last the king spoke. "Now, go, my dear quivering lips were not able to restrain a word ones. I must be alone. I need to rest- and colof denunciation of those who had condemned lect myself." him. A loud wail,was the answer. After some min"I have forgiven them," said the king, serious- utes, Clery opened the glass door, and the royal ly. "I have written my will, and in it you will family were brought into the view of the officials read that I pardon them, and that I ask you to do once more. The queen was clinging to the right 182 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. arm of Louis; they each gave a hand to the of the authorities, and at seven the king.was to dauphin. Theresa had flung her arms around the be taken to execution. king's body, his sister Elizabeth clung to his left Louis received the first part of this communicaarm. They thus moved forward a few steps tow- tion joyfully, the second partwith complete calmard the door, amid loud cries of grief and heart- ness. breaking sobs. "As I must rise so early," he said to his valet'" I promise you," said Louis, " to see you once Clery, "I must retire early.\ This day has been more to-morrow morning, at eight o'clock." a very trying one for me, and- I need rest, so as "At eight? Why not at seven?" asked the not to be weak to-morrow." He was then unqueen, with a foreboding tone. dressed by the servant, and lay down. When " Well, then," answered the king, gently, "at Clery came at five the next morning to dress him, seven. Farewell, farewell!" he found the king still asleep, and they must have The depth of sadness in his utterance with which been pleasant dreams which were passing before he spoke the last parting word, doubled the tears him, for a smile was playing on his lips. and sobs of the weeping family. The daughter The king was dressed, and the priest gave him.'fell in a swoon at the feet of her father, and the sacrament, the vessels used having been taken Clery, assisted by the Princess Elizabeth, raised from the neighboring Capuchin church of Marais. her up. An old chest of drawers was converted by Clery "Papa, my dear papa," cried the dauphin, into an altar, two ordinary candlesticks stood on nestling up closely to his father, " let us stay with each side of the cup, and in them two tallow canyou." dies burned, instead of wax. Before this altar The queen said not a word. With pale face kneeled King Louis XVI., lost in thought and and with widely-opened eyes she looked fixedly at prayer, and wearing a calln, peaceful face. the king, as though she wanted to impress his The priest read the mass; Clery responded as countenance on her heart'. sacristan; and even while the king was receiving "Farewell, farewell! " cried the king, once the elements, the sound of the drums and trummore, and he turned quickly around and hurried pets was heard without, which awakened Paris that into the next room. morning and told the city that the King of France A single cry of grief and horror issued from was being led to his execution. Cannon were all lips. The two children, soon to be orphans, rattling through the streets, and National Guardsthen clung closely to their mother, who threw her- men were hurrying on foot and on horse along self, overmastered by her sobbing, on the neck of the whole of the way that led from the Temple to her sister-in-law. the Place de la Concorde. A rank of men, four deep "Forward'! The Capet family will return to and standing close to one another, armed with their own apartments!" cried one of the officials. pikes and other weapons, guarded both sides of Marie Antoinette raised herself up, her eye -the street, and made it impossible for those who flashed, and with a voice full,of anger, she cried: wanted to liberate the king during the ride, to "You are hangmen and traitors!" * come near to him. The authorities knew that one The king had withdrawn to his cabinet, where of the bravest and most determined partisans of the priest, Abbe Edgewarth de Firmont, addressed the king had arrived in Paris, and that he, in conhim with comforting words. His earnest request junction with a number of young and.brave-spirhad been granted, to give the king the sacrament ited men, had resolved on rescuing the king at any before his death. The service was to take place cost, during his ride to the place of execution. very early the next morning, so ran the decision The utmost precautions had been taken to render this impossible. Through the dense ranks of the * Beauchesne, vol. i., p. 449. National Guard, which to-day was composed of TO THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JANUARY. 183 mere sans-culottes, the raging, bloodthirsty men Louis raised his eyes to heaven withl an indeof the suburbs drove the carriage in which was scribable expression of grief and resignation. the king, followed and escorted by National "Truly," he said, "only my recollection of Guardsmen on horseback. The windows were Him and His example can enable me to endure all closed and the curtains drawn in the houses this new degradation." by which the procession passed; but behind those He gave his hands to the executioner, to let curtained windows it is probable that people them be bound. Then resting on the arm of the were upon their knees praying for the unhappy abblj, he ascended the steps of the scaffold. The man who was now on his way to the scaffold, and twenty drummers, who stood around the staging, who was once King of France. beat their drums; but the king, advancing to the All at once there arose a movement in this very verge of the scaffold, commanded them with dreadful hedge of armed men, through which the a loud voice to be silent, and the noise ceased. carriage was passing. Two young men cried: In a tone which was audible across the whole "To us, Frenchmen —to us, all who want to save square, and which made every word intelligible, the king! " the king said: " I die innocent of all the charges But the cry found no response. Every one which are brought against me. I forgive those looked horrified at his neighbor, and believed he who have caused my death, and I pray God that saw in him a spy or a murderer; fear benumbed the blood which you spill this day may never all their souls, and the silence of death reigned come back upon the head of France. And you, around. unhappy people —" The two young men wanted to flee, to escape "Do not let him go on talking this way," cried into a house close by. But the door was Santerre's commanding voice, interrupting the closed, and before the very door they were cut king; then turning to Louis he said, in an angry down and hewn in pieces by the exasperated tone, "I brought you here not to make speeches, sans-culottes. but to die!" The carriage of the king rolled on, and Louis The drums beat, the executioners seized the paid no more attention to objects around him; king and bent him down. The priest stooped in the prayer-book whichhe carried in his hands over him and murmured some words which only he read the petitions for the dying, and the God heard, but which a tradition full'of admiraabbe prayed with him. tion and sympathy has transposed into the imThe coachman halted at the foot of the scaf- mortal and popular formula which is truer than fold, and the king dismounted. A forest of pikes truth and more historical than history: ".Son of surrounded the spot. The drummersbeat loudly, St. Louis, ascend to Heaven! " but the king cried with a loud voice, "Silence! " The drums beat, a glistening object passed and the noise ceased. On that, Santerre sprang through the air, a stroke was heard, and blood forward and commanded them to commence beat- spirted up. The King of France was dead, and ing their drums again, and they obeyed him. The Samson the executioner lifted up the head,- which king took off his upper garments, and the execu- had once borne a crown, to show it to the people. tioners approached to cut off his hair. He quietly A dreadful silence followed for an instant; let this be done, but when they wanted to tie his then the populace broke in masses through the hands, his eyes flashed with anger, and with a rows of soldiers, and rushed to the scaffold, in firm voice he refused to allow them to do so. order to bear away some remembrances of this "Sire," said the priest, "I see in this new in- ever-memorable event. The clothes of the king sult only' a fresh point of resemblance between were torn to rags and distributed, and they even your majesty and our Saviour, who will be your gave the executioner some gold in exchange for recompense and your strength." locks of hair from the bleeding head. An English 184 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. man gave a child fifteen louis d'or for dipping his is so trustworthy and blameless a republican, and handkerchief in the blood which flowed from the so zealous a citizen, that the republic gives him scaffold. Another paid thirty louis d'or for the unconditional confidence. The republic had apperuke of the king.* pointed him as chief of the bureau for the conOn the evening of the same day, the execution- trol of the effects of emi'gres. Toulan is, besides, er Samson, shocked at the terrible deed which he a member of the Convention; and it is not his had done, went to a priest, paid for masses to be fault that, on the day when the decision was made said for the repose of the king, then laid down respecting the king's life or death, he was not in his office, retired into solitude, and died in six the Assembly. He had been compelled at that months. His son was his successor in his ghostly time to make a journey into the provinces, to atoffice, and, in a pious manner, he continued what tach the property of an aristocrat who had emihis father began. The masses for the king, in- grated. Had Toulan been in Paris, he would natstituted by the two Samsons, continued to be read urally have given his voice in favor of the executill the year 1840.4 tion of the king. He says this freely and openly On the morrow which followed this dreadful to every one, and every one believes him, for day, the "Widow Capet" requested the authori- Toulan is an entirely unsuspected republican. He ties to provide for herself and her family a suite belongs to the sans-culoltes, and takes pride in not of mourning of the simplest kind. being dressed better than the meanest citizen. The republic was magnanimous enough to com- He belongs to the friends of Marat, and Simon ply with this request. the cobbler is always happy when Toulan has the watch in the Temple; for Toulan is such a jovial, merry fellow, he can make such capital jokes and laugh so heartily at those of others. They have CHAPTER XXI. such fine times when Toulan is there, and the sport is the greatest when his friend Lepitre is TOULAN, with him on service in the Temple. Then the two TnIE citizen Toulan is on guard again at the have the grandest sport of all; they even have Temple, and this time with his friend Lepitre. He little plays, which are so funny that Simon has to * These details I take from the "Vossische Zeitung," laugh outright and even the turnkey Tison and which, in its issue of the 5th of February, 1793, contains a full report of the execution of King Louis XVI., and also his wife, forget to keep guard, and leave the glass announces that the court of Prussia will testify its door through which they have been watching the grief at the unmerited fate by wearing mourning for a period of four weeks. The author of this work possesses royal family, in order to be spectators at Toulan's a copy of the' "Vossische Zcitung " of that date, in small little farces. quarto form, printed on thick, gray paper. In the same number of the journal is a fable by Herman Pfeffel, which "These are jolly days when you are both in the runs in the following strain: I Temple," said Simon, " and you cannot blame me FIRST MORAL, THEN POLITICAL FREEDOM. if I like to have you here, and put you on service A FABLE, BY HIERMANN PFEFFEL. ZEUS AND THE TIGERS. pretty often." To Zeus there came one day "Oh, we do not blame you for that," said TouA deputation of tigers. "Mighty potentate," lan, on the other hand, we particularly like being Thus spoke their Cicero before the monarch's throne, we particularly like being "The noble nation of tigers, with you, you are such a splendid fellow! " T-Tas long been wearied with the lion's choice as king. "And then," adds Lepitre to this, "it is so Does not Nature give us an equal claim with his? Therefore, 0 Zeus, declare my race pleasant to see the proud she-wolf and her young To be a people of free citizens I e ones, and to set them down a little.'These peoi' No," said the god of gods,'i it cannot be; You are (leceivers, thieves, and murderers, pie, when they were living in the Tuileries, have dunly a good people merits being free.~" turned up their noses at us. often enough, and t "Marie Antoinette et sa Famille," par Lescure, p..a f23. acted as if we were only dust that they must blow TOULAN. 185 away from their exalted presence. It is time that but if we have our joke out, we shall not smoke they should feel a little that they are only dust any more." for us to blow away!" "I will put up a placard on the door:' Smoking "Yes, indeed," chimed in Toulan, "it is high forbidden in the anteroom of the she-wolf.'" time that they should feel it!" "Good," cried Toulan, "that is worthy of "And you both:understood that matter capi- you." tally," said Simon, with a laugh, "I always see "Let us go up now," said Simon, "the two that it particularly provokes the queen to have other sentries are up-stairs already, they will you on. service, and I like that, and I am especially wonder that you come so late, but I do like to glad to have you here." chat with you. Come on, let's go up. I'll stay "I've thought out a joke for to-day," said Tou- there to see the joke. But wait a moment, there lan. "I will teach the widow to smoke. You is something new. It has been proposed that know, brother Simonj that she always pretends not so many guards are needed to watch the not to be able to bear the smell of tobacco, she Capets, and that it has the appearance as if the shall learn to bear it. I will hand her a paper government was afraid of these howling women cigarette to-day, and tell her that if she does not and this little monkey, whom the crazy royalists want us to smoke, she must smoke with us." call King Louis XVII. It is very likely that they "Splendid joke! " said Simon, with a loud will reduce the guard to two." laugh. "Very good," said Toulan, approvingly." But there's one thing to be thought of about " What's the use of wearying out so many other that," said Lepitre, reflectively. "The widow men and condemning them to such idleness? We Capet might perihaps promise to smokle, if we cannot be making jokes all the time; and then would tell her that we would never smoke after- again it is not pleasant always looking on these ward. But then we should not keep our word, of people's long faces." course." "So only two guards," said Lepitre; "but that "What! you say we should not keep our seems to me rather too few, for what if the widow word!" said Toulan, in amazement. "We are should succeed in winning them over and getting republicans; more than that, we are sans-culottes I them to help her escape?" and shall we not keep our word? ought we not "Impossible!" cried Simon, "she'll never to be better than the cursed aristocrats, that come around me, and as long as I have my eyes never kept their word. to the people? How can open, she and her brood will never get away. No you disgrace us and yourself so much? Ask our one can come down the staircase without my hearnoble friend and brother Simon, whether he is of ing and seeing it, for you know my rooms are the opinion that a free man ought not to keep his near the stairs, and the door is always open and word, even if he has only given it to a woman in I am always there, and then there is the turnkey prison." Ricard, who watches the door that leads to the " I am of that opinion," said Simon, with dig- court like a cerberus. Then there are three sennity. " I swore to myself that the king should tries at the doors leading from the inner court to lose his head, and I kept my word. I promised the outer one, and the four sentries at the doors the she-wolf that she should be hanged, and I leading from the outer court to the street. No, hope to keep this promise too. If I keep my no, my fiiends, if the she-wolf wants to escape, word to her in what is bad, I must do so also in she must use magic, and make wings grow on her what is good. If a republican promises any thing( shoulders and fly away." he must hold to it." "That is good, I like that," said Toulan, spring"Right, Simon, you are a noble and wise man. ing up the staircase. It remains fixed, then, that the queen shall smoke, "And that settles my doubts too," said Lepi. 186 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. tre. "I should think two official guards would a little packet from his coat-pocket, and slide It suffice, for it is plain that she cannot escape. slowly and carefully behind the wooden box that Simon is on the look-out, and it is plain that the stood beneath the window. she-wolf cannot transform herself into an eagle." "Madame," cried Toulan, in a still louder voice, "Well said," laughed Simon; "here we are "I fear your grace has not heard my salutation." before the door, let's go in and have our fun." The queen slowly raised her eyes, and turned He dashed the door open noisily, and went into them to the man who was still standing upon the the room with the two men. Two officials were threshold. "I heard it," she said, coldly, "go on sitting in the middle of the room at the table, and writing, my son." And she went on in the senwere actively engaged playing cards. Through tence that she had just then begun to dictate. the open door you could look into the sitting-room "I am so happy at being heard by Madame of the Capet family. The queen was sitting on Veto that I shall have to celebrate it by a little the divan behind the round table, clothed in her bonfire! " said Toulan, taking a cigar from his sad suit of mourning, with a black cap upon her breast-pocket. " You see, my friends, that I.m gray locks. a very good courtier, though I have the honor to She was busy in dictating an exercise to the be a sanzs-culotles. In the presence of handsome dauphin from a book which she held in her hand. ladies I only smoke cigars! Halloo! bring me a The prince, also clad in black and with a broad little fire." crape about his arm, sat upon a chair by her One of the officials silently passed him his long side. His whole attention was directed to his pipe. Toulan lighted his cigar, placed himself at work, and he was visibly making an effort to the threshold, and blew great clouds of smoke write as well as possible, for a glowing red suf- into~ the chamber. fused his cheeks. The ladies still continued to sit quietly without On the other side of the queen sat Madame paying any attention to Toulan. The queen dicElizabeth; near her the Princess Maria Theresa, tated, and the dauphin wrote. The queen only both busy in preparing some clothing for the interrupted herself in this occupation, when she queen. had to cough and wipe her eyes, which the smoke No one of the group appeared to notice the filled with tears. loud opening of the door, no one observed the Toulan had followed every one of her moveentering forms, or cast even a momentary glance ments with an amused look. " Madame does not at them. appear to take any pleasure in my bonfire! " he But Toulan was not contented with this; he said. "Will madame not smoke?" demanded nothing less than that the she-wolf The queen made' no reply, but quietly went on should look at him. He hurried through the with her dictation. anteroom with a threatening tread, advanced to "Madame," cried Toulan, laughing loudly, "I the door of the sitting-room, and stopped upon should like to smoke a pipe of peace with you, as the threshold, making such a deep and ceremo- our brown brethren in happy, free America donious bow, and swinging his arm so comically, madame, I beg you to do me the honor to smoke that Simon was compelled to laugh aloud. a pipe of peace with me." "Madame," cried Toulan, "I have the inex- A flash lightened in the eyes which the queen pressible honor of greeting your grace." now directed to Toulan. "You are a shameless "He is a brick, a perfect brick," roared Simon. fellow! " she said. Lepitre had gone to the window, and turned "Hear that," said Simon, "that is what I call his back upon the room; he was perhaps too abusing you." deficient in spirit to join in the joke. Nobody "On the contrary, it delights me," cried Toun paid any attention to him; nobody saw him take lan, "for you will confess that it would be jolly TOULAN. 187 if she should smoke now, and I tell you, she will "The Convention has not ordered it, nor has it smoke." forbidden it. So I remain!i" He advanced some paces into the room, and He took a chair, seated himself in the middle made his deep bow again. of the room, and rolled out great clouds of smoke, " He understands manners as well as if he had which filled Simon with unspeakable delight when been a rascally courtier himself," said Simon, they compelled Marie Antoinette to cough violaughing. "It is a splendid joke." lently. The two princesses had arisen at the entrance "Madame, Capet, you would not be so sensiof Toulan, and laid their sewing-work aside. tive to smoke if you would only join me. I beg A ball of white cotton had fallen to the ground you, therefore, to take this cigar." from the lap of one of them, and rolled through The queen repeated calmly, " I do not smoke." the room toward Toulan. " You mistake, madame, you do smoke." He picked it up, and bowed to the princesses. "See the jolly fellow," exclaimed Simon, "that "May I view this little globe," he said, " as a re- is splendid." minder of the favor of the loveliest ladies of " I will show you at once that you do smoke," France? Oh, yes, I see in your roguish smile continued Toulan. "Madame, if you will do me that I may, and I thank you," said Toulan, press- the honor to join me in smoking a cigar, I will ing the round ball to his lips, and then putting it give you my word as a republican and a sansinto his breast-pocket. culottes, that neither I nor my brothers will ever " He plays as well as the fellows do in the smoke here again." theatre,' said Simon, laughing. "I do not believe you," said the queen, shalk".Go into our sleeping-room," said Marie An- ing her head. toinette, turning to the princesses. " It is enough "Not believe me? Would you believe it if the for me to have to bear these indignities-go, citizen Simon were to repeat it?" my son, accompany your aunt." "Yes," said the queen, fixing her great, sad The dauphin stood up, pressed a kiss upon the efyes upon Simon, "if the citizen Simon should hand of his mother, and followed the two prin- confirm it, I would believe it, for he is a trust. cesses, who had gone into the adjoining apartment. worthy man, who I believe never breaks his "Dear aunt," whispered the dauphin, "is this word." bad man the good friend who-" "Oh! only see how well the Austrian under" Hush! " whispered Madame Elizabeth, "hush! stands our noble brother Simon," cried Lepitre. Madame Tison is listening." "Yes, truly, it seems so," said Simon, who had And, in fact, at- the glass-door, which led from been flattered by this praise to consent to what he the sleeping-room to the little corridor, stood. had no inclination for. " Well, I give my word to Madame Tison, looking with sharp, searching Widow Capet, as a republican and a sans-culottes, glances into the chamber. that there shall be no smoking in the anteroom After the princesses had left the room, Toulan after this time, if she will do my friend Toulan the approached still closer to the queen, and taking favor of smoking a pipe of peace with him." a cigar from his breast-pocket, he handed it to " I believe your word," said the queen, with a the queen. " Take it, madame," he said, "and gentle inclination of her head; and then turning do me the honor of smoking a duet with me! " to Toulan, she continued, " sir-" "I do not smoke, sir," replied the queen, cold- " There are no'sirs' here, only'citizens,'" ilnly and calmly. "I beg you to go into the ante- terrupted the cobbler. room. The Convention has not, so far as I un- "Citizen Toulan," said the queen, changing her derstand, ordered the officers of the guard to expression, "give me the cigar, I see that I was tarry in my sitting-room." wrong, I do smoke!" 188 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Simon cried aloud with laughter and delight, compliment you on it, citizen. But if you have and could scarcely control himself, when, kneeling no objections, we will play a game or two of cards before the queen, as the players do in the grand with the citizens hei'e." plays at the theatre, he handed her a cigar. "All right," replied Toulan. " But I hope you But he did not see the supplicatory look which have got the new kind of cards, which have neo Toulan fixed upon the queen; he did not see the kings and queens on them. For, I tell you, I do tears which started into his eyes, nor hear her not play with the villanous old kind." say, during his inordinate peals of laughter, "I "Nor I," chimed in Lepitre. "It makes me thank you, my faithful one! " mad to see the old stupids with their crowns on "Is it enough if I take the cigar in my mouth, that are on the old kind of cards." or must I burn it? " asked the queen. "You are a pair of out-and-out republicans," "Certainly, she must burn it," cried Simon. said Simon, admiringly. " Truly, one might learn "Light the cigar for her, Citizen Toulan." of you how a sans-culottes ought to bear himToulan drew a bit of paper from his pocket, self." folded it together, kindled it, and gave it to the. "Well, you can calm yourselves about these, queen. Then, as soon as the dry cigar began to brothers," said one of the officials; "we have no burn, he put out the light, and threw it carelessly tyrant-cards-we have the new cards of the reupon the table. public. See there! instead of the king, there is The queen put the little smoking cigarette into a sans-culottes; instead[ of the queen, we have a her mouth. "Bravo, bravo!" shouted the offi-'knitter, and for the jack, we have a Swiss solcials and Simon. "Bravo, Citizen Toulan is a dier, for they were the menials of the old monperfect brick I He has taught Widow Capet how archy." f to smoke." "That is good; well, we will play then," cried "I told you I would," said Toulan, proudly. Toulan, with an air of good-humor. "Widow Capet has had to comply with our will, They all took their places at the table, while and that is enough. You need not go on, ma- the queen took up the sewing on which the prindame. You have acknowledged our power, and cesses had been engaged before. that is all we wanted. That is enough, Simon, is After some time, when the thread with which it not? She does not need to smoke any longer, she was sewing was exhausted, Marie Antoinette and we, too, must stop." raised her eyes and turned them to the men, who " No, she does not need to smoke any longer, had laid their pipes aside, and were zealously enand there will be no more smoking in the ante- gaged upon their cards. The mien of the queen chamber." was no longer so calm and rigidly composed as it The queen took the paper cigarette from her had been before, and when she spoke, there was mouth, put out the burning end, and laid the re- a slight quivering discernible in her voice. maining portion in her work-basket. " Citizen Toulan," she said, "I beg you to give " Citizen Toulan," said she, "I will keep this cigar as a remembrancer of this hour, and if. you * The market-women and hucksters had the privilege of claiming the first seats on the spectators' platform, ever smoke here again, I shall show it to you. near the guillotine. They sat there during the execu"I should like to see this Austrian woman tions, knitting busily on long stockings, while looking at dthe word of a the bloody drama before them. Every time that a head Xdoubting sas-o. was cut off and dropped into the basket beneath the "And I too, Simon," replied Toulan, going knife, the women made a mark in their knitting-work, back into the anteroom. "We will teach her and thus converted their stockings into a kind of calendar, which recorded the number of persons executed. that she must trust our word. You see that I From this circumstance the market-women received the am a good teacher." name of "knitters." t Historical.-See "M6moires de la Marquise de Crequi," "An excellent one," cried Simon; "I must voLiii. TOULAN. 189 me the ball of thread again. I have no more,, striking the table with his fists in an ecstasy of and this dress is in a wretched condition; I must delight. "But I declare it seems to me that mend it." the ball is a good deal larger now than it was Toulan turned toward her with a gesture of before." impatience. " You disturb me, madame, and "It may be," answered Toulan, emphatically. put me out in the game. What are you say- "Every thing grows and enlarges itself, that a,ing?" true and genuine sans-culottes carries next to his "I asked you, Citizen Toulan, to give me the heart." thread again, because, without it, I cannot work." "Well said," replied Lepitre. "But listen to "Oh! the ball which little Miss Capet gave me, I want to make a proposition to you. I me a short time ago. And so you won't let me must say that it is hard work-playing cards keepl a remembrance of the pretty girl?" without smoking." "I must mend this dress," said the queen, "I find it so, too," sighed Toulan. gently. "I rather think we all do," chimed in the "Well, if you must, you must," growled Tou- others. lan, rising. "Wait a moment, brothers, till I "But we must keep our word, or else the shea carry her the ball." wolf will think that we republicans are no better "What do you want to get up for?" "asked than the aristocrats were!" Simon. "You can throw it from here." "Yes, we must keep our word," said Lepitre, "Or give it a roll like a ball," added Lepitre. "and that is why I wanted to make the proposi"That is a good idea," cried Toulan, "I'll have tion that we go out and establish ourselves in the a little game of nine-pins. I am quite at home entry. We can put the table close to the door, there, and can do it well. Now look sharp! I and then we are certainly safe-that no one can will contrive to roll the ball between the four step in. What do you say, brother Simon?" feet of the table, and strike the'foot of the "I say that it is a very, good plan, and that queern" we will carry it into execution, directly. Come, "' There is no queen," cried Lepitre, passion- friends, let us take up the table, and carry it out. ately. If the dogs are on the watch outside, the badger "I am speaking of the game, Citizen Lepitre; does not creep out of his house. Come, it is do me the pleasure of not making yourself much pleasanter out there, and we are not aman as-. Now look, and see me roll it as I bitious of the honor of looking at Widow Capet said! " all the time. We are perfectly satisfied, if we do "Well, go ahead; we should like to see you do not see her. I hope there will be an end of this it," cried Simon. tedious service, and that she will soon go to the "Yes, we would like to see you do it," chimed place whither Louis Capet has already bone." in the officials, laying down their cards. " Or," cried Toulan, laughing, " she must Toulan now drew out of his breast-pocket a change herself into an eagle, and fly out of the black ball of silk, and counted "One, two, three!" window. Come, brothers, I long for my pipe. He then gave it a skilful roll across the floor. Let us carry the table out into the entry." With- attention and laughing looks, they all Simon opened the door that led out upon the watched it take its course across the waxed floor, landing, the officials took up the table, and Touas it moved just where Toulan had said it would. lan and Lepitre the wooden stools. - One quick "Bravo, bravo!" shouted the men, as the ball look they cast into the room of the queen, whose struck the foot of the queen, who stooped down eyes were turned to them. A sudden movement slowly and picked it up. of Lepitre's hand pointed to the bench beneath "Toulan is a jolly good fellow," cried Simon, the window: a movement of Toulan's lips said 190 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "To-morrow; " then they both turned away; went boy, quickly. " Oh, yes, very bad, for they make with their stools out upon the landing, and closed my dear mamma weep so much." the door. "I do not weep about them," answered his The queen held her breath and listened. She mother. " I weep because your father is no more heard them moving the chairs outside, and push- with us. Think about your father, my son, and ing the table up against the door, and detected never forget that he has commanded us to forgive Simon's harsh voice, saying, " Now that we have his'and our enemies." put a.gigantic wooden lock on the door, let us " And never to take vengeance on them," added smoke and play." the boy, with a grave look beyond his years, as The queen sprang up. " God bless my faithful he folded his hands. " Yes, I have sworn it to one," whispered she; "yes, God bless him!" my dear papa, and I shall keep my word. I She went' hastily into the anteroom, pressed her mean never to take vengeance on our enemies." hand in behind the bench beneath the window, "Sister," said the queen, after a pause, " I want took out the package which Lepitre had placed to ask you to help me a little in my work. You there, and'with a timid, anxious look, stepped know how,to mend, and I want to learn of you. back into her room. Here she unfolded the bun- Will you come into the sitting-room?" dle. It consisted of a boy's soiled dress, an old "And we, too, mamma," asked the dauphin, peruke, and an old felt hat. "may we not stay here? Theresa has promised The queen looked at it all with the utmost at- to tell me an interesting story if I did my examtention; then, after casting-one long, searching ples in arithmetic correctly, and I have done look through the room, she hastened to the divan, them." pushed back the already loosened cover of the "Well, she may tell you the story. We will. seat, concealed -the things beneath it, and then leave the door open so that we can see you; carefully smoothed down the upholstery again. for you know, my children, you are now the only She now hurried to the door of the sleeping- comfort left to your aunt and me. Come, sisroom, and was going to open it hastily. But she ter! " bethought herself in time. Her face showed too She turned slowly and went into the next room, much emotion, her voice might betray her. Ma- followed by Madame Elizabeth. dame Tison was certainly lurking behind the glass "Why, what does this mean? " asked the prin. door, and might notice her excitement. cess, in amazement, as she saw the anteroom deMarie Antoinette again put on her ordinary serted and the door closed. sad look, opened the door slowly and gravely, and "All his work, Elizabeth-all the work of this juietly entered the sleeping-room. Her. great noble, faithful Toulan. He went through a whole;yes, whose brightness had long since been extin- farce in order to get the people out of here, and guished by her tears, slowly passed around the to make them swear that they never would smoke chamber, rested for a moment on the glass door, after this in the anteroom. Oh, I shall never be descried behind it the spying face of Tison, and able to repay him for what he has done for us at turned to the two princesses, who were sitting the peril of his life." with the dauphin on the little divan in the "We will pray for him every morning and corner. evening," replied the pious Elizabeth. "'But " Mamma," asked the boy, "are the bad men tell me, sister,'did Toulan keep our ball of gone?" thread?" "Do not call them so, my child," replied Marie "Yes, sister, and succeeded in giving me anAntoinette, gently. "These men only do what other in exchange for it. Here it is. To-night, others order them to do.";when the guards are asleep, we will unwind it "Then the others are bad, mamma," said the and see what it contains. But here are other im THE PLAN OF THE ESCAPE. 191 portant things which we must examine. Here, At this instant Simon was eard outside, sing this half-burned light and this cigarette! Let us ing with his loud, coarse voice: be on the watch that no one surprise us." "Madame a sa tour monte She went again to the threshold of the sleep- Ne salt quand descendra, ing-room. Madame Veto la dansera." * ing-room. "Can you hear me talk, children? Nod with The queen shuddered, and Madame Elizabeth your head if you heard me. Good. If Tison folded her hands and prayed in silence. comes in, speak to her loudly, and call her by "You hear the dreadful answer, sister, that name, so that we may hear." this sans-culotte-gives to my question! Well, so "And now, sister," she continued, turning to long as there is a breath left within us we must the table, "let us see what Toulan has sent us. endeavor to save the life of King Louis XVII. First, the cigar-light! " Come, sister, we will read this plan for our esShe unfolded the paper, one side of which was cape, which the faithful Toulan has made." burned, and showed a black, jagged edge. "A letter from M. de Jarjayes," she said, and; then, in a subdued voice, she hastily read: " I have spoken with the noble messenger whom you sent to me with a letter. He has submitted his plan -CHAPTER XXII. to me, and I approve it entirely, and am ready to undertake any thing that is demanded of me in THE PLAN OF TIE ESCAPE. behalf of those to whom my life, my property, and MARIE ANTOINETTE and Madame Elizabeth lismy blood belong, and who never shall have occa- tened again at the door, and as Simon was just sion to doubt my fidelity. The'true one' will then eginning a new verse of his ribald song, then beginning a new verse of his ribald song, bring you to-morrow every thing that is needful, they carefully unrolled the paper and spread it and talk the matter over with you.-J." " And out before them. now the cigarette," said the queen, talking it out "Read it to me, sister," said the queen. " y of her basket. eyes are bad and pain me very much; and then "Let us first tear the paper to pieces," said the words make more impression when I hear Princess Elizabeth, warningly. them than when I read them; I.beg you therefore "No, no, Tison would find the bits, and think to read it." them suspicious. I will hide the paper in my In a light whisper the princess began to read dress-pocket, and this evening when we have a "The Plan of Escape." "The queen and Prinlight we will burn it. Quickly now, the cigar!" cess Elizabeth mustputon men's clothes. The "A paper cigarette! " said Elizabeth. necessary garments are already in their posses"Yes, and see on the outer paper,'Unroll sion, for T. and L. have within the last few days carefully!'"! "secreted them in the cushions and mattresses. In And with extreme caution Marie Antoinette addition, the queen receives to-day a dirty, torn removed the thin external covering. Beneath it boy's suit and a peruke, and a pair of soiled was another, closely written over; this the queen! children's shoes. These are for the dauphin and proceeded to unfold. I Madame Royale; and if the queen looks atten" 7WVhat is it? " asked the Princess Elizabeth, tively at the things, she will find that they are impatiently. exact copies of the clothing in which the two "See," said Marie Antoinette, with a faint children appear who always accompany the smile: "'Plan for the escape of the royal family. To learn by heart, and then to burn.' Oh! sister, *' Madame will take her turn She knows not when it will come, do you believe that escape is possible for us? " But Madame Veto will swing." 192 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND. HIER SON. lamplighter into the tower and assist him in Madame Elizabeth took the paper and read on lighting the lamps. So much for the clothing. in a whispering voice: "As soon as Tison and The plan of escape is as follows: To-morrow even- his wife have fallen asleep, the queen and Maing, at six o'clock, the royal children will change dame Elizabeth will put on their clothes. Over their dress in the little tower next to the chamber the men's garments they will throw the cloaks of the queen. In their soiled costume they will which Toulan brought yesterday, and these cloaks remain within the tower, whither it is known will disguise their gait and size. But care must that Tison and his wife never come, and will wait be taken that the tri-colored sashes of the comnthere until some one gives them a signal and missaries which Lepitre brought yesterday with calls them. Toulan and Lepitre will arrange the admission-cards of the same authorities, should to have the watch again to-morrow in the tower. peep out from beneath the cloaks so as to be visible At a quarter before seven in the evening, Toulan to every one. Thus arrayed, the two ladies will pass will give a pinch of snuff to Madame Tison and by the sentry, showing him the card as they go her husband, who are both passionately fond of out (meanwhile.talking with Lepitre), leave the it, and they will speedily take it as they always do. Temple, and go with Lepitre- to the Rue de la This pinch of snuff will consist entirely of colored Conderie, where M. de Jarjayes will be waiting to opium. They will fall into a heavy sleep, which conduct the ladies farther." will last at least seven hours, and during this tiihe. " But the children," whispered the queen, the flight of all the members of the royal family " do the children not accompany us? Oh! they must be accomplished-" ought not to think that I would leave this place " Wait a moment, sister," whispered the queen, while my dear children are compelled to remain " I feel dizzy, and my heart beats violently, as if' here. What is to be done with the children, we were engaged now in the very execution of the Elizabeth?" plan. It seems to me as if, in the darkness of the "We shall soon learn that, sister; allow me to dreadful night which surrounds us, a glimmer of read on.' At seven o'clock; as soon as the guard hope was suddenly appearing, and my eyes are is changed, a man disguised as a lamplighter, with blinded with it. Oh, sister, do you really think his tin filler in his hand, will appear at the gate it possible that we can escape this place of tor- of the Temple, knock loudly and demand of thei ment?" guard that his children, who had this day been tak" Escape we will certainly, my dear sister," an- ing care of the lantern, should be allowed to come swered Elizabeth, gently, "but it lies in God's out. On this, Toulan will bring the dauphin hands whether it is our bodies or our souls only and Madame Royale in their changed costume, that will escape. If we do not succeed, they will and while delivering them over to the supposed kill us, and then our freed souls will'ascend to God. lamplighter he will scold him soundly for not\ takOh, my noble queen and sister, let us pray that ing care of the lanterns himself, but giving it to God would give us courage and steadfastness to the children. This is the plan whose execnhope in Him and to conform to His will." tion is possible and probable, if every thing is "Yes, sister, let us pray," said the queen, fold- strictly followed. Before the affair is discovered, ing her hands, and reverentially bending her head. there will be at least seven hours' advantage and Then after a pause, in which they could hear from the royal family will be able, with the passes without the noisy laughter of Simon and his com- already secured by MA. Jarjayes, to be a long way rades, the queen raised herself up, and her coun- off before their flight will be discovered by Tison. tenance had regained its wonted calm and grave In a secure house, whither Toulan will lead them, expression.* the royal family will find simple citizen's cloth. "And now, Elizabeth, read on further. Let us ing. Without exciting any stir, and accompanied hedr the continuation of the plan." by Messieurs Jarjayes and' Toulan, they will TEE PLAN OF THE. ESCAPE. 193 reach Normandy. A packet-boat, furnished by an passed through the open door into the porter's English friend, lies in readiness to receive the lodge. Madame Simon, one of the most savage of royal family and take them to their —?"' theknitters, had shortly returned from the guillo" Good-day,' Madame Tison!" cried the dau- tine, and was sitting upon her rush chair, busily phin loudly, " good-day, my dear Madame Tison! " counting on a long cotton stocking which she Madame Elizabeth hastily concealed the paper held in her hand. in her bosom, and Marie Antoinette had scarcely " How many heads to-day? i' asked Tison. time to hide the ball of thread in her pocket, when Madame Simon slowly shook her head, decoTison appeared upon the threshold of the door, rated with a white knit cap. looked with her sharp lynx-eyes around, and then "It is hardly worth the pains," she said disfixed'them upon the two ladies. mally,-" the machine works badly, and the She saw that Marie Antoinette did not display judges are neglectful. Only five cars to-day, and her accustomed dignified calmness, and that on every one only seven persons." Elizabeth's pale cheeks were unusually red. " What! " cried Tison, " only thirty-five heads " Something is going on," said the spy to herself, to-day in all? " and what does it mean that to-day the commissa- "Yes, only thirty-five heads," repeated Madame ries are not in the anteroom, and that they let Simon, shaking her head; "I have just been these women carry on their chattering entirely counting on my stocking, and I find only thirtyunwatched?" five seam-stitches, for every seam-stitch means a "Madame has been reading?" asked Tison, head. For such a little afhAir we have had to sit subjecting every object upon the table before six hours in the wet and cold on the platform. which the ladies were sitting, to a careful scrutiny. The machine works too slowly, I say-altogether "Madame has been reading," she repeated; "I too slowly. The judges are easy, and there is no heard paper rattling, and I see no book." more pleasure to be derived from the executions." " You are under a mistake," replied Madame "They must be stirred up," said Tison with a Elizabeth, " we have not been reading, we have fiendish look; "your husband must speak with been sewing; but supposing we were reading, is his friend, citizen Marat, and tell him that his best there any wrong in that? Have they made any friends the knitters, and most of all, Simon's wife, law that forbids that?" are dissatisfied, and if it goes on so, the women "No,"' answered Tison, " no —I only won- will rise and hurry all the men to the guillotine. dered how people could rattle paper. and there be That will stir them up, for they do respect the none there, but all the same-the ladies of course knitters, and if they fear the devil, they fear yet have a right to read, and we must be satisfied with more his proud grandmother, and every one of us that." market-women and knitters is the devil's grandAnd she went out, looking right and left like mother." a hound on the scent, and searching every corner " Yes, they do respect us and they shall," said of the room. Madame Simon, setting her glistening needles in "I must see what kind of officials we have here motion again, and working slowly on the stockto-day," said Tison to herself, slipping through ing; "I will myself speak with citizen Marat, and the little side-door and through the corridor; " I believe me, I will fire him up, and then we shall shouldn't wonder if it were Toulan and Lepitre have better play, and see more cars driven up to again, for every time when they two-right!" she the guillotine. We, must keep our eyes well open, ejaculated, looking through the outer door, " right! and denounce all suspicious characters." it is they, Toulan and Lepitre. I must see what " I have my eyes always open," cried Tison, Simon's wife has to say to that." with a coarse laugh, " and I suspect traitors beShe slipped down the broad staircase, and fore they have committed any thing. There, for 13 194 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HlER SON. example, are the two officials, Toulan and Lepitre, removed, say I. There shall no such compassion do you have confidence in them?" ate worms as he creep into the Temple. I will "I have no confidence in them whatever, and clear them out-I will clear them out with I have never had any confidence in them," an- human blood!" swered Madame Simon, with dignity, and setting She looked so devilish, her eyes glared so with her needles in more rapid motion. " In these times such a cruel coldness, and such a fiendish smile you must trust nobody, and least of all those who played upon her pale, thin lips, that even Maare so very earnest to keep guard over the Aus- dame Tison was afraid of her, and felt as if a trian woman; for a true republican despises the cold, poisonous spider was creeping slowly over aristocracy altogether too much to find it agree- her heart. able to be with such scum, and shows it as much "They are sitting still outside, you say?" as he can, but Toulan is always wanting to be asked Madame Simon, after a pause. there. Wait a moment, and I will tell you how "Yes, they are still sitting outside upon the many times Toulan and Lepitre have kept guard landing, and the Austrian woman is all this time the present month." alone unwatched with her brood, and she will be She drew a little memnorandum-book from her alone for two hours yet, for there is no change of reticule, which hung by black bands from her guard till then." brown hairy arm, and turned over the leaves. "That is true, yes, that is true " cried the "There, here it is," she said. " To-day is the knitter, and her nostrils expanded like those of 20th of February, and the two men have already the hyena when on the scent of blood. " They kept guard eight times the present month. That will sit up there two hours longer, playing cards is three times as many as they need to do. and singing stupid songs, and wheedling my monEvery one of the officials who are appointed to key of a husband with their flatteries, making keep guard in the Temple is obliged to serve him believe that they love him, love him boundonly once a week, and both of these traitors lessly, and they let themselves be locked into the are now here for the eighth time. And my Temple for his sake, and —ah! if I had them husband is so stupid and so blinded that he here,'I would strangle them with my own hands! believes this prattler Toulan when he tells him he I would make a dagger of every one of my comes here merely to be with citizen Simon; but knitting-needles and thrust it into their hearts! they cannot come round me with their talk; they But quiet, quiet," she continued in a grumbling cannot throw dust in my eyes. I shall keep them tone, " every thing must go on in a regular. way. open, wide open, let me tell you." Will you take my place here for half an hour and "They are not sitting inside in the antecham- guard the door? I have something important ber to-day," whispered Tison, " but outside on to do, something very important." the landing, and they have closed the door of the "It will be a very great honor," replied Madame anteroom, so that the Austrian has been entirely Tison, " a very great honor, to be the substitute alone and unobserved these hours." of one so well known and respected as you are, "Alone! " cried the knitter, and her polished of whom every one knows that she is the best needles struck so violently against each other patriot and the most courageous knitter, whose that you could hear them click. " My husband eyelashes never quiver, and who can calmly go on cannot be to blame for that; Toulan must have with her stitches when the heads fall from the talked him into it, and he must have a reason for guillotine into the basket." it; he must have a reason, and if it is only from "If I did tremble, and my eyelashes did his having pity upon her, that is enough and quiver, I would dash my own fists into my more than enough to bring him under suspicion eyes!" said Madame Simon, with her hard and to build an accusation upon. He must be coarse voice, rising and throwing her thin, THE PLAN OF THE ESCAPE. 195 threadbare cloak over her shoulders. "If I very cold and moderate of late. Since Louis Cafound a spark of sympathy in my heart, I would pet died, the widow is very much changed, and inundate it with the blood of aristocrats till it now she is so uniform in her temper that it seems should be extinguished, and till that should be, as if nothing would provoke or excite her." I would despise and hate myself, for I should be "What weak and tender creatures you all are!" not only a bad patriot, but a bad daughter of said Simon's wife, with a shrug. " It is very plain my unfortunate father. The cursed aristocrats that they fed you on milk when you were young. have not only brought misery on our country and But my mother nursed me with hate. I was people, but they murdered my dear good father. scarcely ten years when they shot my father, and Yes, murdered I say. They said he was a high not a day passed after that without my mother's traitor. And do you know why? Because he telling me that we must avenge his murder on the told aloud the nice stories about the Austrian wo- whole lineage of the king. I had to swear that I man, who was then our queen, which had been would do it. She gave me, for my daily food, hawhispered into his ear, and because he said that tred against the aristocrats; it was the meat to the king was a mere tool in the hands of his my sauce, the sugar to my coffee, the butter to wife. They shot my good, brave father for what my bread! I lived and throve upon it. Look at he had said,'and which they called treason, me, and see what such fare has made of me! although it was only the naked truth. Yet I will Look at me! I am not yet twenty-four years not work myself into a passion about it, and I old, and yet I have the appearance of an old wowill only thank God that that time is past, and man, and I have the feeling and the experience of I will do my part that it shall not come back. an old woman! Nothing moves me now, and the And that is why we must be awake and on our only thing that lives and burns in my heart is reguard, that no aristocrat and no royalist be venge. Believe me, were I in your placel should left, but that they all be guillotined, all! There, know how to exasperate the Austrian; I should take your place on my chair, and take my knitting- succeed in drawing out her tears." work. Ah! if it could speak to you as it does " Well, and how would you begin? Really, I to me-if it could tell you what heads we two should like to know how to bring this incarnation have seen fall, young and old, handsome, distin- of pride to weeping." guished-it would be fine sport for you and make "Has not she children? " asked Madame Siyou laugh. But good-by just now! Keep a strict mon, with a horrible calmness. "I would torture lookout! I shall come back soon." and provoke the children, and that would soon And she did come back soon, this worthy wo- make the heart of the woman humble and pliaman, with triumphant bearing and flashing eyes, ble. Oh, she may count herself happy that I am looking as the cat looks when it has a mouse in not in your place, and that her children are not its soft velvety paws, and is going to push its poi- under my tender hands. But if it ever happens that sonous claws into the quivering flesh. She took I can lay my fingers upon the shoulders of the her knitting-work up and bade Tison to go up little wolves, I will give them something that will again to her post. make them cry out, and make the old wolf howl " And when you can," she said, " just touch the with rage. I will show her as little favor then as Austrian woman a little, and pay her off for being she showed when my poor mother and I were so many hours unwatched. In that way you will begging for my dear father! Go up, go up merit a reward from the people, and that is as and try at once. Plague the children, and you well as deserving one of God. Provoke her-pro- will see that that will make the Austrian pliayoke the proud Austrian!" ble." " It is very hard to do it," said Tison, sighing "That is fine talk," muttered Tison, as she -" very hard, I assure you, for the Austrian is went up the staircase, "but she has no children, 196 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. while I have a daughter, a dear, good daughter. and hastened after the officials, who were waiting She is not with me, but with my mother in Nor- for him at the open door-the two who were to mandy, because she can be taken better care of hold the watch during the night having already there than here. It is better for the good child entered. that she has not gone through these evil days full Simon closed the door after them, exchanged a of blood and grief with us. But I am always few words with them, and then went into his thinking of her, and when one of these two chil- lodge to join his rigid better half. dren here looks up to me so gravely with great, "This has been a pleasant afternoon, and it is open eyes, it always makes me think of my So- a great pity that it is gone, for I have had a very longe. She has exactly such large, innocent eyes, good time. We have played cards, sung, smoked, and that touches my heart so that I cannot be and Toulan has made jokes and told stories, and harsh with the children. They, of course, are not made much fun. I always wonder where he gets at all to blame for having such bad, miserable so many fine stories, and he tells them so well that parents, who have treated the people shamefully, I could hear hin day and night. Now that he is. and made them poor and wretched. No, they gone, it seems tedious and dull enough here. have had nothing to do with it, and I cannot be Well, we must comfort ourselves that to-morrow severe with the children, for I am always thinking will come by and by." of my little Solonge! I will provoke the Austrian "What do you mean by that?" asked his wife, woman as much as I can, but not the children- -sternly. "What sort of a day do you expect no, not the children!" to-morrow to be?" Meanwhile, Mistress Simon had taken her place "A pleasant day, my dear Heloise, for Citizen upon the chair near the open door in the porter's Toulan will have the watch again. I begged him lodge, and sat there with her cold, immovable so long, that he at last promised to exchange with face staring into empty space with her great coal- Citizen Pelletan, whose turn regularly comes to. black, glistening eyes, while her hands were morrow. Pelletan is not well, and it would be busily flying, making the polished knitting-nee- very hard for him to sit up there all day, and, bedles click against each other. sides, he would be dreadfully stupid. It is a She was still sitting there, when at last her hus- great deal pleasanter to have Toulan here with band came down the stairs to open the outer door his jokes and jolly stories, and so I begged of the Temple, conduct his friends past the inner him to come and take Pelletan's place. He is court, and to bring back the two officials who going to accommodate me and come." were to keep guard during the night. His wife did not answer a word, but broke out They passed the knitter with a friendly saluta- in a burst of shrill, mocking lauglhter, and with tion and a bit of pleasantry-Toulan stopping a her angry black eyes she scrutinized her hus. moment to ask the woman after her welfare, and band's red, bloated face, as though she vere readto say a few smooth words to her about her cour- ing him through and through. age and her great force of character. "What are you laughing at?" he asked, angriShe listened quietly, let him go on with his ly. "I would like to be beyond hearing when talk, and when he had ended, slowly raised her you give way in that style. What are you laughgreat eyes from her knitting to him. ing at?" "You are a traitor," she said, with coldness, "Because I wonder at you, you Jack," she anand without any agitation. "Yes, you are a trai- swered sharply. "Because you are determined tor, and you, too, will have your turn at the guil- to make an ass of yourself, and let dust be lotine! " thrown in your eyes, and put yourself at the disToulan paled a little, but collected himself im- posal of every one who soaps you over with mediately, took leave of the knitter with a smile, smooth words." THE PLAN OF THE ESCAPE.. 197 "Come," said Simon, "none of that coarseness! "To escape, to be free!" she said, and the and if you-" shadow of a smile flitted over her face. "Can "Hist!" she answered, commandingly. "I you believe it? Do you consider it possible, siswill show you at once that I have told you the ter?" truth, and that you are making an ass of your- "I should like to believe it," whispered -Elizaself, or at least that you are on the point of do- beth, "but there is something in my heart that ing so. Now, listen." reminds me of Varennes, and I only pray to God The knitter laid her work aside, and had a long that He would give us strength to bear all the ills conversation in a whisper with her husband. they inflict upon us. We must, above all things, When it was ended, Simon stood up wearing a keep. our calmness and steadfastness, and be predark look, and walked slowly backward and for- pared for the worst as well as the best." ward in the little room. Then he stopped and "Yes, you are right, we must do that," said shook his fist threateningly at the room above. Marie Antoinette, collecting herself. "When one "' She shall pay for this," he muttered-" by God has suffered as we have, it is almost more diffiin heaven! she shall pay for this. She is a good- cult to hope for good fortune than to prepare for for-nothing seducer! Even in prison she does new terrors. I will compel myself to be calm. I not leave off coquetting, and flirting, and turning will read Toulan's plan once more, and will imthe heads of the men! It is disgraceful, thor- press it word for word upon my memory, so as oughly disgraceful, and she shall pay for it! I to burn the dangerous sheet as soon as possible." will soon find means to have my revenge on her!" " And while you are doing that I will unwind During the whole evening Mistress Tison did the ball that Toulan brought us, and which cernot leave her place behind the glass door for a tainly contains something heavy," said the prinmoment, and at each stolen glance which the cess. queen cast thither she always encountered the "What a grand, noble heart! what a lofty malicious, glaring eyes of the keeper, directed at character has our friend Toulan!" whispered the her with an impudent coolness. queen. " His courage is inexhaustible, his fidelAt last came the hour of going to bed-the ity-is invincible, and he is entirely unselfish. How hour to which the queen looked impatiently fQr- often have I implored him to express one wish to ward. At night she was at least alone and un- me that I might gratify, or to allow me to give guarded. After the death of the king, it had been him a draft of some amount! He is not to be found superfluous to trouble the officials with the shaken-he wants nothing, he will take nothing. wearisome night-watches, and they were satisfied, Ah, Elizabeth, he is the first friend, of all who after darkness had set in and the candles were ever drew toward me, who made no claims and was lighted, with locking the three doors which led to contented with a kind word. When I implored the inner rooms. him yesterday to tell me in what way I could do Did Marie Antoinette weep and moan at night, him a service, he said:'If you. want to make me did she talk with her sister, did she walk discon- ha.ppy, regard me always as your most devoted solately up and down her room? —the republic and faithful servant, and give me a name. that granted her the privilege. She could, during the you give to no one besides. Call me Fiddle, and night at least, have a few hours Qf freedom and if you want to give me another remembrancer than of solitude. that which will always live in my heart, present But during the night Marie Antoinette did not me, as the highest token of your favor, with the weep or moan; this night her thoughts were not little gold smelling-bottle which I saw you use in directed to the sad past, but to the future; for the Logograph box on that dreidfill day.' I gave the first ray of hope which, had fallen upon her him the trinket at once. He kneeled down path for a long time new encountered her. in order to receive it, and when he kissed my 198 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. hand his hot tears fell upol it. Ah, Elizabeth, his little seal, and the hair which the king hinm no one of those to whom in the days of our hap- self cut off. These three things lay on the chimpiness I gave jewels, and to whom I gave hun- ney-piece in the closed sitting-room of the king. dreds of thousands, cherished for me so warm The supervisor of the Temple took them fiom thanks as Toulan-no, as Fiddle-for the poor, in- Clery's hand, to whom the king gave them, and significant little remembrancer." put them under seal. I have succeeded in get"God is good and great," said the princess, ting into the sitting-room; I have opened thewho, while the queen was speaking, was busily sealed packet, take- out the sacred relics, put engaged in unwinding the thread; " in order that. articles of similar character in their place, and we might not lo:e faith in humanity and confi- sealed it up again. With this letter are the relics dence in man, He sent us in His mercy this no- which belong to your majesty, and I swear by all ble, true-hearted one, whose devotion, disinterest- that is sacred and dear to me-I swear by the edness, and fidelity were to be our compensation head of my queen, that they are the true articles for all the sad and heart-rending experiences which the blessed martyr, King Louis XVI., conwhich we have endured. And, therefore. for the' veyed to his wife in his testament.. I have stolen sake of this one noble man let us pardon the them for the exalted heir of the crown, and I many from whom -we have received only injury; shall one day glory in the theft before the throne for it says in the Bible that, for.the sake of one of God." * righteous man, many sinners shall be forgiven, " See, Elizabeth," said the queen, unfolding the and Toulan is a righteous man." little things, each one of which was carefully "Yes, he is a righteous man, blessings on him" wrapped in paper-"see, there is his weddingwhispered the queen. Then she took the paper ring. There on the inside are the four letters, in her hand, and began to read the contents soft-'M. A A. A., 19th April, 1770.' The day of our.y, repeating every sentence to herself, and im- marriage!-a day of joy for Austria as well as printing every one of those hope-bringing words for France! Then-but I will not think of it. upon her memory; and while she read, her poor, Let me look further. Hear is the seal! The crushed heart gradually began to beat with firmer cornelian engraved on two sides. Here on one confidence, and to embrace the possibility of side the French arms; as you turn the stone, the realizing the plan of Toulan and finding freedom portrait of our son the Dauphin of France, with in flight. his helmet on his head. Oh! my son, my poor During this time Princess Elizabeth had mn- dear child, will your loved head ever bear any wound the thread of the ball, and brought to light other ornament than a martyr's crown; will God a little packet enveloped in paper. grant you to wear the helmet of the warrior, and "Take it, my dear Antoinette," she said, "it is to battle for your rights and your throne? How addressed to you." pleased my husband was when on his birthday Marie Antoinette took it and carefully unfolded I brought him this seal! bow tenderly his looks the paper. Then she uttered a low, carefully-sup- rested upon the portrait of his son, his successor t pressed cry, and, sinking upon her knees, pressed and now-oh, now! King Louis XVI. cruelly, it with its contents to her lips. shamefully murdered, and he who ought to be the "What is it, sister?" cried the princess, hur- King of France, Louis XVII., is nothing but a rying to her. " What does Toulan demand?" poor, imprisoned child —a king without a crown) The queen gave the paper to thle princess. without hope, without a future " "Read," she said-" read it, sister." "No, no, Antoinette," whispered Elizabeth, Elizabeth read: " Your majesty wished to pos- who had kneeled before the queen and had ten. sess the relics which King Louis left to you. They consist of the wedding-ring of his majesty, * Goncourt, " istoire de Marie Antoinette," p. 26& THE PLAN OF THE ESCAPE. 19 derly put her arms around her-" no, Antoinette, her hand into the children's room She stood do not say that your son has no hope and no near the door, listening and spying around. In future. Build upon God, hope that the under- the beds of the children she could hear the long. taking which we are to-morrow to execute will drawn, calm breathing, which indicated peaceful lead to a fortunate result, that we shall flee from slumbers; and in the open, adjoining apartment. here, that we shall be free, that we shall be able in which the two ladies slept, nothing was stirto reach England. Oh, yes, let us hope that ring. Toulan's fine and bold plan will succeed, and then "But I did hear a sound plainly," muttered it may one day be that the son of my dear broth- Tison. "I was awaked, by a loud cry, and when er, grown to be a young man, may put the helmet I sat up in bed I heard people talking." on his head, gird himself with the sword, recon- She stole to the beds of the children, and let quer the throne of his fathers, and take possession the light fall upon their faces. " They are sleepof it as King Louis XVII. Therefore let us hope, ing soundly enough," she muttered, " they have sister." not cried or spoken, but we will see how it is in "Yes, therefore let us hope," whispered the the other room." Slowly, with the lamp in her queen, drying her tears. "And here at last," she hand, she crept into the neighboring apartment. continued, opening the remaining paper, "here is The two ladies lay motionless upon their beds, the third relic, the' hair of the king! —the only closing their eyes quickly when Mistress Tison thing which is left us of the martyr king, the un- crossed the threshold, and praying to God for fortunate husband of an unfortunate wife, the courage and steadfastness. pitiable king of a most pitiable people! Oh, my Tison went first to the bed of Princess Elizabeth king! they have laid your poor head that bore and let the lamp fall full upon her face. The this white hair-they have laid it upon the scaf- glare seemed to awaken her. " What is it?" she fold, and the axe, the dreadful axe-" cried, "what has happened? sister, what has The queen uttered a loud shriek of horror, happened? where are you, Marie Antoinette?" sprang'up, and raised both her hands in conjura- "Here, here I am, Elizabeth," cried the queen, tion to Heaven, while a curse just trembled on rising suddenly up in bed, as if awakened. "Why her lips. But Princess Elizabeth threw herself do you call me, and who is here?" into her arms, and pressed on the cold, quivering "It is I," muttered Tison, angrily. "That is lips of the queen a long, fervent kiss. the way if one has a bad conscience! One is "For God's sake, sister," she whispered, startled then with the slightest sound." "'speak softly. If Tison heard your cry, we are "We have no bad conscience," said Elizabeth, lost. Hush! it seems to me I hear steps, hide gently, " but you know that if we are awakened the things. Let us hurry into bed. Oh, for from sleep we cry out easily and we might be God's sake, quick!" thinking that some one was waking us to bring She huddled the papers together, and put them us happy tidings." hastily into her bosom, while Marie Antoinette, " I hope so," cried Tison, with a scornful laugh, gathering up the relics, dashed into her bed. "Happy news for you! that means unhappy and "She is coming," whispered Elizabeth, as she sad news for France and for the French people. slipped into her bed. "We must pretend to be No, thank God!.I did not waken you to bring you asleep." any good news." And in fact Princess Elizabeth was right. The "Well," said the queen, gently, "tell us why glass-door, which led from the' sleeping-room of you have wakened us and what you have to eomthe children to the little corridor, and from there municate to us." to the chamber of Mistress Tison, was slowly and "I have nothing at all to communicate to you," cautiously opened, and she came with a lamp in growled Tison, "and you know best whether I 200 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. woke you or you -were already awake, talking She could not go on; tears extinguished herut and crying aloud. Hist! it is not at all necessary terance, and she hastened out, to silence her long that you answer, I know well enough that you are ings on the pillow of her bed. capable of lying. I tell you, my ears are open and The ladies listened a long time in perfect si.. my eyes too. I let nothing escape me; you have lence; then, when every thing was,till again, talked and you have cried aloud, and if it occurs they raised themselves up' softly, and began to again, I shall report it to the supervisor and have talk to each other in the faintest of whispers, and a watch put here in the night again, that'the to make their final preparations for the flight of rest of us may have a little quiet in.the night- the morrow. They then rose and drew from the time, and not have to sleep like the hares, with our various hiding-places the garments which they eyes open." were to use, placed the various suits together, "But," said the princess gently, "but dear wo- and then tried, to put them on. A fearful, awful man-"i picture, such as a painter of hell, such as Breugel " Hush!" interrupted Tison, commandingly, could not surpass in horror!-a queen'and a prin" I am not your' dear woman,' I am the wife of cess, two tender, pale, harmless women, busied, Citizen Tison, and I want none of your confidence, deep in the night, as if dressing for a masquerade, for confidence from such persons as you are, in transforming themselves into those very offimight easily bring me to the scaffold." cials who had led the king to the scaffold, and She now passed through the whole room with who, with their pitiless iron hands, were detaining her slow, stealthy tread, let the light fall upon the royal family in prison! every article of furniture and the floor, examined There theystood, a queen, a princess, clad in all the objects that lay upon the table, and then, the coarse, threadbare galments of republican after one last threatening look at the beds of the officials, the tri-colored sashes of the "one inditwo ladies, went slowly out. She stopped again visible republic" around their bodies, their at the cribs of the children, and looked at them heads covered with the three-cornered hats, on which the tn-colored cockade glittered hey with a touch' of gentleness. "How quietly they hich the tied. The sleep! " se whispered. " They lie there exactly stood and viewed each other with sad looks and as they lay before. One would think they were heavy sighs. Ah, what bright, joyous laughter smiling in their sleep-I suppose they are playing would have sprung from the lips of the queen in with angels. I should like to know how angels the days of her happiness, if she had wanted to come into this old, horrid Temple, and what hideher beauty in such attire for some pleasant Simon's wife would say if she knew they came in masquerade at Trianon! What charming sport here at night without her permission. See, see," it would have been then and there! How would she continued, " the boy is laughing again, and her friends and courtiers have laughed! How spreading out his hands, as if he wanted to catch they would have admired the queen in her origithe angels. Ah! I should like to know if my nal costume, which might well have been thought dear little Solange is sleeping as sound!y as to belong to the realm of dreams and fantasies these children, and whether she smiles in her A tricolored cockade-a figment of the brainsleep and plays with angels;. I should like to know ings after her daughter and her compunctions of conif she dreams of her parents, my dear little science for her treatment of the quesn. The first token of her insanity was her falling upon her knees before Solange, and whether she sometimes sees her poor Marie Antoinette, and begging pardon for all the pain mother, who'loves her so and yearns toward her she had occasioned, and amid floods of tears accusing herself at the one who would be answerable for the So tenderly that-" * death of the queen. She then fell into such dreadful spasms, that four men were scarcely able to hold her. They carried her into the HOtel Dieu, where she died * This Mistress Tison, the cruel keeper of the queen, after two days of the most dreadful sufferings and bitter soon after this fell intux lunacy, owing both to her long- reproaches of herself.-See Goncourt, p. 0SO. THE SEPARATION. 201 a tricolored sash-a merry dream! The lilies ready struck four. Toulan had not yet come, rule over France, and will rule forever! and the guards of the day had not yet been reNo laughter resounded in the desolate room, lieved. They had had a little leisure at noon for scantily lighted with the dim taper-no laughter dinner, and during the interim Simon and Tison as the queen and the princess put on their were on guard, and had kept the queen on the strange, fearful attire. It was no masquerade, rack with their mockery and their abusive words. but a dreadful, horrible reality; and as they looked In order to avoid the language and the looks of at each other wearing the costume of revolution- these men, she had fled into the childten's room, ists, tears started from the eyes of the queen; to whom the princess, -in her trustful calmnness the princess folded her hands and prayed; and and unshaken equanimity, was assigning them she too could not keep back the drops that slow- lessons. Marie Antoinette wanted to find protecly coursed over her cheeks. tion there from the dreadful anxiety that tortured The lilies of France are faded,and torn from her, as well as from the ribald jests and scurrilthe ground! From the palace of the Tuileries ity of her keepers. But Mistress Tison was there, waved the tri-color of the republic, and in the standing near the glass window, gazing in with palace of the former Knights Templars is a pale, a malicious grin, and working in her wonted, sad woman, with gray hair and sunken eyes, a quick way upon- the long stocking, and knitting, broken heart, and a bowed form. This pale, sad knitting, so that y.ou could hear the needles shadow of the past is Marie Antoinette, once the click together. Queen of France, the renowned beauty, the first The queen could not give way to a word or a woman in a great kingdom, now the widow of look. That would have created suspicion, and' an executed man, she herself probably with one would, perhaps, have caused an examination to foot- be made. She had to bear all in silence, she had No, no, she will be saved! God has sent her to appear indifferent and calm; she had to give a deliverer, a friend, and this friend, this helper pleasant answers to the dauphin's innocent quesin her need, has made every thing ready for her tions, and even compel a smile to her lips when flight. the child, reading in her looks, by the instinct of love, her great excitement, tried to cheer her up with pleasant words. It struck five, and still Toulan did not come. A chill crept over her heart, and in the horror O P T E R X X I I I. which filled her she first became conscious how much love of life still survived in her, and how THIE SEPARATION. intensely she had hoped to find a possibility of SLOWLY and heavily the hours of the next day escape. rolled on. Where was Toulan? Why did he Only one last hour of hope left! If it should not come? The queen waited for him the whole strike six, and he should not come, all would be of that long, dreadful day in feverish expectation. lost! The doors of her prison would be closed She listened to every sound, to every approaching forever-never opening again excepting to allow step, to every voice that echoed in the corridor. Marie Antoinette to pass to the guillotine. At noon Toulan had purposed to come to take Mistress Tison had gone, and her cold, mocking his post as guard. At six, when the'time of face was no longer visible behind the glass door. lighting the lamps should arrive, the disguises The guards in the anteroom had also gone, and were to be put on. At seven the carefully and had closed the doors behind them. The queen skilfully-planned flight was to be made. was, therefore, safe from being watched at least! The clock in the tower of the Temple had al- She could fall upon her knees, she'could raise her 202 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. hands to God and wrestle with Him in speechless queen, and, throwing her arms around the dau [rayer for pity and deliverance. She could call phin with a convulsive motion, she murmured: her children to herself, and press them to her "My son, oh, my dear son! May God take my, heart, and whisper to them that they must be life if He will but spare thine!" composed if they should see something strange, Where was Toulan? Where had he been all and not wonder if they should have to put on this dreadful day? Where was Fidele the brave, clothing that they were not accustomed to. the indefatigable? "Mamna," asked the dauphin, in a whisper, On the morning of the day appointed for the " are we going to Varennes again?" flight, he left his house, taking a solemn leave of The queen shuddered in her inmnost soul at this his Marguerite. At this parting hour he told her question, and hid her quivering face on the faith- for the first time that he was going to enter upon ful breast of the princess. the great and exalted undertaking of freeing the "Oh, sister, I am suffocating with anxiety," she queen and her children, or of dying for them. said. "I feel that this hour is to decide the His true, brave young wife had suppressed her lives of us all, and it seems to me as if Death tears and her sighs to give him her blessing, and were already stretching out his cold hand toward to tell him that she would pray for him, and that me. We are lost, and my son, my unhappy son, if he should perish in the service of the queen, will never wear aniy other than the martyr's she would die too, in order to be united with him crown, and-" above. The queen was silent, for just then the tower- Toulan kissed the beaming eyes of his Margueclock began to strike, slowly, peacefully, the hour rite with deep feeling, thanked her for her trueof six! The critical m6ment! The lamplight hearted resignation, and told her that he had must come now! If it were Toulan, they might never loved her so much as in this hour when he be saved. Some unforeseen occurrence might was leaving her to meet his death, it might be, in have prevented his coming before; he might have the service of another lady. borrowed the suit of the bribed lamplighter in "At this hour of parting," he said, "I will give order to come to them. There was hope still- you the dearest and most sacred thing that I posone last, pale ray of hope! sess Take this little gold smelling-bottle. The Steps upon the corridor! Voices that are au- queen gave it to me, and upon the bit of paper dible! that lies within it Marie Antoinette wrote with The queen, breathless, with both hands laid her own hand,'Remembrancer for Fid'le.' Fiupon her heart, which was one instant still, and dele is the title of honor which my queen has then B1eat with redoubled rapidity, listened with given me for the little service which I have been strained attention to the opening of the door able to do for her. I leave this little gift for you of the anteroom. Princess Elizabeth approached as that which, next to your love, is the most saher, and laid her hand on the queen's shoulder. cred and precious thing to me on earth. If I die, The two children, terrified by some cause which preserve it for our son, and give it to him on the they could not comprehend, clung to the hand and day when he reaches his majority. Tell him of the body of their mother, and gazed anxiously at the time when I made this bequest to him, in the the door. hope that he would make himself worthy of it, The steps came nearer, the voices became loud- and live and die as a brave son of his country, a er. The door of the anteroom is opened-and faithful subject and servant of his king, who, God there is the lamplighter. But it is not Toulan- willing, will be the son of Marie Antoinette. Tell no, not Toulan! It is the man who comes every him of his father; say to him that I dearly loved day, and the two children are with him as usual. you and him, but that I had devoted my life to A heavy sigh escaped from the lips of the the service of the queen, and that I gave it freely THE SEPARATION. 203 and gladly, in conformity with my oath. I have ing the very next corner Lepitre met him, pale, not told you about these things before, dear Mar- and displaying great excitement in his face. guerite-not because I doubted your fidelity, but "Thank God!" he said, " thank God that I because I did not want you to have to bear the have found you. I wanted to hasten to you. We dreadful burden of expectation, and because I did must flee directly-all is discovered. Immediate not want to trouble your noble soul with these flight alone can save us!" things. And now I only tell you this much: I "What is discovered"? asked Toulan. "Speak, am going away to try to save the queen. If I Lepitre, what is discovered?" succeed, I shall come back for a moment this "For God's sake, let us not be standing here evening at ten o'clock. If I remain away, if on the streets! " ejaculated Lepitre. "They have you hear nothing from me during the whole night, certainly sent out the constables to arrest us. Let then-" us go into this house here, it contains a passage "Then what? " asked Marguerite, throwing her through to the next street. Now, listen! We arms around him, and looking into his face anx- are reported. Simon's wife has carried our iously. "Say, what then?" names to the Committee of Public Safety as sus"Then I shall have died," he said, softly, picious persons. Tison's wife has given out that "and our child will be an orphan! Do not the queen and her sister-in-law have won us both weep, Marguerite! Be strong and brave, show a over, and that through our means she is kept cheerful face to our neighbors, our friends, and informed about every thing that happens. The the spies! But observe every thing! Listen to carpet-manufacturer, Arnault, has just been pubevery thing! Keep the outer door open all the licly denouncing us both, saying that Simeon's time, that I may be able to slip in at any mo- wife has reported to him that we both have conment., Have the little secret door in my room ducted conversation with the prisoners in low open too, and the passage-way down into the ceel- tones of voice, and have thereby been the means Aar always free, that I may slip down there if of conveying some kind of cheering information need be. Be ready to receive me at any time, to the queen.*. On that, our names were stricken to hide me, and, it may possibly be, others who from the list of official guards at the Temple, may come with me!' and we are excluded from the new ward commit"I shall expect you day and night," she whis- tee that is forming to-day." pered, "so long as I live!" "And is that all?" asked Toulan, calmly.'"A'nd now, Marguerite," he said, pressing her " Is that all the had news that you bring? Then tenderly to his heart, "one last kiss! Let me the projected flight is not discovered, is it? kiss your eyes, your beautiful dear eyes, which Nothing positive is known against us? Nothing have always glanced with looks of love, and more is known than the silly and unfounded which have always given me new inspiration. denunciations of two old women?" Farewell, my dear wife, and God bless you for "For God's sake, do not use such idle words your love and fidelity!" as these!" replied Lepitre. "We are suspected, "Do not go, my precious one! Come once our names are stricken from the ward list. Is more to the cradle of our boy and give him a not that itself a charge against us? And are parting kiss!" not those who come under suspicion always con"No, Marguerite, that would unman me, and demned? Do not laugh, Toulan, and shake your to-day I must be strong and master of myself. head! Believe me, we are lost if we do not flee; Farewell, I am going to the Temple!" if we do not leave Paris on the spot and conceal And, without looking at his wife again, he ourselves somewhere. I am firmly resolved on hurried out into the street, and turned his steps towardXhis destinat. B t * Literally reproduced here. —See Goncourt, t" distoire toward his destination. But just as he was turn- de Marie Antoinette," p. 290. 204 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. this, and in an hour I shall have started, disguised with a cheerful face, and repaired at once to the as a sans-culotte. Follow my example, my friend. hall where the Committee of Safety were sitting. Do not throw away your life foolhardily. Follow "Citizens and brothers," he said, in a loud, me!" bold voice, "I have just been informed that "No," said Toulan, "I shall stay. I have I have been brought under suspicion and desworn to devote my life to the service of the nounced. Friends have warned me to betake to queen, and I shall fulfil my oath so long as breath flight. But I am no coward, I have no bad conremains in my body. I must not go away from science, and therefore do not fly, but come here here so long as there is a possibility of assist- and ask you is this true? Is it possible that you ing her. If flight is impracticable to-day, it may regard me as no patriot, and as a traitor?" be effected at some more favorable time, and I "Yes," answered President Hobart, with a must hold myself in readiness for it." harsh, hard voice, " you are under suspicion, and' But they will take you, I tell you," said Lepi- we mistrust you. This shameful seducer, this shetre, with a downcast air. "You will do no wolf Marie Antoinette has cast her foxy eyes upon good to the queen, and only bring yourself to you, and would doubtless succeed if you are often harm." with her. We have therefore once for all taken "Oh, nonsense! they will not catch me so your name from the list of the official guards in soon," said Toulan, confidently. "Fortune al- the Temple, and you will no longer be exposed to ways favors the bold, and I will show you that I the wiles of the Austrian woman. But besides am braye. Go, my friend, save yourself, and may this, as the second denunciation has been made God give you long life and a contented heart! against you to-day, and as it is asserted that you Farewell, and be careful that they do not discover are in relations with aristocrats and suspected peryou!" sons, we have considered it expedient, in view of "You are angry with me, Toulan," said Lepi- the common safety, to issue a warrant for your tre. "You consider me cowardly. But I tell apprehension. An officer has just gone with two you, you are foolhardy, and your folly will plunge soldiers to your house, to arrest you and bring you into destruction." you. hither., You have simply anticipated the "I am not angry with you, Lepitre, and you course of law by surrendering yourself. Officer, shall not be with me. Every one must do as best soldiers, here! " he can, and as his heart and his head dictate to The persons summoned appeared, and put Tou him. One is not the better for this, and another lan under arrest, preparatory to taking him to the worse. Farewell, my friend! Take care for prison. your own safety, for it is well that some faithful "It is well," said Toulan, with a noble calmones should still remain to serve the queen, and I ness. "I know that the time will come when you know that you will serve her when she needs will regret having so abused a true patriot; and I your help." hope, fot the peace of your consciences, that "Then give me your hand in parting, my friend. there will be a time then to undo the evil which And if at last you come to the conclusion to flee, you are doing to me to-day, and that my head will come to Normandy, and in the village of Lerne, then be on my shoulders, that my lips may be able near Dieppe, you will find me, and my father will to testify to you what my heart now dictates, that receive you, and you shall be treated as if you I forgive you! You are in error about me, yet I were my brother." know that you are acting not out of enmity to me, "'Thanks, my friend, thanks! One last shake but for the weal of the country, and out of love of the hand. There! Now you. are away, and I for the great, united republic. As the true and remain here." tenderly loving son of this noble, exalted mother, Toulan went out into the street, walked along I forgive you for giving ear to my unrighteous THE SEPARATION. 905 accusers, and, even if you shed my innocent And fortune sent him such a friend!-Ricard, blood, my dying wish will be a blessing on the Toulan's most trusted counsellor, the abettor of republic." his plans. "Those are noble and excellent words," said Toulan called him with an animated face, Hobart, coldly. " But if deeds speak in antago- and in loud tones told him that he had been denism to words, we cannot let the latter beguile us nounced, and therefore arrested; and that he was out of our sense, but we must give heed to justice." only allowed to go to his house to procure some "That is the one only thing that I ask," cried clothing. Toulan, brightly. " Letjustice be done, my broth- "Come along, Ricard," he said. "They are ers, and I shall very soon be'free, and shall come going to put my effects under seal, and you have out from an investigation like a spotless lamb. I some papers and books on my writing-table. make no resistance. Come, my friends, take me to Come along, and take possession of your own prison! I only ask for permission to be escorted things, so that they may not be sealed up as first to my house, to procure a few articles of mine." clothing to use during my imprisonment. But I Ricard nodded assent, and a significant look urge pressingly that my articles may be sealed up told Toulan that his friend understood him, and in my presence. For when the man of the house is that his meaning was, that Ricard should take not at home, it fares badly with the safety of his possession of papers that might bring Toulan property, and I shall be able to feel at ease only under suspicion. Continuing their walk, they when the seal of the republic is upon my possessions. spoke of indifferent matters, and at last reached I-beg you therefore to allow my papers and valu- Toulan's house. Marguerite met them with calm ables to be sealed in my presence. You will thus bearing. She knew that every cry,. every expresbe sure that my wife and my friends have not re- sion of anxiety and trouble, would only imperil moved any thing which might be used against me, the condition of her husband, and her love gave and my innocence will shine out the more clearly. her power to master herself. I beg you therefore to comply with my wish." "Ah! are you there, husband?" she said, The members of the committee consulted with with a smile, how hard to her no one knew. one another in low tones, and the chairman then " You are bringing a great deal of company." announced to Toulan that his wish would be com- "Yes, Marguerite," said Toulan, with a smile, plied with, and that an escort of soldiers might " and I am going to keep on with this pleasant accompany him to his house, to allow him to pro. company to prison." cure linen and clothing, and to seal his effects and " Oh " she cried, laughing, "that is a good papers in their presence. joke! Toulan, the best of patriots, in prison! Toulan thanked them with cheerful looks, and Come, you ought not to joke about serious mat. went out into the street between the two guards. ters." As they were on the way to his house, he talked "It is no joke," said one of the guards, soleasily with them, laughed and joked; but in his own emnly. " Citizen Toulan is arrested, and is here thoughts he said to himself, "You are lost! hope- only to procure some articles of clothing, and lessly lost, if you do not escape now. You are have his effects put under seal," the prey of the guillotine, if the gates of the prison "And to give back to -his friend Ricard the once close upon you; therefore escape, escape or books and papers that belong to him," said Toudie." While he was thus laughing and talking lan. "Come, let us go into my study, fiiends." with the soldiers, and meanwhile thinking such "There are my books and papers," cried Risolemn thoughts, his sharp black eyes were glan- card, as they went into the next room. He cing in all directions, looking for a friend who sprang forward to the writing-table, seized all might assist him out of his trouble. the papers lying upon it, and tried to thrust 206 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. them into his coat-pocket. But the two soldiers their pale, sad faces, and a deep sigh escaped checked him, and undertook to resist this move- from their heavy hearts. ment. Ricard protested, a loud exchange of "Thank God! he is saved," whispered Marie words took place-in which Marguerite had her Antoinette. "Is not that the melody that was to share-insisting that all the papers on the table tell us that our friend is in the neighborbelonged to Ricard, and she should like to see hood?" the man who would have the impudence to pre- "Yes, sister, that is the one! So long as we vent his taking them. hear this signal, we shall know that TolJan is livLouder and louder grew the contention; and ing still, and that he is near us." when Ricard was endeavoring again to put the And in the following weeks the prisoners of the papers into his pocket, the two soldiers rushed Temple often had the sad consolation of hearing at him to prevent it. Marguerite tried to come the tones of Toulan's horn; but he never came to to his assistance, and in the effort, overthrew a them again, he never appeared in the anteroom little table which stood in the middle of the room, to keep guard over the imprisoned queen. on which was a water-bottle and some glasses. Toulan did not flee! He had the courage to The table came down, a rattle of broken glass remain in Paris; he was constantly hoping that an followed, and amid the noise and outcries, the occasion might arise to help the queen escape; controversy and violence, no one paid attention he was constantly putting himself in connection to Toulan; no one saw the little secret door with friends for this object, and making plans for quickly open, and Toulan glide from view. the flight of the royal captives. The soldiers did not notice this movement, But exactly what Toulan hoped for stood as a but Marguerite and Ricard understood it well, and threatening phantom before the eyes of the Conwent on all the more eagerly with their cries and vention-the flight of the prisoners in the Temple. contentions, to give Toulan time to escape by the They feared the queen even behind those thick secret passage. walls, behind the four iron doors that closed And they were successful. When the two upon her prison! They feared still more this guards had, after long searching, discovered the poor child of seven years, this little king without secret door through which the escape had been crown and without throne, the son of him who effected, and had rushed down the hidden stair- had been executed. The Committee of Safety way, not a trace of him was to be seen. knew that people were talking about the little Toulan was free! Unhindered, he hastened to king in the Temple, and that touching anecdotes the little attic, which he had, some time before, about him were in circulation. A bold, reckless hired in the house adjacent to the Temple, put on fellow had appeared who called himself a prophet, a suit of clothes which he had prepared there, and had loudly announced upon the streets and and remained concealed the whole day. squares, that the lilies would bloom again, and that As Marie Antoinette lay sleepless upon her bed the sons of Brutus would fall beneath the hand of in the night that follo.wed this vain attempt at the little king whose throne was in the Temple. flight, and was torturing herself with anxious They had, it is true, arrested the prophet and doubts whether Fiddle had fallen a victim to his dragged him to the guillotine, but his prophedevotion, suddenly the tones of a huntsman's horn cies had found an echo here and there, and an broke the silence; Marie Antoinette raised her- interest in the little prince had been awakened self up and listened. Princess Elizabeth had i in the people. The noble and enthusiastic men done the same; and with suspended breath they known as the Girondists were deeply solicitous both listened to the long-drawn and plaintive about the young royal martyr, and the application tones which softly floated in to them on the wings of this expression to the little dauphin, made in of the night. A smile of satisfaction flitted over the earnest and impassioned speeches before the THE SEPARATION. 207 Convention, melted all hearers to tears and called "The committee has come to this determina. out a deep sympathy. tion," answered the official, " the Convention has The Convention saw the danger, and at once confirmed it, and we shall carry it into execution resolved to be free from it. On the 1st of July directly." 1793, that body issued a decree with the fol- "I cannot allow it," cried Marie Antoinette in lowing purport: "The Committee of Public desperation. "In the name of Heaven, I conjure Safety ordains that the son of Capet be separ- you not to be so cruel! " ated from his mother, and be delivered to an Elizabeth and Theresa mingled their tears with instructor, whom the general director of the com-'those of the mother. All three had placed themmunes shall appoint." selves before the bed of the dauphin; they clung to The queen had no suspicion of this. Now that it, they folded their hands, they sobbed; the most Toulan was no longer there, no news came to her touching cries, the most humble prayers trem of what transpired beyond the prison, and Fi- bled on their lips, but the guards were not at all d~le's horn-signals were the only sounds of the moved. outer world that reached her ear. "What is all this whining for? " they said., The evening of the 3d of July had come. The "No one is going to kill your child; give him to little prince had gone to bed, and had already us of your own free will, or we shall have to sunk into a deep sleep. His bed had no curtains, him by force." but Marie Antoinette had with careful hands fas- They strode up to the bed. Marie Antoinette tened a shawl to the wall, and spread it out over placed herself with extended arms before it, and the bed in such a manner that the glare of the held the curtain firmly; it however detached itself light did not fall upon the closed eyes of the child from the wall and fell upon the face of the dauand disturb him in his peaceful slumbers. It was phin. He awoke, saw what was going on, and ten o'clock in the evening, and the ladies had threw himself with loud shrieks into the arms of that day waited unwontedly long before goIng to the queen. " Mamma, dear Mamma, do not leave bed. The queen and Princess Elizabeth were me!" She pressed him trembling to her bosom, busied in mending the clothing of the family, and quieted him, and defended him against the cruel Princess Theresa, sitting between the two, had been hands that were reached out for him. reading to them some chapters out of the Histori- In vain, all in vain! The, men of the republic cal Dictionary. At the wish of the queen, she' have no compassion on the grief of a mother! had now taken a religious book, Passion Week, " By free will or by force he must go with us." and was reading some hymns and prayers out "Then promise me at least that he shall reof it. main in the tower of the Temple, that I may see Suddenly, the quick steps of several men were him every day." heard in the corridor. The bolts flew back, the " We have nothing to promise you, we have no doors were opened, and six officials came in. account at all to give you. Parbleu, how can "VWe are come," cried one of them, with a you take on and howl so, merely because your brutal voice, "to announce to you the order of child is taken from you?. Our children have to the committee, that the son of Capet be separated do more than that. They have every day to have from his mother and his family." their heads split open with the balls of the eneAt these words the queen rose, pale with hor- mies that you have set upon them." ror. " They are going to take my child from me! "My son is still too young to be able to serve she cried. "No, no, that is not possible. Gen- his country," said the queen, gently, " but I hope tlemen, the authorities cannot think of separating that if God permits it,. he will some day be proud me from my, son. He is still so young and to devote his life to, Him." weak, he needs my care." Meanwhile the two princesses, urged on by the 208 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. officials, had clothed the gasping, sobbing boy. the bolts drawn, and within the chamber reigned The queen now saw that no more hope remained. the stillness of death. The two women put She sank upon a chair, and summoning all her their arms around one another, kneeled upon strength, she called the dauphin to herself, laid the floor and prayed. her hands upon his shoulders, and pale, immov- From this day on, Marie Antoinette had no able, with widely-opened eyes, whose burning lips hope more; her heart was broken. Whole d:ays were cooled by no tear, she gazed upon the quiv- long she sat fixed and immovable, without paying ering face of the boy, who had fixed his great any regard to the tender words of her sister-inblue eyes, swimming with tears, upon the counte- law and the caresses of her daughter, without nance of-his mother. working, reading, or busying herself in any way. "My child,", said the queen, solemnly, "we Formerly she had helped to put the rooms in must part. Remember your duties when I am order, and mend the clothes and linen; now she no more with you to remind you of them. Never let the two princesses do this alone and serve forget the good God who is proving you, and her. your mother who is praying for -you. Be good Only for a few hours each day did her counteand.patient, and your Father in heaven will bless nance lighten at all, and the power of motion re. you." turn to this pale, marble figure.'Those were She bent over, and with, her cold lips pressed a the hours when she waited for her son, as he kiss upon the forehead of her son, then gently went with Simon every day to the upper story pushed him toward the turnkey. But the boy and the platform of the tower.. She would then sprang back to her again, clung to her with his put her head to the door and listen to every step arms, and would not go. and all the words that he directed to the turnkey "My son, we must obey. God wills it so." as he passed by. A loud, savage laugh was heard. Shuddering, Soon she discovered a means of seeing'him. the queen turned around. There at the open There was a little crack on the floor of the platdoor stood Simon, and with him his wife, their form on which the boy walked. The world rehard features turned maliciously toward the pale volved for the queen only around this little crack, queen. The woman stretched out her brown, and the instant in which she could see her bare arms to the child, grasped him, and pushed boy. him before her to the door. At times, too, a compassionate guard who had'"Is she to have him?" shrieked Marie An- to inspect the prison brought her tidings of her toinette. "Is my son to remain with this wo- son, told her that he was well, that he hald learned man? " to play ball, and that by his friiendly nature he "Yes," said Simon, with a grinning smile, as won every one's love. Then Marie Antoinette's he put himself, with his arms akimbo, before the countenance would. lighten, a smile would play queen-" yes, with this woman and with me, her over her features and linger on her pale lips as husband, little Capet is to remain, and I tell you long as they were speaking of her boy. But oh! he shall receive a royal education. We shall soon there came other tidings about the unhappy teach him to forget the past, and only to remem- child. His wailing tones, Simon's threats, and ber that he is a child of the one and indivisible his wife's abusive words penetrated even the republic. If he does not come to it, he must be queen's apartments, and filled her with the anbrought to it, and my old cobbler's straps will be guish of despair. And yet it was not the worst good helpers in this matter." to hear him cry, and to know that the son of the He nodded at Marie Antoinette with a fiendish queen was treated ill; it was still more dreadful smile, and then followed the officials, who had al- to hear him sing with a loud voice, accompanied readyv gone out. The doors were closed again, by the laugh and the bravoes of Simon and his THE SEPARATION. 209 wife, revolutionary and obscene songs-to know soul of her child. Then; gradual paralysis crept' that not only his body but his soul was doomed over her heart, and when, on the 2d of August, to destruction. she was taken from the Temple to the prison, the At first the queen, on hearing these dreadful pale lips of the queen merely whispered, " Thank songs, broke out into lamentations, cries, and loud God, I shall not have to hear him sing any threats against those who were destroying the more!" 14 B OO0K0 V. Marie Antoinette longed for the deliverance, H A P T ER XXIV. How far behind her now lay the days of her happy, joyous youth! how long ago the time when THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN. the tall, grave woman, her face full of pride and THE Bartholomew's night of the murderous yet of resignation, had been charming Marie AnCatharine de Medicis, and her mad son, Charles toinette, the very impersonation of beauty, youth, IX., now found in France its horrible and bloody and love, carrying out in Trianon the idyl of rorepetition; but the night of horror which we are mantic country life-in the excess of her gayety now to contemplate was, continued on into the going disguised to the public opera-house ball, beday, and did not shrink even before the light. lieving herself so'safe amid the French people The sun shone down upon the streams of blood that she could dispense with the protection of which flowed through the streets of Paris, and etiquette —hailed with an enthusiastic admiration upon the pack of wild dogs that swarmed in un- then, as she was now saluted with the savage counted numbers on the thoroughfares of the city, shouts of the enraged people! and lived on this blood, which gave back even to No, the former queen, Marie Antbinette, who, in the tame their natural wildness. The sun shone the gilded saloons of Versailles and in the Tuiledown upon the scaffold, that rose like a threaten- ries, had received the homage of all France, and ing monster upon the Place de la Revolution, and with a smiling face and perfect grace of manner upon the. dreadful axe which daily severed so many acknowledged all the tribute that was brought to noble forms, and then rose from the. block glitter- her, had no longer any resemblance to the widow ing and'menacing. of Louis Capet, sitting before the revolutionary The sun shone on that day, too, when Marie tribunal, and giving earnest answers to the quesAntoinette ascended the scaffold, as her husband tions which were put to her. She arranged her had done before, and so passed to ler rest, from toilet that day-but how different was the toilet all the pains and humiliations of her last years. of the Widow Capet from that which Queen'Marie That day was the 16th of October, 1793. For Antoinette had once displayed! 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Fo.~c ~; I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~..... THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN. 211 auburn hair; now braiding it so as to make it look that brought tears into his eyes, and that enfold little war-ships, the sails of which.were perhaps caused him to fall on the morrow under finely woven from her own locks; now laying out the guillotine as a traitor. a garden filled with fruits and flowers, butterflies The gens d'armes who guarded the queen, they and birds of paradise. alone had the courage.to show her compassion The "Widow Capet" needed'no milliner and One night, when she was conducted from the no hair-dresser in making her toilet. Her tall, session-room to her prison, Marie Antoinette felt slender figure was enveloped with the black herself so exhausted, so overcome, that she mur woollen dress which the republic had given.mured to herself, as she staggered on, "I cannot her at her request, that she might commemorate see, I cannot walk any farther." * The guard her deceased husband. Her neck and shoulders, who was walking by her side gave her his arm, which had once been the admiration of France,'and, supported by him, Marie Antoinette reeled was now concealed by a white muslin'kerchief,' up the stone steps that led to her prison. which her keeper Bault had'given her out of sym- At last, in the night intervening between the pathy. Her hair was uncovered, and fell in long, 14th and 15th of October, at four o'clock in the natural locks on both sides of her pale, transpar-.morning, her sentence was pwronounced —" Death! ent face. Her hair needed no powder now; the execution by the guillotine! " long, sleepless nights and the sorrowful'days have Marie Antoinette received it with unshakable whitened it more than any powder could do; and calmness, while the tumult of the excited mob was the widow of Louis Capet, though but thirty-eight hushed as by magic, and while many faces even years old, had the gray locks of a woman of sev- of the exasperated fishwives grew pale! enty. Marie Antoinette remained calm; gravely and In this toilet Marie Antoinette appeared before coldly she rose from her seat, and with her own the revolutionary tribunal, from the 6th to the hands opened the balustrade in order to leave the 13th of October. Nothing royal was left about hall to return to her prison! her but her look and her proud bearing. Finally, on the morning of the 16th of October, The people, pressing in dense masses into the her sufferings were allowed to end, and she was spectators' seats, did not weary of seeing the queen permitted to take refuge in the grave. It almost in her humiliation and in her mourning-robe, and -made her joyful; she had suffered so much, that constantly demanded that Marie Antoinette should to die was for her really blessedness. rise from the woven rush chair on which she was She employed the still hours of the night before sitting, that she should allow herself to be stared her death in writing to her sister-in-law, Madame at by this throng, brought there not out of com- Elizabeth, and her letter was at the same time her passion, but curiosity. testament. But the widow of- Louis Capet had Once, as she rose in reply to the demand of the' no riches, no treasures to convey. She had public, she was heard to whisper, as to herself: nothing more that she could call her own but her'"Ah, will this people not soon be satisfied with' love, her tears, and her farewell greetings. my sufferings?" * At another time, her pale, dry These she left to all who had loved her. She sent lips murmured, "I am thirsty!" but no one a special word to her brothers and sisters, and around her dared to have compassion on this cry bade them farewell. of distress; every one looked perplexed at the "I. had friends," she says, "and the thought others, and no one dared give her a glass of wa- that I am to be forever separated from them, and ter. At last one of the gens d'armes ventured to their sorrow for me, is the most painful thing in do it, and Marie Antoinette thanrked him with a this hour.; they shall at least know that I thought of them to the last moment." * Marie Antoinette's own words.-See Goncoart, " Histoire de Maxie Antoinette," p. 404. * Goncourt, p. 415. 212 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND ItER SON. After Marie Antoinette had ended this letter, had written to her sister Elizabeth, "I shall lave whose writing was here and there blotted with her to submit if a priest is brought to me; but I soltears, she turned her thoughts to the last remem- emnly declare that I will not speak a word to him, brances she could leave to her children-a re- and that I shall treat him as a person with whom membrance which should not be profaned by the I wish to have no relations." hand of the executioner. This was her long hair, And Marie Antoinette kept her word; she did whose silver locks, the only ornament that re- not refuse to allow Geroid to enter; but when he mained to her, was at the same time the sad rec- asked her if she wished to receive the consolations ord of her sorrows. of religion from him, she declined. Marie Antoinette, with her own hands, de- Then, in order to warm her feet, which were spoiled herself of this ornament, and cut off her cold, she walked up and down her little room. long back-hair, that it might be a last gift to her As it struck seven the door opened. It was Samchildren, her relations, and friends. c Then, after son, the public executioner, who entered! a period of meditation, she prepared herself for A slight thrill passed through the form of the the last great ceremony ofher career —her death. queen. "You have come very early, sir; could She felt herself exlausted, worn out, and recog- yoht not delay a little?" When Samson denied nized her need of some physical support during her request, Marie Antoinette put on her calm, the hard way which lay before her. She asked cold manner. She drank, without resistance, a for nourishment, and ate with some relish the cup of chocolate which was brought to her; she wing of a fowl that was brought to her. After remained possessed, and wore her wonted air of that she made her toilet-the toilet of death! dignity as they bound her hands behind her with At the request of the queen, the wife of the thick cords. turnkey gave her one of her own chemises, and At eleven o'clock she left her room, passed MIarie Antoinette put it on. Then she arrayed through the corridor, and ascended the car, herself in the same garments which she had worn which was waiting for her before the prison at her trial, with this single change-that over door. No one accompanied her, no one bade the black woollen dress, which she had often her a last farewell, not a look of pity or commended with her own hand, she now wore a cloak passion was bestowed upon her by her keepers. of white pique. Around her neclk'she tied a sim- Alone, between the rows of gens d'armes that ple kerchief of white muslin, and as she would not were placed along the sides of the corridor, the be allowed to ascend the scaffold with uncov- queen advanced, Samson walking behind her, carered head, she puti on a plain linen cap, such as rying the end of the rope with which the queen's was in general use among the people. Black hands were bound, and behind him his two asstockings covered her feet, and over these were sistants and the priest. This is the retinue of shoes of black wopllen stuff. the queen, the daughter of an emperor, on the Her toilet was at last ended; she was done way to her execution! with all earthly things! Ready to meet her It may be, that at this hour thousands are on death, she lay down on her bed and slept. their knees, offering their fervent prayers to God She was still sleeping when.it was announced in behalf of Marie Antoinette, whom, in their to her that a priest was there, ready to meet her, hearts, they continued to call "the queen; " it if she wanted to confess. But Marie Antoinette may be that thousands are pouring out tears of.,ad already unveiled her heart before God: she compassion for her who now mounts the wretched wanted none of those priests of reason whom the car, and sits down on the board which is bound republic had appointed after it had banished or by ropes to the sides of the vehicle. But those guillotined the priests of the Church. who are praying and weeping have withdrawn to "As I am not mistress of my own will," she the solitude of their own apartments, and only THE DEATH' OF THE QUEEN. 213 God can see their tears and hear their cries. The The queen, however, remained calm, her gaze eyes which witnessed the queen in this last drive wandering coldly over thd vast multitude; only were not allowed to shed a tear; the words which once did her eye flash on the route. It was as followed her on her last way could express no she passed the Palais Royal, -where Philippe compassion. Egalite, once the Duke d'Orleans, lived, and read All Paris knew the hour of the execution, and the inscription which he had caused to be placed the people were ready to witness it. On the over the main entrance of the palace. streets, at the windows, on the roofs, immense At noon the car- reached its destination. It masses had congregated, and the whole Place de came. to a halt at the foot of the scaffold; Marine la Revolution (now the Place de la Concorde) was Antoinette dismounted, and then walk d slowly filled with a dark, surging crowd. and with erect head up the steps. And now the drums of the guards stationed be- Not once during her dreadful ride had her lips fore the Conciergerie began to beat. The great opened, not a complaint had escaped her, not a white horse, (which drew the car in which the farewell had she spoken. The only alieu which queen sat, side by side with the priest, and facing she had to give on earth was a look- -one long, backward,) was driven forward by a man who was sad look-directed toward the Tuileries; and as upon his back. Behind Marie Antoinette were she gazed at the great pile her cheeks grew paler, Samson and his assistants. and a deep sigh escaped from her lips. The queen was pale, all the blood had left her Then she placed her head under the guillocheeks and lips, but her eyes were red! Poor tine,-a momentary, breathless silence followed. queen, she bore even then the marks of much Samson lifted up the pale head that had once weeping! But she could shed no tears then! belonged to the Queen of France, and the people Not a single one obscured, her eye as her look greeted the sight with the cry, "Long liye the ranged, gravely and calmly, over the mass, up republic! " the houses to the very roofs, thenf slowly down, That same evening one of the officials of the and then away over the boundless sea of human republic made up an account, now preserved in. faces. the Imperial Library of Paris, and which must Her face was as cold and grave as her eyes, her move even the historian himself to tears. It runs lips were firmly compressed; not a quiver be- as follows: "Cost of interments, conducted by trayed whether she was suffering, and whether Joly, sexton of Madelaine de la Ville l'Eveque, she shrank from the thousand and ten thousand of persons condemned by the Tribunal of the scornful and curious looks which were fixed upon Committee of Safety, to wit, No. 1...." Then her. And yet Marie Antoinette saw it all! She follow twenty-four names and numbers, and then saw a woman raise a child, she saw the child "No. 25. Widow Capet: throw her a kiss with its little hand! At that the For the coffin....... 6 francs. queen gave way for an instant, her lips quivered, Fordigingthegrave,.anc." her eyes were darkened with a tear! This soli- Beneath are the words, "Seen and approved tary sign of human sympathy reanimated the by me, President of the Revolutionary Tribunal, heart of the queen, and gave her a little fresh that Joly, sexton of the Madelaine, receive the life. sum of two hundred and sixty-four francs from But the people took good: care that Marie An- the National Treasury, Paris, 11th Brumaire. toinette should not carry this one drop of comfort Year II. of the French Republic. Herman, Presito the end of her journey. The populace thronged dent." around the car, howled, groaned, sang ribald The interment of the Queen of France did not songs, clapped their hands, and pointed their fin- cost the republic more than thirty-one francs; or gers in derision at Ma.(ame Veto. six American dollars. 214 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. young prisoner with bitterness and anger, and who CHAPTER XX V. accused and blamed him as the calumniator of his mother! As if the child knew what he was KING LOUIS THE SEVENTEENTH. doing when, at the command of his tormentor THE "one and indivisible republic" had gained Simon, he wrote with trembling hand his name the victory over the lilies of France. In their upon the paper which was laid before him in the dark and unknown graves,.in the Madelaine open court. As if the poor innocent boy knew churchyard, King Louis XV-I. and Marie Antoi- what meaning the dreadful questions had, which nette slept their last sleep. The monarchy had the merciless judges put to him, and which he anperished on the guillotine, and the republicans, swered with no, or with yes, according as his scru.the preachers of liberty, equality, and fraternity, tinizing looks were able to make out the fitting repeated triumphantly: "Royalty is forever ex- answer on the hard face of Simon, who stood near tinguished, and the glorious republic is the ris- him. For'the unhappy lad had already learned to ing sun which is to bring eternal deliverance to read the face of the turnkey, and knew very well France." that every wrinkle of the forehead which was But, in spite of this jubilant cry, the foreheads caused by him must be atoned for with dreadful of the republican leaders darkened, and a peculiar sufferings, abuses, and blows. solicitude took possession of their hearts when The poor boy was afraid of the heavy fist that their eyes fell upon the Temple-that great, dismal came down like an iron club upon his back and building, that threw its dark shadows over the even on his face, when he said any thing or did sunny path of the republic. Was it regret that any thing that displeased Simon or his wife; and darkened the brows of the regicides as they looked therefore he sought to escape ~his cruel treatment2 upon this building, which had been the sad prison confirming with his yes and no what Simon told of the king and queen? Those hearts of bronze the judges, and what the child in his innocence did knew no regret; and when the heroes of the not understand! And therefore he subscribed the revolution crossed the Place de la Guillotine, on paper without reluctance in which he unconsciouswhich the royal victims had perished, their eyes ly gave evidence that disgraced his mother. flashed more proudly, and did not fall even when With this testimony they ventured to accuse they passed by the Madelaine churchyard. Marie Antoinette of infamy, but the queen gave No, it was not the recollection of the deed that it no other answer than scornful silence and saddened the brows of the potentates of the re- a proud and dignified look, before which the public when they looked at the dismal Temple, judges cast down their eyes in shame. Then but the recollection of him who was not yet dead,, after a pause they repeated their question, and but who was still living as a captive in the gloomy demanded an answer. state-prison of the republic. Marie Antoinette turned her proud and yet genThis prisoner was indeed only a child of eight tle glance to the women who had taken posse>years, but the legitimists-and there were many sion in dense masses of the spectators' gallery, and of them still in the country-called him the King who breathlessly awaited the answer of the of France; and priests in loyal Vendee, when they queen. had finished the daily mass for the murdered "I appeal to all mothers present," she said, king, prayed to God, with uplifted hahds, for with her sad, sonorous voice-" I ask whether grace and deliverance for the young captive at they hold such a crime to be possible." the Temple, the young king, Louis XVII. No one gave audible reply, but a murmur "Le roi est mort — Vive le roi!" passed through the ranks of the spectators, and There were, it must be confessed, among the the sharp ear of the judges understood very well royalists and legitimists many who thought of the the meaning of this sound, this language of synm KING LOUIS XVII. 215 pathy, and it seemed to them wiser to let the ac- The next morning Simon repaired with the little cusation fall rather than rouse up the compassion prisoner to the platfo)rm of the tower, from which of the mothers still more in behalf of the queen. there was a free lookout over the streets, and Her condemnation was an event fixed upon, the where they could plainly see what was going on "guilty" had been spoken in the hearts of the below. judges long before it came to their lips, and His wife meanwhile had left the Temple at brought the queen to the guillotine. early dawn with her dreadful knitting-work. " I Marie Antoinette referred to this dreadful must be on the spot early if I want a good place charge in the letter which she wrote to her sister- to-day," she said, " and it would be a real misin-law Elizabeth in the night before her execution, fortune for me, if I should not see the miserable a letter which was at the same time her testament head of the she-wolf drop, and not make a double and her farewell to life. stitch in my stocking." "May my son," she wrote, " never forget the "But you forget, Jeanne Marie," said Simon, last words of his father! I repeat them to him with a grin, "you forget that you lose your bet here expressly:'May he never seek- to avenge our if you make the mark in your stocking." death i!' And now I have to speak of a matter which "I would rather lose all the bets that were surely grieves my heart. I know what trouble ever made than not make the mark in my stockthis child must have occasioned you. Forgive ing," cried the knitter, grimly. "I would rather him, my dear sister; think how young he is, and lose my wadding-dress and my marriage-ring than how easy it is to induce a child to say what peo- win this bet. Go up to the platform with the ple want to have him say, and what he does not young wolf, and wait for me there. As soon as I understand. The day will come, I hope, when he have made the mark in my stocking, I will run shall better comprehend the high value of your home and show it to you." goodness and tenderness to both of my chil- "It is too bad that I cannot go with you," said dren." * Simon, sighing. "-I wish I had never undertaken At the same hour when Marie Antoinette was the business of bringing up the little Capet. It writing this, there was a dispute between Simon is hateful work, for I can never leave the Temple, and his wife, who had been ordered by the Con- and I am just as much a prisoner as he is." vention to watch that night, in order that the en- "The republic has done you a great honor," raged legitimists might not make an effort to ab- said the knitter, solemnly. " She has confidence duct the son of the queen. They were contending that you will make out of the son of the she-wolf, whether the execution would really occur the out of the worthless scion of tyrants, a son of the next day. Simon, in a jubilant tone, declared republic, a useful citizen." his conviction that it would, while his wife doubt- "Good talk," growled Simon, " and you have ed. "She is still handsome," she said, gloomily, only the honor of the affair, and the satisfaction "she knows how to talk well, and she will be besides of plaguing the son of our tyrants a bit." able to move her judges, for her judges are men." "Of taking revenge," struck in the knitter"But Justice is a woman, and she is unshak- "revenge for the misery which my family has able," cried Simon emphatically, and as his wife suffered from the tyrants." continued to contradict, Simon proposed a bet. "But I," continued Simon, "I have certainly The wager was, that if the Queen of France should the honor of the thing, but I have also the burbe guillotined the next noon, the one who lost den. In the first place, it is very hard to make a should furnish brandy and cakes the next evening strong and useful citizen of the republic out of'for'a jollificati on. this whining, tender, and sensitive urchin. And then again it is very unpleasant and disagreeable Beauchesne, " Louis XVII., saVie, son Agonie," etc., vol. ii, p. 156., facsimile of Marie A;ntoinette's letter. to have to live like a prisoner always." 216 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. "Listen, Simon, hear what I promise you," the platform, throwing his ball up in the air, and said Jeanne Marie, laying her hard brown hand shouting aloud when he caught it again with his upon Simon's shoulder. " If the Austrian atones little thin hands. to-day for her crimes, and the executioner shows Meanwhile Simon stood leaning on the iron her head to the avenged people, I will give up my railing that surrounded the platform, looking with place at the guillotine as a knitter, will remain with his searching eyes down into the street which far you here in the Temple, will take my share in the below ran between the dark houses like a narrow bringing up of the little Capet, and you yourself ribbon. shall make the proposition to the supervisor, that The wind now brought the sustained notes of your wife like yourself shall not be allowed to the drums to him; then he saw the street below leave the Temple." suddenly filled with a dark mass, as if the ribbon "That is something I like to hear," cried Si- were turning into crape that was filling all Paris. mon, delighted; " there will then be at least two "The people are in motion by thousands," cried of us to bear the tedium of imprisonment. So Simon, delightedly, "and all rushing to the Place go, Jenne Marie, take your place for the last time de la Revolution. I shall win my bet." at the guillotine, for I tell you, you will lose your And again he listened to the sound that came bet; you will have to furnish brandy and cakes, up to him, now resembling the beat of drums, and stay with me here at the Temple to bring up and now a loud cry of exultation. the little Capet. So go, I will go up to.the plat- "Now I think Samson must be striking the form with the boy, and wait there for your re- head off the wolf!" growled Simon to himself, turn." "and the people are shouting with pleasure, and He called the little Louis Charles, who was sit- Jeanne Marie is making a mark in her stocking, ting on the tottering rush-chair in his room, and and I, poor fellow, cannot be there to see the anxiously waiting to see whether " his master " fine show! And this miserable brat is to blame was going to take him that day out of the dismal, for it,;' he cried aloud, turning suddenly round to dark prison. the child who was playing behind him with his "Come, little Capet," cried Simon, pushing the ball, and giving him a savage blow with his fist. door open with his foot-" come, we will go up "You are the cause, stupid, that I cannot be on the platform. You can take your ball along there to-day! " and play, and I advise you to be right merry to- "Master," said the child, beseechingly, lifting day, for it is a holiday for the republic, and I am his great blue eyes, in which the tears were standgoing to teach you to be a good republican. So ing, up to his tormentor —" master, I beg your if you want to keep your back free from my forgiveness if I have troubled you." straps, be jolly to-day, and play with your ball." "Yes, you have troubled me," growled Simon, "Oh! " cried the child, springing forward mer- " and you shall get your thanks for it in a way rily with his ball-" oh! only be good, master, you will not like. Quick, away with your tears, I will certainly be merry, for I like to play with go on with your play if you do not want your my ball, and I am ever so fond of holidays. back to make acquaintance with my straps. What kind of one is it to-day?" Merry, I say, little Capet, merry!" "No matter about your knowing that, you little The boy hastily dried his tears, laughed aloud toad!" growled Simon, who in spite of himself as a proof of his merriment, and began to jump had compassion on the pale face of the child that about again and to play with his ball. looked up to him so innocently and inquiringly. Simon listened again, and looked down longing"Up the staircase quick, and play and laugh." ly into the streets, which were now black with the Louis obeyed with a smile, sprang up the high surging masses of men. Steps were now heard steps of the winding stairway, jumped about on upon the stairway, and Jeanne Marie presently KING LOUIS XVII. 21 appeared on the platform. With a grave, solemn neither threats, abuse, nor blows would force him air she walked up to her husband, and gave him to sing scurrilous spngs about his mother. Out her stocking, on which three great drops of blood of fear he did every thing else that his tormentor were visible. bade him. He sung the Milarseillaise, and the Ca "That is her blood," she said, calmly. "Thank ira, he danced the Carmagnole, uttered his loud God, I have lost the bet!" hurrahs as Simon drank a glass of brandy to the "What sort of a bet was it?" asked the boy, weal of the one and indivisible republic; but with a smile, and giving his ball a merry toss. when he was ordered to sing mocking songs about " The bet is nothing to you," answered Jeanne Madame Veto, he kept a stubborn silence, and Marie, "but if you are good you will get some- nothing was able to overcome what Simoq called thing by and by, and have a share in the pay- the "obstinacy of the little viper." ment of the bet!" Nothing, neither blows nor kicks, neither threats That evening there was a little feast prepared nor promises! The child no longer ventured to in the gloomy rooms of the Simons. The wife ask after its mother, or to beg to be taken to his paid the wager, for the Queen of France had aunt and sister, but once in a while when he heard really been executed, and she had lost. She pro- a noise in the room above, he would fix his eyes vided two bottles of brandy and a plum cake, and upon the ceiling for a long time, and with an exthe son of the murdered queen had a share in pression of longing, and when he dropped them the entertainment. He ate a piece of the plum again the clear tears ran over his cheeks like cake, and, under the fear of being beaten if he transparent pearls. refused, he drank some of the brandy that was so He did not speak about his mother, but he offensive to him. thought of her, and once in the night he seemed From this time the unhappy boy remained un- to be' dreaming of her, for he raised himself up der the hands of the cobbler and his cruel wife. in bed, kneeled down upon the miserable, dirty In yvan his aunt and his sister implored their mattress, folded his hands and began to repeat in keepers to be allowed to see and to talk with the a loud voice the prayer which his mother had prince. They were put off with. abusive words, taught him. and only now and then could they see him a mo- The noise awakened Simon, who roused his mn., through a crack in the door, as he passed by wife, to let her listen to the " superstitious little with Simon, on his way to the winding staircase. monkey," whom he would cure forever of his At times there came up through the floor of their folly. room-for Simon, who was no longer porter, had He sprang out of bed, took a pitcher of-cold the rooms directly beneath these occupied by the water, that was standing on the table, and poured princesses-the crying and moaning of the little it upon the head, of the kneeling boy. Louis prince, filling their hearts with pain and bitter- Charles awoke with a shriek, and crouched down ness, for they knew that the horrible keeper of in alarm. But the whole bed was w4t, only the the dauphin was giving his pitiable ward a lesson, pillow had been spared. The boy rose carefully, i. e., he was beating and maltreating him. took the pillow, carried it into a corner of the Why? For what reason? One day, perhaps, room, and sat down upon it. But his teeth chatbecause he refused to drink brandy, the next be- tered with the cold in spite of himself. This cause he looked sad, or because he asked to be awakened Simon a second time, just as he was taken to his mother or the princesses, or because dropping asleep. With a wild curse he jumped he refused to sing the ribald songs which Simon out of bed and dressed himself. tried to teach him about Madame Veto or the "That is right!" cried Jeanne Marie, "bring Austrian she-wolf. the brat to his senses. Make little Capet know In this one thing the boy remained immovable; that he is to behave respectfully." 218 MARIE ANTOLNETTE AND HER SON. And Simron did make the poor boy understand tisement, he was entirely silent, and only with the it, sitting on the pillow, shivering in his wet shirt. greatest pains could a word be drawn from him. He seized him by his shoulders, shook him angri- This silence exasperated Simon, and made him ly from one side to another, and shouted: "I will furiously command the boy to sing, laugh, and be teach you to say your 1Pater NVoste;, and get up in merry. At other times he would order Louis to the night like a Trappist!" be silent and motionless for hours, and to have The boy remaining silent, Simon's rage, which nothing to do with the bird-cage, which was on knew no bounds when he thought he was defied the table, and which was the only thing left that or met with stubbornness, entirely took posses- the little fellow could enjoy. sion of him. He caught up his boot, whose sole This cage held a number of birds, and a piece was secured with large iron nails, and was on the of mechanism, an automaton in the form of a point of hurling it at the head of the unoffending bird, which ate like a living creature, drank, boy, when the latter seized his arm with convul- hopped from one bar to another, opened his bill, sive energy. and sang the air which was so popular before the "What have I done to you, master, that you revolution, " Oh, Richard! oh, my king!" should kill me? " cried the little Louis. This article had been found among the royal "Kill you, youwolf-brat!" roared Simon. "As apparel, and a compassionate official guard had if I wanted to, or ever had wanted to! Oh, the told Simon about it, and induced him to apply to miserable viper! So you do not know that if I the authorities in charge of the Temple and ask only took fairly hold of your neck, you never for it for the little Capet. would scream again!" Simon, who, as well as his wife, could no more And with his powerful arm he seized the boy leave the building than their prisoner could, took and hurled him upon the water-soaked bed. this solitary, confined life very seriously, andl Louis lay down without a word, without a come longed for some way to mitigate the tedium. He plaint, and remained there shivering and with therefore availed himself gladly of the official's chattering teeth until morning. proposition, and asked for the automaton, which From this period there was a change in the was granted by the authorities. The boy was boy. Until this time his moist eyes had fixed delighted with the toy at first, and a pleased smile themselves with a supplicating look upon his tor- flitted over his face. But he soon became tired mentors when they threatened him, but after this of playing with the thing and paid no attention they were cast down. Until now he had al- to it. waysosought to fulfil his master's commands with "Does not your bird please you any longer? " great alacrity; afterward he was indifferent, and asked Miller, the official, as be came one day to made no effort to do so, for he had learned that it inspect the Temple. "Do you have no more was all to no purpose, and that he must accept Aa sport with your canary? " fate of slaverv and affliction. Thd face of the The boy shook his head, and as Simon was in child, once so rosy and smiling, now, took on a sad, the next room and so could not strike him, he melancholy expression, his cheeks were pale and ventured to speak. sunken. The attractive features of his face were "It is no bird," he answered softly and quickdisfigured, his limbs grew to a length dispropor- ly. " But I should like to have a bird." tionate to his age; his back bent into a bow, as The good inspector nodded to the boy, and if he felt the burden of the humiliations which then went out to have a long talk with Simon, were thrown upon him. When the child had and so to avert any suspicion of being too familiar learned that every thing that he said was twisted,' with, or too fond of, the prince. But after leavturned into ridicule, and made the cause of chas- ing the Temple he went to his friends and ac* Beauchesne, "Louis XVII.," vol. ii., p. 185. quaintances, and told them, with tears in his eyes, KING LOUIS N VII., 219 about the little prisoner in the Temple, the " dau- I birds were allowed to stay therefore, and their phin," as the royalists used always to call him be- singing and twittering animated a little the dark, neath their breath, and how he wanted a living silent rooms, and reminded him of the spring, the bird. Every one was glad to have an opportunity fresh air, the green trees! of gyatifying the wish of the dauphin, and on the But very soon this source of comfort and cheer next day'Miller brought the prince a cage, in was to be banished from the dismal place! On which were fourteen real canaries. the 19th of December, 1793, the inspectors of the "Ah! those are real birds," cried the child, as Temple made their rounds. Just at the moment he took them one after the other and kissed them.' when they entered the room of the little Louis The playing of the birds, which all lived in one Capet, the automaton began to sing with his great cage,, together with the automaton, was now loud, penetrating voice, "Oh! Richard, oh my the only pleasure of the boy. He began to tame king! " them, and among the little feathered flock, he The officials came to a halt upon the threshold, found one to which'he was especially drawn, be- as though petrified at this unheard-of license, and cause he was more quiet than the others, allowed fixed their cold, angry looks now upon the birds, itself to be easily caught, sat still on the finger of now upon the boy, who was sitting upon his rushthe prince, and, turning.his little black eyes to chair before the cage, looking at the birds with the boy, warbled a little, sweet melody. At such beaming eyes. moments the countenance of the boy beamed as A second time the automaton began the unforit had done in the days of his happiness; his tuate air, and the exasperated inspectors strode cheeks flushed with color, and out of his large up to the cage. blue eyes, which rested with ifexpressible tender- "What does this mean? " asked one of them. ness upon the bird, there issued the rays of intel- "How does any one dare to keep up, in the gloligence and sensibility. He had now something rious republic, such worthless reminders of the to love, something to which all his gentle sympa- cursed monarchy." thies could flow out, which hitherto had all been "Only see," cried another-" see the order that suppressed beneath the harsh treatment of his one of the birds is wearing. It is plain that the keepers. old passion of royalty still lurks -here, for even He was no longer alone, he was no longer joy- here ribbons are given away as signs of distincless! His little friend waos there in the great tion. The' republic forbids such things, and we cage among the twittering companions who were will not suffer such infamy." indifferent to the little prince. In order to know The inspector put his hand into the cage, seized him at first sight, and always to be able to recog- the little canary-bird with the red ribbon, and nize him, Louis took the rose-colored ribbon from squeezed him so closely that the poor little creathe neck of the'automaton, and tied it around the ture gave one faint chirp and died. The man neck of his darling. The bird sang merrily at drew him out, and hurled him against the wall of this, and seemed to be as well pleased with the the room. decoration as if it had been an order Which King The little boy said not a word, he uttered not Louis of France was hanging aroind the neck of a complaint;.he gazed with widely-6pened eyes a favorite courtier. at his dead favorite, and two "great tears slowly It was a fortunate thing for the boy that Simon trickled down his pale cheeks. himself was fond of birds, else the objections of The next day the inspectors gave a report of his wife would soon have robbed the little fellow this occurrence, couched in terms of worthy inof his last-remaining comfort. It was for the dignation, and all hearts were stirred with right keeper a little source of amusement, an interrup- eous anger at the story of the automaton that tion in the dreadful monotony of his life. The sang the royal aria, and of the living bird that 220 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. wore the badge of an order about its neck. They ened child had time to draw it back, the towel were convinced that the secret. royalists were con- had kindled and was burning brightly. nected with this thing, and it was registered in Simon uttered a howl of rage, and, as with his the communal. acts as "the conspiracy of the feet ih the water he was not able to reach the canary-bird." boy, he heaped curses and abuse upon him, and.The little winged conspirators, the automaton not alone on him, but on his father and mother, as well as the living birds, were of coulse in- till his voice was hoarse, and he was exhausted stantly removed from the Temple; and Simon had with this outpouring of his wrath. the double vexation of receiving a reprimand Deceived by the quiet which followed, little from the authorities, and then the losing his little Louis took another towel, warmed it carefully at merry companions from the prison. It was all the chimney, and then cautiously approached his the fault of this little, good-for-nothing boy, who master, to wipe his feet. Simon extended them knew how to make long faces, and' allowed him- to the boy and let himself be served as if by a self to waken and disturb his master in the night little slave; but just as soon as his feet were dry by his crying and sobbing. he kicked the boy's head with such force that "The worthless viper has spoiled my sleep for without a cry Louis fell down, striking his head me," growled Simon the next morning. "My violently on the floor. Perhaps it was this pitihead is as heavy as a bomb, and I shall have to ful spectacle that exasperated the cobbler still take a foot-bath, to draw the blood away from my more. He beat the unconscious boy, roused him ears." with kicks and with the noise of his curses, raised Jeanne Marie silently carried her husband the his clinched fists and swore that he would now leaden foot-bath, with the steaming water, and dash the viper in pieces, when he suddenly felt then drew back into the corner, in whose dismal his hands grasped as in iron clamps, and to his shadow she often sat for hours, gazing idly at her boundless astonishment saw before him the pale, " calendar of the revolution," the long stocking, grim face of his wife, who had come out from on which traces of the blood of the queen wpere her corner and fixed her black, glistening eyes still visible. upon him, while she held his hands firmly. Meanwhile, Simon took his foot-bath, and while "What is it, Jeanne Marie'? " said Simon, sull he did so, his wicked, malicious eyes now fell upon priscd i "why are you holding me so?" his wife, who had once been so cheerful and reso- "Because I do not want you to beat him to lute, and who now had grown so sad and broken, death," she said, with a. hoarse, rough voice. now upon the boy, who, since yesterday, when his He broke out into loud laughter. "I really becanaries had been taken from him, had spoken lieve that the knitter of the guillotine has pity on not a word, or made a sound, and who sat mo- the son of the she-wolf." tionless upon the rush-chair, folding his hands in A convulsive quiver passed through her whole his lap, and gazing at the place where his dead frame. A singular, gurgling sound came from her bird lay yesterday. chest; she put both her hands to her neck and "This life would make one crazy," growled tore the little kerchief off, as if it were tied tight Simon, with the tone of a hyena.." Capet," he enough' to strangle her. cried aloud, " take the towel and warm it at the "No," she said, in a suppressed tone, "no chimney-fire, so as to wipe my feet." compassion on the wolf's brood! But if you Louis rose slowly from his chair, took the towel beat him to death, they will have to bring you to and crept to the chimney-fire to spread it out and the guillotine, that it may not appear as if they warm it;' but the glow of the coals burned his had ordered you to kill the little Capet." little thin hands so badly, that he let the cloth':True," said Simon, "' you are right, and I fall into the fire, and before the trembling, firight- thank you, Jeanne Marie, that you may remind KING LOUIS XVII. 221 me of it. It shows that you love me still, blood that was flowing freely from his swollen although you were always so quiet. Yes, yes, I nose. will be more careful; I will take care to beat the "Of him! " asked Simon, in amazement. little serpent only so much that it may not bite, Jeanne Marie nodded. " Yes," she whispered, but cannot die." " I am afraid of him, and I do not want to remain Jeanne Marie made no reply, but sat down alone with him, for he would kill me." Simon in the corner again, and took up her stocking, burst into a loud, hoarse laugh.-* "Now I see that without touching the needles, however, and going you are really sick, and the doctor shall come at on with.her work. once. But they cedrtainly will not let me leave "Get up,, you cursed snake! " growled Simon, this place, for this despicable brat has made us "get up and go out of my sight, and do not stir me both prisoners, the -miserable, good-for-nothing up again." thing!" The child rose slowly from the floor, crept to " Send him away; let him go into his own *the wash-basin and with his trembling, bruised room," whispered Jeanne Marie. "I cannot bear hands wiped away the blood that was flowing out to see him; he poisons my blood. Send him of his nose and mouth. away, for I shall be crazy if I have to look at him A loud, gurgling sound came from'the corner longer." where Jeanne Marie sat. It seemed half like a "Away with you, you viper! " roared Simon; cry, half like a sob. When Simon looked around, and the boy, who knew that he was meant-that his wife lay pale and motionless on the floor; she the term viper was applied only to him-hastily had sunk from her chair in a swoon. dried his tears, and slipped through the open door Simon grasped her in his strong arms and car- into his little dark apartment. ried her to the bed, laid her gently and carefully "Now I will run and call the porter," said down, and busied himself about her, showing a Simon, hurriedly; "he shall send some one to manifest anxiety. the Hotel Dieu, and bring a physician for my "She must not die," he murmured, rubbing her poor, dear, sick Jeanne Marie." temples with salt water; "she must not leave me He hastened out, and turned back, after a few alone in this horrible prison and with this dread- minutes, with the report that the porter himself ful child.-Jeanne Marie, wake hip, come to your- had gone to bring a doctor, and that help would self! i' She opened her eyes, and gazed at her come at once. husband with wild, searching looks. " Nonsense! " cried Jeanne Marie; " no doctor "What is the matter, Jeanne Marie? " he can help me, and there is nothing at all that I asked. "Have you pain? Are you sick?" want. Only give me something to drink, Simon, "Yes," she said, "I am sick, I am in pain." for my throat burns like fire, and then call little "I will go to bring you a physician, you shall Capet in, for in his dark room his eyes glisten not die!'No, no, you shall not die, you shall like stars, and I cannot bear them." have a physician. The Hotel Dieu is very near, Simon shook his head sadly; and, while holding they will certainly allow me to go as far as there, a glass of cold water to her lips, he said to himand bring a doctor for my dear Jeanne." self:'" Jeanne Marie is really sick! She has a He was on the point of hastening away, but fever! But we must do what she orders, else it Jeanne Marie held him fast. "Remain here," will come to delirium, and she nmight become She murmured, "do not let me be alone with insane." him-I am afraid of him!" And with a loud voice he called, " Capet, Ca"Of whom? " asked Simon, astonished; and pet! come here, come here! you viper, you wolf's as he followed the looks of his wife, they rested cub, come here! " on the boy,'who was still busy in checking the The boy obeyed the command, slowly crept into 222 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. the room, and sat down in the rush-chair in the queen had her horses harnessed, and drove to corner. "LHe shall not look at me," shrieked Paris, to consult Doctor- Naudin at the:]Htel Jeanne Marie; "he shall not look into my heart Dieu, and to receive his advice. Is the story with his dreadful blue eyes, it hurts me-oh! so really true, and are you Doctor Naudin? " much, so much!" "The story is strictly true, and, my friend, I "Turn around, you viper! " said Simon. "Look am Doctor Naudin." round this way again, or I'll tear your eyes out "And you now leave the HIOtel Dieu to come of your head! II-" and visit my sick wife?" asked Simon, with a The door leading to the corridor now opened, pleasant look and a flattered manner. and an old man, leaning on a cane, entered, wear- "Does your wife not belong to my poor and ing on his head a powdered peruke, his bent form sick? " asked the doctor. "Is she not a woman covered with a black satin coat, beneath-which a of the people, this dear French people, to whom I satin vest was seen; on his feet, silk stockings have devoted my services and my life? For a and buckled shoes; in his lace-encircled hand, a queen Doctor Naudin might not leave his hoscane with a gold head. pital, but for a woman of the people he does it. " Well," cried Simon, with a laugh, " what sort And now, citizen, let me see your sick wife, for I of a'n old scarecrow is that? And what does it did not come here to talk." want here?"?Without waiting for Simon's answer, the phy. "The scarecrow wants nothing of you," said sician walked up to the bed, sat down on the chair the old man, in a kindly way, " but you want in front of it, and began at once to investigate something of it, citizen. You have sent for the condition of the woman, who reached him her me." feverish hand, and, with an almost inaudible voice, "Ah! so you are the doctor from the HIotel answered his professional questions. Dieu.". The cobbler stood at the foot of the bed, and " Yes, my friend, I am Citizen Naqdin." directed his little cunning eyes to the physician "Naudin, the chief physician at the HBtel in amazement and admiration. Behind him, in Dieu? " cried Simon. "And you come yourself the corner, sat the son of Marie Antoinette, huto see my sick wife? " miliated, still, and motionless. Yet, in spite of the "Does that surprise you, Citizen Simon?" injunction of Jearme Marie, he had turned around, " Yes, indeed, it surprises me. For I have been and was looking toward the bed; but not to the told so often that Citizen Naudin, the greatest and knitter of the guillotine were his looks directed, most skilful physician in all Paris, never leaves but to this venerable old gentleman with his powthe H6tel Dieu; that the aristocrats and ci-de- dered peruke, his satin coat, silk stockings, vants have begged him in vain to attend them, breeches, shoe-buckles, gold embroidered waistand that even the Austrian woman, in the days coat and lace ruffles. This costume reminded. when she was queen, sent to no purpose to the him of the past; the halls of Versailles came celebrated Naudin, and begged him to ciome to back to him, and he saw before him the shadowy Versailles. We heard that the answer was:'I figures of the cavaliers of that time, all clothed. am the physician of the poor and the sick in like the dear old gentleman who was sitting before the Hltel Dieu, and whoever is poor and sick the bed there. may come to me in the house which bears the " Why do you look at me in such a wondering name of God. But whoever is too rich and too way, Citizen Simon? " asked Naudin, who was well for that, must seek another doctor, for my now through with his examination. duties with the sick do not allow me to leave the "I really wonder-I really do wonder imHbtel Dieu.' And after that answer reached the mensely," said Simon, "and that is saying palace-so the great Doctor Marat told me-the much, for, in these times, when there are so 41 ~!~............................... ~iai~iiil 11! iiiihiii!!: iii~' ii~11i iiiii;8.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ii ~i~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:~'8~~~~~~~~~~~18~i -:Ca~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ii t i:!:~!,ii~:~ ~,!i:,..~................. i~ i: i zi t j~ Algeria::i x- tvM,:m. ~ r~:::: ~.'..:....,r~l-,i~ii~i::::::i~i-.r:::j::::~~I~aa:1......!iiii,,,,ii,,i,,ii,,iiiii,,,,,,,ii,,ii, iii: i' i~~~~~~pi~~~s~~~er. ~ ~ ~ ~:'.~~~~~jit~~~~.....................................................:..:..,i.:..~.... f:B:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~..... w::,(: wo I............... ~~:g P i -I:::.:-!'il~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'i~~~~l li~~~~"~~~"~~;~~;'~~~'il~~~~i~~~~i:::tk M~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~iiin~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ii;:i'~-i~i~~" i ~ i~~~e~~V:X. xt I:: i*:*i,% _,wi:.is-i::~~~~~~~f i:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~J. _iiB~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:~~ ~Ri:9i':::::: -6:'.:::-: i.......... w:i............. KING LOUIS XVII. 223 many changes, aman can hardly wonder at "Do it, citizen doctor," said Sion; ake my any thing. tll I do wonder, Citizen Naudin, Jeanne Marie well and bright aain or I shall go that ou can venture to go around in this cos- crazy here in this accursed house. Jeane tume. That is the style of clothing worn by Marie is sick just with this, that she is ot actraitorous ci-devants and aristocrats. Anybody customed to be idle, and to sit still and fold her else who dared pu it on would have only one hands in her lap, and run around like a wild more walk to take that to the guillotine, and yet beast in its cage. But here in the'Temle it is you venture to come here!" no better than in a cage; and I tell you, citizen, "Venture?" repeated Niudin, with a shrug. it is enough to make one crazy here, and it as I venture nothing, citizen. I wear my clothes made Jeanne sick to have no fresh air, no xin conformity with a habit of years' standing: ercise and work." they fitted well under the monarchy, they fit just "-But why has she no exercise and no work as well under the republic, and I am not going to Why does she not go out into the street and take be such a fool as to put by my soft and comfort- the air?" able silk clothes, and put on your hateful, un- "Because she cannot," cried Simon, passioncomfortable tck ones, and strut about in them. ately. "Because the cursed little viper there emI am altoether too old to take up the new fash- bitters our whole life and makes us prisoners to ions, and altogether too well satisfied with my this miserable, wretched prisoner. Look at him own shit to learn ow to wear your cloth coats there, the infernal little wolf! he is the one to, and your leather hose and blame that I cannot go into the street cannot top-boots. Defend me from crowding my old visit the clubs, the Convention or any meeting, limbs into such stuffs!" but must live here like a Trappist, or like an imCitizen doctor," cried Simon, with a laugh, prisoned criminal. He is the one to blame "you are a jolly, good old fellow, and I -like you that my wife can -no longer take her place at well. I do not blame you for preferring your the guillotine, and knit and go on with her work comfortable silk clothes to the -new style that our there." revolutionary heroes have brought into mode, "Yes,"1 cried Jeanne Marie, with a groan, raisthat nothing might remind us of the cursed, God- ing her head, painfully from the pillow, "1he is to forsaken monarchy. I wonder merely that they blame for it all, the shameless rascal. He has allow it, and do not make you a head shorter I" made me melancholy and sad; he has worried,7 "But how would they go on with matters in the and vexed, and chanoed me! Oh! oh! he is lookHotel Dieu? Without a head nothing could be ing at me ag'rain,'and his eyes burn into my done with. the sick and the stifiering, for with- h eart! out hed tereis n thnkig. owas I am "Miserable viper," cried Simon, dashing towthe head of the hospital, and as they have -no ard the boy with clinched fists," how dare you head to take my place, and as, in spite of my old- turn your hateful eyes toward her, after her exfashioned clothes, my sick are cured, and have pressly forbidding it? Wait, I-will teach you to confidence in me, the great revolutionary heroes disobey, and give you a lesson that you will not wink at me, and let me do as I please, for' they forget." know that under the silk dress of an aristocrat His heavy hand fell on the back of the boy, and beats the heart of a true democrat. But that is was raised again for a second stroke, when it was not the question before uis now, citizen. We held as in an iron vice. want to talk. about the health of your wife here. "You good-for-nothing, what are yvou doinog9 She is sick, she' has a fever, and it will be cried a thundering voice, and two blazing eyes worse y et with her, unless we'take prompt incas- flashed on him from the reddened face of Doctor ures and provide a cooling drink for her." Naudin. ~1224 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Simon's eyes fell before the angry look of the she-wolf leaves me no quiet for sleep. Lately in physician, then he broke out into a loud laugh. the night, he kneeled down in the bed and bean Citizen doctor, I say, what a jolly fellow you to pray with a loud voice, so as to wake both my are"e said, merrily. You did that just as if wife and myself." you were in a theatre, and you called out to me "From that night on I have been sick and misjust as they c out to the murderers in a trage- erable," moaned Jeanne Marie; from that night dy.What do you make such a halloo about I have not been able to sleep." when I chastise the wolf's cub a bit, as he has "You hear, citizen doctor, my wife was so ter~~richly deserved?~ "rifled with that, that it made her sick and now It is true said Naudin, "I was a little hasty. you shall have a proof of the disobedience of the "But that comes from the fact, citizen, that I not little viper. Capet, come here. only held you to be a good republican, but a g6od The boy rose slowly from his chair, and stole man as well and therefore it pained me to see along with drooping head to his master. you do a thing which becomes neither a republi- "Capet, we will sing," said Simon. "You ~can -~nor a good man." shall show the doctor that you are a good reubliWhy, what have I done that is not proper?" can, and that you have entirely forgotten that you asked Simon, in amazement. are the son of the Austrian, te rascally Madame Look at him the poor, beaten, swollen, stupe- Veto. Come, we will sing the song about Mafled boy," said Naudin solemnly, pointing to dame Veto. Quick, strike in, or I will beat you who sat on his chair, weeping and trem- into pulp. The song about Madame Veto, do you n in all his limbs-" look at him, citizen, and hear? Sing!" then do not ask me again what you have done A short pause ensued. Then the boy raised his ~that is not proper." ~swollen face and fixed his great blue eyes with a "Well, but he deserves nothing better," cried defiant, flaming expression upon the face of tha.Simon, with a sneer. "1He is the son of the she- cobbler. wolf, Madame Veto." "Citizen," he said, with. clear, decided tones, "He is a human being," said Doctor Naudin, "I shall not sing' the song about Madame Veto, solemnly, "1and he is, besides, a helpless boy~, for I have not forgotten my dear mamma, and I whom the one, indivisible, and righteous republic can sing nothing bad about her, for I love my deprived of his father and mother, and put under dear mamma so niuch, so much, andyour care to be educated as if he. were a son of' The voice of the boy was drowned in his tears; your own. I ask you, citizen,7 would you have he let his head fall -upon his breast, ready to restruck, a son of your own as you. just struck this ceive the threatened chastisement..But, before boy?" the fist of Simon, already raised, could fall upon A loud, convulsive sob came from the bed on the poor head of the little sufferer, a thrilling cry which Jeanne Marie lay, and entirely confused of pain resounded from the bed. and disturbed Simon. "Simon, come to me, gasped Jeanne Marie. "No, he said, softly, "perhaps I should not "Help me draw the dagger out of my breast, I am have done it. But, continued he eagerly, and dying-oh, I am dying!" with a grim look, "a child of my own would not "'What kind of a, dagger?"9 cried Simon, rushhave tried and exasperated me as this youngster ing to the bed and taking the convulsed form of does. From morning till evening he vexes me, his wife in his arms. for he does nothing that I want him to. If I or- "Hush! I" whispered the. doctor, who also had der him to sing with' me, he is stil and stupid, gone'to the bed of the'sick woman-"i hush!I -she.and when he ought to be still he makes a -noise. is speaking in her fever, and the dagger of which Wou~ld you believe me, citizen, this son of the she talks she feels in her heart and conscience. KING LOUIS XVII. 225 You must spare her, citizen, if you do not want done to her memory, and in his silent chamber er to die. Every thing must be quiet around his longing thoughts of her were his only consolaher, and you must be very careful not to agitate tion. her nerveslest she have an acute typhoid fever. And so he sat there that day. looking up to the I will send her some cooling medicine at once, ceiling, greeting his dear amma with his and to-morrow mornin, I will come early to see thoughts, and seeing her in spirit reetin him how it fares with her. But, above every thing again nodding affectionately to him and drawing else, Simon remember to have quiet, that your her dear little Louis Charles to her arms. good wie may get well again." These were the sweet, transporting fancies Who would have told me two weeks ago that which madethe child close his eyes so as not to Jeanne Marie had nerves? " growled Simon. "The lose them. Immovably he sat there until grad first knitter of the guillotine, and now all at once ually thoughts and dreams flowed into each other nerves and tears, but I must be careful of her and not only his will, bplt sleep as well, kept his For it would be too bad if she should die and eyes closed. But the dreams remained and were leave me all alone with this tedious youngster. I sweet and refreshing, and displayed to the sleepcould not hold out. I should run away. Go, ing child, so harshly treated in his waking hours, Capet, get into your room, and do lot get in my only scenes of love and tenderness. And it was way again to-day, else I will strangle you before not his mother alone who embraced him in his ydu can make a sound. Come, scud, clear, and happy slumbers; no, there were his aunt and his do not let me see you again, if your life is worth sister as well, and at last even-oh how strange ~any thing to you." ~dreams are!-at last he even saw Simons wife The child stole into his room again, sat down advancing toward him with kindly and tender upon the floor, flded his little hands in one an- mien. She stooped down to him, took him up in other, fixed his great blue eyes on the ceiling her arms, kissed his eyes, and begged him -in - above, and held his breath to listen to every little low, trembling voice to forgive her for being so sound, every footfall that came from the room cruel and bad. And while she was speakin., the above. tears streamed from her eyes and flowed over his All at once he heard plainly the steps of some face. She kissed them away with her hot lips, one walking up) and down, and a pleased smaile and whispered, "1Forgive me,. poor, unhappy' anflitted across the face of Lhe boy. gel, and do not bring me to judgment. I will "That is. certainly my dear mamma," Ile wbis- treat you well after this, I will rescue you from pered to himself. "Yes, yes, it is my mamma this hell, or I will die for you. Oh, how the bad queen, and she is taking her-walk in the sitting- man has beaten your dear angel face! But believe room, just as she has done shice she has -not been me, I have felt every blow in my own heart, and allowed to go out upon the platform. Oh, main- when he treated you so abusively I felt the pain ma, my dear mamma, I love you so much!L" of hell. Oh, forgive me, dear boy, forgive me!" And the child threw a kiss up to the ceiling, and again the tears started from her eyes and not knowing that she to whom he sent his greet- flowed hot over his locks and forehead. All- at ing had long been resting in the silent grave, and once Jeanne Marie quivered convulsively, l-aid the that with the very hand which was throwing boy gently down, and ran hastily awa~y. A door kisses to her, he had him.Iself signed the paper was furiously opened now, and Simon's loud and which heaped upon his mother the most frightful angry voice was heard. calumnies. The tones awakened the little Louis. He Even Simon had -not had the cruel courage to opened his eyes, and' looked around. Yes, it had tell the boy of the death of his mother, and of really all been only a dream-he had heard: neithe unconscious wrong that he, poor child, had ther his mother nor Simon's wife, and yet, it- had 15 ~226 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. been as natural as if it had all really transpired. my gratitude to you but these two pears that wer He had felt arms tenderly embracing him and given me for my supper last night. And just tears hot upon his forehead. because I am so poor, you would do me a great Entirely unconscious he raised his hand to his pleasure if you would accept my two pears." brow and. drew it back aftrighted, for his hair and He had raised his eyes to the doctor with a istemples were wet, as if the tears of which he gentle, supplicatory expression, and taking the dreamed ad really fallen there. pears from the pocket of his worn, mended jacket, What does this mean, Jeanne Marie?" asked he gave them to the physician. Simon, angrily. "Why have you got out of bed Then happened something which, ad Simon while I was away, and what have you had to do entered the room just then, would probably have in the room of the little viper?" filled him with exasperation. It happened that "If you leave me alone with him I have to the proud and celebrated Dr. Naudin, the director watch him, ick as I am," moaned she. "I had and first physician of the Hotel Dieu, sank on his to see whether he was still there, whether he had knee before this poor boy in the patched jacket, not run away, and gone to report to the Conven- who had nothing to give but two pears, and that tion that we have left him alone and have no care he was so overcome, either by inward pain or by ~~~~~~for him." ~reverence, that while taking the pears he could O, bah! he will not complain of us," laughed only whisper, with a faint voice: "I thank your tSimon; but'keep quiet, Jeanne Marie, I prom- majesty. I have never received a nobler or more ise ou that I will not leave you alone again with precious gift than this fruit, which my unfortuthe wolf's cub: Besides, here is the medicine that nate king gives me, and I swear to you that I the doctor has sent, and to-morrow he will come will be your devoted and faithful servant." himself again.to see how you get on. So keep up It happened further thit Dr. Naudin pressed to a good heart, Jeanne Marie, and all will come r~ight hi s lips the hand that reached him the precious again." gift, and that upon this hand two tears fell from The next morning, Dr. Naudin came again to the eyes of the physician, long,uccustomed to look after the sick woman. Simon had just gone look upon human misery and pain, and which up-stairs to announce something to the two prin- had not for years been'suffused with, moisture. cesses, in the name of'the Convention, and had Just then, approaching steps being heard in ordered the little Capet to remain in the ante- the corridor, the doctor rose quickly, concealed room, and, if, the doctor should come, to open the the pears in his pocket, and entered the chamber door to him, of the sick. woman at the same (instant when Nobody else was in the anteroom when Dr. Simon returned from his visit above-stairs. Naudin entered, and the' door leading into the The boy slipped, with the doctor, into the sicknext room was closed, so that the sick person who *room, and as no one paid any attention to him, was there could see and hear nothing of what took he stole softly into his room, crouched down upon Place. his straw bed, with fluttering heart, to think over "Sir," whispered the boy, softly and quickly, all he had experienced or dreamed of that day. "you were yesterday so good to me, you protected "And how is it with our sick one to-days" me from blows, and I should like to thank you asked Doctor Naud in, sitting down near the bed, for it." and giving a friendly nod to Simon to do. the The doctor made no reply, but he looked at same. the boy~with such an expression of symapathy that "It. goes badly with me," moaned Mistress he felt emboldened to go on. Simon. "My heart seems to be on fire, and I "My dear sir, continued the child, softly, and *Tebysonwrs-e enhse o.i.p with a blush, I have nothing with which to show 189. KING LOUIS XVIL 227 have no rest day or night. I believe that it is never turned away, however many heads fell into all over with me, and that I shall die, and that is the basket. And she was there too wen the the best thin for me, for then I shall be free Austrian-" aan and not have to endure the, torments that "Hush!" cried Jeanne Marie rising up hastily I have had to undergo in this dreadful dungeon." in bed, and motioning to her husband to be silent. "What kind of pains are they?" asked the "Do not speak of that, lest the youngster hear it, doctor. Where do you suffer?" and turn his dreadful eyes upon us. Do not speak I will tell you, citizen doctor," cried Simon, im- of that fearful day, for it was then that my sick patiently. Her pains are everywhere, in every ness began, and I believe that there was poison in corner of this lonely and cursed building; and if it the brandy that we drank that evening. Yes, goes on so long, we shall have to pack and move. yes, there was poison in it, and from that comes The authorities have done us both a great honor, the fire that burns in my heart, and I shall die of for they have had confidence enough in us to give it. Oh! I shall burn to death with it!".the little Capet into our charge; but it is our mis- She put her hands before her face and san fortune to be so honored, and we shall both die back upon the pillows, sobbing. Simon shook of it. For, not to make a long story of it, we his head, and heaved a deep sigh. "It is not both cannot endure the air of the prison, the that," murmured he; "it is not from that doctor stillness and solitude, and it is a dreadful thing The thing is, that Jeanne Marie has no work and for us to see nothing else the whole day than no exercise, and that she is going to wreck, be the stupid face of this youngster, always looking cause-we are compelled to live here as kings a at me so. dreadfully with his great blue eyes, that aristocrats used to live, without labor and ocit really affects one. We are neither of us used pation, and without doing any more than to to such an idle, useless life, and it will be the nurse our fancies. We shall all die of this I death of us, citizen doctor. My wife, Jeanne tell you!" Marie, whom you see lying there so pale and still, "But if you know this, citizen, why do you not used to be the liveliest and most nimble woman give up your situation? Why do you not petiabout, and could do as much with her strong tion the authorities to dismiss you from this sernrms and brown hands as four other women. vice, and give you something else to do?" And then she was the bravest'and most outra- "I have done that twice already," answered geous republican that ever was, when it came, to Simon, bringing his fist down upon the table near battling for the people. We both helped to the bed so violently that the bottles of medicine storm' the Bastile, both went to Versailles that standing there were jerked high into the air. time, and afterward took the wolf's brood from "Twice already have I tried to be transferred to the Tuileries and brought them to the Convention, some other duty, and the answer has been sent Afterward Jeanne Marie was always the fir~st on back, that the country orders me to stand at my the platform -near the guillotine; and when Sam- post, and that there is no one who could take my son' and his assistants mounted the scaffold in the place." morning, and waited for the cars, the first. thing "That is very honorable and flatterlug' rethey did was to look over to the tribune to see if marked the physician. Mistress Simon was there with her knitting, for it "Yes, but very burdensome and disagreeable," used to seem. to them that the work of hewing off' answered Simon. "We are prisoners while holdheads went more briskly on if Jeanne Marie was ing these honorable and. flattering posts. We can there and kept the account in her stocking. Sam. no more leave the Temple than Capet can, for, son. himself told me this, and said to me that since his father died, and the crazy legitimists Jeanne Marie was the bravest of all the women, began to call him King Louis XVIL, the chie~f and that she -never trembled, and that her eyes magistrate and the Convention have been -very ~22S~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. anxious. They are afraid of secret conspiracies, every thing now that goes on in the Temple and and sider it possible that the little prisoner whenever you strike the youngster, I feel every may e taken away from here by intrigue. We blow in my brain, and that gives me pain enough hanve to watch him day and night, therefore, and to drive me to distraction." Iare never allowed to leave the Temple, lest we "I promise you, Jeanne Marie, that I will not should meet with other people, and lest the legiti- strike him, and will not trouble myself about him mists should make the attempt to get into our at all. He can play with his ball.-Halloa, Capet good graces. Would you believe, citizen doctor, Come! We are going up on the platform. Take that they did not even allow me to go to the your ball and any thing'else you like, for you grand festival which the city of Paris gave in shall play to-day and have a good time." honor of the taking of Toulan! While all the The child stole out of his room with his ball people were shoting, and having a good time, not looking particularly deIighted, and the prosJeanne Maie and I had to stay here'in this good- pect of "playing" did not give wins to his for-noting Temple, and see and hear nothing of steps, nor call a smile to his swollen face. He the'fine doins. And this drives the gall into my left the room noiselessly, and Simon slammed the blood, and it will make us both sick, and it is past doors violently behind him. ~~~~~~~endurance I""And now we are alone," said Doctor Naudin I believe tat you are right, citizen," said the "and you can tell me about your sickness, and physician, thoughtfully. "Yes, the whole trouble about every thing that troubles you of our wife comes from the fact that she is here "Ah, doctor, I do not dare to," e whispered. in the Temple, and if she must be shut up here "I am overpowered by a dreadful fear, and I always she will continue to suffer." think you will betray me, and brin y husband Yes, to suffer always, to suffer dreadfully," and myself to the scaffold." groaned Jeanne Marie. Then, all at once, she "I am no betrayer," answered the doctor, raised herself up and turned with a commanding, solemnly. "The physician is like a priest; he hearing to her husband. receives the secrets and disclosures of his pa"Simon,"'she said, "1the doctor shall know all tients, and lets not a word of them pass his lips. that I suffer. He shall examine my breast, and Rut, in order that you may take courage,. 1 will the place where I have the greatest pain; but in first prove to you that I put confidence in you, by your presence I shall say nothing." showing you that I understand you. I will tell "Wlwell, I will go" growled Simon. "1But you what the disease is ihat you are suffering I thiink those are pretty manners!" from, and also, its locality. Jeanne Marie Simon,, "They are the manners of a respectable and you are enduring that with which -no pains of the honorable woman,"1 said the doctor, gravely-" a body can be compared. Your sickness has its woman who does. not show the pains and ailments seat in the conscience, and its name -is remorse of her body to any one excepting her physician. and despair." Go, go, Citizen Simon, and you will esteem your Jeanne Marie uttered a heart-rending cry, and good wife none the less tfor not letting you, hear sprang like an exasperated tiger from her bed. what she has to say to her old physician." "You lie I" she said, seizing the doctQr's arm " No, certainly not," answered Simon, "1and with both hands;'1 that is a foul, damnable cal-. that you, may both see that I am not curious to ninny, that you have thought out merely to bring hear what you have to say to one another, I will me under the axe. I have -nothing to be sorry go with.the youngster up to -the platform and re- for, and my conscience fills me with -no remain a whole hour with him." proaches." "You. will beat him again, and I shall hear "And yet it is gnawing into you with iro-n him, " said Jeanne Marie,, weeping. "I hear teeth, which have been heated blood-red in the KING LOUIS XVII. 229 fires of hell, said the doctor, with a compassion- long story, for you have been a whole hoir to. ate look at the pale, quivering face of the woman. gether. It is fortunate that you are an old man "Do not raise any quarrel, but quietly listen to or else I should have been jealous ofyour on me. We have an hour's time to talk together, tite-dtte with my wife." and we want to use it. But let us speak softly, "Then you would be a great fool, and I hav softly, together; for what we have to say to each always held you to be a prudent and good man. other the deaf walls themselves ought not to But, as concerns your wife, Imust tell you some~~~~~~~~hear." ~thing very serious, and I beg you, Citizen Simon, Simon had not returned from the platform with to mark my words well. I tell you this: uless the boy, whenDoctor Naudin ended his long and your wife Jeanne Marie is out of this Temple in earnest conversation, and prepared to leave his less than a week, and enjoys her freedom, she patient, who wasnow quietly lying in her bed. will either lose her senses or take her life. I "You know every thirng now that you have to will say to you this, besides: if CitizenSimon does do, e said, extending his hand to her. "You not, as soon as possible, leave this cursed place can reckon on me as I reckon on you, and we will and give up his hateful business, it will be the both go bravely and cheerfuily on., It is a noble same with him as with his wife. He will not beork that we have undertaken, and if it succeeds come insane, but he will lapse into melancholy, your heart will be lighnt again, and God will for- and if he does not take his own life cnsumpgive you your sins, for two martyrs will stand tion will take it for him, the result of his idle, and plead in your behalf at tne throne of God! listless life, the many vexations here, and the Now, do every thing exactly as I have told you, wretched atmosphere.of the Temple." and speak with your husband to-night, but not "Consumption!" cried Simon, horrified. Do soonernthat you may be safe, and for fear that in you suppose I am exposed to that?" his first panic his face would betray him." "You have it already," said the doctor, solemn"I shall do every thing just as you wish," ly. "Those red spots on your cheeks, and the said Jeanne Marie, who had suddenly become pain which you have so often in the breast, anhumble and bashful, apparently entirely forgetful nounce, its approach. I tell you that if you do of the republican "thou." "It seems to me, now not take measures to leave the Temple in a wveek, that I have disburdened my heart to yoiJ, that I in three months you will be a dead man,'without have become well and strorng aaain, and certainly givingo the guillotine a chance at you. Goo~d-by!1 I shall* owe it to you if I do liv~e anad get my Consider well what I say, citizen, and then do as health once more. But shall you come again to- you like!" morrow, doctor?" "He is right," muttered Simon, as he, looked "o"he replied, "1I will send a man to-mor- after the doctor with a horrified look, as Naudin row who ATderstands better than I do how to descended the staircase; "cyes, I see, he is righ1 t. continue this matter, and to whom you can give If I have to stay -here any longer, I shaall die. unconditional confidence. He will announce him- The vexations- and the loneliness, and-someSWd to you as my assistant, and you can talk over thing still more dreadful, frightful, that I can tell at length every thing that we have been speaking no one o f-have made me sick, and the stitch in of. Hush! I hear. Simon coming! Farewell!" my side will grow worse and worse every day,. He nodded to Jeanne Marie, and hastily left and-I must' and will get away from here," he, the'room. Outside, in the corridor, he met'Simon said'aloud, and with a decided air. I will not and his silent young ward. die yet, neither shall Jeanne Marie. To-morrow "Well, citizen doctor," asked Simon, "how is I will!iand in my resignation, and then bc it with our sick one? She has intrusted all her away!" secrets to youI and they must -'have made a While Simon was walking sloivly and thoumht 2300 0 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. fully toward his wife, Doctor Naudin left the dark "Yes, it is he," answered Saunier, and building, went with a light heart out into the anybody can help our patient, it is he. Citizen street, and returned with a quick step to the Crage is probably at home? HO Dieu. The porter who opened the door "Certainly he is at home, for you kow e for him reported to him that during his absence never leaves his sick boy. You will find him the same old gentleman who had come the day above. You know the way, citizen doctor before to consult him, had returned and was wait- The two physicians passed on, ascandd the ing for him in the anteroom. staircase, and entered the suit of rooms whose Doctor Naudin nodded, and then walked quickly door was only partially closed-left ajar, as it toward his own apartments. Before the door he seemed, for them. Nobody came to. meet them, found his servant. but they carefully closed the door behind them, d Doctor Saunier is here again," he said, drew the bolt, and then walked silently and takin off his master's cloak. "He insisted on quickly across the anteroom to the opposite door. waiting for you. He said that he must consult Doctor Saunier knocked softly tree times you about a patient, and would not-cease beg- with a slight interval.between, and cried three ging till you should consent to accompany him times with a loud voice, "The two physicians ar to the sick person's house. For, if a case seemed come to see the patient." desperate, the great Naudin might still save it." A bolt was withdrawn on the inside, the door You are an ass for letting him talk such non- opened, and -a tall man's figure appeared and o sense, and for believing it yourself, Citizen Joly," tioned to the gentlemen to come in. cried Naudin with a laugh, and then entering the "Are we alone?" whispered Doctor Saner, s ~~~~~~anteroom. ~they entered the inner room. An old gentleman, clad in the same. old-fash-' "Yes, entirely alone," answered the other ioned costume with Doctor Naudin, came forward., "There in the chamber lies my poor sick boy, and Citizen Joly, as he closed the door somewhat you know well that he can betray no oife, and slowly, heard him say: "Thank God that you that he knows nothing of what is going on.around have come at last, citizen! I have waited for you him." impatiently, and now I conjure you to accompany "Yes, unfortunately, I know that," answered me as quickly as possible to my patient." Doctor Saunier sadly. " I promised you that I Naudin, opening the door of his study, said in would bring you the most celebrated and skilreply, " Come in, Citizen Saunier, and tell me first ful physician in Paris, and you see I keep my how it is with your sick one."' word, for I have brought you Doctor Naudin, the Nothing, more could Joly, Naudin's servant, un- director of the HO'tel Dieu and-the friend and derstand, for the two doctors had gone into the' devoted servant of the royal family, to whoml we study, and the door was closed behind them. have both sworn allegiance until deatth. Doctor Afte a sorttime howver it as pened. Naudin, I have not given you the name of the genNandin ordered the valet to order a fiacre at' tlemau to whom I was taking, you. It is a sconce,.and.a few minutes later Director.- Naudin cret which only the possessor is able to divule -to rode away at the side of Doctor Saunier. you.") At a house in the Rue Montmartre the car- "I divulge it, " said the other, smiling, "1 Doe. riage stopped, and the two physicians entered. tor Naudin, I am the Marquis Jarjayes." The porter, opening the little, dusty window of "Jarjayes, who made the plan for the escape or his lodge, nodded confidentially to Saunier. the royal family in the Temple? " asked Naudin "That is probably the celebrated Doctor Nan- eagerly. "Marquis Jarjayes, who lost his pro'Pdin of the HO'tel Dieu, whom you have with erty' in the service of the queen, risked his life you? "1 he asked. in her deliverance, and pcrhaps escaped the guIl KING LOUIS XVII. 231 lotine merely by emigrating and putting himself accident affords us this means? Exactly at the beyond the reach of Robespierre. Are you that hour when I went to Dr. Naudin and disclosed loyal, courageous Marquis de Jarjayes?" myself to him, the porter of the Temple came and I am Jarjayes, and I thank you for the praises desired in behalf of Sion'swife that Dr. Naudin you have given me, but I cannot accept them in should go to the Temple." the presence of him who merits them all much "Yes, indeed, it was a wonderful more than I do, and who is more worthy of praise said Naudin, thoughtfully. "I am not overthan any one else. No, I can receive no com- blessed with sensibility, but when I saw the son mendation. in the presence of Toulan, the most of the queen in his sorrow and humiliation I sak oyal, the bravest, the most prudent of us all; for on my knee before the poor little king, and in my Toulan is the soul of every thing, and our martyr heart I swore that Toulan should find in me a queen confessed it in giving him the highest of faithful coadjutor in his plan, and that I would do all titles of honor, in calling him Fidele, a title every thing to set him free." which will remain for centuries." "And so have I too sworn," cried Jarjayes, Yes, you are right," said Dr. Naudin, laying with enthusiasm. "The queen is dead but our is had on the shoulder of Dr. Saunier. "He fidelity to her lives and.shall renew itself to her is thenoblest, most loyal, and bravest of us all. son, King Louis XVII. I know well that the poOn that account, when he came to me a few days lice are watching me, that they know who is secreto and showed me the golden salt's-bottle of the ing himself here under the name of Citizen Orae queen in confirmation of his statement that he that they follow every one of my stes and perhaps was ToulanI was ready to do every thing that he suffer me to be firee only for the purpose of seemiht desire of me and to enter into all his plans, ing with whom I have relations, in order to arrest for Toulan's magnanimity and fidelity are con- and destroy me at one sell swoop, with all my tagious, and excite evecry one to emulate him." friends at the same time. But we must use the "I beg you, gentlemen," said Toulan softly, time. I have-come here with the firm determina"do not praise me -nor think that to be heroism tion of delivering, the unhappy young king from which is merely natural. I have devoted to the hands of his tormentors, and I will -now conQueen Marie Antoinette my life, my though,,t, my fess every thing -to you, my friends. I have heart. I awore upon her hand that so long as I''gained for our undertakin0 the assistance and lived I would be true to her and her family, and protection of a rich and. noble patron, a true ser-,to keep my vow is simple enough.' Queen Marie vaut of the deceased king. The Prince de Conde', Antoinette is no more. I was not able to save with whom I have lived ina Vendee for the past her, but perhaps she looks down from the heav- few months, has furnished inc with ample means, enly heights upon us, and is satisfied with us, if and is prepared to support us to any extent in our she sees that we are now trying to do for her son undertaking. If we suc ceed in saving the young What, unfortunately, we were -not able to accom- king, the latter will find in Vendde a safe asylum plish for her.. This is ray hope, and this spurs with the prince, and will live there securely, surme on to attempt every thing, in order to bring rounded by his faithful subjects. The immense about the last wish of my queen-the freeing of difficulty, or, as I should have said a few days her son. God in His grace has willed that I ago, the impossibility, is the relcease of the young should not be alone in this effort, and that I prince from the Temple'. But now that I have should have the codperation of noble men. He succeeded in discovering Toulan and uniting myvisibly blesses our plans, for is it not a manifest self with him, I no longer say it is impossible, but sign of His blessing that, exactly in those days only it is difficult." when we are trying to find a means of approach- "1And, cried Toulan, "since I am sure of the ing the unhappy, imprisoned son of the queen, assistance of the noble Doctor Nandin., I say, w~e 232 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. will free him, the son of our Queen Marie Antoi- death of his foster-parents. I brought the child nette, the young King Louis XVII.! The plan is at once to this house, which I ad hired for my entirely ready in my head, and in order to make self under the name of Citizen Orae, and Toulan its execution possible, I went a few days ago to undertook to procure the help of a physician. It see Doctor Nandin at the Hotel Dieu, in order to has now come in the person of the celebrated beg him to visit the sick boy that the marquis Doctor Naudinand I be you to have pity on has here, and just at that moment Simon's mes- the poor unfortunate child, and to receive him senger came to the Temple. Doctor Naudin is into the tel Dieu. now here, and first of all it is necessary that he "Let me first examine the hild in order to give us his last, decisive judgment on the patient. tell you what is the nature of his disorder." So take us to him, marquis, for upon Naudin's And Doctor Naudin stooped down ain to the decision depends the fate of the young King of boy, examined his eyes, is chest, his whole form, France." -listened to his brethi the action of is eart, The marquis nodded silently, and conducted and felt his pulse. The patient was entirely apathe gentlemen into the next room. There, care- thetic during all this, now and then merely whinfully propped up by mattresses and pillows, lay a ing and groaning, wen a movement of the doechild of perhaps ten years-a poor, unfortunate tor's hand caused him pain. boy, with pale, sunken cheeks, fixed blue eyes, After the careful investigation ad been ended, short fair hair, and a stupid, idiotic expression on the doctor called thetwo gentlemen who ad his features. As the three gentlemen came to withdrawn to the window to the bed aa. him he fixed his eyes upon them in a cold, in- Mars said he this unforunate child diffierent way, and not a quiver in his face dis- will never recover and the least painful thin closed any interest in them. Motionless and pale that could happen to him would be a speedy as death the boy lay upon his bed, and only the release from his miserable lot. Yet I do not breath that came hot and in gasps from his breast believe that this will occur, but I consider it posdisclosed that. there was still -life in this poor sible that the boy will protract his unfortunate,shattered frame. life a full year after his mlind has entirely passed Doctor Naudin stooped down to the boy and away, and nothing is left of him but his body.. looked at~him a long time with thQ utmost atten- The boy, if you ca n regard such a poor creature tion. as a human being, is suffering from an. incurable "This boy is perfectly deaf! " he then said, form of scrofula, which will by and by consume raising himself up and looking at the marquis in- his limbs, and convert him into.an idiot; he is quiringly. -now deaf; he will be a. mere stupid beast. If it "Yes, doctor, your sharp eye has correctly dis- were permitted to substitute the hand of science cerned it; he is perfectly deaf." in place of the hand of God, I should say we "'Is it your son?" ought to kill this poor creature that is no man "No, doctor, hbe is the son of my sister, the and no, beast, and has nbtbing, more to expect of Baroness of Tardif, who was guillotined together life than pain and torture, having no more conwith her husband. I undertook the care of thi's sciousness of any thing than the dog has when he unfortunate. child, and at my removal from Paris do es -not get a bone with which to quiet his gave him to some faithful servants of my family hung-er."' 11e be cared for. On my return I learned that the "1Poor,' unhappy creature!" sighed the margood people had both been guillotined, and find quis. "1Now, I thank God that lie released my the p~oor boy, who before had been at least sound'sister- from the pain of seeing her dear child in in. body, utterly -neglected, and living on the sym- this condition." patlty of the people who had taken him on the "Doctor Naudin" said Toulan, Solemnly, "1is THE CONSULTATION. 233 ityourfixedconviction that this sick person will and let him live or die for his kin, ouis XVIL ~~never recover?~' ~the prisoner at the Temple My firm and undoubted conviction, which every physician who should see him would share with me." Ae you of the opinion that this child has nothing in life to lose, and that death would be H AP CHAPTE XVI a gain to it?"I "Yes that is my belief. Death would be a THE CONSULTATION. release for the poor creature, for life is only a DURING the night which followed the second burden to it as well as to others." visit of Doctor Naudin Jeanne Marie Simon had Then, cried Toulan, solemnly, "I will give a long and earnest conversation with her usthis poor sick child a higher and a fairer mission. band. The first words which the wife uttered I will make its life an advantage to others, and spoken in a whisper though they were, excited its death a hallowed sacrifice. Marquis of Jar- the cobbler so much that he threatened her with jayes,'in the ame of King Louis XVI., in the his clinched fist. She looked him calmly in name of the exalted martyr to whom we have all the face, however, and said to him softly, "And sworn fidelity unto death, Queen Marie Antoinette, so you mean to stay perpetually in ths hateful I demand and desire of you that you would in- prison? You want to remain shut here e trust tome this unhappy creature, and give his a criminal, and get no more satisfaction out of life into my hands. In the name of Marie An- life than what bomes from tormenting this poor, toinette, I demand of the Marquis of Jarjayes half-witted boy to death? that he deliver to me the son of his sister, that Simon let his hand fall, and said, "If there he do what every one of us is joyfully prepared' were a, means of escaping from thi-s infernal to do if our holy cause dem~ands it,' that this boy prison, it would certainly be most. welcone to many give his life for his king, the imprisoned me, for I am heartily tired of being a prisoner Louis XVII." here, after having prayed for freedom so long;While Toulan was speaking with his ear-nest, and worked for it so much. So, if th ere is a solemn voice, Jarjayes knelt before the bed of means-"1 the poor sobbin-ebcild, an-I, hiding his face'in "1There is such a means, interrupted his wife. his hands, he prayed softly. "1Listen to me!1 Then, after a long, pause, he rose and laid his And Simon did listen, and the movhio, and hand on the feverish brow of the boy. "'You'eloquent words of his wife at length found a will. have addressed me," he said, "in the name of ing ear..,Simon's face gradually lightened up, Queen Marie Antoinette. You demand of me as and it seemed to him that he was now able to the Iuardian of this poor creature that I give him release his wife from an oppressive, burdensome ~o you, that he may give his life for his king. load. The sons and daughiters of my house have ~Iways "If it succeeds," he muttered-" if it sueineen ready and glad to dlevote their possessions, ceeds, I shall be free from the mountainous their happiness, their lives, to the service of their weight which presses upon me day and night, kings, and I speak'simply in the' spirit of my and shall become a healthy man agaai., " sister-who ascended the scaffold to seal -her "And' if it does not succeed,"i whispered Jeanne fidelity, to the royal family with her death-I Marie, "1the worst that can happen to us is what speak in the' spirit of all my ancestors when I has happened to thousands before us. We shall say, here is the last offspring, of thie Baroness of merely feed the machine, and our heads will tulnTardif, here is the son -of'my sister; take him ble into the basket, with this difference, that I ~234 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HES SON. shall not be able to make any mark in my stock- corridor and to enter the room, while e bolted ing. I would rather die all at once on the guil- and locked the outer door. As the doctor en lotine and have it over, than be dying here day tered, Mistress Simon lay upon her bed and looked after day, and hour after hour, having nothing to at the new-comer with curious, glowing eyes. expect from life but pain and ennui." "Who are you?" she asked, risin quickly "And I too," said Simon, decidedly. "Rather from her bed. "You are not Doctor Naudi die, than go on leading such a dog's life. Let whom I expected, and I do not know you your doctor come to me to-morrow morning. I Meantime the doctor walked in silence to her will talk with him!" bed, and stooped over Jeanne Marie, who sank Early the next day the doctor came in his back upon the pillow. long, black cloak, and with his peruke, to visit "I am the one who is to help you escape from the sick Mistress Simon. The guards at the gate the Temple," he whispered. Doctor Naudin leading to the outer court quietly let him pass in, has sent me, to work in union with m and you and did not notice that another face appeared'in in effecting your release and that of the unfortuthe peruke from that which -had been seen the nate (Capet." d before. The two official guards above, who "Husband," cried Jeanne Marie to the cobbler, had just completed their duties in the upper story, who was just coming in, "this is the man who is and met the doctor on the tower stairs, did not going to deliver us from this hell take an fence at his figure. The director of "That is to say," said the doctor, with a firm the Ht ieu was not personally known to them, penetrating voice, "I will free you if you will and they were familiar with but little about him, help me free the dauphin." excetin that he took the liberty of going about "Speak softly, for God's sake, speak softly," in his old-fashioned cloak, without giving offence said Simon anxiously. "If any one should hear to the authorities, and that he had permission you, wve are all lost! We will do every thing from those authorities to come to the Temple for that you demand of us, provided that we can in the purpose of visiting the wife of Simon. that way escape from this miserable, good-for"You. will find two patients to-day up there," notbinp, place. The air here is like poison, and said one of the officials as he passed by. "1We to have to stay here is like bei-ng buried alive." empower you, doctor, to take the second one, "And then the dreams, the frighitful dreams," little Capet, under your charge. The boy appears muttered Jeanne Marie, with a shudder. "1I canto be really sick, or else he is obstinate and mul- not sleep any more in this dreadful prison, for ish. He answers no questions, and he has taken that pale, fearful woman, with great, fixed eyes, no ourshmntSimon tells us, since yesterd ay goes walking about through the Temple every noon. Examine into the case, doctor, and then night, and listens at the doors to see whether her tell us what your opinion is. We will wait for children are alive yet, and whether we are not you down in the council-room. So make as killing them. Lately, she has not, only listened much haste as possible." at the doors, but she has come into my room, and, They passed on, and the doctor did really make passed my bed, and gone into the chamber of baste to ascend the staircase. At the, open door little Capet. Simon was as leep, and did not see which led to the apartment of the little Capet her. I sprang up, however, and stole softly to and his "gqpardian," he found Simon. th or o huh oeoy had'crept in "Did ou har, itixn? " asked the doctor. here in disouise, possibly Citizen Toulan, who had "'The officials qre waiting for me below." already twice made the attempt to, release the "Yes, I heard, doctor," whispered Simon. Austrian and her children, and whom I then de"Webhave not muchbtime:' Come!l" nounced at headquarters. There I sawv-althou-h He motioned to the physician to pass along the it was entirely dark in the hall-there I saw little THE CONSULTATION. 235 Capet lying asleep on his mattress, his hands a loud cry, and quivered in all her limbs; now folded over his breast, and with an expression of she has convulsions again, and then se will be countenance more happy, altogether more happy, for a day or two, out of her mind, and will talk than it ever is when he is awake. Near thef mat- strangely about the pale woman with dreadful tress kneeled the figure in white, and it seemed as eyes; and when she goes on so, she makes even if a radiance streamed out from it that filled the me sad, and anxious, and timid, and I grow afraid whole room. Its face was pale and white; just of the white ghost that she says is always with like a lily, and it seemed as if the fragrance of a us. Ah! doctor, help us! See, now, how the lily was in the apartment. Her two arms were poor woman suffers and twists! raised as if she would utter a benediction over The doctor drew a bottle from his breaster sleepin boy; around her half-opened lips pocket, and rubbed a few drops upon the temples played a sweet smile, and her great eyes, which of the sick woman. had the aspect of stars, looked up toward heaven. Those are probably the famous sooting-drops But while I was there in a maze, and watched the of Doctor Naudin?" asked Simon, in astonishfigure in a transport of delight, there occurred, all ment, when he saw how quiet his wife became, at once, something wonderful, something dread- and that her spasms and groans ceased. ful. The fiure rose from its knees, dropped its "Yes," answered the doctor, "and the eminent arms, turned itself around, and advanced straight physician sends them as a present to your wife. toward me. The eyes, which had been turned so "They are very costly, and rich people have to purely heavenward before, were directed to me, pay a louis-d'or for every drop. But Doctor Nawith a look which pierced my breast like the din gives them to you, for he wises Jeanne Marie thrust of a knife. I recognized that look-that long to enjoy good health. How is it with you sad, rpoachful glance. It was the same that now? Marie Antoinette gave me, when she stood on "I feel well, completely well," she said, as the o the scaffold. I was sitting in the front row of the doctor rubbed some drops a second time on her Knitters, and I was just going to make the double temple. "1I feel easier than I have felt for a long stitch for her in my stoclring, whden that look met time." mie; those great, sad eyes were turned toward me,. Give me your-hand," said the doctor. "Rise and I felt that she had recognized me, an d her up, for you are well. Let us go into the chamber eyes bored into my breast, and followed me even, of the poor boy, for I have to speak with you after the axe had taken off her head. The eyes there." did not fall into the basket, they were not buried, He walked toward the' chamber-door, leadingbut they remain in my breast; they have been Jeanne Marie by the hand, while Simon followed piercing me ever since, and burning me like glow- them. Softly and silently they entered the dark ing coals. But that night I saw them again, as room, and went to the mattress on which the in life-those dreadful eyes; and as the figure ad- child lay. vanced toward~me, it raised its baud and threat- The boy stared at them with great, wide-opened cued me, and its eyes spoke to me, and it seemed eyes, but they were without expression and life;, as if a curse of God were going through my brain, and only the breath, as it came slowly and henvifor those eyes said to me-' Murder!I'-spoke it,ly from the half-opened lips, showed that there so loudly, so horribly, that it appeared as if my was vitality still in this poor,. little, shrunken form. nead would burst, and I could not cry, and could The doctor kneeled down beside the bed, and, not move, and had to look at it, till at last, I be. bending- over it, pressed a lo-ng, fervent kiss on eameu unconscious."7 the delicate, hot hand of the child. But Charles "There, see there, doctor"' cried Simon, in Louis remained' motionless; he merely slowly alarm, as his wife fell back upon the pillow with dropped his lips and closed his eyen. .2~~36 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. You see, doctor, he neither hears nor sees," "Thunder and guns!" cried Simon with a loud said Simon, in a low, growling voice. "He cares laugh, "it is-" for nothin, and does not know any thing about "Hush!" interrupted the other-" hush! e what is going on around him. It is a week since alone shall declare who I am! Oh, look at me he spoke a word." my king; convince these unbelieving ones here Not since the day when you wanted to con- that your mind is clear and strong, and that you pel the child to sing the song that makes sport are conscious of what is going on around you. of his mother." Look at me, and if you know me, speak my e did not sing it?" asked the doctor, with a'name!" tremulous voice. And with folded hands, in unspeakable emotion He is a mulish little toad," cried Simon, an- he leaned over the bed of the child, that still lay grily. I beged him at first, then I threatened, with closed eyes. and when prayers and threats were of no use I "I knew that he could hear nothin, and that punished him, as a naughty boy deserves when be he was deaf,"'growled Simon, while his wife folded will not do what his foster-father bids him do. her trembling hands, and with tearful eyes wis But even blows did not bring him to it; the ob- pered a prayer. stnate youngster would not sing the merry song A deep silence ensued, and with anxious xwith me, and since then he has not spoken a pectation each looked at the boy. At lent he word.* He seems as if he had grown deaf and slowly raised the heavy, reddened eyelids, and dumb as a punishment for not obeying his good looked with a timid, anxious glance around him foster-fater." self. Then his gaze fixed itself upon the oHe is neitlher deaf nor dumb," said the doctor, quent, speaking face of the man whose tears were solemnly. He is simply a good son, who would falling lilke warm dew-drops upon his pale, sunken not sing the song whkih made sport of his noble features. and unfortunate mother. See whether I am not A quiver passed over the countenance of the right; see these tears which run from his closed boy', a beam of joy lighted up his eyes, and eyes. He has heard us, he has understood us, and something like a smile played around his tremhe answers us with his tears! Oh, sire, he con- bling lips. tinned passionately,. "1by the sacred remembrance "1Do you know me.? Do you know my of your father and your mother, I swear devotion -name?"1 to you until death; I swear that I have come to The child raised his hand in salutation,7 and set you free, to die for you. Look up, my king said, in a clear, distinct voice.: "cToulan! Fi~nd my darling one! I intrust to you and to both da~le!" these witnesses my whole secret; I let the mask Toulan fell on his knees again and covered the fall to show myself to you in my true form, that little thin hand of the boy with his tears and his you may confide in me, and know thiat the most kisses. devoted of your servants is kneeling before'you, "Ys i4e"hesbe."ht i h il and that he dedicates his'life'to you. Open Your of honor which your royal mother gave me-that eyes, Louis of France, and see whether you know is the -name, that she wrote on the bit of paper Me! t" which she put into' the gold smelling-bottle that He sprang up, threw off the great.peruke, and, she gave me. That little bottle, which a queen, the long black cl-oak, and stood before them in once carried, is my most precious possession, and the uniform of an official guard. yet I would part wvith that if I could save the life ___________ _____ __ ___ - -of her son, happy if I could but retain the hal. H Iistorical.-See Beauchesne's "Hi1stetre de Louis lowed paper on which the queen's hand wrote the XVIIL," Vol. ii. word'Fid~le.' Yes, you poor, pitiable son of THE CONSULTATION. 237 kings, I am Fidle, I am Toulan, at whom you give me a good bit of money, so that I may live have so often laughed when he played with you free from care, and if the new place should not ~~~in your prison." ~suit me, that I could o into the country, and not A flash like the sunlight passed over the face'have to work at all; gve my Jeanne Marie her of the child, and a smile illumined his features. health and cheerfulness aain, and I will help She used to laugh, too," he whispered-" she, you set young Capet free." too my mamma queen." Through my assistance, and that of Doctor "Yes, she too laughed at our jests," said Tou- Naudin, you shall have a good plae outside of lan with a voice choked with tears; "and, be- the Temple," answered Toulan, eagerly. Believe me, she looks down from heaven upon us sides this, at the moment when you deliver the and smiles her blessing, for she knows that Tou- prince into my hands, outside of this prison, - an has coe to free her dear son, and to deliver will pay you in ready money the sum of twenty him from the executioner's hands. Tell me now, thousand francs; and as for the third condition kin and my dearly-loved lord, will you trust that about restoring herhealth to Jeanne arie me will you give to your most devoted servant I am sure that I can fufil this condition too. Do and subject the privilege of releasing you? Do you not know, Simon, what your wife is sufferin you consent to accept freedom at the hands of from? Do you not know what her sickness is? ~~your Fide~le ~? ~"No, truly not. I am no doctor. How should The child threw a timid, anxious glance at Simon I know what her sickness is? and his wife, and then, with a shudder, turned "Then I will tell you, Citizen Simon. Your his ead to one side. wife is suffering from the worst of all complaints, You make no answer, sire," said Toulan, im- a bad conscience! Y it is a bad conscience ploringly. Oh! speak my king, mayI set you that robs her of her sleep and rest; it is that free?" which mnakes her see the white, pale form of the The boy spoke a few words in reply, but so martyred queen in the night, and read the word softly that Toulan could not understand him. He' murderer' in her eyes." stdopd do~n neaer tohimand put his -ear "He is ri-ht!.-oh, he is right!" groaned close to the lips of the child. He then could hear Jeanne Marie, falling on her knees. "I ami to th odinaudible to aill but him,*" He will dis- blame for her death, for I denounced Toulan to close you; take care,7 Toulan. But do not say the authorities just when he was on the point of any thing, else he will beat me to death " saving her. I tortured her!-oh, cruelly tortureu Toulan made no reply; he only impressed a her, pind I laughed when she ascended the scafl0on, tender kiss upon the trembling hand of the fold, and I laughed too, even when she gave me child. that dreadful look.' But I have bitterly regretted Did he speak?" asked Simon. "Did you it since, and -now she gnaws at me like a scorpion. understand, citizen, what he said? ". I wanted t o drive her away from. me at fir at, and "1Yes, I undes'stood him," 7answered Toulan. therefore I was cruel to her son, for I wanted to "He consents; he allows me to make every at- put an end to the fearful- remorse that was tortempt to free him, and is prepared -to do every sn~enting me. But it are even more powerful thing that we ask of him. And now I ask you within me. The more I beat the boy, the more too, are you prepared to help me release the his tears moved me, and often I thought I should prince?" die when I heard him cry and moan. Yes, yes, "You know'already, Toul-an," said Simon, -it is a bad conscience that has made me sick and quickly, "1that we are prepared for every thing, miserable!I But I will do right after this. I reprovided that our conditions are fulfilled. Give pent-oh, I repent!I Here I lay my hand on the rae a tolerable position outside of the Temple; heart of this child and swear to his murdered ~~238 M1.1ARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. mother I will do right again! I swear that I vice is dangerously sick and has been carried to willfree her son! I swear by all that is sacred the Hotel Dieu. Doctor Naudin says that he can in heaven and on earth that I will die myself, un- live but three days longer, and then the post will less we succeed in freein thischild! I swear to be vacant. We must be active therefore and you, Marie Antoinette, that I will free him. But take measures for you to gain the place. Nol will you forgive me even then? Will you have listen to me, and mark my words." rest in your poor grave, and not come to my They had a long conversation by the bedside of bedside and condemn me and accuse me with the little prince, and they saw that eperfectly your sad, dreadful eyes? understood the whole plan which oulan unfolded "~~Fre~e her son Jeanne Marie," said Toulan, in eloquent words, for his look took on agreat solemnly, and his mother will forgive you, and deal of expression; he fixed his eyes constantly er hallowed shade will no longer disturb your on Toulan, and a smile played about his lips. sep, for you will then have restored to her the Simon and Simon's wife were also perfectly satpeace of the grave! But you, Citizen Simon, will isfied with Toulan's communication and rpeated you too not Swear that you will faithfiully assist their readiness to do every thing to further the in releasing the royal ce? Do you not know release of the prince, if they in return could only te in your heart too, be removed from the Temple. and compels you to have compassion on the poor "I will at once take the, steps necessary to the ~~~~~~boy?"~~ ~~success of my plan," said Toulan, taking his leave I know it, yes, I know it," muttered Simon, with a friendly nod, and kissing the boy's and confused. His gentle eyes and his sad bearing respectfully. have made me as weak and as soft as an old wo- "Fidele," whispered Louis, Fide do you beman. It is high time that I should be rid of the lieve that I shall be saved?" youngster, else it will be with me just as it is. with " I am sure of it, nmy dear prince.' The -grace my wife, and I shall have convulsions and see' of God and the blessing, of your exalted parents ghosts with dangers in their eyes. And so, in will be our helpers in bringing this good work order to remain a strong, man and have a good to a completion. Farewell, and preserve as long, conscience and a brave heart, I must be rid of as you remain here the same mood that I found the boy, and must know that I have done him you in. Show little interest in what goes on,-and some service, and have been his deliverer.'And appear numb and stupid. I shall not come again, so I swear by the sacred republic, and by our for after this I must work for you outside of the hallowed freedom, that I will help you and do prison. But Doctor Naudin will come every day all that in me lies to release little Capet and get to see you, and on the day of your flight I shall him away from here. I hope you will be satisfied be by your'side. Till then, God bless you, my with my oath, Toulan, for there is nothing for me dear prince! more sacred than the republic and freedom." Toulan left the prison of the littld Capet and "I am satisfied, Simon, and I trust you. And rep~aired at once to the H6tel Dieui, where he had now let us talk it all over and consider it, my dear a long conversation with Doctor Naudin. At the allies. The whole plan cf the escape is formcd in end of it, the director of the hospital entered his carmy head, all the preparations are made, and if riage and drove to the city hall, in whose largest you will faithfully follow all that I bid you, in one chamber a committee of the Public Safety officials week's time you will be free and happy." were holding a public meeting. With earnest "So soon as a week!" cried Simon, delight- and urgent words the revered and universally valedly. ued physician gave the report about the visits "cYes, in a week, for it happens fortunately which he had made at the Temple for some days that one of the officials of the Public Safety ser- at the command of the authorities, and about the THE CONSULTATION. 239 scondition of afair there. Pedtion the elder, the and softening of the brain, and the latter disease presidin officer of the committee, listened to the will soon reduce him to an idiot, and render him report with a grave repose, and the picture of the incapable of receiving instruction." low health of the little Capet," while he paid the "You are convinced that the son of the tyrants most marked attention to that part of the report will not recover?" asked Petion, with a strained, which concerned the Sinons. eager glance. Citizen Simon has deserved much ot the "My careful examination of his case has con contry, and he is one of the most faithful sup- vinced me that he has but a short time to live, porters of the one and indivisible republic," said and that he will spend the larger part of this time Ption, when Doctor Naudin ended his report. in an idiotic state. On this account Simon ougt The republic must, like a grateful mother, show to be removed from the Temple, in order that his gratitude to her loyal sons, and care for them ten- enemies may not be able to circulate a report derly. So tell us, Citizen Naudin, what must be about this zealous and worthy servant of the redone in'order to restore health to Citizen Simon public, that he is guilty of the death of little Ca~~and his wife." ~pet-that Simon's method of bringing him up They are both sick from the same cause, and, killed him. And besides, in order that the same therefore, they both require the same remedy. charge should not be laid to the one and great That remedy is, a change of air and a change of republic, and it be accused of cruelty to a poor location Let Simon have another post, where he sick child, kindly attentions should be bestowed shall beallowed to exercise freely out of doors, on him." and where e shall not be compelled to breathe Petion's countenance clouded, and his eyes only the confined air of a cell; and let his wife rested on the physician with a sinister, searching not be forced to listen to the whining and the expression. groaning of t'he little sick Capet. In one word, "You have a great deal of sensibility, doctor, give to them both liberty to move around, and the and you appear to forget that the boy is a crimifree air, and they will, without any doubt, and nal by birth, and -that the republic can have -no within a short time, regain their health." special sympathy withbhim." "It is true," said Pdtion, "the poor people lead "IFor me," answered Naudin, with simplicity, a sad life in'the Temple, and are compelled, to "1every sick person at whose bed I am called to breathe fhe air that the last scions of tyranny stand, is a poor, pitiable human being, and I have contaminated with their'oisonous breaths, never stop to think whether he is a criminal or We owe it to them to release them from this bad -not, but merely that he is a sufferer, and then I atmosphere, in consideration of their faithful and endeavor to discover the means to assist him. zealous service to the country. Citizen Simaon has The hallowed and indivisible republic, however, always taken pains to repair the great neglect in is an altogether too magnanimous and exalted Capet's education, and to make the worthless boy mother of all her children not to. have pity on prove some day a worthy son of the republic." those who are reduced to idiocy, and in sore sick"But even if Simon should remain in the Tem- ness. The republic is like the sun, which pours pie, he would not be able to go on much longer its beams even into the dungeon of' the criminal, with the education of the boy," said the hospital and shines upon the just and unjust alike." director, with a shrug. "And what do you desire that the republic "What do you mean by that, citizen doctor?"1 should do for the offspring of tyrants?" asked asked Pdtion, with a pleasant lighting up of his Pe'tion, peevishly. eyes. "I desire not much, answered Naudin, with a "I. mean that the boy has -not a long time to smile. "1Let me -be permitted to visit the s~ick live, for he is suffering at once from consumption child from time to tilmes and in his hopeless con. ~~240 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. dition to procure him a little relief from his suf- gloomy chamber of the prince on the very next erings at least, and let him be treated like the day, and set by the side of the sick boy. But child he is. Let a little diversion be allowed him. Mistress Simon labored in vain trying to amuse If it is not possible or practicable for him to play the little Leuis with them. The men danced, the with childre of his age, let him at least have wooden cocks crowed, the dogs barked and toall some playthings for his amusement." these sounds the child paid no heed it did not "Do you demand in earnest that the republic once open its eyes, nor care in the least for te should condescend to provide playthings for her many-colored things which the officials had imprisoned criminals?" asked P6tion, with a brought him. hscornful. "We must try something else," said the com"You have commanded me to visit the sick passionate officer. "Do you know any plaything boy in the Temple, to examine his condition, and which would be likely to please little Louis to prescribe the necessary remedies for his recov- Capet?" ry. I can offer no hope of recovery to the pa- "Give him a riding-horse," cried Simon, with tient, but I can afford him some relief from his a coarse laugh. "I am convinced if the obstinate sufferings. Some of my medicines are called play- youngster should hear that there was a ridinthings! It lies with you to decide whether the horse outside, and that he might ride throuh republic will refuse these medicines to the sick Paris, he would be well on th spot and get up. ~~~~~~~~one."~ ~ ~It is pure deceit, his lying there so pale and with"And you say that the little Capet is incura- out interest in any thing about i. ble? asked Petion, eagerly "You are very cruel, citizen," muttered the Incurable, citizen representative." official, with a compassionate glance at the child. "Well then," said Petion, with a cold smile, "Cruel? Yes, I am cruel!" said Simon, grim"the republic can afford to prov'ide the last of the ly. " But it is the cursed prison air that has Capets with. toys. They have for -centnries toyed made me so. If I stay here a week longer, fearlessly with the happiness of the people', and Jeanne Marie -will die, and I shall become cra zy. the last'thing which the people of France give The director of the hospital told us this, and you back to the tyrants is some toy with which they know, citizen, that he is- the, most clever doctor may amuse -themselves on the way to eternity., in all.France. -See if you would not be. cruel if Citizen doctor, your demands shall be complied you had such an idea as that in your head!" with. The first place which shall become vacant "Well, citizen, you have at least the satisfac shall be -given to Citizen Simon, that he may be tion of knowing that it will not last long," anreleased from prison and enjoy his freedom. The swered the officer, consolingly. " The first vacancy little Capet will be provided with playthings, and, is to be given to you." besides, you are empowered to give him all need- "1Well, I hope it will come soon, then," said fuil remedies for his relief. It is your duty to care Simon, with a sigh. "I will take a -vow to yqu. for the sick child until its death." If, in a week, I shall be released from. this place, an d get a good situation, I will give little Capet a horse to remember me by. That is, not a horse on which he might ride out of prison, but a wooden one, on which he can ride in prison. OH A ~ T ER XX F II.Say, little Capet," called Simon, stooping over the bed of the child, "would you net like to have THE HOBBv-HORSE. a nice wood en horse to play with?" IN accordance with the instructions of Pe'tion, Over the pale lips of the boy played the faint playthings were pro,ured and carried into the tint of a smile, and he opened his eyes-. "tYes," THE HOBBY-HORSE. 24 he said, softly-" yes; I should like to have a he will not run away, but lie quietly here upo wooden horse, and I should have a good time his mnattress.r ~~~~~~~~with it." "So the child is really very sick? asked the Come, citizen" said Simon, solemnly, "I officer, with feeling. takeyou to witness my vow. If I receive another "Not exactly very sick," answered Simon, inplace, I give a hobby-horse to little Capet. You differently; "but Doctor Naudin, who visits him rant me the privilege, citizen?" every day, thinks that the younster mht not "I allow you, Citizen Simon, and I will report be all right in the head, and he has ordered, on the matter to the Public Welfare Committee, that this account, that his lon thick hair should be it shall surprise no one by and by, and I am sure cut off, that his head miht be a little cooler. So one will gainsay you in your praiseworthy Jeanne Marie is going to cut it off,. and that will offer. For it certainly is praiseworthy to prepare probably be the last service that se will have to a pleasure for a sick child; and the great repub- do for him. We are going to clear out of thislie, which is the gracious mother of all French- we are going to clear out of this men, will pity the poor child, too. I wish you "And have you really nothin more to do for success, citizen, in the fulfilment of all your the little Capet, than merely to cut off his hair] hopes, and trust that you will speedily be released asked the officer with a fixed, searching look. from your trying imprisonment." "No," answered Simon, with a lau noth And in fact this yelease did not have to be ing but that. 0h! yes, there is something else. waited for long. A few days brought the accom- I did not think of that. My vow to you! I for plishment of Doctor Naudin's prophecy, and the got that. I swore that, if I were to get. away official guard, who was then sick at the Hbtel from here, I would give little Capet a hobbyDie, died. The director of the hospital hastened horse." to inform the authorities of this event, and on "I am glad, Citizen Simon, that you remember the same day Simon was appointed his successor. your promise, said the officer, gravely. "I The same official who had brou ght the sick prince must tell you that the Public Welfare Committee, the playthings, came again to inform Simon of to which I communicated your intention, was his release, and was delighted at the stormy out-,* very curious to know whether Citizen Simon break of rapturous joy with which the tidi~ngs would remember to carry it into effect. It is were received, on this account that I was instructed to inform "We will be off directly," cried Simon. " Our you of your transfer, and to report to them things have all been packed for three days, and whether you intended to keep your promise. every thi-ng is ready." Your superiors wvill rejoice to learn that you are "But you must wai t patiently till to-morrow, a man of honor, with whom it is a sacred duty my friends," said the official, with a smile, to keep his word;'and who, in prosperous days, "Your successor cannot enteir upon his duties does not forget to do what he promised to do in here in the Temple before to-morrow morning at less propitious times. So, go and buy for little tea o'clock, and till then you must be content to Capet the promised hobby-horse, and I. will inwait quietly." form the Welfare Committee that it was not "That is sad,'sighed Simon. "1The time be- necessary for me to remind you of your vow, and tween -now and ten o'clock to-morrow morning, that you are not only a good citizen, but a good will lie like lead upon my shoulders. I assure man as well. Go and buy the plaything, and you, citizen, the Temple could get along without make your arrangements to leave the Temple tome for one night. The two Misses Capet above- morrow niorning at ten o'clock, and to enter stairs are locked up, and as for the little Capet upon your new duties as collector of customs at down here, it is -not necessary to lock him up, for Porte Macon." ~242 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HIER SON. The great bell of Natre Damne will not have row morning, at ten o'clock, I leave the Te growled out its ten strokes to-morrow morning, ple." before Jeanne Mlarie and I, with out' goods, will "I know it," whispered Toulan. "But speak have left the place," replied Simon, with a laugh. loudly. There stands a man who sees to be "And now I will run and fulfil my promise." watching us." He clapped his red-flannel cap-upon his black, "Come," cried Simon, loudly. "I want you to thick hair, and left the Temple with a hurried accompany me to a store where they sell play st e porter opened the door of the court things, and afterward you must help cary back which led to the street, for the worthy citizen and what I buy, for it will be too large and too heavy man of honor," Simon stopped a moment to chat, for me alone." telling him of his new situation, and of the vow Toulan followed him without replyin and the which he was about to discharge. two went quietly and with an air of indifference Do not wonder, therefore, citizen," he said, through the busy crowd of men. At the corner if you see me come back, by-and-by, with a of a neighboring street the commissioner came orse-with this distinction, that it will not be in gentle contact with another who was standi the horse that carries me, but that it will be I on the curbstone, and was looking earnestly down that will carry the horse. I was such a fool as the street. to promise little Capet a horse, and I must keep "Beg pardon, citizen," said Toulan, loudly and my word, particularly as the Committee of Safety then added, softly, "to-morrow morning, at ten ~~~~allows it." ~o'clock. The washerwomen will take charge of ell, if that is so," said the porter, with the dirty linen at the door. At exactly ten e mock gravity, "I shall let you in, even if you do wagons and the boys must start. The hobbynot make your appearance until night. With the horse will be filled." permission of the Safety Committee, every thing; "Yes, it shall be' filled,"7 and; with an indifferwithout it, nothing~-for I want to keep my head a ent air; he passed by the two, and walked clown little'lon~er on my shoulders." the fielder street. The farther hie went the more "1And I do. not grudge you the privilege," said rapid became his steps, and when hie at last enSimon, with a broad grin. "1We know very little tered a narrow,7 solitary alley, where he might about what we have here, but much lets about hope to be less observed, his quick walk became the place where the dear machine takes us. But, a, run, which he continued till hie reached the RUwe if you like, you can ask Roger, the official guard, Vivienne. He thene moderated his pace, and went whether I have permission to bring, the3 wooden quietly into a toy-shop, whose attractive windows horse into the Temple. He is inside, and. will and open door were directed to the street. The probably be there when I come back." clerk, who stood behind the counter, asked,7 with He nodded to the porter, and went out into the a quiet air, what he desired. street. As the door closed behind him, Simon "First, allow me to sit down, citizen, answered stopped a moment, and cast a quick glance up the commissioner, as he sank upon the rush-chiair and down the street. Above, at the corner of the which stood before the counter., "1There, and little cross-street, stood quietly a young, commis- nOW,, if you want to do'me a service, just give me sioner in his blouse,7 apparently waiting for some a glass of water." one to employ him. Simon. crossed the street and "1Halloo,7 John,"7 cried the clerk to the errandwent up to him. boy; who was standing in the back part of the "Well,"7 asked the latter aloud, "have you any store. "1Bring, a glass of water from the well! -thing for me to do, citizen?" Hasten! " Yes," answered Simon, softly and quickly. The boy took a glass and sprang out of the "Yes, Toulan, I am all ready -for you; To-mor- door into the street. THE HOBBY-HORSE. 243 In a quarter of an hour they will be -here," tered the store with Toulan. Well, citize, said the commissioner, quickly. " Inform the now make a very hadsome purchase, for the marquis, if you please." more 0you buy, the better I shall like it." The cabinet-maker, Lamber, you mean," whis- "Yes, I believe you," replied Simon, laughi: pered"the clerk. He is not as far away as you; "that is the way in all stores. I want soethin e lives directly opposite, and he has been stand- nice; I want to buy a hobby-horse. But nd ing all day at the house-door waiting for the you, citizen, show me one of your best ones, a ~~~~~~~~~sign." ~real blood-horse, for I tell you that he who is to Then give it to him, dear baron," said the ride it is of real blood himself." commissioner; and as the boy came in just then "We happen unfortunately to have a limited wihh tr, he hastily seized the glass, and supply of the article," said the rk, wit took a wallow so immense as to perfectly satisfy shrug. "They do not come exactly in our line. the boy, who was looking at him. But there has been so much demand for obb The clerk adin the mean time, gone to the horses of late that wehave ordered some, and if shop-door, and. looking across at the opposite you will wait a few days, citize-" house, he drew a blue handkerchief, with a red "A few days!" iSimon angrily. border from his pocket, and slowly raised it to "Not a few hours, not a few minutes will I wait. nh~~is face..~ ~ ~If you have no hobby-horses, tell me, and I will The man in the blouse, standing at the door of go elsewhere to make my purchases." the low house across the street, nodded slightly, Hie turned to go, but the clerk held him back. and stepped back out of sight. "Wait only a minute," he said. "I should not Well cried the commissioner, "now that I like to lose your custom, and I think t possib he taken breath, and have had a good drink, I that I can procure you a fine horse. The cabinetwill tell you why I have run so. I have directed maker, who makes our horses, lives just opposite., a citizen to you who wants to buy some play- and he has promised to deliver them to-morrow. things', and something very fine, I suppose, as he The boy shall go over and see if they. are -not brings a -commissioner along with. him to carry ready." the things home. Now I want to know what per "We would rather go over with him, citizen. cent. of the pr~ofit you get from him you a-re will- Tf we find what is wanted, wp'shall -need to go no ilug to give me, for you cannot expect, citizen, farther." that I should give my recommendation gratis." "It is true, that will be the best course, said "I am not the owner of the store, " replied the Simba. "1Come, commissioner." clerk, with a shrug. " I have been here only a "I will go alone, to have the business all rightweek, and manage the business merely while the ly done, " said the clerk' " Here, John, take my owiner is absent for a short time on a necessary place behind the counter while.1 am gone." journey. So I can give -no fees. But ask the Simon had already crossed the street by the boy whether in such cases Mr. Duval has paid side of Toulan. The clerk followed with the secmoney. He has been here longer thanI" ond commissioner. "Mr. Duval has paid every commissioner, who "Why have you not got rid of the boy, Count has brought him- such news, two centums on the St. Prix?" asked the latter. franc," said the boy, with an important air. "It was impossible, Count Frottfl," answered "Well, then, I will give you two centumis on the former in a whisper. "Duval is a very the franc, provided that the citizen buys more nervous man, and he supposed that it would oxthan a franc's worth." cite suspicion if the boy, who is well known in the, "'Aha l there comes the man, cried the com- neighborhood, should disappear at just the time missioner, pointing at Simon who just then.en- when he should be away. He is right, perhaps, and 2.~44 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. at any rate the thing is unavoidable. The sly chore- "I shall fulfil to-morrow but the half of m bo has noticed nothing I hope, and we shall vow. I shall, if you help me and my plan succeeds, reach our goal without any hinderance. You are release the son of the queen but the daughter will going to London to-morrow morning?" remain behind in prison. You see, therefore, that Yes, count. And you? what is your direc- I cannot leave Paris, for the daughter and sister ~~~~~~tion ~? "~ in-law of the queen are still prisoners, and I must To Coblentz, to the royal princes," replied release them." Count St. Prix. "Only I suspect that we shall "But I should rather that you would go away not both of us reach the end of our journeys." with the boy, and never come back to Paris," "Atnyrate not with the children that we shall said Simon, thoughtfully. tak," with us whispered the other, as they en- "How so? Do you not trust me? tered the house of the cabinet-maker. "I trust no one" replied Simon, gloomily. They found Simon and Tou]an in the large "You might some day, when it might uit your workshop busily engaged in bargaining with the humor, or in order to save yoursel betray me, and cabinet-maker, who had shown them six tolerably report me to the Committee of Safety." large obby-horses, and was descanting on their "What, I! And ought I not to fear too? ~~~~~~beauties. ~Could not you betray me as well? It seems to me they all look very much "You know very well that I shall take care not alike, said Simon. "Tell me, commissioner, to disclose a word of this whole history, for to which of these race-horses pleases you best." disclose it would be to write my own death-warrant. This with the red flanks," said Toulan, laying But hush, now; hush! there is the Temple, and it hishand upon the largest one. seems to me as if the very walls looked at me ma It is an immense creature," said Simon, with liciously, as if they wanted to say There comes a a laugh. "1Still, the red flanks are pretty, and if traitor 1'Ah, Toulan, it is a bad thing to have an we can agree about the price I will buy the -ani- accusing conscience! Mal." "Help me faithfully to save the prince, Simon, They did agree, and after Sinion had gravely and you will have a good conscience all the rest paid the twenty francs, he and Toulan'took the of your life, for you will have done a grand and horse on their shoulders and marched down the noble deed." street. "In your eyes," whispered Simon, "1but not in "Do all those people know about our secret?'1 those of the Convention, and when they learn -asked Simon, as they strode forward. about it-but here we are, and our talk and re"No, only the cabinet-maker knows -.about it, consideration' are too late." anmd he will leave Paris to-morrow and carry the He struck three times with his fist against the nrince to a place of safety." closed gate of the outer court. The porter "For God's sake, do not speak so loudly!l" opened, and let the two men in, only saying that whispered Simon, casting an anxious look around, the guard had given his special consent to the "But why do you yourself not go away with the bringing in of the hobby-horse. boy anmd leave Paris, where you are constantly in "But about the commissioner whom you bring danger?" with you," said the porter, reflectively, "1he did "I cannot, answered Toulan, solemnly. not make any mention, and I can only'allow him "Cannot! what forbids you?" to take your plaything into the second court. He "The vow that I gave to Marie Antoinette, to must not go in'to the Temple." rescue her children fi-om the Temple or to die." "It is -no particular wish of mine to go into a "Well, but to-morrow you hope to falfl your prison," answered the commissioner, carelessly. vow, and then you can go." "1It is a good deal easier to get in than to get oul THIE HOBBY-HORSE. 24 again. Well, take hold, Citizen Simon; for- the place a little, and give it an airing, and the ~~~~~~~ward!~~ I"successor will move in about noon." They walked on to the second court. "Now, "Well, I don't envy the man who moves in then whispered Toulan, "for caution and said Toulan, with a laugh. Good-by, citizen thoughtfulness To-morrow at ten o'clock I will we shall see each other to-morrow." be standing before the door, and you will call me He went out into the street, and slowly saunin to help you in your moving." tered along. At the end of it he stopped and I wish it were all over," groaned Simon. "It gave a trifle to a beggar who, supported by a seems to me as if my head were shaking on my crutch, was leaning against a house. shoulders, and my heart beats as if I were a "Is it all right thus far? ~~~~young,~ girlt." Yes, marquis, thank God, thus far every thing Cou e, Simon, only courage! Remember has gone on well. The horse is in the Temple, that to-morrow you are to be a free and a rich man. and nothing is discovered. Then, as soon as you give your basket to the "May the grace ofGod stand by us to-orwasherwoman at the Macon gate, I will pay you row!" whispered the beggar. Yo are sure the promised twenty thousand francs. And-" that all the arrangements are carefully attended "Hat!" cried the sentinel at the entrance to to?" the Temple. No one can go in here without a Entirely sure, M. de Jarjayes. While you are ~~~~~~~~pass." ~leaving Paris in the garb of a washerwoman, our You do not want a pass for my rocking-horse, two allies will both be driving out of two other brother citizen, do you?" asked Simon, with a gates, with the boy, in stylish carriages" ~~~~laughb~. ~~"And it will be you, Toulanwho will have Nonsense! I am speaking about the commis- saved the King of France," whispered the begar sioner." "Oh!1 be sure that all France will thank you for "He is going of himself, and does not. want to it some day, and give you. the title of savior of go0 in. But look him square in the face, for'he your country!" will come to-morrow morning again. I have se- "Baron," said Toulan, shaking his head, " for ncred him in advance, to help me in moving out. me there is but one title of hionor, that which the Bring a wagon along, commissioner, for the things Queen of France gave me. I am called Fide'e, will be too heavy' to carry without one. And a nd I want no other name.- But this ope I will now help put the horse on 1my shouldere. So! maintain so long as I live.. Good-by till we mneet Well, then, to-morrow morning at ten, com'mis- to-morrow at the Porte Macon!" sioner."1 Little Prince Louis Charles received the hobby"To-morrow morning at ten," replied Toulan, horse, which Simon carried into the chamber with nodding to Simon, and -slowly sauntering through a little more interest than in the case of the other the court. He stopped at the outer gate, told the playthings. He even raised himself up a little on porter that he was going to assist Simon in his his mattress, and directed a long, searching gaze moving on the morrow, and then asked in an in- at the tall, handsome wooden creature. different tone, whether Simon's successor at the "1Well, asked the official, who had gone with Temple was appointed. Simon into the dungeon, and had watched the "1Why, would you -like the place?" asked the effect of the toy, "twell, how does your horse porter, gruffly, please you, little Capet?" "No, indeed, not I! I have no. taste for such The boy nodded slowly, but made no reply; he work. It must be an awful air in the prison." only reached out his long, thin, right hand, an~d "It is that," replied the porter. " And so after made a motion as if he wvanted to rise. Simon has moved (ut, they are,, going to cleanse "To-morrow, little Capct-," cried J'ne Marie, ~246 ~MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. holding him ack. "To-day you must keep en- When the night came, and the last rounds had tirely still, so the doctor said, and I will cut your been made past the closed doors of Simon's hair off directly, as the doctor ordered. But I rooms, and the officials bad withdrawn into the ould like to have you here, citizen, and oversee great- hall, where they stayed during the night. the operation. The boy will look much changed, watch, there was an unusual stir within Simon' when his long, yellow hair is cut off, and after- apartments. Jeanne Marie, who ad thrown herward it might be supposed-" self in her clothes upon the bed, slipped out from "Yes, certaly," interrupted Simon, with a beneath the coverlet. Simon who was standin lau, "afterward it might be supposed that it is near the door listening, advanced to the little ot the stupid youngster who has troubled us so prince, and bade him in a whisper to get up. long, that out of pure tenderness and love we had The child, which now semed to ave recovtaken him along with us." ered from its indifference and stupdity, rose at "No one would consider the republican Simon once, and at Simon's further command made an capable of such a thing," replied the official, and effort to remove his clothes, and to put on in besides, the boy will stay here, and no substitute their place the coarse woollen suit and the line for him can fall out of the clouds. Be free from trowsers which Simon drew out of his bed an care Simon. I myself shall recognize the boy handed to him. to-morrow and if he should look changed in ap- The toilet was soon completed, and the little pearance, I shall know how it comes." prince looked with a timid, inquirin lance at Si. Yes, he will know how it comes," said Simon, men, who was regarding him with a sarhin eye. ith a gin, as he watched the retreating form of "And the stockings, master? he asked. Do leaving the prison. not L have any stockings? Lock the door, Simon," whispered Jeanne "No,t" growled Simon-no, the sonof Marie. "1We must let the boy out of this if he is washerwoman wants n o stocking-s. There are not to be stifled!" some wooden shoes which will ble laid for you ine "CNo, no," said Simon, motioning his wife to -the basket, and youi put them on afterward, if we retreat from the hobby-horse which she was ap- are fortunate in getting. away.' But you maust cut, proaching. "He will -not be stifled, for beneath his hair, Jeanne Marie. With long hair he will th e saddle-cloth there are nothing but air-holes, not look like a boy from the people..".and he pan endure it a. good while. *We must Jeanne Marie shuddered. "I cannot,"1 she.above all things be cautious and prepared for whispered; " it would seem to me as if I were every thing. It would be a fine thing, would it cutting off his head, and the woman in white-, not, if the officials who are on guard in' the Tem- would stand behind, and pierce me throngh with plo should conceive the idea of making the her great eyes." rounds a second time for the purpose of inspec- "Come, come, that old story again 1"growled tion. He cannot be carried out before it strikes Simon. "1Give me the scissors, then; I will take ten fromt Notre Dame. We will, however, give care of it, for the boy must part with his hair behim a little more air.") fore he goes into the basket. Come, come, do not H& removed the saddle with care, which was shrink and curl up so; I was not speaking of the let into -the back of the wooden horse, and lis- guillotine-basket, but of your dirty-clothes~ basket. teried at the opening. Come, Capet, I want to cut your hair." "He breathes very peacefully and evenly," he He took the great shears from the work-basket, then said, softly. "He seems to be asleep, and sat down on. a stool by the side of the table;, Jeanne Marie, hold the saddle in your hand, and on which burned a dim tallow canidle, throwing at the least approach fit, it again in its place. I an uncertain light through the apartment. "GoCtxic, vo-ILI now t-Ake holld and pack our things."1 Capet" THE HOBBY-HORSE. 24 The boy stole up with an insecure step, and dered him to lie down on the bottom of h srank together when Simon seized him and basket. drew him between his knees. "He exactly fits!" said Simon to his wif. Donothuirthim Simon. Be careful of him," "We wtill now throw some dirt clothes over Whispered Jeanne Marie, sinking on the floor and him, and he can spend the night In the basket foldin her hands. "Remember, husband, that We must be ready for any tin; for there are she is here, and that she is looking at you, and many distrustful officials, and it would not be the that he bores into my head with her eyes when first time that they have made examinations in y do any harm to the child." the night. Little Capet must remain in the basSimon looked around with a shy and anxious ket, and now we will take his substitute out of glance. It is high time that we were away the horse." from ere, he growled-" high time, if I am - He went to the hobby-horse, took out some not to be crazy as well as you. Stoop down, screws which ran along the edges of the upCapet, so that I can cut your hair off." The holstery, and then carefully removed the upper child let his ead fall; but a faint, carefully part of the animal from the lower. In the holuppressed sob came from his breast, while Si- low thus brought to light, lay a pale, sick boy, Mons shears went clashing through his locks, with closed eyes-the nephew of the Marquis de evering the from his head. Jaljayes, the last descendant of the Baroness de What are you crying for, Capet?" asked Tardif, now, as all his ancestors had done to zealously going forward with his work. give his life for his king. "I am so sorry, master, to have my locks cut Jeanne Marie rose fromnt her knees, took a light oEff~~~~~~."~ ~from the table, and approached the child, which Yo probably suppose, you vaih monkey, that was lyinD in its confined space as in a coffin. your locks are particularly beautiful?2 The little prince had raised himself.up in his "Oc o master! It. is only," sighed the boy basket, and his pale face was visible as he looked, with his eyes full of tears-" it is only because out of his large blue eyes, with curiosity'and her- hand hbas rested on themn, and because shte amazement at the sick child. kissed them when I saw her the last timae.") "He does not look like the king's son, whisWois she? asked Simon, roughly. pered Jeanne Marie, after alon-, searching td "My mamma queen," replied Louis with such *of the pale, bloated face of the idiot. a tone of tenderness as to bring, tears into the "We will put his clothes on at once, then hg eyes of Jeanne Marie, and even to move the cob- will look all right, for clothes'make the man. bier himself.' Stand up, little one, you need to get up. You "Hush!" he said, softly. "1Hush! you must ar e not to stay any longer. in your curious never call your mother by such a name. After prison." to-morrow mornin:, you are to be the son of a "He does -not understand you," said Jeanne& washerwoman. Remember. that, and now be Marie. " Do not you remember that Toulan told still! There, you r hair is done now. Pick up us that the boy is perfectly deaf and dumb?" the locks from the floor and lay them on the "True; I had forgotten it, and yet it is fortable, Jeanne Marie. We- must leave them here, tunate for us, for a deaf and dumb person canthat the officer may find them in the morning~, not disclose any dangerous secrets. Come, Jeanne and not wonder, if he does not recognize the Marie, give me the clothes; we will dress up the urchin. Now we will b'ring, t~he wash-basket and little mute like -a prince." see whether young (Capet will go into it." They put upon him the velvet jacket1 the short He brought out of the chamber a high, covered trowsers of black cloth, the shoes and stockingi basket, grasped the boy, thrust him in, and or. of the prince, who siill was loolming out of his ~~248 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON basket at the pale, softly-moaning child, which at me and scold me. You say, Iknow, that there was now placed by Simon and his wife on the is no God, and the republic has done away with ~~~~~~mattress. ~Deity, and the Church, and the priests. But let There" said Simon, throwing the coverlet me once kneel down andpray to Him ith whom over the boy, "there, the royal prince-is ready, little Louis Charles is talking now and to wo and we can say, as they used to do at St. Denis, the Austrian spoke on the scaffold." when they brought a new occupant into the royal Without waiting for Simon's answer, Jeanne vault'Le roi est mort, vive le roi' Lie quietly in Marie sank upon her knees. Foldin her ands your basket, Capet, for you see you are deposed, she leaned her forehead on the rim of the basket, and your successor has your throne." and softly whispered, Louis Charles, do you ear Master," whispered Louis, anxiously and tim- me?" idly, "master, may I ask you a question?" "Yes," lisped the ild, I hear you." "Well, yes, you may, you little nameless toad. "I ask.your forgiveness," whispered Jeanne What is it?" Marie. "I have sinned dreadfully against you, "Master, will the sick child have to die, if I but remorse has taken hold of m eart and ~~~am saved ~?"~ ~tears it in pieces and gives me no rest day or "What do you mean, youngster? What are night. Oh, forgive me, son of te queen, an ~~~~~you at? ~" ~when you pray, implore yourmoter to forgive "I only mean, master-I only wanted to say me the evil that I have done her." that if the poor boy must die, if he takes my "I will pray to my dear mamma queen for you place, wy-I should rather stay here. For-" and I know she will forgive you, for she was so Well, on, stupid! what do you mean by very good, and she always said to me that we yourfor? You would rather remain here?" must forgive our enemies and I had to swear to "Yes, master, if another is to die and be beaten my dear papa that I'Would forget and forgive all and tortured, for blows hurt so much, and I should the wrong that men should do to me. And so I not like to have another boy receive them instead -forgive you, and-I will forget all the bad things of me. That," would be wicked in me, and-"2 that Master Simon has done to me, for my papa "And you are a stupid fellow, and do not know and my mamma wished me to." any thing you are talking about," said Simon, Jeanne Marie let her head sink lower, and shaking his fist at him. " Just put on airs, and pressed her hands firmly against her lips to reqteak another such a foolish word, and I will not press the outcries which her remorseful conscience only beat you to death, but I will beat this miser- prompted. Simon seemed to under-stand nothing, able, whining youngster to death too, and then of. this soft whispering; he was busily cn1gaged in you will certainly be to blame for it. Dowin with packing up his things, and no one saw him, hastily you into the basket, and if -you venture to put draw his hand over his eyes, as if he wanted to your head up again, and. if to-morrow you are not wipe away the dust which suddenly prevented obedient and do just what we bid you, I will beat his seeing. you and him, both of you, to pieces, and, pack Gradually it grew still in the gloomy room. you into the clothes-basket, and carry you away. The whispering in the basket ceased. Jeanne Down into th e basket! Marie had retired to her bed, and had wept herThe boy sank down out of sight; and when, self to sleep. Upon the mattress lay the siclk, alter a little while, Jeanne Marie cautiously looked sobbing child, the substitute of King Louis XVII., to see whether he had fallen asleep, she saw that who was in the basket. Louis Charles was kneelipg on the bottom of'the Simon was the only one who was awake and ha sket, and ra'isi-ng his folded hands up to heaven, t~here must have been dismal thounhts that busied "Simon," she- whispered-" Simon, do not. laugh him. He sat upon the.stool near the candlq THE HOBBY-HORSE. 249 which was nearly burned out, his forehead was sacred possession of my wife, %nd she was going corruated and clouded, his lips were closely to bring it out herself, with the commissiones pressed toether, and the little, flashing eyes help. Yes, there they come." looked out into the empty space full of anger and At that moment, Jeanne Marie appeared in te ~threatenings.,~ *~'court, followed by Toulan. The brought alon,'It must behe muttered at last, "it must by two ropes which served as handles a large be. I should otherwise not have a moment's and longish basket, whose alf-opened cover peace, and always feel the knife at my throat. brought to view all kinds of women's clothes. One of us must be away from here, in order that "Room there," cried Simon, with a lauh, he may disclose the other. I will not be that one, "room for the Citoyenne Simon and, her costly it must be Toulan." dowry!" He stood up with the air of one who had made "Come, no joking, Simon," said his wife, threatunageable resolve, and stretched his ening him with her fist and ]auhi "If m bony, crooked limbs. Then he threw one last dowry is not costly enouigh, I will only ask you llook at the stranger-child, that lay moaning and to provide me with better things. groaning on his mattress, fell upon his bed, and "Your dowry is magnificet said Simon soon his on- n, sonorous breathing disclosed "and there is not a sile article lacking tleo the fact that Master Simon was asleep. make it complete. Come, I will help the comOn the next morning there reigned in the lower missioner put the basket in the wagon, for it is nstories of the Temple a busy, stirring life. Mas- too heavy for you, my fairest one! ter Simon was preparing to move, and all his He took hold of the basket with his stronarm, household goods were set out in the court, in or- and helped the commissioner swing it into the der to be transferred to the wagon that Commis- wagon. sioner Toulan had ordered. Close to th~ wagon "But let me look first into the basket, as my stood one of the officials of the Public Safety, and duty demands," said the official. "You are too examined every arti cle of furniture that was put quick,! *You know, citizen, that I must examine into it, opening even the bandboxes and pillows all your goods. The law compels me to." to lWok into them. Not, as he said, the Welfare "Then I beg, you to climb up into the wagon Committee doubted the honesty of the faithful and open the basket," said Simon, calmly.. "1You and zealous servant of the republic, but only to cannot waint us to take the heavy thing down satisfy the forms, and to comply with the laws, again for you to examine it." which demanded that the authorities'should have "I do not ask that, citizen, but I must exa mine awatchful eye on every thing that was at all con- the basket." nected with the family of the tyrants. The official sprang, into the wagon, but Jeanne "And you will do me a great pleasure if you Marie was quicker than he, and stood close by will examine every thino0 with the utmost care, the basket, whose cover wag partly opened. In the republic we ard all alike, and I do not see "Look" in, citizen, she said, with dignity. why I should -not be aerved to-day as another "1Convince yourself that only the clothing of a would be on the morrow., You know, probably, woman is in it, and then tell the republic that that I have been appointed collector at Porte you found it necessary to examine the basket of Macon, and after to-morrow I shall have to in- the famous knitter of the guillotine., as if Jeanne spect the goods of other people. It is all fair Marie was a disguiss~d duchess, who wanted to fly that I should have my turn to-day. Besides, you from the hand of justice." will Anot have much more to examine, we are al- "I beg your pardon," said the official,"1 every most through; I believe there is only a basket one knows and honors the knitter of the guillc. with the soiled clothes yet to com~a. That is the tine, but-" ~~250 ~MARIE - ANTOINETTE AND IER SON. But ou are curious, and want to see some of keeping a watchful eye upon his possession and Vmy clothes. Well, look at them!" She raised carefully setting every thing aright which was in those which lay at the top, and held them up to danger of being shaken off upon the pavemet the official with a laugh. Above in the carriage near the great basket sat "And down below? What is farther down in Jeanne Marie, the former knitter of the illotine. the basket? Her naked brown arm rested upon the basket, Farther down," replied Jeanne Marie, with an whose bottom, covered with dirty linen and Misexpression of the greatest indignation and the tress Simon's clothes, was the son of Mare Anmost outraed modesty, "farther down are my toinette, King Louis XVII., making his entrance dirty clothes, and I hope the republic will not into the world which should have for him only consider it necessary to examine these too. I sufferings and illusions, shattered hopes and dewould at least oppose it, and call every female throned ideals. friend Ihave to my help." This happened on the 19th of January, 794, Oh! you will not have to do that," replied the and on the very day in which the unhappy King with a friendly nod of the head. "It Louis XVI. was leaving the Temple, his siste would be presumptuous to go farther with the ex- Theresa, who was still living with her Aunt Ea amination of your goods, and the republic re- beth in the upper rooms, wrote in her diary gards with respect themysteries of an honorable (known subsequently by the title " it d ~~~~~~wife." ~~e6venements arrives au Temple, par Madame RoyHe jumped down from the wagon, while Jeann6 ale") the following words "On the 19th of JanMarie, still wearing an angry look, laid the uary, my aunt and I heard beneath us, in the clothes back into the basket, and shut the cover room of my brother, a great noise, which made ~~~~~~~~down. ~us suspect that my brother was leaving tre T - "Can we go now" she asked, taking her pie. We were convinced of it when, lookingseat on a low stool which happened to be -near through the keyhole of the door, we saw goods the great basket. carried away. On the following day we heard th e "Yes, if the official has nothing against it, door of the room, in which myv brother had bean, we can go," answered Simon. "Our goods are opened, and recounized the steps'of men walking all leaded.", around, which confirmed us in the belief that he "Then go0 on, I have nothing, against it, and I had been ca'rried away." wish you and your wife much happiness and joy The pitiful wagon, which gave its hospitality to in your new career." the knitter of the revolution, as well as to a king, The official waved them a last gracious adieu drove slowly and carefully through the streets, with the hand, and'the wagon started. Along- unnoticed by the people who hastily passed by. side of the great, hard-mouthed and long-haired Now and then they encountered a commissioner horse that drew the cart, walked the commissioner, who came up to Toulan,g'eeted him as an acin order, once in a while, when they-had to turu a quaintance, and asked after his welfare. Toulanl corner, to seize the bridle and give it a power-ful nodded to them confidentially, and answered jerif. At the side of the wagon strode Simon, them loudly that he was very wvell, and that he was helping Simon move ouit of the Temple, and * Madame Simon's own words, reported from her own going with him to Perte Mlacon. account, -which she gave in the year 1819 to the Sisters of Mfercy who eared for her in her ihat sickares. The sis- The commissioners then wished. hima pleasant terhood of the female hospital in the roe Sevres publiclyjoreadwnthiwy;butefrhr repeated, in the year 1851, this statement of Jeanne Mario Simon, who died there in 1819. It was in the thcy were from the wagoni, the qui,11ch were thely civil proqcess brought against the Duke. do Normandy, whossa was accused of giviag himself out falsely as King Louis,u eeadteete stohrcmi XVII., and who could not he proved not to he he. sioners, to whbom they -.re'este Toulan'a words, THE HOBBY-HORSE. 251 and who then went from there and again told beg you to make me a son promise that you them over to their friends in the streets, in quiet, will continue a faithful and obdient servant of hidden chambers, and in brilliant palaces. In the count, and prove in no way false to your oath one such palace the tidings caused a singular and your duty." cCnt Frott6, who lived there, and The servant pledged himself slemnly, and the whom the public permitted to live in Parisi or- steward continued: "The count as udertaken dered his travelling carriage to be brought out at a journey which is not to be spoken of and is to once. The postilion, with four swift horses, had remain, if possible, a secret. I demand of you, talready stood in he court below half an hour, therefore, that if any one asks where the count waitin for this order. The horses were quickly has gone, you answer that you do ot know. But harnesscd to the carriage, which was well filled above all things, you are not to say that the count with trunks; and scarcely had it reached the is not travelling alone, but in company with the fot door when the count hurried down the young-gentleman, wer grand staircase, thickly wrapped in his riding- just as little about as you. Will you promise to furs At his right sat a little boy of scarcely ten faithfully heed my words years, a velvet cap, trimmed with fur, upon his The servant asserted it with solemn oaths and short fair air; the slender, graceful form con- an expression of deep reverence. The steward ceed with a long velvet cloak, that fell down as beckoned to him to go, and then looked at im far as shes with golden, jewelled buckles. for a long time, and with a sinlar expression as Count Frott seemed to bestow special care he withdrew. Ind attetin upon this boy, for he not only had " He is a spy of the Safety Committee e im sit on his rit, but remained standing near whispered to himself. "I am convinced that e e door, to giveprecedence to the boy, and then is so, and he will certainly at once ad report hastened to follow him, lie pressed the servants to the authorities, and they will break their heads back who steed near the open door, bowed re- thinking what the count has to do in Pity, and who spectfully, and gave his band to the lad to assist the boy is who accompanies my lord. Well, theat him. in ascending. The youth received these is exactly what we want: to put the bloodhounds tokens of respect quietly, and -seemed -to take it and murderers on a false scent. That is'just.the ats a matter of course that Count Frott6' should object of the count, and for that purpose M. Morna carefully put furs around his feet and body, in de Guerivihre has lent his only son, for all that order to protect him from every draft. As soon we have and are, our lives, our children, and as this was done, the count entered the carriage, every thing else, belong to our king and lord, and took his place at the left of the boy. The I hope, therefore, that the count's plan will sueservant closed the carriage-door with a loud slam,7 ceed, and the Safety Committee be put on a false and the stewprd advanced with reslpectful mien, scent." and asked whither the count would order to go. Meanwhile the piti-ful carriage containina Si"The road to Puy,") said the count, with a loud, mon's goods had slowly taken its way through vocand the steward repeated to the postilion the streets and halted at its goal, the customjuist as loudly and clearly, "1The road to Puy." house near Porte Macon.. Before the building The carriage drove thunderingly out of the stood a woman in the neat and tasteful costume court-door, and the servant looked after~ it till it of the washerwomen fromn the village of' Vannes, disappeared. and then followed. the house-stew-'which then, as now, was the abode of the washerard, who motioned him to come into the cab- women of Paris. inet. "Well," cried the, woman, with a loud laugha, "I have soinething to tell you, citizen," said helping Mistress Simon dismount from the wagon the stleward, with a weighty air, "1but first I must -` we'll, you have come at last. For two hours ~252 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. I have been waiting for you, for you ordered me The washerwoman closed the cover of the to be here at eleven, and now it is one. What basket, and sprang down from will my husband and my little boy say about my "Every thing is in order," she said, and it is coming home so late?" high time that I should be off. I ave a long I beg your pardon," said Jeanne Marie, with way to go, and my husband and child are expectkindly voice. "Our ride was a good deal slower ing me." than I thouht, for the things were packed only "Then go, with God's blessing," said the comloosely, and if we had ridden faster they would missioner, shaking hands with the washerwoman easily have been injured. But I will not detain as if she were an old acquaintance. Go, with YOU ger, and you shall have my wash at once. God's blessing, and may He protect you from There are a great many clothes this time, and I all calamity, and bless you with happiness and have therefore thrown them all at once into the joy!" basket; so you can put the basket right upon He spoke loudly, as if this was intended for the your wagon and bring, the things back in it. ear of some person besides the waserwoman. Halloa Simon, and you, commissioner, take hold And another had heard the words of Toula and lif the basket down, and carry it out to the and a soft and tremulous voice called: Farewasherwoman's wagon that is standing near the well, Fidele; I thank you, dear Toulan." ~~~~~gate."~ ~ ~The wagon was at once in motion, and drove The two men immediately lifted the great bas- quickly down the street through the rows of et out, and carried it to the open cart which small houses in the suburbs. The two men stood stood there, in which lay arranged in regular and looked after it till the washe:woman' carorder great bundles of dirty linen. Near the gate riage disappeared in a cloud of dust. stood the sub-collector, whose superior Simon Toulan raised his eyes slowly to heaven, and a now was, and it therefore did not occur to him pious expression illumined his good, energetic to examine, the basket which his new chief was countenance. putting in the washerwoman's wagon. Some "Thou lookest down upon me, my queen and busybodies who stood around t urned their whole mistress," he said, softly and inaudibly. "1I feel attention to the wagon which contained the, fur- the glance of thy heavenly eyes, and it rests like a niture and goods of the new collector, who was, hallowed blessing upon my thankful heart. I o6f course, a very important person in this remote. know,7 my queen, that thou art satisfied with me quarter, and Jeanne Marie endeavored with her this hour, and it seems to me as if thy loved loud words and chdleric gesticulations to fasten voice were whispering'above me in the air the the attention of the idlers upon herself..- Nobody word Fid.le. Give me now.thy blessing, that I regarded'-the two men,7 who had just put- the may end my work, and rescue the daughter and.basket into the washerwoman's cart, and no one the sister as I have rescued the'son. Mvy life is heard the words that they softly spoke together. devoted to thy service, and I shall save all thy The washerwoman had' raised the cover, and dear ones or, die l" was rolling around the clothes, as if she wanted "tWell, Toulan," said Simon, softly, "I have to examine the contents of the basket. kept my word, and little Capet is released. Are "Sire, she whispered, softly, as she did so- you going to keep yours?' "srdo you hear me?" "Certainly I shall,"1 said Toulan, whose glance Aweak, faint voice replied, "1I hear yu" sol elfo evn and whose face still "And shall you be able to bear it, if you stay glowed like one in a trance. "1Yes, Simon, I shall a little longer in your hiding-place?" keep my word to you as you have yours to me. "Oh yes, I shall be able to bear it; but, I am *Come into' your house, that I may pay you." anxious, and I should like to be away from here." He withdrew quickly from the gate and enter~ed THE HOBBY-HORSE. 253 the house which thereafter was to be the house Jeanne Marie just then called the commissioner of the collector Simon. All was going on busily with a loud voice, Toulan hastily opened the door there, for Jeanne Marie had impressed into her and hurried to her. ~service nt only tesub-collector but some of the Simon followed him with a on, dark look. cuous spectatrs and she scolded her husband, Then he slowly shook his head, and his eye kinho was just coming in with Toulan, for talking dled. o lon with the washerwoman instead of helping "It must be," he said to himsel softly. I ~~~~~~~~her. ~should otherwise have no rest day or night, and "Do you two take the heavy mattresses and it would be worse than in the Temple. He said carry them into the next room." so himself: only Toulan knows my secret. So if The two men quickly obeyed, and bore the Toulan dies, my secret dies with Toulan and is mattresses into the chamber. Then they locked buried with him, and I can then enjoy my life, themselves in. Toulan took several rolls from and shall not need to live in aniety, and in per-. the great waistcoat which he wore under his blue petual fear of being betrayed. But," he continblouse, broke them asunder, and let the gold- ned, after a brief pause, "what is done, must be pieces fall out upon the mattress. done quickly, otherwise I may fall into the very "Count them Simon," he said, "to see that pit I have digged for Toulan! If the little Capet there are exactly two hundred and fifty double is fairly carried to a place of safety, and escapes old-pieces, all bearing the exalted symbols of out of the republic, Toulan can avenge himself by the onegreat, and indivisible republic.' May they reporting the whole story and bringing me to misbring you joy, and be a reward for the great good fortune. I must, therefore, wile I am secure, fortune which you have brought to me, and to all takeaway from the fellow the means of betraying who love the king and his house." me. Yes, yes, it must be so; Toulan must die, "But will no one reveal me" asked Simon, that Sirhon may live. Look out for your own anxiously, while busily engaged In collectiun the self first,anthnyunegbr. gold-piecles, and hiding, them between the mat- WIith a decided step, Simon left the room tresses. "Say, Toulan, will -no one divulge and and entered the chamber, where Toulan was report me to the authorities" busy with Jeanne M arie in arranging the farni"Be quiet, Simon, and fear nothing. To be-' ture. tray you, would be at the same time to betray..I am glad to find you here still," said Simon, the great cause which we serve, and to surrender nodding to hm; "for I had entirely forgotten to the younhg king to the persecution of his enemies. tell you that I have a present for you, which will But no one knows, excepting me, that of your certainly please you, and which I have saved and own free will you'have helped save the king. laid away expressly for you." With expr'ess reference to your safety,. I have "What is, it, Simon? What kind of a present made all the other allies believe that I have de- have you for mne?" ceived you, and that you know nothing of the "A very precious one, at least such as you and concealment of the child. So be entirely without your like will consider so, I think. I have the concern. Only Toulan knows your secret, and long, yellow locks which Jeanne Marie cut yesterToulan is silent as the grave. But let us go out day from little Capet's head."'now and help your wife bring the thing. into the "And will you give them to me? " asked Touhouse, and afterward you can let me go without lan, eagerly. any further leave-taking. Farewell, citizen; may- "Yes, that will I, and it is for that purpose you be entirely successful in your new -field of that I have brought them along. They are lying, labor." with all the letters, in my work-box. But I canHe nodded with a friendly air to Simon, and as not get at them to-day in all the confusion, for ~254 X~MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. they are at the very bottom of the box. But "Go in, citizen, and announce that Simon is come to-morrow morning, and you shall receive here, and brings importantnews, of great peril to your costly treasure. If you like, you can come the state." about ine o'clock and if I should happen to A minute later, Simon was ushered into the have an thing to do, and not be here, I will give hall in which the Safety Committee were assethe hair to Jeanne Marie, and she will hand it to bled. All those stern-faced men of the republic. ~~~~~~you."))~ ~knew Simon as a tfaithful and zealous republican, Be sure that I shall come," said Toulan, ear- upon whose devotion they could reckon and nestly. Give me your hand, and let nme thank whose fidelity was immovable. you for your delicate act of kindness. I certainly "I am come," said Simon, slowly, "I am come did you a wrong, for I did not hold you capable to bring an accusation against a certain person as of such a deed. I thank you, Simon, I thank you a conspirator against the republic, and a traitor from my heart; and to-morrow morning, punc- to our liberties." tually at ine, I shall be here to receive my pre- "Who is it, and what has he done? asked the os possession. Farewell till then, Simon! I chairman, with a cold smile have no quiet now,'but must run around and "What has he done? He. means to do somesee whether every thing seems as usual in the thing, and I mean to prevent him. He means to Temple, and our secret undiscovered." He hast- release the wolf's whelp from the Temple. Who ened away, nd disappeared around the corner. knows but he may have done so already, for when The whole day Simon was busy with his own Ileft the Temple this morning, my sucessor had thoughts, and engaged in arranging the furniture, not come, and little Capet was alone. Who is it with his mind clearly not on his work. In the that is able to release the boy and the two ladies? afternoon e declared that hlie must go to the It is Toulan, the traitor, the royalist Toulan Temple again, because in. the upper corridor he "Toula-n!" rep'lied Petion, witha shrub,,. "We had left a chest with some utensils in - it which know very well that Toulan. is a traitor, and that were his, the republic can expect only the worst from him "It seems to me, husband, you arc homesick that he can do. H-e was accused once, but esfor the Temple, said Jeanne Marie jestinglv, cae eie uihent by flight, and he has "and you are sad because you are no longer in unquestionably g-one to Cohlentz to join the tythe old, black walls." rant's brothers there. Our police are watchful, "Yes, I am h omesick for the Temple," replied and have discovered not a trace of him." Simon, " and that is why I go thbre." "Then allow me. to put the police on his tr.ack," But he did -not take the way to the Temple, hut said Simon, laughing. " Be so good as to send a -o the city hall, and rang, the bell so violently that couple of officers to me to-morrow, and I will dethe porter dashed to the door to open it. liver Toulan, the traitor, into their hands." "It is yo citizen, he ejaculated. "I thought something must have happened." "Something has, happened, and I have come to inform the Committee of Safety," answered Simon, O P R X impetuously. "1Has it miet?" "Yes, it is in the little council-chamiber.TOL'SzTH You will find an officer at the door, and can let TiE next morning, at the stroke of nine, Toulan, him announce you." in the garb of a commissioner, entered the house Simon strode forward and found the sentinel of the new collector at the Macon gate. Simon before the door, who asked him what his business received him at the door, and conducted him into there was. the sitting-room. TOUEAN'S DEATH. 55 You see,"said Toulan, " that I am punctual, you, and on the day of judgment yo will ear my ad I must tell you that I have been almost too voice, accusing you before the throne oGod as a impatient to wait. I hope you do not regret your betrayer and murderer. Ma y blood come o promise, and that you mean to give me the noble your head, Simon!" present that you promised me." Simon lived to enjoy his freedom and his money Unfortunately I can not," answered Simon, only a short time. At the expiration of a year h with a shru. My wife insisted on* giving you fell into lunacy, which soon made him attempt the hair with her own hands, and she has just own life. He died in the Asylum of Bictre. s gone out. You will have to wait for her, if you wife lived till 1821, in a hospital at Paris, and in really are anxious to possess the hair of little her dying hour asserted thA little Capet was re~~~~~Capet."~ ~ ~leased in the way above related. Yes, I am anxious to own ]t," replied Toulan. On the next day, there was a great excitement The hair of my dear young king will be my most within the Temple, and the Safety Committee recherished possession, ald-" paired thither in a body. The lamplighter, who "Come com interrupted Simon, "there you made his rounds on the evenin of the day on exaerate. Tbegold salt's-bottle, which the which Simon left the Temple, had asserted that Austria gave you, is a great deal dearer to you, the child that lay upon the mattress was not the is it not? You still have that, have you not?" little Capet. " He must know this," e said, for Still have it?" cried Toulan. "I would he had seen the child daily when e lighted the sooner part with my life than with this renmem-. lamp in the boy's room." brancer of Marie Antoinette!" The new keeper, Augustus Lasne Was very e, which you would rather keep, much excited at the communication o the lam your life, or the bottle the Austrian gave you," lighter, and at dawn of the next day repaired lo siSiowith a laugh, as he sprang toward the city hall to report the statement. The Safety thle door and opened it. Two officials of the Committee resolved on an immediate -Invelstigatio-n Safety Committee, followed by armed men, en- of the Temple, after pledging one another to the tered. deepest secrecy, and enjoining the samne on all the "Have you beard every thing?"asked Simon, servants at the Temple. triumphantly. The officials found on the mattress a moaningy "ewe have heard every thing, and we ar- feverish boy, in the garments of the dauphin. rest you, Toulan, as a traitor. Take him to t~he' These they recognized as the'ones which the reConciergerie. The authorities will decide what public had had made a month beforO for little shall be done with himi further."7 Capet, but no one could Eray whether this child, "Well,"i said Toulan, calmly, "1the authorities with a body covered with sores, a swollen f-ace, will, perhaps, do me the honor of letting me go and sunken, lustreless eyes, was really little Capet.the same way that my king and my queen have or not; no one knew whether'sic'kness had so taken, land I shall follow the example of the noble changed his looks that this stupid, idiotic boy sufferers, and die for the hallowed cause of royal- was the one whom they had all known when he ty. Let us go, that I may not longer breathe the was well, as they saw him joyously flitting, around. air which the blasphemer and traitor Simon has First of all they summoned Doctor Naudin, the poisoned. Woe upon you, Simon!l In your director of H10tel Dieu, to examine the boy. He dying hour think of me, and of what'I say to you appeared without delay, and declared solemnly ao w: You are sending me to death, that you may and decidedly that this was the same boy whom live in peace. But you will,'find no peace on he had seen there some days before when he earth, and if no man accuses you, your conscience visited Simon's wife, only the English sickness will. Oh your dying bed you will see me before which afflicted the child had distorted his limbs, ~~256 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. while the cutting off of his hair gave him a sickness increased from day to day, was the real caned look, and it was no wonder that the Capet, the son of Louis XVI. The suspicion lamplighter failed to recognize him. which had been aroused must be kept a deep seSim who was summoned to give evidence, cret, that the royalists should not take renewed asserted the sam thing, and affirmed that he re- courage from the possibility that the King of cognized little Capet in the sick boy, and thai his France had been rescued. wife had cut off his hair only the day before. But the secret investigations, and the efforts to He brought the hair asa complete proof of the draw something from Toulan, caused the authoriidentity, and it was seen to agree perfectly with ties to postpone his fate from week to week, from that of the sick child month to month. On the 20th of January e Yet some of the officials still doubted, and was arrested and taken to the Conciererie and their doubts were increased when on the same not till the month of May did the Convention day the servant of Count Frott6 reported to the sentence him to death. The charge was this Safety Committee that -his master had made a that he had accepted presents from the Widow sudden and secret journey, accompanied by a boy, Capet, in particular the gold salt's-bottle, and had whom the count had treated with great defer- made frequent plans to release the Capet family ~~~~~~~~~ence. ~from prison. This boy migt be the dauphin, whom Count On the same day Madame Elizabeth, the sister Frott, in conjunction with Toulan, might have of Louis XVI., was sentenced to death, on the spirited ot of the Temple in some secret way, charge of conducting a correspondence with her and who mst e followed at all hazards. At the brothers, through the agency of Toulan havin same time the government were informed that the for its end the-release of the royal family. Count de St. Prix had left Paris in- company with When the sentence was read to Madame Eliz a hoy, and had taken the road to Germany. Cha- aheth, she smiled. - "11 thank my judges that Zol, a meroher of the Convention, was sent secretly they allow me to go to those I love, and whom I to Pny to arrest Frott6 and t~ae boy there; and shall find in the presence of God." Chauvaine, another member, was ordered to fol- Toulan received his -sentence with perfect comlow the road to Germany, and, if possible, to posure. " The one, indivisible, and exalted rebring back Count St. Prix. public is just as magnanimous, is it not, as the After a while both of them returned, with monarchy was in old times, and it will grant a nothing accomplished. Chazel had, indeed, ar- last favor to' one who has heen condemned to rested Count Frott6' and the boy in Puy, but the death, will it not? count had given such undeniable proofs that the "Yes, it will do that, provided it is nothing, boy was not the dauiphin-he had summoned so impossible. It will gladly grant you a last remany unimpeachable witnesses from Par~is, who re- quest." cognized. the boy as the son of M. de Guerivibre, "Well, said Toulan, "then I ask that I may who was in Coblentz with the princes, that nothing be executed the same day and the same hour as more remained but to release the count and hi9s Madame Elizabeth, the sister of the king, and comrade. that I may he allowed to remain by her side at Chauvaine had not been able to arrest the her execution." Count de st. Prix, and had only'learned that in_____________________ company with a boy he had crossed the Rhine *Later investigations in the archives of Paris hav6 and eteredGermny. brought to light, among other important papers relative to the flight - of the prince, a decrge of the National Con. it was of no use, therefore, to undertake far- vention, da~te'd Prairial 26 (June 14), 1194, which gave~all thor nvesigatons, nd te coclusin mut bethe authorities orders "'to follow the young. Capet in all directioins." The hoy who remained a prisoner in the firmuly held to that the boy in the Temple, whose Temple, died there June 8, 1798, a complete idiot. TOUJLAN'S DEATIH. 25 Then you have only till to-morrow to live, firm, defiant countenance gave no token that an Citizen Toulan," replied the presiding officer of hour before he had wept hot, bitter tears as e the court, for Elizabeth Capet will be executed took leave of his wife and only child. But this ~~~~~to-morrow." ~was all past, and on that lofty, thoughtful brow Early the next morning three cars drove away not the slightest trace remained of eartly sorfrom the Conciergrie. In each of these cars'sat row. The pains of each had been surmounted, eight persons, men and women of the highest and, even in. death, Tonlan would do honor to aristocracy. They had put on their most bril- the name which that womap ad given himor that day, and arranged them- whom he had loved most sacredlyon earth-and selves as for a holiday. Over the great crinoline he would die as FideIe. the ladies wore the richest silks, adorned with The ladies and gentlemen of this unwontedly silver and gold ce; they.ad had their hair solemn company, who were collected here in dressed and decorated with flowers and ribbons, view of the scaffold, had dismounted from the and carried elegant fans in their hands. The cars. Above stood the glistening instrument of gentlemen wore velvet coats, brilliant with gold death, and near it the executioners. They were and silver, whie cuffs of the finest lace encom- all left free to decide in what order they would passed their white ands. Their heads were un- ascend and place the head beneath the axe. The covered, and they carried the little three-cornered Convention had made the simple order that hat under the arm, as they had done at court in Madame Elizabeth should be the last ut one presence of the royal family. and that Toulan should follow her. All the aristocrats imprisoned in cells at the Joyous and bright was the countenance of the Conciergerie ad begged for the high honor of princess; joyous and bright was the aspect of the being executed on that day, and every one whose improvised court, whose master of ceremonis request had been granted, had expressed his was Death. thanks for it as for a favor. The gentlemen had begged the favor of pre. "What we celebrate to-day is the last court ceding the ladies upon' the scaffold. One after, festival, " said the. prisoners, as they ascended the another they ascended the staircase,, and in pass. cars to be carried to the' guillotine. "We have l-ag by they greeted the'princess with the same the great good fortune of being present at the deep bow that would have been given'at court.. last great levee, and we will show &urselves And Madame Elizabeth thanked them with a worthy of the honor." All faces were smiling, smile that was not of this world. all eyes beaming,.htnd when the twenty-four con- When the heads of the twelve gentlemen had demued persons dismounted from their cars at fallen, the bodies laid on one side, and the scaffold the foot.of the scaffold, one would believe that he cleansed a little from blood, the ladies' turn saw twenty-four happy people preparing to go to cam~e. Every.one of them asked the' favor of a wedding. No one would have suspected that, it embracing Princess. Elizabeth, and, with the' kiss.,vas death to. whom they were to be united, which she pressed upon their lips, a heavenly joy There were only two persons in this brilliant seemed to spring up in their hearts. With smiles;and select society who were less elegantly. adorned they, ascended the scaffold, with' smiles they placed than the others. One was the young girl, with their heads beneath the,axe. the pale ang-el, face, who sat between the sister of The last of the ladies, the Marchioness de Malesherhes and the wife of the former minister, Crussol d'Amboise, had received the parting ksiss Moutmorin, in a ne at white robe, with a simple and ascended the steps of the guillotine. Only muslin veil, that surrounded her like'a white Elizabeth and Toulan now remained at the foot. cloud on which she was floating to heaven. The "Fide~le,"7 whispered Elizabeth in gentle tones, other was the man who sat behind her, whose "1I shall soon be with my brother and my sister. ~258 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Give me your and, y brother. You shall con- She ascended the steps, and, reaching the scaf duct me to death, and I will give you my hand fold, she calmly laid aside the veil, and prepared above, at the opening of the new life, and conduct her toilet for death. you to Marie Antoinette.'Sister,' I will say to At the foot of the scaffold Toulan remained her'this is the one true and good heart which upon his knees; his great eyes, which had been beat on earth for you, and I bring it to you that directed to Elizabeth, beamed with rapture, and you may rejoice in it in heaven.' Toulan, there in his heart there were words written with a finis only one title of honor for all men, and that is ger of diamond-words hallowed and comfortin, Fidle. It is sanctioned even by the word of that Toulan read in meditatin and prayer God:'Be tuou faih nto death, and I *ill "Love vanquishes death; love is victorious even give tee a crown of life.'" over life; love, which is the hiest friendship, Just at that moment the axe rattled, there was and friendship, which is the hihest love rise so a muffled sound, and th ead of the Marchioness far above every thing earthly, that thou must Crussol d'Amboise fell into the basket. surrender every thing for them, every thing which it is your turn-come up!" thou hast valued upon earth, every thing which "~~~~I come." ~has stood to thee in the most tender relations. She ascended the scaffold. Arrayed, as she In this love thou hast lived, ad in this love thou was in this white robe, her transparent face was shalt die and ascend into heaven." like that of an angel. It seemed to Toulan as if "Toulan, come up! Do you not hear us calber foot no oner t he earth. He fol- ing you? Do you not see that Elizabet Capet lowed her to the scaff'old; and as she was about to has made place for you? " 7 ascend the steps, he laid hisbhand upon her arm. He had not seen when the noble head of the * Princess, I have a secret to impart to you. I princess fell into the basket, he had not heard have promised with a solemn oath that my lips the executioner call him; he had only read in should disclose it to no mortal; but you, Eliza- his heart the revelation of love. beth, belong alrcady to the immortals, the peace He ascended the steps, and his countenance of God illumines your brow, and I want you to beamed with the same light of rapture which had have one last joy before you, ascend into heaven,. surrounded Elizabeth's brow. This is my secret: The boy who is confined in A piercing scream came from. the crowd, as a the Temple is not the -dauphin. I have fulfilled young wife fell senseless into the arms of her the promise which I gave. the queen. I have neighbc-rs,'while the.boy, who stood near her saved the dauphin, and he is now in Vendep, extended his hands to the' scaffold, and called, under the safe care of Prince de Cond&." loudly, "1Father, dear father!" "Eliza-beth Capet, come up, or we must bring Toulan did not turn to them. No earthly soryou by force." row had place in this soul, which had overcome "I am coming. Farewell, Fide'le! you have pain, and received eternal joy into itself.-,spoken the truth; you have given me a last joy! Calmly he laid his head beneath the axe. "1God I thank you; now~ kiss. my lips; give your sister is love," he said, aloud.. "He that abideth'in a parting kiss, Fide'le. Farewell, my brother! love, abidetih in God,, and God-" He touched the lips that were illumined. with a The axe descended, and left Toulan's last worue mad smile-"4 Farewell, my sister!" unspoken. B OOK VI. that I see you at last, for I wanted so nmuch to IH A P T E R X X I X. express my thanks, and every evening I have prayed to God to grant me the happiness of greetWITHOUT NAME AND RANK. ing my dear cousin, the Prince de Colid6." THE Prince de Cond6 was walking with quick The joyous light had long since faded from the steps up and down his apartment. His brow was face of the prince, and a cloud was gathering on cloudy, his eyes wore a sad look, and at times he his brow, as, with a timid, searching look, he raised his hand, as if he would remove a veil that glanced around, as if he feared that some one bedarkened his sight. sides himself might hear the words of the boy. "It must be," he said, decisively, after a while. "Do not call me your cousin," he said, softly; " Yes, it must be; I see no other means of saving and even his voice was changed, and became cold hini from the snares of his enemies and friends. and husky. He must leave, and that at once." The boy fixed his great blue eyes with an exHe walked hastily to the table, pulled the bell pression of astonishment on the gloomy counteviolently, and ordered the servant who camne in to nance of the Prince de Cond6. bring the boy who came yesterday to him. "You are no longer glad to see me here? A few minutes later, the door opened, and a Is it disagreeable to you for me to call you my boy of ten or twelve years; with great blue eyes, cousin?" fair hair, giaceful form, and delicate complexion, The prince made no answer at once, but walked came into the room. At his appearance the up and down with great strides, and then stood Prince de Cond6 seemed deeply moved. He hast. still before the boy, who had calmly observed his ened with open arms to meet the boy, pressed impatient motions. him closely to his heart, and kissed his fair hair " Let us sit down," said the Prince de Condeand eyes. "let us sit down and talk." "Welcome, a thousand times welcome!" he He gave his hand to the boy, led him to the said, with trembling voice. "How long have I divan, and took his own place upon an easy-chair, desired to see this moment, and how happy I am directly opposite to the child. that it has come at last! You are saved, you are "Let us talk," he repeated. " I should like to restored to freedom, to life, and there is in store know, in the first place, whether you have a good for you, I hope, a great and brilliant future!" memory, for I have been told that your head has "Then I shall have to thank you for it, my suffered, and that you have no recollection of the Qousin," said the boy, with his sweet, resonant past."' voice. "You have released me firom the dreadful A gentle, sad smile played around the lips of prison, and I thank you for life. I am glad, too, the boy. ~260 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. sI have been silent about the past, as I have "I was put into a basket with soiled clothes been commanded to," he said, "but I have not which Mistress Simon was taking away with her forgotten it." from the Temple. This basket she gave to a Do you remember your mother?" asked the washerwoman who was waitin for us at the ~~~~~prince. ~Macon gate. She had a little dokey-cart in The boy trembled convulsively, a glowing red readiness there, the basket was put into it, and passed over his cheeks, and a deep paleness fol- went on to a village, the name of which I do not ~~~~~lowed. ~know. There we stopped; I was taken out of "Monsieur," he asked, with a tremulous voice, the basket and carried into a house, where we re. "would it be possible for me to forget my dear mained a few hours to rest and change our mamma queen?-my mamma queen who loved clothes." erlittle Louis Charles so much? Ah, sir, you "We? Whomdoyoumeanbywe?" would not have asked that if you had known how "Me and the supposed washerwoman," replied much pain you give me." the boy. "This woman was, however, no other I beg your pardon," said the prince, embar- than M. de Jalrjayes, whom I knew long ao, and rassed. "I see you remember. But let me try who, with Fidle- should say, with Toulan-ad you once more. Will you tell me what happened- thought out and executed the plan of my escape. to you after being taken away from your cruel M. de Jalrjayes changed his clothes, as did I also, foster-parents? What were those people's and after remaining concealed in the house all names, and what were they?" day, in the evening we took a carriage an ro My foster-parents, or my tormentors rather, all night. On the next day we remained conwere called Mr. and Mistress Simon. The man had cealed in some house, and in the nit we continbeen a cobbler, but afterward he was superinten- ued our journey." dent and turnkey in the Temple, and when I was " Did he tell you where you were going?" taken away from my mamma, sister, -and aunt, I " Jarjayes told me that the Prince de Concl6 was had to live with these dreadful people." my, protector and deliverer, that the magnanimous "Did you fare badly there?" prince had furnished the necessary money, and "tVery badly, sir; I was scolded and ill-treated, that I should remain, -concealed in cnae of his and! the worst of all was that they wanted to com- palaces till the time should arrive to acknowledge pel me to sing, ribald songs about my mamma me publicly. Till then, said M. de Jarjayes to me, queen." I was never to speak of the past, nor disclose a "But you did not sing these songs? asked single word about any thing that concerned mythe Prince do Cond6. self or my family. He told me that if I did not The eyes of the boy flamed. " No," he said, follow his instructions literally, I should not only proudly, "4I did not sing them. They might have be brought back to Simon, but I should. have to, beaten me to death. I would rather have died bear the blame of causing the death of my sister than have done it." Therese and my aunt Elizabeth. You can under The prince nodded approvingly. "1And how stand, my prince, that after that I was dumb." did you escape from these people? he asked. "Yes. I understand. Where did M. de Jar "You know,' Prince de Conde'," answered the jayes, carry you?" boy, smiling. "1It is you who helped me escape." "To' one of the palaces of the Prince de Condo "Tell me about this matter a little, " said the in loyal and b~eautiful Vendee. Ahi, it was very prince, "1and how you have fared sinc e then. I delightful there, and there were very pleasant contributed, as you suppose, to your release, but people aibout me.. The story was' that I was a I was not present in person. How did you escape nephew of the prince, and that on account of imfrom the Temple?" paired health, I was obliged to go Into the coun WITHOUT NAME AND RANK. 261 tr and must be tended with great care. I had a him, threatened me with his fist, swore e would preceptor there who gave me instruction, and have his revenge on those who had deceived him, sometimes the brave General Charette came to the and declared that I was no Bourbon fothe son palace on a visit. He was always very polite to of my fathers would not beso weak and cowardly Me and showed me all kinds of attention. One as to conceal his name and lineage." day he asked me to walk with him in the park. "And you kept silent, in spite of this de I did so, of course, and just as we entered a dark mand?" alle he fell upon his knee, called me majesty, "Yes, my lord, I kept silent; and, notwithsaid he knew ver well that I was the King of standing his pain and grief I left him in the beFrance and that the noble and loyal Prince de lief that he had deceived himself, or rater, that Cond had rescued me from prison." he had been deceived." The devil muttered the prince to himself, "Oh!" cried Conde, "it i plain that you have our dear friends are always our worst enemies." been steeled in the school of suffering, and that The boy paid no attention to the words of the years of misfortune like yours must each be Cond, and went on: "The general conjured me reckoned double, for, in spite of your twelve years, to confess to him that I was the son of King you have acted like a man and I should follow him, remain with his "My lord," replied tihe bo, proudly, "the little army, which would acknowledge me at once, Bourbons attain their majority at fifteen and at and proclaim me King of France." that age they may, according to the law of France, And what did you answer?" asked Cond6, become independent sovereigns. They ought, ~~~~~~~~eagerly. ~therefore, to begin to learn young. That was the My lord," replied the boy, with proud, grave opinion of Queen Marie Antoinette, who taugt mie "I told you that I gave my word to M. de me to read in my fifth year. You, y lord, have, Jarjayes to divulge -nothing till you should tell in your magnanimity, done every thing to make me that the right time had arrived. I could me able to conform to the laws of my house, if therefore confess nothing to OCharette, and told it shall please God that the son of my dear un him that he had fallen into a great error, and that fortunate father should one day ascend the vaI have and can lay claim to no other honor cant throne of the Bourbons. During these two.than of being the nephew of the Prince de Conde'." years which I have spent in concealment in your "You said that?" asked Conde', in amazement. palace in Vendee, you have laid a strong and firm The boy raised his head with a quick move- foundation, on which the superstructure of my ment, and somethisig of the proud and fiery na- life -may rest. I have, thianks to the excellent ture of Louis XIV. flashed in his eyes. teachers you have given me, bad an opportunity "I did not know then," he replied, "that my to learn much, and to recall much which I had relationship to the Prince de Conde' was not agree- forgotten during the years before my release from able to him."1 imprisonm~ent." The prince looked troubled and perplexed, and "Your teachers'inform me that your industry dropped his eyes before the piercing gaze of the was unceasing, and that you learned more in boy. "Go on, if I may venture to ask you," he months than some do in years. You -are, familiar sadid, softly. "What'did General Charette do, with several languages, and, besides, h ave been inwhen you repelled him?" structed, as I desired, in the art of war and in ".First he implored, and wept, and conjured me -mathematics." to trust him, and to lay aside my incognito before "In the studies of ki-ngs and soldiers," replied him, the truest and best of royalists. But as I the boy, with a proud smile. continued steadfast, and disclosed nothing, he "1I fear that you will prove -not to have prose15ecame angry* at length, pushed me away from cuted those studies with a view to their use among ~262 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. soldiers," said Conde, with a sigh. "Your pros- just named, but the other half of your enemies, pects are very dark-yes, darler even than when of whose existence you have no suspicion, it you left the Temple. These two years have made seems-vyour enemies, the royalists your condition more perilous. It was fortunate "How so?" cried Louis Charles in amazethat you could spend them in solitude and se-. ment. "Do you call the royalists my enemies? crecy, and be able to finish your education, and it "Yes, and they are so, your powerfl, defant would be a great blessing to you to be able to go and untiring enemies. Do you not see that even on with your quiet studies for some years longer. here in this room I do not dare to give you the But your enemies had sought you without rest; titlethat is your due, for fear that the walls may'they were on your track, and had I left you there have ears and increase the daner which threatens any longer, you would have been found some day you? I will now name to you the greatest of stabbed or shot in the park. The steward in- your enemies-the Count de Provene." formed me that all kinds of suspicious people had "How! my uncle, the brother of my father, he gathered in the neighborhood of the palace and my enemy?" the garden, and I conjecture that they were the "He is your enemy, as e was the enemy of emissaries of your enemies. On this I took you. your mother. Believe me, young man, it i not away from that place, and have brought you here the people bvho have made the revolution in for your greater safety. Now allow me one ques- France; it is the princes who have done it. The on. Do you know who your enemies are?" Count de Provence, the Count d'Artos, and the think I know them," replied Louis Charles, Duke d'Orleans-they are the chief revolutionwith a sad smile. "My enemies are the self-same ists; they it is who have put fire to the throne men who brought my father and my mother to they it is who have sown the libels and lampoons the scaffold, destroyed the throne, and in its place broadcast over France, and made the name of gave France a red cap. My enemies are the re- Marie Antoinette odious. They- did it out of publicans, who now rule in this land, and whose hate, ouf of revenge, and out of akmbition. Queen great object must, of course' be to plut me out of Marie Antoinette had won her husband over to the way, for my life is their" death! France will the policy of Austria, and, in this way had set one day he tired of the red cap, and will restore herself in opposition to the Count de Provence, the throne' to him to whom it belongs, so soon as and the whole royal family. The count never it is certain tha-t he who is -entitled to the crown, forgave her for this, and he will never forgive is living to wear iti" you for being the son of your mother. The Count "And who do you suppose is justified in wear- de Provence, as hec now styles himselfg is your ing the crown of France?" sworn enemy, and will do all ha can to bring you "You ask as if you.- did Dot know that I am to ruin; he is ambitious, and his goal is, to be the only.,son. and heir of the murdered King of the King of France!" France.' "King, of France? The Count de Provence, "The only son, but not the -only heir. Your the brother' of the kina, wants to be his. succesinheritance will be contested; and even if France sor, when I, the son of the king, am alive and should tranrsform. herself from a republic to a demand rhy inheritance?!' monarchy, every attempt possible will be made to "Your demand will not be acknowledged: drivc you, the son of Louis XVI., from the throne, they will declare that. you are an. impostor and a and put the crown on the head of another." deceiver. Ah, the Count de Provence is a selfish "Sir, if monarchy is uppermost again, the and a hard character. He means to make his crown belo-ng-s to me-. Who, in that case would own way, and if you' put hinderances in it, he venture to contend with me for it? will put you out of his path, without compassion "Your encmies! Not those. whom you haveI and without remorse; trust mne.fIr k'nowing, this, WITHOUT NAME AND RANK. 23 who for three years have been in the immediate that the report was current in Vende that this neigborood of the prince. I was afraid to im- alleged nephew of mine was the rescued King part the plan of your escape to the princes, and, Louis XVII., whom I had helped release from the after you were released, I was silent, for a secret Temple. He, General Charette, had believed it is only safe when a very few are conscious of it. at first. He had therefore (so the prince went on But after the news came last year from Paris, to say) visited my palace recently, for the pur. that the b ho had been placed as your sub- pose of discovering the supposed youn kin stute in the Temple had died, After a long sick- There he convinced himself that the boy bore no ness, I ventured to inform the Count de Lille resemblance to the little Louis Charles-whom about the real facts. I told him that I believed he had once seen at the Tuileries-and that he that information I had received might be relied certainly was not the son of Louis XVI upon, that King Louis XVII. had been released "He told me only too truly that e would from the Temple by true and devoted servants, have his revenge," whispered the young prince. and was then in a place of safety. Would you "He has kept his oath, for he has loudly and like to know what reply the count made?" publicly declared his belief that Louis XVI died I pray you, tell me," responded Louis Charles, in the Temple, and he lhas therefore administered ~~~~with a sigo~h. ~to his army an oath in favor of Kin Louis XVI. "He answered me,'I advise you, cousin, not -that is, the Count de Provence. The count to put any confidence in- such idle stories, and himself informed me of this, and then added, not to be duped by any sly rogues. My unfor- threateningly,'I advise you, cousin, either to actnate little nephew died in the Temple-that is knowledge your youngt nephew, and treat him a fact acknowledged by the republic, universally openly, or else put him out of the way. I advise believed, and denied by no one. After long suf- you further, not to let yourself be imposed upon ferings the son has fallen as a new victim-to the by adventurers and impostors. It is known that bloodthirsty republicans, and we are still wear- you were among t he most active adherents of ing mourning for our deceased nephew, King Queen Marie Antoinette, and there may be people Louis XVII. And should any wise-head happen who would work on your credulity and make you on the thought of making- the dead boy come to believe that the poor little Louis Charles was life again, I will be the first to disown him and really released from the Temple. Do not deny hold him as an impostor.' Those were the words that you'parted with much money at that time, of the count, and you will now confess that I am and believed that it was wanted for the purpose righit in calling him your enemy,' and in not dar- of setting the young Kin,, of France free. It was lug to communicate to him the secret of yo ur a trap set in view of your loyalty and devotion, release?" -and you fell into it. But lbou gave your money "I grant you," replied the prince, sadly, "I to no effect, the poor, pitiable king could not be would rather bury the secret forever,." saved, and died in the Temple as a prisa)ner of "Now, hear me further. A few weeks ago the the republic. Take care how you trust any idle, prince summoned me, and I saw on his sinister stories, for, I tell you, you would never bring me face and in hi;3 flashing eyes that he must have to put confidence in themn. I am now the right. received some unwelcoine tidings. He did not ful King of France-I am Louis XVHII.-and I make me wait long for the confirmation of my am resolved not only to declare* every pretender conjectures. With a sharp, cutting, v oice he. who claims to be Louis XVII. an impostor, but asked me what kind of a nephew of mine that was'to bring him to punishment as a -traitor. Mark whom I was educating at -my palace in Vendee. this well, and therefore warn this myvsterious General de Charette had given him information nephew of yours not to venture on playing out through, one of his emissaries sending. him word his comedy, for it will assuredly change into 260~4 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. tragedy, and end with his death.' These were "And what place is this thewordsof theCount de Lille, and now you un- "It is called Mayence." derstand wy I have brought you so suddenly, The boy, who had sat with downcast eyes, per and so secretly, away from my solitary palace and haps in order not to let some tears be seen ~~~have you here." ~looked quickly up, and the greatest astonishment I understand every thing," said Louis Charles, was depicted in his expressive features. with a sigh;' I understand, that it would have Mayence?" he asked. Is not that a fortres been better if you had never released me, and I on the'Rhine which the troops of the French ad died like my father and mother." republic have taken possession f We must postpone the accomplishment of our " Yes; and the commandant of ayence, the hopes," saidCond, sadly, "for I confess to you, head of the troops, is General Keber, one of the there is little to expect from the present, and bravest and noblest soldiers of the French rethere is no place where you are safe from the public." persecutions and the daggers of your enemies. "And you, you want to send me to this General The republicans desire your death as much as the Kleber? Ah, my prince, that would'be thrusting royalists. In France, two parties threaten- you, me, for the purpose of rescuing me from perseand would I now risk every thing, carry you to tion, into the very crater of the volcano. some European court and acquaint the sovereign "It is not so bad as you suppose, my yon of your arrival, and ask for his assistance, I should firiend. General Kleber is at eart a good have no cre, for; not'the French republic and true royalist, and although he serves the alone, but the Count de Lille would protest against republic, he does so because e is first of all it, and disavow you before all Europe. It is, a soldier, a soldier of his country, and because terefore absolutely necessary, in order to secure his country now has pressing need of soldiers to you against your enemies, that you should disap- defend the honor and glory of Fra-nce. I have pear for a season', and that we pa tiently await the sent a trustworthy man to General Kleber to time which shall permit us to bring you back impart this secret to him, and to ask him for upon the scenes."' protection, and a place of refugfe for you. Gen"Do you believe that time will. ever come?" eral Kleber is ready to grant both, and he has asked the little prince, with a shake of the head, sent his adjutant to Coblentz to escort his "I believe it, and, above every thing, I hope nephew to Mayence. You ate that -nephew, and it,"7 replied Conde', quickly. "1The greatest diffi- if you give your consent, you will set out at once culty is to find a place for you to remain where, and go to Mayence." you may -not be suspected, and where you may be "And if I do not give my consent?" asked safe from assault. Toi my great regret I cannot Louis Chiarles, with a proud, flashing look. entertain' you here, for my family are. too well "I confess," said Cond4, with a shrug-" known for me to suddenly acknowledge a legiti- confess that I am not prepared for that contin. mate nephew of your age, and the Count de Lille gency, and cannot on, the insta~nt grasp all the would be thbe last to believe it. I confess that it unfortunate results which would ensue on your has cost me a great deal of disquiet and anxious refusal." thought to find a secure asylum for you." "Be calmed, Cond6, I do not refuse. I have "And do you think you have found one at only this one thing to care for, to c ause, no last?"1 asked Louis CharlesI11 indifferently. danger, and' bring nothing disagreeable to you, "1Yes, I believe so, or rather, I know that I for I see that they are in store for you if I do not have found one. You must be taken to a place disappear again from view. The son of' the king which no one can suspect as that where you would vanished from sight, to appear as the nephew of bec likely to be." Cond6; and now the nephew of Conde is to vanish, WITHOUT NAME AND RANK. 26 to emerge as tenephew of General Kleber. Ah, my name, and stamped with my seal. I have who knows but I may yet be the nephew of Si- further the testimony of the teachers who gave mon the cobbler, preparatory to my last appear- you instruction at my palace of Chabord, and ance on the guillotine?" the keeper of the palace recorded the day on "I hope, on the contrary, that on the day when which you arrived. I am ready to give you tese France sall rise again, you will rise too, the ac- papers, if you will swear to me that you will not knowledged son of Louis XVI., and the heir of misuse them, but give them to General Keber, the throne of France. At present the republic that he may preserve them for you. has sway, and there is no hope of an immediate "I swear to you that I will do so," said the change. But that will nbt last always; and in prince, solemnly. the decisive hour, when the monarchy and the Conde handed to him a small and closely-roled republic come to their last great battle for exist- package of papers. "This contains your future," ence-at that hour you must appear upon the he said, "and out of these papers I hope a crown field mut lift the lilies high in the air, and surm. will grow for you. Till then let the republic preMon the roalists to your side in the name of serve them for you. General Klber is expecting God and of the king your father." you, and his adjutant is waiting for you in the "And what! my uncle, the Count de Provence, next room. Permit me to ive you one more then declares me to be an impostor? " piece of advice: remain steadfast resist all Then you must publicly and solemnly appeal tempters who would beguile you wit pleasant to France, lay the proofs of your lineage before words to acknowledge yourself Kin of France. the nation, summon unimpeachable witnesses, For be persuaded these tempters are the emissaand demand your throne of the French nation. ries of your enemies, and if you should ackowlAnd belive me if the heart of France is com edgen to them that you are King Louis XVII., pelled to choose between you and the Count de you would be writing, your own death-warrant. Provence 7 it will not choose him, for the count The balls which I trust will spare the nephew of has never possessed the heart of the people, and General Kleber would certainly pierce the heart God is just." of the nephew of Count de Lille. Continue to "God is just," replied Louis Charles, sadly- deny it as you denied it to General Charette. "God is just, and yet the King and -Queen of'Swear to me that you will faithfully keep the France have perished on the guillotine, and their secret of your lineagre till I release you from the brother calls himself King of France, while the oath by which I now close your lips, and tell you son of Louis XVI. must fi-nd shelter with a gen- that the hour of action and of disclosures is eral of that French republic which waA the ene- come; swear it to me, in view of the fidelity my of my parents." which I have shown to you, and which I shall al"It is true,"1 said Conde', with a sigh, " it is ways be ready to show." very difficult at times to'see the justice of God, "You have saved my life," said Louis Charles, but we must always hope to see it' and at length solemnly. " My life, therefore, belongs to you, it will reveal itself in all its glory. And the hour and I give it into your hands in swearing, by the of judgment will come for you. Await it stead- memory of my dear parents, and especially my fastly and with patience, and when it is come, -noble and proud-spirited mother, Queen Mar'e call on me, and I will. not neglect your summons, Antoinette' that I will faithfully and truly keep but will support you, and will give you my recog- the secret of my parentage, and not feel myself nition. I have all the documents which relate to justi-fied in revealing it to the world, till you, thje your flight,'all the testimony given by those who Prince de Conde, shall have given me permission, were engaged in assisting you, and besides this, a and empowered me to do so." detailed account' of your. flight, subscribed with "I thank you," said Conde' " for I am now un ~266 3~MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. concerned about your immediate future. General closed it, yet the gentle friendliness, the mild look Keber and the French republic will protect you, the subdued smile with which the general received for the present, firom the dangerous pretender, his young nephew in Mayence, testified that he Count Lille, and, in God's providence, I trust was famniliar with the secret, and knew how to there will come a day when France will be pre- guard it. pared to raise the son of its kinds to the throne In Mavence, under the care of General Keber, wich belongs to him. Let us hope for this day, his nephew, Louis, as he called him, remained ad be persuaded that I shall neglect nothing during the subsequent time, and very soon gained which will help bring it about. And now, as we the heart of his uncle, and was his inseparable part, I bow my knee to you, my young king; I friend by day and by night. They slept in one now acknowledge you solemnly as the son of my room, they ate at one table. The nephew accomwell-beloved cousin, King Louis XVI., and the panied his uncle at all parades and military exerright of the throne of the lilies. May the cises; and, in order to make his favorite a skispirits of the murdered royal couple, may God flu soldier, the general undertook the duties of and the ear of mnay king take note of the oath teacher, gave him instruction in the art of war, which I now pronounce. I swear that I will and taught him the more familiar duties of asolnever acknowledge anlly other prince as King of dier's life. The nephew comprehended readily, France, so long as you, King Louis XVII., are and pursued zealously the studies which his uncle among the living. I swear that if I ever break assigned him. The pains and sorrows of te past is vow, and acknowledge another King of were forgotten, and only the recollections of hIs France, you, Louis XVII., may accuse me of high- happy childhood rested silently at the bottom of treason demn me to the death which a his heart like pea-ls at the bottom of the sea. traitor deserves. I swear that I will subject my- "When shall I arise ftom this estate? When self to this death-penalty without opposition and will the crown of the future be linked with thege complaint.' And this I swear by Almighty God, pleasant recollections of the past?" These wereand by the memory of your royal par ents, whose the questions which the g'rowing, boy repeated to spirits are with us at this hour." him-rself every mornin g and every evening. But "And I, Prince de Conde', I accept your oath,". his lips never uttered them; lie never gave. the said Louis Charles, gravely. "' I go away now slightest iddication that he was any thing else into exile, hut I carry your oath with me as my than the -nephew of General Kleher. The French' hope for the futureadmyGdgnthtI garrison of Mayence considered him to be so, and shall never be compelled to remind you of it, no one thought of asking wheth er he bore any but that you, will faithfully and truly keep it. other nDame. It sufficed that he was the nephew Fare you well! My crown rests in your heart." of the noble, valiant, and heroic General Kleber. "And in these papers, sire. Deliver them to That was the name and rank of the little prince. the brave General Kleber, and he will preserve them as his most sacred and cherished possession."7.i He kissed the hand of the prince, which was reached out for the papers, and then hastened toc IA TER xx. summon the officer, who was waiting in the adjoining room for the nephew of General Kleber, TEaAa0NDER EH0NP havin, -no suspicion what an important mission THUS passed weeks, months, and even years, was intrusted to him, and on the gloomy horizon of Fr ance arose a new But General Kleber knew the secret better, constellation, and from the blood-spotted, corps'e. anid althoug~h not a word and not an action dis- strewn soil of the French republic sprang an THE BARON DE RICHEMONT. ared warior —a solitary one!-but one to Had Junot not replied to his father, the whom millions'were soon to bow, and who, like deeds of the young general would soon have done the divinity of battles, was to control the desti- so. Presently, in all France, all Italy, yes, in nies of nations.and of princes. This one solitary all Europe, there was not a man who could ask man was General Bonaparte, the same young man "Who is General Bonaparte His name was who in the first bloody days of the French Revo- in every mouth, and the soldiers adored the man lution beeld the storm at the Tuileries, and ex- who had stood victoriously at their head at Lodi pressed his regret to his companion-the actor and Milan, and borne the banner forward amid Talma-that the king did not command his sol- the murderous shower of balls at the bride of dirs to mow down the ccanaille with grape-shot. Arcoli. Diplomatists and statesmen wondered at The youn lieutenant of that day, who had been him who had taken Venice and compelled proud te friend of the actor, dividing his loaf and his and hated Austria to make peace with the French dinner with im, had now become General Bona- republic, which hadbrought Marie Antoinette to part. And this general was serving the same the scaffold. The republicans and the Directory people which as a lieutenant he had wanted to of the republic feared Bonaparte, because they mow down with grape-shot. At the siege of Tou- recognized an enemy of the republic in him, and Ion, in the close contests with the allies against dreaded his growing power and increasing renown. the republic and in the Italian campaign of 1794, On this account General Bonaparte was reBonaparte had so distinguished himself that the called from the Italian army after peace had been eyes of the French government were already made with Austria, and he returned to Paris. directed to him, and no one could be surprised at Still he was so feared that the Directory of the the action of General Beauharnais' widow, the republic, in order to remove imand at the same fair Josephine, in giving her hand to the young time to give occupation to his active sirit and and extraordinary man. This marriagea had —hot his splendid abilities, proposed to Bonaparte to only brought happiness to Bonaparte, but it satis- go with an army to Egypt,,and extend the glor fled his ambition. Josephine was the friend of of France to the distant East. Barras and Tallien, the chief magistrates of the Bonaparte entered wvith all his fiery nature into republic at that time, and through her influence this idea which Barras and Talleyrand had sought the young Bonaparte was sent *to Italy to assume to inveigle him into,7 and all his time, his thoughts, the chief command of the French army there. A and his energies were directed to the one purpose, general of twenty-six years to have the direction to fit himself out with every thing that sho uld be of an armiy, whose four corps were commanded by neledful to bring to a victorious end a long and Generals Massena,7 Augereau, Serrurier, and La stubborn war in a forei,-n land.. A strong, fleet H1arpel The father of Junot, t~he late Duke de was collected,7 and Bonaparte, as the commander Abrantes, wrote at that time to his son, who was of the many thousands who were to go to Egypt with the French army in Italy: "Who is this under him, called to his aid the most skilful, valGeneral Bonaparte? Where has he served? iant, and renowne3d uenerals of the French army. Does anybody know any thing, about him'?' It could not fail that one of the first and most An uowho was then the faithful fr-iend and eminent -of these was General Kleber, anld, of the admirer of Bonaparte, replied to his father: course, his younla adj itant and nephew Louis ac. "You ask me who Generail Bonaparte is. I. conpanied hifm. mght answer, in order to know who he is,yo Onte1hofprl179,heFncfet must be he. I can only say to you that, so far as left the harbor of Toulon, aned sailed toward the I am able to judge him, he is one of those men East, for, as Bonaparte said, " Only in the Orient with whom Nature groans, and only brings forth are great realms and great- deeds-in the Orient, in it century." where six hundred millions of men live." [268 MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. But these six hdred millions have no army And the pyramids of the great plain of Cairo such as the French is, no commander like Bona- beheld the glorious deeds and victories of the parte, no generals like Murat, Junot, Desaix, and, French army, beheld the overthrow of the Ep~above all, Ki~eber. tian host. The Nile murmured with its blood-red Kleber was the second in command. He shared waves the death-song of the brave Mamelukes, his perils, e shared his victories, and with him and the "forty centuries" which looked down was united his nephew Louis, a youth of fourteen from the pyramids were obliterated by the glorious years, who, from h i gure, his gravity, victories that Bonaparte gained at the foot of and his ready understanding, would have passed those sacred monuments. at least for a youth of eighteen, and who, trained A new epoch was to begin. The old epoch in the school of misfortune, belonged to those was buried for Egypt, and out of the ruins of early-matured natures hich destiny has steeled, past centuries a new Egypt'was to e orn an that they may courageously contend with and gain Egypt which was to serve France and e tribthe victory over destruction. utary to it as a vassal. It was on the mornin of he 2d of July. The This was Bonaparte's plan, and he did every French army ad disembarked, and stood not far thing to bring it to completion. e passed fro fom Alexandria, on the ancient sacred soil of battle to battle, from victory to victory, and, Egpt. Whatever was done must be done quick- after conquering Egypt and taking up his resily, for Nelson was approacing with a fleet, pre- dence in Cairo, he at once began to organize the pared to contend w the French for the posses- new]y-won country, and to introduce to the idle sion of Alexandria. Should the city not be taken and listless East the culture of the earnest and probefore, the arrival of the Engish fleet, the victory gressive West. But Egypt would not accept th would be doubtful. Bonaparte knew this well. treasures of culture at the hand of its conqueror. "Fortune gives us three, days' time at the most," It rose again and again in rebellion against the cried he, "and if we do not use them we are power that held it -down, and hurled its flaming lost!" torches of rev-enge against the hated enemy. ~A But he did use them! With fearful rapidity token of this may be seen in the dreadful revolt the disembarkation of the troops was effected; at Cairo, which began in the~pigbt of the 20th of with fearful rapidity the French army arranged October, and, after days of violence, ended. with itefo gyptian soil in three divisions, unuder the cruel cutting onoysxtosadMie Morand, Bon, and Kleber. Above them all was likes. A proof of it may be seen in the conhe whos e head had conceived the gigantic'under- stantly renewed attacks of swarms of Bedouins' taking, he whose heroic spirit comprehended the and Mamelukes. on the French army. These whole. This was Bonaparte. hordes advanced even to the gates of Cairo, and After inspecting all the army and issuing his terrified the population, "Which had at last taken orders, he rode up the hill in company with his -:afuge beneath the foot of th6 conqueror. But staff to the pillar of Pompey, in order to observe Bona~parte succeeded in subjugatinig the hostile from that point the course of events. The army Bedouin tribes, as he had already subjected the was advancing. impetuously, and soon the city population of the cities. He sent one of ti adbuilt by Alexander the Great must open its gates jtitants, General Croisier, with a corps of brave to his successor, Bonaparte the Great. soldiers; into the desert to meet the ei-ir of the After a short respite, the army advanced far'- hostile tribes, pnd Croisier won respect for the, ther into the land of the pyramids. "Remem- commands of his general. He succeeded in takber, cried Bonaparte, to his- soldiers, pointing to ing captive the whole body. A fearful senten~ce those monuments-" remember that forty centu- was inflicted ott them. Before the eyes of their vies look down upon YOU." wives, their children, and their mothers,7 all the THE BARON DE RICHEMONT. 6 men of the tribe, more than five hundred in num- "General," responded Louis, perplexed, I berwere killed and their heads put into sacks. know not how to answer." The howling and weeping women and children "You ought not to have gone with me to the were driven to Cairo. Many perished of hunger hospital," said Kleber, shaking his ead You on the road, or died beneath the sabre-blows of know I did not want you to go at first; but you their enemies; but more than a thousand sue- insisted on it, and begged and implored so long ceeded in reachin Cairo. They were obliged to that at last I had to yield and let you accompany encap upon the great square El Bekir, in the us. But, I confess it myself it ws a dreadful heart of Cairo, till the donkeys arrived which sight, these sick people with their swollen bodies bore the dreadful spoils of victory in blood-drip- covered with blood and running sores. I underping bags upon their backs. The whole popula- stand now why you trembled and turned paletion of Cairo was summoned to this gigantic you were afraid of this dreadful sickness? square, a as obliged to look on while the "No, general," answered Louis softly no, acks were opened and the bloody heads' rolled I have no fear. Did you not notice that I sprang out upon the'sacred soil of Egypt. forward and assisted General Bonaparte when e After this time quiet reigned for a season. lifted up the poor sick man who lay on the floor Horrorhad brought the conquered into subjec- before the door, and that helped carry him into ti, and Bonaparte could continue his victorious the room?" course. He withdrew to Syria, taking with him "I saw it, Louis, and I was much pleased with Kleber and Kleber's young adjutant, the little your courage, and was therefore surprised afterLouis. He saw the horrors of war; he was there ward when you turned pale and trembled, and I the son of the Kings of France, when the army saw tears in your eyes. What gitated you all at of the republic conquered the cities. El Arish once so much?" and Gaza; he took part by the side of Kleber in The young man slowly raised his head and the storming of Jaffa. He was there when the looked at Kleber with his great blue eyes. captured Jaffa had to open its gates to the vic- *" General," hesisfl," yefd o tors. He was there when, in the great' caravan- know what agitated- me so much. We'were both sary, four tliousand Turkish soldiers grounded standing- before the bed of a sick man, to whom their arms and surrendered themselves as prison-. I handed a pitcher of water which he begged for ers, after receiving the promise that their lives earnestly. He fixed his great eyes upon me, and should be spared'. He was there, too, the son of his qui veiring lips murmured:'God bless you! Marie Antoinette, when the unfortunates were, all saints and angels protect you! V As he spoke driven down to the sea-coast and shot, in order these wort~s, there resounded in my heart the that their enemies might be rid of them. He echo of a time long since past. It seemed to me was' there, the son of Louis XVI., when Bona- as if suddenly a dark curtain parted, and I looked parte visited the pest-house in Jaffa; he w alked as -in a dream at a wondrous, brilliant spectacle. through the sick-rooms at the side of his uncle I saw a beautiful and dignified woman of princely Keewho noticed how the face of the young figure, of noble, majestic -nature. With her I saw man, which. had so often been calm. in meeting two children, a girl and a boy, whom she led by death on the battle-field or in the storm of as- the hand, and with whomn she walked through a sault,. now quivered, and ihe paleness of death- long, ball'which was filled with rows of beds. swept over his cheeks. And as she walked there, it seemed as if the sun "What was the matter, my son?"' asked lightened up'the dismal hall, and illumined, the Kleber, as he returned home from. this celebrated pale faces of the sick ones. They raised thbmvisit to the pest-house. "1Why did you turn pale' selves up in their beds and extended their thin, all at once, Louis?' emaciated hands to the tall lady, and thanked her 270ZZ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. with earnest blessings for her visit and her corn- when men shall no longer have the power and fortin words. There was only one of the pa- when fate shall separate you from those who ave tients who did not rise, but lay stiff upon his bed devoted their love and fidelity to you! and moaned and sighed and whispered unintelligi- The youth let his hands fall from his face and blewords, which no one heeded, because the at- looked at the general with a startled, searhin tention of all was fixed upon the great visitor. glance. But the boy who was walking by the side of the "What do you mean, uncle? You do not tall lady ad understood the sobs of the sick one. mean to say that-" He left his mother, took the jug which stood upon "That we must part? Yes, my dear nephew, a table between two beds, filled a glass with water that is what I must say," interrupted Kleber, from it and held it to the dry, quivering lips of sadly. "This word h as long been burning in my the sick one. He drank greedily, and then fixed soul, and it is necessary that I speak it. Yes, we is eyes upon the boy and lisped the words: must part, Louis." God bless you! all saints and angels protect you!' "Why, oh why?" asked Louis, bitterly. "Why And all the people repeated aloud:'God bless will you too drive me away? You, the only one you all saints and angels protect you!' The who loves me a little!" dignified lady stooped with a heavenly smile to "Exactly because I love you-exactly for that her son, pressed a tender kiss upon his golden reason must I separate myself from you. Since locks, and repeated the same words aloud. This, we came to Egypt you have been sickly, your general was the fantasy which suddenly appeared cheeks have become pale. The fulness of your before my eyes when the patient spoke those limbs has gone, and the dry and har words to-day. It seemed to me as if I perceived troubles you every morning has lon made me all at once a long-silent song of home. I heard anxious, as vyou know. On that accout, after all the wonderful voice of the exalted lady who spoke the appliances of my physician failed, I applied, those words'. It seemed to me as if I felt the kiss as von know, to the physician of the commanding which she then imprinted on the head of the five- general, to Corvisart, and he has subjected you to year old boy, felt it to my inmost heart, and it a thorough examination." glowed there'With the fire of an undying love, and "It is true," said Louis, thoughtfully, "h e has shook my whole being, and filled my eyes with investigated me with the carefulness of a mertears. You will not chide me for that, general, chant who is about to buy a slave and means to for those were the lips of my mother who pressed test him. He made a hearing-trumpet of his ear that kiss of blessing on her unhappy son." and laid it on my breast; and listened while I had He ceased, tears choked his utterance, and, as to breat he as -if I were a volcano. He put his ear if ashamed of his deep emotion, he hid his face in to my heart, he told me that his father had been. his hands, physician at the Friench court, and that the murGeneral Kieber turned away too, and put his dered queen had a great deal of confidence in hand over his eyes, as, though a film had come him, and then he wondered that my heart beat. over them. Then, after a long pause he gently so violently while he told me this." laid his hand -upon the shoulder of -the young "And the result of all these investigations is, mawho was still sitting With covered face.. that you must return to Europe, Louis," said "Such memories are holy," he said, "and I Kleber, sadly. "1Corvisart has declared it an unhonor them, my dear, faithful son.. May the avoidable necessity for your constitution, and the blessing, which then fell from the lips of a woman command of the physician must be obeyed as if whom I too knew and honored, but whose name it were the command of God. Yoti cannot endure may never be spoken between us, may it. be ful- the climate of Egypt, so says Corvisart, and if your filled to you!.May angels and saints protect you life is not to be shortened and you to be made a THE BARON DE RICHEMONT. 271 perpetual invalid, you must return to Europe as cided thing, we must part; you must return to quickly as possible, for only there will you recover France." nd grow strong. You see, therefore, Louis, that "And if it is true," asked Louis bitterly, if I I must separate from you, although it is a sore am then really to return to France, why must we thin for me to do, for I love you as my own son, part? Why must I return without you? W, and I have no one in the world who is nearly re- if you really love me, do you not accompany me? ~~lated to me."))~ ~I heard you say yesterday that several ships, with "And whom else have I in the world?" a part of our troops, were to return to France. asled Louis, bitterly. "Who has interest in me Why, then, can you not go back with me? excepting you? Ah, general, do not drive me "Why?" asked Kleber, sadly. "I will tell from you. Believe me, it is better for me if for a you, Louis: because Bonaparte will not allow it. few sort and happy years I live at your side, and Listen, my son, I will communicate a secret to then breathe my last sigh in your faithful and you: there has news come within the last few tender arms, than if I have to wander solitary'and days the first that we have received for ten friendless through the strange, cold world, where months. The newspapers which have arrived e and where I shall always be sur- bring very unwelcome intelligence rounded b enemies, or by those who are indif- us that all the advantages gained in Italy by the ferent. It may be that my body will gain health French army have been lost-that France is arand strength in the air of Europe, but my heart rayed against Austria, Spain, and all the European will always be sick there, for it will lose. its home powers-that the French Government is threatwhen it shall have lost you, my fatherly friend." ened by internal factions, which threaten to bring General ber slowly shook his head. "In back the reign of terror. I watched Bonaparte's youth one sorrows and forgets it quickly." face as he read these papers, and I saw there "General, do you say that to me, after seeing what he was resolved to do. He will, as soon as me weep in the, hospital because the word of a he shall gain one more great victory, leave Egypt, dying ma n called back the recollection of my ear- and return to France." liest childhood? Oh, believe me, my heart for- "He will not return without you, the faithfulgets its sorrows never, and if I must return to est and boldest of his generals. You know well France, to Paris, it will seem to me as if I had that you are called the right-hand man of Bonaalways to be climbing, the hill of Calvary with parte." bloody feet to reach the top where I. might perish ".Bonaparte means to show the'world that he Onl the cross. For, believe' me, general, my whole ig not only the head, but the right arm too, the life will be nothing but such a wandering through heart, the foot, the soul of the French army! scenes of pain if you drive me from the refuge And because he mean s to show this, he will rethat your love bas offered me. Leave me here, turn alone to France; only a few of his faithful let me live in secrecy and silence beneath the pin- subordinates will accompany him-; the men who ions of your love, and do not believe what the might even oppose him, and put hinderances in physicians tell you. Man's life lies in the hands the path of his growing ambition, will remain of God, and if He will sustain it, it is as safe in here. Now do you believe that Bonaparte will the deserts of Egypt as in Paris, the capital of select me to accompany him?") the %world." The young, man let his head fall slowly on his "Becausp God will sustain your life, Louis, for breast. "1No," he said, softly, "1no, I do not bethat -very reason, He instructs me, through the lieve he will." voice of the physician, what my duty i!~, bids me "And I know he will not, replied Kleber. conqur myown riegand send the son of my "I shall remain here in Egypt, and die here! heart to his distant home. No, Louis, it is a de- Hush!I Do not contradict me; there are pre. ~2'~2 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. sentiments which do not mislead us, and which must return to Europe; I must carry to France God sends to us, that we.may shape our course the papers which show thatLouis XVII. did by them, an set our house in order. My house not die in the Temple, but was release. I am is set in order-my will is made; I have given. ready to go, and to endure the pain of parting it to Bonaparte, and he has solemnly sworn to from you." carry it into execution in all respects. Only "May God grant that we may both be com one care is left me-to provide for your imme- pensated for th'is pain!" replied Kleber, embra diate future, and to arrange that you may reach cing the young man tenderly. "There remain to ~~~~~~~France." ~us a few weeks to be together. Let us use them You adhere to this?" asked Louis, sadly. so that they shall afford us many cheerful recol Yes, abide by this; you must not run away lections. Bonaparte will not leave Egypt before from your own future, and this will, I trust, be a adding one more glory to his reputation. He brilliant one. All tokens indicate that France' is does not mean to return to France as the conwearied with the republic, and that it is perhaps quered, but as the conqueror 1! nearly ready to restore the throne of the Lilies. General Kleber was right. He knew Bonaparte Young man, shall this reestablished throne fall sufficiently well to be able t read his counteinto the Iands of that man who contributed so nance; he understood the dumb speech of the much to its downfdall-who was the calumniator, Cesar of the age. the secret enemy of Queen Marie Antoinette? Bonaparte wanted to gain one great battle, i Would you consent that the Count de Provence order to return to Europe with glory. He gained should be King of France?" it at Aboukir, winning the day in a contest with "No, never! " cried Louis, with blazing eyes the united Turks and English-one of the most and flamig face. "That never can be; for, be- signal victories that he had ever won. Eight fore the.brother of L~ouis XVI. can ascend the thousand prisoners were taken on that 21st of throne as Louis XVIII., his rightful predecessor-, July, 1'799. Four thousand lay dead upon The Louis XVII., must have died. "battle-field, and as many were sunk in the cap"He has, died,7 and the French government has tured and destroyed ships of the English. On placed in. its archives the certificate of the death the day after the battle the foam of the waves of Louis Charles Capet, signdd by the physicians was tipped with blood along the shore. and the servants of the Temple. My son, in Bonaparte himself conducted ~the whole battle, order to Prevent the Count de Provence acknowl- and personally gained the victory. At the moedging this certificate as genuine, o must be ment whntecnetsee obtuhas prepared to place before him and the world other sumed command of a cavalry regiment, advanced testimonials that Louis XVII.; is not dead. This upon the Turkish pacha, and by his heroic cou~ris a sacred offering, which you must make to the age kindled all the army afresh. Even General manes of the unfortunate Marie Antoinette, even Kleber could not disguise his admiration of the if the stake were not a throne and a crown" hero of Aboukir; and when, at the close of the "You are right," cried Louis, with enthusiasm, battle, he met Bonaparte on'the field, he embraced "4my whole life shall be devoted'to this sacred him with passionate tenderness. "General, he trust; it shall have -no other aim than this: to cried, with enthusiasm, "Cyou are as great as the, aveinge Marie Antoinette of the most cruel of her world;, but the world is not great enough for enemies, the Count de Provence, and to place you!"* the son, whom, after the death of her husband, The victory that Bonaparte desired was thus she acknowledged as, King of France, on the won, and he could return with honor to France., throne which really belongs to him, and not to the He made secret preparations f or his journey.Count. de Provence! You are right, general, I* Denon, MWmoires, voL i., p. 349. THE BARON DE RIC1HEMONT. 273 thither, fitting up two ships, which were to carry who can contend with you for my love. I am him and his companions. The army was to hear very poor in friends, and yet I feel that my heart of his departure only after he had gone; but, is rich in love that no one desires now. much as he desired to keep the thing secrets there "Preserve that possession well, my son," said were somewho had to know of it, and among; Kleber, as he took leave of his son, and laid his them, happily, was General Kleber. Bonaparte hand on the head of the young man. Preserve had chosen him as his successor, and therefore your heart tender and loving, for if Fate is just, he must be informed respecting the condition of it may one day be for the advantage of a whole affairs before the head of the army should with- nation that you are so, and the heart of the man draw. On the same day when this communica- be the mediator between the people and its king! tion took place, Kleber repaired to General De- Farewell, my son; we see each other to-day for the saix, who was his intimate friend, and from whom last time, for in this very hour you will go to he learned that he was to be one of Bonaparte's your ship with Desaix. It may be that the sip companions on the return. The two generals had will sail this very night, and if so, well! A a prolonged secret interview, and at the close of quick and unlooked-for separation mitiates the it they both went to Kleber's house, and entered pains of parting. You will soon have overcome the room of his adjutant Louis. General Desaix them, and when you reach Paris, the past will bowed with great deference to the young man, sink behind you into the sea." who, blushing at the honor which so distinguished "Never, oh, never!" cried Louis, with emoa general paid him, extended his hand to him. tion. "I shall never forget my benefactor, my Desaix pressed a kiss upon it, and from his eyes, second father!" unused to tears, there fell a drop upon the young'" My son, one easily forgets in Paris, and espe~~~~man' ~s hand. ~cially when he goes thither for the. purpose of "General," cried Louis, in amazement, "what creating a new fut-ure out of the ruins of the are you doing?" past! But I shall -never forget you; and if my "I am paying my homage to misfortune and to presentiment should not deceive me, and I should the past," said Desaix, solemnly, "1and the tear soon die, you will learn after my death that I have which I drop'on your hand is the seal of my loved you as a son. lgow go, and I say to you, as fidelity and silence in the future. Young man, I another loved voice once said to you,' and- as the swear to you that I will cherish your secret in sick and the dying once repeated it to you,' God my heart as a hallowed treasure, and will defend bless you! All saints and angels protect you!' with my life's blood the papers which your uncle, They remained locked in their tender embrace, General Kleber, has intrusted to my care this and then parted-never to meet again! day. I am a soldier of the republic, I have That very night, before the morning began to pledged my- fidelity to her, and must and shall dawn, General Desaix started, accompanied by keep it. I cannot become a partisan; but I his adjutant Louis and a few servants. Their shall always be the protector of misfortune, and first. goal was Alexandria, whither the command of a helper in time of need. Trust me in thi s, and General Bonaparte summoned them and a few accept me as your friend." others. "I do accept. you, general," said Louis, gently, The proposed journey of the commanding gen"and if I do not promise to love you just as ten- eral was still a carefully concealed secret' and the derly as I love my uncle, General Kleber, who divan in Cairo had merely been informed that Bohas been to me father, brother, and protector, and naparte was planning to undertake a short jour-,to whom I owe every thing, yet, I, can assure you, ney-in the Delta. that, after him, there is no one whom I will love On the 22d of Augast, 17199, an hour after mid. as I shall you, and there is' -no one in Ecrope night, two French frigaItes left the harbor of 18 2'~74 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. Alexandria. On board of one of them was Bona- a miserable, obscure life here, and see all the star parte, the emperor of the future;-on the other fade out one by one!" was Louis Charles, the king of the past. Name- Yes, the stars of hope were paling one by one less and unknown, the descendant of the mon- for the son of King Louis. No one thought of archs ofFrance; with his sixteen years, returned him, no one believed in him. He ad died in the to France-to France, that seemed no longer to Temple, that was all that any one wanted to remember ts past, its kings, and to have no know. The dead was lamented by all, the living toughts, no love, no admiration for aught would have been unwelcome to any. He had excepting that new, brilliant constellation which died and been -buried, little King Louis XVI, and had arisen over France-Bonaparte. no one spoke of him more. He ad returned from Egypt to regain Italy, The only subject-:of men's talk was the glory but he found other work awaiting him in Paris. and greatness of the First Consul. The beuty This he brought to completion with the energy and grace of Josephine were celebrated in the and boldness which characterized all his dealings. same halls which had once resounded with th By a prompt stroke he put an end to the constitu- praises of fair Queen Marie Antoinette. The half tion which had prevailed till then, abrogated the million lovers who had once bowed to Marie ere Convention and the Council of Five Hundred, and now devoted to Josephine, and paid their homage gave the French republic a new constitution, put- to her with the spme enthusiasm with which they tilg at the head of the government three consuls, had before worshipped the queen. The son of Sieyes, Roger Ducos, and himself. But these the general who once had giv. the oath of fidelithree consuls were intended to be a mere transi- ty to King Louis XVI., the son of General Beaution, a mere step forward in the victorious march harnais, is now the adopted son of the ruler of of Bonaparte. After a Sfew weeks they were France; while the son of the king mst secrete superseded, and Bonaparte became the First Con- himself and remain without na-me, rank, and title. sul and the head of France. It is his good fortune that Desaix is there to pity On the 25th of December, 1'799, France hailed the forsaken one, and to give him a place in his General Bonaparte as the First Consul of the hom~e and his heart. No one else knows him; he French republic. A new century was dawning, is the adjutant of General Desaix, that is his only nnd with the beginning of this.new century the rank and title. gates of the Tuileries, -the deserted palace of But~ he still remained the nephew of General kings, opened to a -new possessor. Bonaparte, Kleber, who had been left in Egy pt, and who, at the First Consul, took up his residence there; and the end of the century, gained a decisive victory at in the first spring of the new century the consul, Heliopolis over the Turks and Mamelukes. He accompanied by Josephine, removed to St. Cloud remained the nephew of General Richer, and at for summer quarters. The park of Queen Marie the end of the year - 1800 the frigate I'Aigle, on Antoinette was given -by the French nation to the its return from Egypt, brought a great packet for First Consul; and in the apartments where the General Desaix. It contained many papers of queen with her son Louis Charles and her daughter value, many rolls of gold-pieces, besides gems Theresa once dwelt, Josephine, with her son Eu- and pearls. Rut it also contained a sealed black gene and her daughter Hortense, now abode. document directed to the adjutant of Genera.~ "I would I had remained in Egypt," sighed the Depitix. This document contained the will of dauphin often, when in the silence and solitude Kleber, commander-in-chief of the French army of his apartment he surrendered himself to his in Egypt. He had given it to General Menou, torecollections and dreams. "1It had been better gether with his papers and valuables, with thbe to die young in at foreign land, while all the stars intimation that directly after his death they of hope were beaming above me, than to protract should all be sent- to General Desaix. in France. THE BARON DE RICHEMONT. 25 General Menou followed this instruction, for Louis started, and a deathly paleness co Keber was dead. The murderous bullet of a ered his cheeks. "Fouch6, the chief of police! Mameluke killed him on the 14th of June, 1800. Fouche, the traitor, who gave his voice in the His will was the last evidence of his love for his Convention for the death of King Louis-to hi nephew Louis, whom he designated as his only the red republican, a man of blood andtreachery, heir, and Kleber was rich through inherited wealth do you want to convey my papers and my propas well as the spoils of war. erty?" But Louis Charles took no satisfaction, and it "Yes, Louis, for with him alone are they s made no impression on him, when Desaix informed cure. Fouche will protect you, and will stand by him that e was the possessor of a million. "A you with just as much zeal as he once displayed million! What shall I do with it?" answered in the persecution of the royal family. I know "Louis, sadly. Were it a million soldiers, and I him well, and I vouch for him. Men must not might put myself at their head and with them always be judged by their external appearance. storm the Tuileries and make my entrance into He who shows himself our enemy to-day, lends us St. Cloud, I should consider myself fortunate. to-morrow, it may be, a helpful arm, and becomes But what advantage to me are a million of our friend, sometimes because his heart has been francs? I can begin nothing with them; I should changed, and sometimes because his character is have to establish a store and perhaps have the feeble. I cannot with certainty say which of custom of the First Consul of the republic!" these reasons has determined Fouh, but I am "Hush! young man, hush!" replied Desaix, firmly convinced that he will be a protector and you are bitter and sad, and I understand it, for a friend to you, and that in no hands will your the horizon is dark for you, and offers you no property and your papers be safer than in his." cheerful prospect; but a million francs is a good Louis made no reply; he dropped his head' thing, notwithstanding, and one day you will know with a sigh, and submitted. how to prize it. This million of francs makes On, in the new century, rolled the victorious car, you a riclh man, and a rich man is a free and in- of Bonaparte, down the Alps, into the fertile dependent man. If you do not wish to live longer plains, of Italy. The conqueror of Lodi and Aras a soldier, you have the power to give up your cole meant to take revenge on the enemies who. commission and live, without care, and that is had snatched back the booty-evenge on Austria, something. My next business will be to. assure who had broken the peace of Campo Formio. you your fortune against all the uncertainties of' And he did take this revenge at Marengo, where, the future, Which -are the more to be guarded on the 14th of June, he gained a * brilliant victory against, as we are.. soon to advance into Italy over Austria, and won all Italy as the prize of the again for the, next campaign. I can, therefore, battle. not put your property and your papers into your But the day was purchased at a sacrifice. Genhands, for they constitute your future, and we eral Desaix paid with -his death for his impetuous must deposit them with some one with whom onset. In the very thick of the fight, mortally they shall be safe, and that must be with a man wounded by a ball, he fell into the arms of his of peace. Do you know who this man is?" adjutant Louis, and only with extreme peril could "I know no one, general, excepting yourself," the latter, himsalf wounded, bear the general replied Louis, with a shrug,"1 whom I should da~re away from the melbie, and not be trampled to to trust." death by the horses of his own soldiers. "1But, fortunately, I know an entirely reliable Poor Louis Charles! He now stood entir ely man; shall I tell you who he is?" alone-the last- friend had left him. Death had "Do so, I beg you, generaL *Desaix's own words.-See "1M~moires du Due de "His name is Fouche'." Normandie," p. 61 2'~76 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. taken away every thing, parents, crown, home, Fouchb6 to acknowledge him, anid to assume the name, friends. He. was alone, all alone in the attitude of a protector. He put on a very re. world-no man to take any interest in him, no spectful and sympathetic air to the poor solitary one to knowho he was. youth; with gentle, tremulous voice e called Sunk in sadniess, he remained in Alessandria him your Majesty; he begged his pardo for the after the battle of Marengo, and allowed his ex- past; he spoke with such deep emotion and so ternal wound to heal, while the internal one con- solemn a tone of the good, great, and gentle Louis tinued to bleed. He cursed death, because it had XVI., that the heart of the son was powerfully not taken him, while removing his last friend. touched. And when Fouch6, with flamin words And when the wound was healed, what should of enthusiasm, began to speak of the noble, nhe do?-under what name and title should he be happy Queen Marie Antoinette, when with glowenrolled in the army? His only protector was ing eloquence he celebrated her beauty and her dead, and the adjutant was reported to have died gentleness in time of good-fortune, her greatness with him. He put off the uniform which he had and steadfastness in ill-fortune, all the anger of worn as the soldier of the republic which had de- the young man melted in the tears of love which stroyed his throne and his inheritance, and, in he poured out as he remembered his mother. simple, unpretending garments, he returned to "I forgive you, Fouch6; yes, I forgive you," Paris, an unknown young man. he cried, extending both his -hands. I see Desaix was right; it was, indeed, something to plainly the power of political faction urried yo possess a million of francs. Poor — as he was in away; but your heart cannot be bad, for you love love and happiness, this million of francs made my noble mother. I forgive you, and I trust him at least a free and independent man, and you." therefore e would demand his inheritance of him Fouch6, deeply moved, sank upon his knee be whom he formerly shunned because he was one fore the dauphin, and called himself one of his of the murderers of his father. loyal sub~jects, and promised to take all means to Fouch6' received the young man exactly as De- restore the young king to the throne of his fasa-ix had expected. He showed himiself in the thers. He conjured Louis to trust him, and to hlgt of a sympathizing protector; he was touched enter upon no plan without asking his counsel. with the view of this youth, whose countenance Louis promised this. He told Fouched that he wis the evidence of his lineage, the living picture was the only man who had talked with him about of the unfortunate Louis XVI., whom Fouch6 the past without using, ambiguous langluagre; that had brought to- the scaffold. Perhaps this man he was surprised at this, and compelled to recogof blood and the guillotine had compunctions of nize as, true what formerly had been fettered on,conscience; perhaps he wanted to atone to the his tongue. He told him that he had promised son for his inJumries to the parents; perhaps he his rescuer, with a solemn oath, -never to ackunowlwas planning to make of the son of the Bourbons edge himself as the son of Louis XVI., and King, a check to the ambitious consul of the republic; of France, till this rescuer and benefactor emperhaps to humiliate the grasping Count de Lille, powered him to do so, and released him from his who was intriguing at all the European courts vow of silence. He made it, therefore, the first for the purpose of raising armnies against the condition of his confidence that Foucbh6 should French republic, The son of Louis XVI. could disclose his secret to no one, but carry it faith. be employed as a useful foil to all these political fully in his own breast. manceuvres, and subsequently he could either be Foucbe' promis ed all, and took a sacred oath publicly acknowledged, or denounced as an im- that he would never reveal the secret confided to poster, as circumstances might determine, him by the King of France. But he confessed at At present it suited the plans of the crafty the same time that the First Consul knew very THE BARON DE RICHEMONT. well that the son of the king had been released shall not know from me that I am aware of yo from the Temple, and that among the posthu- and your abiding-place. In order that Bonaparte mous papers of Kleber there was a letter di- shall not take me to be a bad detective, I shall rected to Bonaparte, stating that he, Kleber, show him in all other things that I am on the 11knew very well that the little Capet was still alert. In case of necessity, it may be that I shall living and imploring Bonaparte to restore the have to resort to deception, and, in oyder to save orphan to the trone of the Lilies. The consul your life, inform the consul that you are dead. had therefore, quietly made investigations, and There were a great many young officers who fell learned that Louis had taken part as the adjutant at Marengo, or afterward died as the result of of General Desaix in the battle of Marengo, that their wounds. Why should not the adjutant of e had been wounded there, and remained in the General Desaix have met this fate? Yes, I behospital of Alessandria till his recovery. Since lieve this will be the best. I will give you out as then all trace of the young man had been lost, dead, in order to save your life. I will cause a and he had commissioned Fouch6 to discover paper to be prepared which shall testify that the the adjutant of Kleber and Desaix and bring him adjutant of General Desaix, who lay there in the ~~~~~~to him. ~hospital, died there of his wounds and was "You will not do that?" cried Louis, eagerly; buried." you will not disclose me?" "And so I shall disappear from ife second Are you afraid of him?" asked Fouch6, with time?" asked Louis, sadly. a suspicious smile. "Yes, sire, in order to enter anew upon it with The youngman blushed, and a cloud passed greater splendor," replied Fouch6, eagerly. over his clear forehead. "Who knows whether this shall ever bet Fear!" he replied with a shrug. "The sons sighed Louis. " How shall I be able to establish of my ancestors have no fear; and I have shown my identity if I die and am buried twice? Who on the battle-fields of Aboukir and Marengo, and will be my pledge that I shall be able to convince in the'pest-houses of Jaffa, that I know not the men that I am not a deceiver, and that my whole word. But when one meets a bloodthirsty lion existence is not an idle tale? There are only a in his path he turns out of the way, and when a few who know and believe that little Capet estiger extends its talons at one he flies; that is the caped from the Temple, and went to Egypt as duty of self-preservation, and not the flight of a Kleber's adjutant. If, now, these few learn that coward." the adjutant fell. in battle, if the paper that testi"Do you believe, then, that this lion thirsts for fies to his death is laid before them, how shall I royal blood?" subsequently be believed if I announce that I am "I believe that he thirsts for royal rank, and alive, and that I am the one for whom I give mythat he will neglect no means to vanquish all hin- self out? The seal of royalty is impressed on no derances that might intervene between himself and man'7s brow, and we know from history that there the throne. Do you believe, sir, that the man have been false pretenders." who, after the battle of Aboukir, sentenced five "You shall show with your papers- that you are thousand prisoner s to death, would hesitate a mo- none such,"7 said Fouche6, eagerly, "1and God will meat to take the life of a poor, defenceless young grant that I, too, shall be living when the time man such as I aml? He would beat me into the shall be in which you may come forward with dust as the lion does the flea which dares to play rais'ed voice and demand your inheritance a nd with his mane." your throne. Hope for that time, and meanwhile "It appears you know this lion very well," said preserve your papers well. Carry them always Youch.6, with a smile, "and I really believe you with you, part with them neither day nor night, judge him righitly. But be without concern. He for in these papers rest your future and your ~278 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE.AND HER SON. crown. Noother man besides yourself can take "Very good, my lord baron," cried Fouch, care of them. These papers are worth more to will have the necessary certificates and papers youthan a million of francs, although even that made out, and enter your property in the Bank of should not be scorned. Here are the documents France under the name, of the Baron d Richethat give you possession of your wealth. I have mont. If you please, come to-morrow to me and deposited your funds in the Bank of France, and I will deliver to you the papers of Monsieur d ou can draw out money at any time by present- Richemont." ing these checks that I give you, simply writing "I shall come, be sure of that," said Louis, giv your name upon them." ing him his hand; "it seems to me my fate to go By simply writing my name upon them!" incognito through life, and God alone knows cried Louis bitterly. "But, sir, what is my whether I shall ever abandon this incognito." name? How shall I be called? I was formerly He saluted Fouche with a sad smile and went designated as the nephew of Kleber, Colonel out. The minister listened to the resouding Louis, the ajutant of Desaix. But Colonel Louis footstep, and then broke out into loud mockin can no longer acknowledge that he is alive, and laughter. you propose to convince the First Consul that the Foolish boy!" he said, raisin is and nephew of Kleber is dead. Who, then, am I? threateningly, "foolish boy! You suppose that What name shall I subscribe to those papers? only God knows whether you will ever come out By what name shall the nameless, the dead and of your incognito. You mistake-besides God, buried the resurrected, the again dead and buried Fouche knows it. Yes, Fouche knows that thi one-by what name shall he draw money from the incognito extends over you like a net, from which ~~~~~bank?"~ ~ ~you never will escape. No, the Baron d iche"Very true," said Fouch6. "A name, or ra- mont shall never be transformed into King ther the mask of a citizen's or nobleman's name, Louis XVIIL But he shall be an instrument with must be your disguise, and it is imperatively ne- which I will hold in check this ambitious Consul cessary that we give you such, and, provide you Bonaparte, who is striving for the throne, and this with papers that cannot be forged, which shall grasping Count de Lille, who in his exile calls prove your existence,'and se'cure you against himself King Louis X-VIII.-the instrument with every assault." which I threaten when I am threatened. Only, "Very good; then tell me how I shall be my little Baron dd Richemout, I do not know called," said Louis, sadly. "Be the godfather of what I can make out of you, but I know that you the solitary and nameless." shall make out of me ~a rich, dangerous, and "Well; I will, cried Fouche'. "1In the glamour dreaded man. Poor, credulous fool! How of political passions I1 have raised my voice easily you fall into *the pit! The Baron de against the life of your father; full of regret I Richemont shall never escape from it. I vouch will raise my voice for the life of the son,. and for it-I, Fouch6!" assist him, to enter afresh upon life and into the society 6f men. Young man, I will give you a name and rank, till the French nation restore to you your true name and rank. You shall henceforth be called the Baron de Richemont. Will OHlAP~T ER XXXI.vou accept it?" "Yes, I will accept it," said Louis, gently. FOUCHE. "To be the Baron de Richemont is better than THE First Consul was walking with hasty steps to be a dead and buried pers on witho~ut any up and down his cabinet. His eyes flashed, and name." his face, whic'h elsewhere was impenetrable, like FOUCHE. 279 that of te brazen statues of the Roman emperors, evasions, no circumlocutions! Let us speak plaindisclosed the fiery impatience and stormy pas- ly, and to the point. You are in correspondence sions which raged within him. His lips, which with the Count de Lille." were pressed closely together, opened now and "You know that, consul for I have had the then to mutter a word of threatening or of anger, honor to give you a letter myself, which the and that Wd he hurled like a poisoned arrow di- pretender directed to you, and sent to me to be rectly at the man who, in a respectful attitude delivered." and with pallid eeks, stood not far from the "A ridiculous, nonsensical letter, replied Bodoor, near the table covered with papers.- naparte, with a shrug; "a letter in which this This man was Fouche, formerly the chief fool demands of me to bring him back to France, of police in Paris, and now a mere member and to indicate the place which I wish to ocof the senate of the republic. He had gone cupy in his government. By my word, an idiot to the Tuileries in order to request a secret could not write a more crazy document! I am audience of Bonaparte, who had now forgotten to indicate the place which I wish to occupy in the little prefix of First" to his consular title, his government! Well, I shall do that; but there and now reigned supreme and alone over France. will be no place left near me for the Bourbons, Bonaparte suddenly paused in his rapid walk, whom France has spewed out, as one spews out coming to a halt directly in front of Fouch6, and mortal poison. These hated and weak Bourbons looked at him with flaming eyes, as if they were shall never attain to power and prestige again. two daggers with which he meant to pierce deep France has turned away from them. France abinto his heart. But Fouche did not see this, for hors this degenerate race of kings; it wil erect a Lhe stood with downcast eyes, and appeared not'to new edifice of power and glory, but there will be be aware that Bonaparte was so near him. no room in it for the Bourbons! Mark that, in"Foucb," cried the consul, -violently, " I triguer, and build no air-castles on it.. I demand know you, and I am not to be deceived by your of you an open confession, or I shall accuse you indifferent, affected air! You shall know that I as a traitor and a royalist." do not fear you-you and all the ghosts that you "Consul, I shall not avoid this charge,"? replied can. conjure up. You think that you frighten Foucbe', calmly, " and I am persuaded that France me; you wish that I should pay you dearly for will follow with interest the course of a trial which your secret. But you shall know that I am not will unveil an important secret-which will informDat all of a timorous nature, and th at I shall pay it that the rightful King of France, according to no money for the solution of a riddle which I the opinion of Consul Bonaparte, did not die in may perhaps be able to solve without your help, the Temple under the tender care of Simon the Iwarn you, sir, you secret-vender, be well on your cobbler, but is still alive, and is, therefore, the guard! You have your spies, but I have my po- true heir of the crown. That would occasion lie, and they inform me about every thing out of some joy to' the royalists, surely! the usual course. It is known, sir, that you are The consul stamped on the floor with rage, his carrying on a correspondence with people out of eyes shot flames, and when he spoke again, his the country-understand me, with people out of voice rang like peals of thunder, so angrily and the. country! so powerfully did it pour forth. "Consul," replied Fouch6, calmly, " I have "I will change the paeans and the joy of these certainly not known that the republic forbids its royalists to lamentations and wailings," he cried. faithful servants to send letters abroad." "All the enemies of France shall know that I "The republic will never allow one of its ser- hold the sword in my hands, and mean to use it, vants to correspond with its enemies," cried Bo- not only against foes without, but foes within. naparte, in thundering tones. "Be silent,. sir! no France has givcn me this sword, and I shall not ~280 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. lay it down, even if all the kings of Europe, and the crown of France. Why do.you refuse this all the Bourbons who lie in the vaults of St. Denis, while accepting all the rest?" leave their graves, to demand it from me! I am. "And what if I show you that I do not wan the living sword of France, and never shall this it?" asked Bonaparte. "And what if I should sword bow before the sceptre of a Bourbon. tell you that I do not feel myself worthy to asFresh shoots might sooner spring from the dead sume the whole, undivided inheritance of the stick which the wanderer carries through the Bourbons? Would you be foolish andsenseless desert, than a Bourbon sceptre could grow from enough to believe such an idle tale? the sword of Bonaparte; and all the same, "Consul, you have already done so manythings whether this Bourbon call himself Louis XVII. that are wonderful, and have brought so many or Louis XVIII.! Mark that, Fouch6, and mark magic charms to roality, that I no longer hold ao that when I once say' I will,' I shall know any thing to be impossible, as soon as you have ow to make my will good, even if the whole laid your hand upon it." world ventures to confront me." "And therefore you hold a concealed magician's know that, consul," said Fouche, with def- wand, which you propose to draw forth at some erence. "God gave you, for the weal of France, decisive moment, and present to me, as the cross an iron will and a brain of fire, and destined you is presented to Beelzebub in the tale? to wear not only laurels, but crowns." "I do not understand you, consul," replied A flame glared from the eyes of the consul and Fouche, with the most innocent air in the world. played over the face of Foibch6, but the latter ap- "Well, then, I will make myself intelligible. peared n o notice it, for he cast down his eyes The magician's wand, which you are keeping conagain, and his manner was easy and uncon- cealed, is called Louis XVII. Oh! do not shake ~~~~strained,~~ ~your cunning head; do not deny with your smootL "You now speak a word which is not becom- lips, which once~ uttered the death-sentence.of ing," said Bonaparte, calmly. "I am the first Louis XVI., and which now are used to teach a servant of the republic, and in a republic there fool and a pretender that he is the son of the are no crowns." murdered kingr. T~uly, it is ridiculous. The "Not citizens' crowns, general? " askied Fouchdi, regicide wants to atone for his offence by hatchwith a faint smile. "1I mean, that this- noblest of lug a fable, and making a king out of a mauicrowns can everywhere be acceptable, and no kin." head has merited such a crown more than the "General,'no fable, and no manikin," cried -noble Consul Bonaparte, who has made the re- Fouche, with a threatening voice. "1The son of public of France a worthy rival of its sister in the unfortunate king is alive, and-" North America." "Ah -"interrupted Bonaparte, -triumphantly, Bonaparte threw his head proudly back. "I "1so you confess at last, you reveal your great am -not ambitious of the honor," he' said, "'of secret at length! I hav'e driven the sly fox out being the Washington of France." of his hole, and the hunt can now begin. It will "*Yet you are he, general," replied Fouche', with be a hot chase, I promise you, and I shall nota smile. "1Only the Washi-ngton of France does rest till I have drawn the skin over the ears of not live in the White House which a republic the fox, or-") has built, but in the Tuileries, which he has "Until he says his pater- peceavi?" asked received as the heir of the French kings. Gen- Fouche, with a gentle smile. eral, as the worthiest, the greatest, the most pow- "Until he delivers to me thecehangeling whom erful, and the most signally called, you have come he wants to use as his -Deus ex machine" replied il'ito the p-ossession of the inheritance of the kings Bonaparte. "1My dear sir, it helps you not at all of France. For to this inheritance belongs alsoI to begin again this system, of lies. Your anger FOUCHE. 281 has betrayed you, and I have succeeded in out- tinued Fouch6, as Bonaparte started up, and wittIng the fox. The so-called'son of the king is opened his lips to speak- I beg you, general, alive;'that has escaped you, and you cannot take hear me to the end, and do not interrupt me till ~~~~~~it back.'.' ~I have told you all.-Yes, I have allied myself to No, it cannot be taken back," replied Fouch6, three separate conspiracies, and have become with a sigh. "I have disclosed myself, or rather zealous in them all. There is, first, that of the I have been outwitted. You are in all things a republicans, who hate you as a tyrant of the repubhero and a master, in cunning as much as hi lic; there is, in the second place, the conspiracy bravery ind discretion. I bow before you as of the royalists, who want to put the Count de lbefore a genius whom God Himself has sent upon Lille on the throne; and third, there is that of the earth to bring the chaotic world into order the genuine Capetists, who want to make' the again; I bow before you as before my lord and' orphan of the Temple' Louis XVI These master; and instead of opposing you, I will hence- three conspiracies have it as their first object to forth be content with being your instrument, pro- remove and destroy Consul Bonaparte. Yes, to vided that you will accept me as such." reach this end the three have united, and made a That isFoch, provided that I will fulfil mutual compromise. Whichever party succeeds cried Bonaparte, with a shrug. in murdering you, is to come into power, and the Very well, name your conditions!'Without others are to relinquish thefield to it: and so if circumlocution What do you demand?" Bonaparte is killed by a republican dagger, the Consul, inorder that we may understand one republic is to remain at present the recognized another, we must both be open and unreserved. form of government; and if the ball of a royalist Will you permit me to be free with you?" removes you, the republicans strike, their banner, Certainly, d replie Bonaparte, with a conde- and grant that France shall determine, by a genscending nod. eral ballot, whether it shall be a republic or a "Consul, you have thrust me, aside, you have. kiingdoni."1 no' longer confidence in me. You have' taken "1Well, " asked Bonaparte, calmly, as Fouche' from me the post of minister of police, and given closed, and cast an inquiring glance at tile conit' to my enemy Regnier. That has given me sul's face, which was, notwithstanding, entirely pain, it has injured me; for it has branded me be- cold and impenetrable-" well, why do you stop? fore all the world as a useless man, whom Bona- I did not interrupt you with -a question. Go parte suspects. Your enemies have believed that on!"1 my alienation from you would conduce to their "I will, consul. I hav~e made myself a memuadvantage, and that ouit of the dismissed police pre- ber of these three conspiracies; for;' in order to feet they might gain an enemy to Bonaparte. Con- contend with the heads of Cerberus, one must spirators of all kinds have come to me-emis- have them all joined; and in order to be the cpnsaries of Count de Lille, deputies from the royalists queror in a great affair, one must know who allin Veudde, as well as from the red republicans, by' his enemies are, a nd what are all their plans. 1 whom YOU, Bonaparte, are as much hated as by know all the plans of the allies, and because I the royalists, for they will never forgive you for know them, it is within my power to bring, disconputting yourself at the head of the republic, and tent and enmity among them, using for this end making yourself their master. All of these parties the third conspiracy-that of the dependanuts of have made propositions to me, all of them want Louis XVII., the orphan of the Temple. Through me to join them. I have lent my ear to them all, sympathy with him, I have divided the party of I have been in-formed of all their plans, and am royalists; I have withdrawn from the Count de at this hour the sworn ally of both the republi- Lille mapy of his important dependants, and even c~ans and the royalists. Oh!I I beg you," con- some of the chief conspirators, who came'to Paris ~~282'MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. to contend for Louis XVIII., have recently in "No, general," answered Fouch, solemnlysecret bent the knee to Louis XVII., and sworn "no; I want to make Consul Bonaparte Emperor fidelity to him." of the French!" lThat is not true," cried Bonaparte, vehement- The consul trembled, and his eyes flashed ly. You are telling me nurses' stories, with through the apartment, the former cabinet of which children may be frightened, but men not. Louis XVI., as if he wanted to convince himself There are no secret meetings in Paris!" that no one had heard this dangerous word of the if your minister of police, Regnier, future. Then he slowly bent forward without has told ou so, he only shows that he is no man meeting Fouch6's looks, which were intently to be at the had of the police, ahd knows noth- fixed upon him. ing of the detective service. I tell you, general, A pause ensued-a long, anxious pause. Then there are secret societies in Paris, and I ought to Bonaparte slowly raised his eye again and now it know, for I am a member of four separate ones." was filled as with sunlight. "Ah sir," sneered Bonaparte, "you are out "Is your fourth secret society numerous? e of your ead! Before, you spoke of three con- asked, with that magical smile which won all spiracies, and now they have grown to be four." hearts. "I am speaking now of secret societies, con- "It comprises artists, poets, scholars, and above l for not every secret society can be called a every thing else, officers and generals," replied conspiracy. Before, when I was giving account Fouche. "It grows more numerous ever day, of conspiracies, I mentioned three; now, when and as fortunately I have only been deposed from we seak of secret societies, I have to mention a my place of minister of police, but still remain a fourth. But this does not deserve the name of a member of the senate of the republic, it has been conspiracy, for its object is not murder and revo- my effort to gain over in the senate ifluenial utonor does it arm itself with daggers and members for my secret society of imperialigts. pistols." If my hopes are crowned with success, thbe secret "I should be curious to know the name of society will -soon become an open one, and the your fourth society," cried Bonaparte, impa- senate will apply to you with a public request to tiently. put an. end to all these conspiracies and intrigues, "I will satisfy your curiosity, general. This to place yourself at the head of France, and ac-'fourth secret society bears the name' the Bona- cept the imperial crown which the senate offers partists,' or-allow me to approach you closer, you. But-" that the walls of the old palace may not hear the "I comprehend your'but,' Fouch6'," interrupted word-or' the Imperialists."' Bonaparte, eagerly. "You want to make you r Bonaparte shrank back, and a glow of red conditions. An imperial crown does not fall dipassed for a moment over his cheeks. "1What rect from heaven, upon the head of a man; there do you mean by that?" must be hands there to take it, and it might hap"I mean by that, general, what I have already pen that they would be crushed b~y the falli ng said: your brow is made not to wear -laurels crown. They must be paid for their heroism, alone, but a crown, and there is only one way to therefore. - Let us suppose,. then, that I give destroy the other three conspiracies-the way credence to all your stories, even that a-bout the proposed by the fourth secret society. In order empire of the future-tell me, now, what you deto make the efforts of the republicans and royal- mand." ists ineffective, and to tread them under your "4General, if I show you and all France by feet, France needs an emperor." facts that the'country is rent by conspiracies, that "And do you kvant to make your manikin, the cancer of secret societies is eating into the Louis XVII., Emperor of France?" very marrow of the land, and imperilling all its FOUCHt. 233 institutionswill you confess to me then that I or emperor, and this "sire" which Fouch dropped am better adapted to be the head of the police into the ear of Bonaparte like a sweet poison, than M. Regnier d'Angely, who insists and dares flattered his senses and soothed him lie delightto say to you that there are no secret societies in ful music. But the strength of his genius soon ~~~~France ~?"~ ~resumed its sway, and he broke out into a loud, Prove to me by facts the existence of your merry laugh. conspiraciesand I will commision you to help "Confess, Fouch'," he cr me destro this hydra's head. Give me the cal to hear the consul talking with a senator of proof'I and you sall be head of police again." the republic about an empire and ducal titles. Fouc' bowed. "You shall have the proofs, Truly, if the strict republica of your conspiracy general, to-day-at once, provided that we thor- number one should hear this, they would be justioughly understand each other. I am ambitious, tied in accusing us as traitors and conspirators" general, and I have no wish to be driven back for "We must get the start of them-we must acsingle day into othingness, as I should be, if cuse them." my enemies withdraw their confidence in me. "If we possess secure means to do so." Now I am, at least, a member of the senate; but "I possess them, and I will give them to you, if the senate is dissolved, and I should subse- Consul Bonaparte, as soon as the emperor of the quently be deposed again from the head of the future assures me of a princely title, in addition police, I should be nothing but Fouch6-Fouch6 to the chieftaincy of police." fallen out of fav Voild tout I" "Very Well," said Bonaparte, laughing, "the No, not So said Bonaparte, with a smile. emperor of the future promises you that as soon You will always be known as the murderer of as he is able to bake a batch of these delicacies, the king; that is a fine title for a republican, is it he will put his chief of police in the oven and not?" draw him out as a prince or a duke. The em"Ah,7 general, I see that you understand me, pcror of the future gives you his word of honor cried Fouche'. "We are now talking about a that he will do it. Are you. satisfied now, my lord name,7 a position, a title for me. Provided that republican?" here in the Tuileries a throne is relistablished, we "Sire, completely satisfied," said Foune', bowmust have a court again, men with orders, titles, lug, low. and dignities." "And -now let -us talk together seriously," said "Ith is true, said, Bonaparte, thoughtfully. Bonaparte! "You have spoken of conspiracies; Teworld continue's to, revolve in the same cir- you assert that they exist, but do -not forget that dles of folly and vanity, and after making an ef- you have promised me tangible proofs-understand fort to withdraw from them,7 it falls back again me w ell, tangib le proofs; th at is, it is not enough for into the old ruts. Mnaeothing but actos mto see the papers and the lists of conspirators and every one wants to adorn himself with glis- who have escaped into foreign lands-I want pertening rags, in order to take the first part, and sons, men of flesh and blood-traitors whom I have his -name go upon the poster of history. may hang, not in effigy, but in reality, and who Well, hw wouldyou be called, Fouchd, if the may serve as a wrigexample to the whole drama of an empire should really be brought for- herd of conspirators, and put and end forever to ward upon the great stage of the world?"9 this nonsense. I am wearied of being perpetually "I should like the title of a prince. or duke, threatened by traitors, poisoned daggers, air-guns, sire. plots, and intrigues, of all kinds. It'is time to Bonaparte could scarcely suppress the smile of hunt down the chief men of these bravoes who satisfaction that played over his face. It was the have been sent here from England,7 Germany, first time that he had ever been addressed as kingir Russia, and Italy, and I have had enough of illus ~284 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE' AND HER SON. trating the old proverb,' Hang the little thief and So give me the three heads, that ofthe republi let'te greatone run.' I mean to have the great cans and of the two royalist parties. The head thief and to hang him, for that is the only way of of conspiracy number two I know; it is the Count intimidating these fellows and inspiring them with de Lille. He is the sly spider who always with ~~~~respect."~~ ~draws behind his nets, but I know the hand, too, Sire, yu shall have your great thieves," said that is set in motion by this head; it is the Duke Fouch, with a smile. d'Enghien. He is an untiring conspirator, wholly Give them into my hands, and I promise you occupied with infernal madhines and daggers for they sall never escape," cried Bonaparte, eager- me. Ah! let him take care of himself, the little ly. It iS high time to make an example, and Duke d'Enghien. [f I take him, I will exercise show these people at last that I claim the right the right of retaliation upon him, for I am deterof paying back. The Count de Lille and- the mined to have peace. We now come to your Duke d'Enghien are always egging their con- conspiracy number three, to your Deu machine, spirators upon me; they appear to have no other the so-called Louis XVII. This D)eu reallyexists?" aim than to get rid of me, and are unwearied with Yes, general, he exists." their daggers, infernal machines, and counter-plots. Bonaparte laughed aloud, but his laughter But their own persons, and those of their highest sounded like a threat. "I have heard of this helpers, always remain beyond reach. They ar- story," he said. "The good-natured Kleber berange their plans always at a safe distance, and lieved it, and, after his death, a paper was given risk nothing by this; for, if we take some of their to me, written by him, and directed to me, which subordinate tools and punish them, they make an stated that his so-called nephew Louis was the outr about barbarity and cruelty, and appeal to heir of the King of France, and implored me eartheir sacred right of using all means to regain neatly to take the orphan of the Temple unde their inheritance, and reestablish the throne in my Iprotection. I instituted inquiries for him at France. They do not-deny that they would have once; it was after the battle of -Marengo, and no conscientious scruples about shedding my this* Monsieur Louis was, till then, adjutant of blood.'Now, why should I have any about General Desaix." shedding theirs? Blood for blood, that is the "1Yes, general, adjutant of De6saix, down to natural and unavoidable law of retaliation, and the battle, of Marengo-that is,. to the death of woe to him who lays claim to it! IThese Boar- Desaix."l bo'ns do so. I have never injured one of them "If I mistake not, his adjutant was wounded personally; a great nation has placed me at in the battle, and lay at the hospital in Alessan-' its head; my blood is worth as much as theirs, drna." and it is time at last that I make it al pari with "It is so, general. I wonder how closely you theirs.'I will no longer serve as a target for all have been informed respecting the fortunes of murderers, and then afterward only find the dag- this young man." ger, instead'of seizing the hands that ply it. Let "From that time all trace of him has been lost, me once have hold of the hands, and all the dag- and all my,inquiries have proved in vain. The gers will disappear forever!I adjut ant of Desaix, who fought so bravely, andl "I will give these hands into your power, or, at who bore my dying comhrade in his arms, deserved least, some -fingers of them." advancement', and I wanted to give it to him, and "I want them al"cidBnpreegerly,- therefore -searched for him, but iq vain. I be"all the fingers, all the hands. You have spoken lieved him dead, and now' you come and tell me of three different conspiracies. I. want the lead- about a conspiracy in favor of Louis XVII. This era of them, and then all others may run. If the y~ung pretender is still allve, then; and there are hydra, loses its three heads, it must at last die. childlike souls who believe his story, are there?" FOUCHE. 285 General, he says little, for he is very silent "General, he is still here; he has been living in and reticent, but e has testimonials which speak Paris for about four years-about as lon as M. for him, and which show that his story is not Regnier has been head of police." but a fragment of history. His "And Regnier has told menothin about it papers give clear and undeniable evidence of his Has he not known that so dangerous a person lineage and the course of his life." was living in Paris?" I should like to see these papers once," said Fouche shrugged his shoulders. Monsieur ~~~~~the consul. ~Regnier-who doubts the existence of secret socieHe never lets them go out of his hands, for ties in France, and tells you that the assassins who he knows ery well that they are his security for have so often of late imperilled your life have all ~~~~a crown."~ ~ ~been sent hither from foreign parts by the pretendThen brin me the man himself, and then I ers to the crown, and that there are no conspirasall have him and his papers," said Bonaparte, tors in France —Monsieur Regnier could not of with a growl like a lion's. "Is not he the head of course know the head of this secret society. He ~the conspiracy ~?"~ left them to follow their own pleasures unhindered Yes, general, the head of a conspiracy which here in Paris. But' I know them, and I give I ave conducted because I meant to have all you my word of honor, general, that the so-called the threads in my hands, if I was to see clearly. nephew of Kleber is living here in Paris. DiIn order to prove the royalists, I threw them this rectly after his arrival he came to me, and I bait, and many of them have taken the hook and handed to him the papers and documents which come ovr to the young king. In this way I Desaix intrusted to me, andwhich I had solemny have made a division in the ranks of the royalists, sworn to deliver to his adjutant Louis. The and the Count de Lille already sees the conse- young man gave me his confidence, and when I quences. The so-called orphan of the Temple has spoke to him regretfully and with enthusiasm at this hour no enemy who hates him more than about his father and his mother, and addressed the Count de Lille."', him as' his majesty,' I won his love. He "But this enmity of the Count de Lille v#,a- opened his heart to me, confessed that he was ishes like a glow-worm in the darkness. I want Louis XVII., and asked my counsel and help. I tangible proofs by which I can arrest my enemies. promiscd him both, and showed myself to him in Can you give them to me?" a very compliant and devoted mood. My first "General, it will not be difficult to do this, counsel was, that he should live incog-nito under We will speak of it hereafter. Al.low me first a a' borrowed name. In order'that this might be word about this dangerous adjutant of Desaix, possible, I gave him. the name for his inDcognito, Colonel Louis. You said, general, that you made and had all the necessary documents preparen, futile efforts to gain information about this inter- the certificate of his birth, baptism, the marriage esting and brave youngp man. Those efforts were of his parents, and the will of has r elatives." made in the years when M. Regnier d'Angely was "And all these documents were false and chief of police, in which my enemies succeeded in forged?" said Bonaparte, in amazement. withdrawing. the confidence of the First Consul "There are everywhere pliable public officials from. me. But had I been chief of police at that in France," replied Fouch6', with a smile. "1I time, I should have. been able -to tell you that did no t content myself' with procuring for my the young man whom you were seeking, - and prote'ge the pap era which insured him an bonorrespecting whom you. obtained no information, able name,- respectable family position, and a life was living, here in Paris." without care; I' did much more for him. I fol"What! cried Bonaparte, in -amazement. lowed the efforts already related with others. I "This so-called Louis XVII. in Paris, then?" bad a certificate of the death of M. Louis pre. ~286 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. pared, so as to give him a passport out of life. have been mistaken, Fouch; this reckoning doe In order to protect himself from every injury, I not do-your cunning has overreached itself. told him that he, as the adjutant of Desaix, must You do not terrify me; and if it could really pass as dead. He approved of it, and I took the happen that the French nation should offer m pains to procure from the hospital at Alessandria an imperial crown, at the same time that I should a duly sined and sealed certificate that Colonel accept it, I should put my foot on the neck of Louis, the adjutant of General Desaix, died of his all rebels and pretenders. With a single tread I wounds there." would crush theim all. I want no parties, no po Good God! " cried Bonaparte, "is every thing litical factions; I want to bring all these risings in life to e bought and sold thus?" and agitations to silence. There shall be no "Yes, general, every thing-loyalty and love, secret societies in France; and against each and life and death. I have caused the son of the every conspirator, whatever his rank may be, I King of France to die, and then rise again-and will bring from this time forth the whole weiht all with gold. But, when the certificate arrived, of the law. Mark this, Fou6 I mean to a change ad occurred in my relations. I had make an end of all parties, and only when you been removed from office, and Regnier was my shall give their chiefs into my and-not for my successor. I kept the certificate in my posses- personal vengeance, for I cherish no vengeance sion; but, in order to secure my proteg# against against' those cowardly worms of conspirators, what mht befall me in case of my death, I wrote but for the righteous punishment and retaliatory to him that I had received the papers, and that laws of France-only when you are able, by one he would ive without danger in Paris, under.his grand coup, and one well-founded charge, to deassumed name. This letter I signed with my stroy all conspiracies, and bring all secret coal whole name, and set my seal to it, that in case of tions to the light, only then shall you become need it might be of service to him." chief of pol ice-only then will the future emperor "FouchL; you are a sly fox," said Bonaparte, give you the title of duke." with a laugh. "1It is easier to get out of the way "General, I build on your word, and I tam sure of a cannon-ball than out of your snares. One of becom ing chief of police and duke. We will might say to you, in the words of the King of put an end to all con spiracies." Prussia,' God defend me fro'm my friends, from "And to the Monsieur Louis, too, cried Bomy enemies I can defend myself!'I According to naparte, eagerly. "It is a disagreeable and this you have caused Colonel Louis to die for troublesome figure. So long as he lives he would friendship's sake, and rise again under another live in the ermine of the imperial cloak like a -name." troublesome insect, which always stings and "Yes, general, that is it! Colonel Louis-that pricks. One must not allow such insects to find is, the rightful king, Louis XVII.-is a tool in their way into his fuir, and tl~is, Monsieur-Louis my hands; which I hold as a check to all parties, must be put out of-the way once for all. I hope and which I can held up or withdraw according he has entered deeply enough into the conspir. as it pleases me. At present my game is not acy, not to come out of it again with a whole merely to bring- disunion and hatred into the skin! ranks of the royalists, but to bring over many "General; I have told you already, that day berepublicans who have a soft heart, to be zealous' fore yesterday his dependants saluted him, in a partisans of the young and unfortunate king." secret gathering, as their king. It is true, in"And afterward, " said Bonaparte, with a deed, that the poor little fellow strongly opposed sterner tone, "you might'make use of this in- it, and' obstinately refused to accept all honors, strument, to intimidate that fourth party of which but the fact remains unchanged." you spoke before-the Bonapartist%. But you "And on the ground of this fact shall he be FOUCHE. 28 apprehended," cried Bonaparte, with a threaten- Bonaparte uttered a low cry, and ashy palenes ingvoice. "There must be an example made, suffused his cheeks; he pressed his lips together, and this Louis is a suitable person for it. He and his eyes flamed out such darts of rae that must be the e de souffrance for all the rest. He even Fouch6 trembled and lowered his gaze. is the head of a conspiracy; we will crush this "Morean," muttered Bonaparte, after a lon head, and the limbs will fall of themselves. pause, "Moreau a conspirator, a traitor! Morea Besides the sensitive souls who love nurses' in an alliance wlirr assassins hom the royalists stories and believe in every thing, there will be are sending out against me! I knew very well no one who will weep for him. No one will that he was my enemy, but I did not think that lament his death, but he will be a warning to all. his enmity would lead him to be a murderer! Direct yourself to this, Fouche, and set all the He walked up and down withquick steps, his infernal machines of your intrigues in operation hands folded behind his back, then stopped short that we may. put an end to conspiracy." before Fouche and looked him full in the fce. General, only one thing is wanting; it is that "Fouche, do you abide by your assertion, that I be at the heaof the police, and have the power Moreau is a conspirator?" in my ands to make my infernal machines ef- "I abide by it, general." ~~~~~~~~~fectual.1~"And those fifty assassins, whom the roalists But I have told you that I will appoint you have sent, are in Paris?" as minister only when you give me incontroverti- "Yes, general, they are in Paris, an Georges ble proofs that your conspiracies are not the and Pichegru are at their head." fabric of your own phantasy." "Fouch6," cried Bonaparte, clinching his fist 1Very well, general, now that we are at one, and raising it threateningly, Fouch, so sure as am prepared to give you these proofs. I have God lives, I will have you hanged as a traitor if told you that the royalists and: republicans have you have lied!" united-for the purpose of taking your life. They "General, as surely as God lives, I have spoken have chosen fifty men by ballot, in foreign parts, the truth. I came here to show you what I am, who are to come to. Paris and accomplish here and what Regnier is. I have waited here till the the great work of your destruction. These fifty whole net of these co'nspira cies should be spread assassins have arrived in Paris, and their chief out and be fully complete. The time has come,men had an interview yesterday with the chiefs when I must speak; and now I say to you, genof the conspiracies hei~e.".eral, take some steps, for there is danger on "1Fouche'! cried Bonaparte, with a threaten- foot!"1 ing, voice, "think well what you ate saying. Bonaparte, trembling with emotidn, had thrown You are. playing for the stake of your own head!1 himself into an arm-chair, and took, as was his if these fifty assassins are creatures of your. own custom in moments of the greatest excitement, imagination,, it is you who will have to pay for it." his penknife from the writing-desk, and began to "These fifty men have been in Paris since the whittle on the back of the chair. day before yesterday," rejoined Fouchd', quietly. Fouchd stood leaning against the wall, and "They came hither by different roads, and appear- looked with complete calmness and an invisible ing like simple travellers, and yesterday they had, smile at this singular occupation of the general, their first interview with the chief of the republi- when thp door of the cabinet was opened, and the can party." Mameluke Roustan appeared at the entrance. "1Wlro is this chief? Name him, or I will call "1Consul," be said, softly, "1Councillor Real is you a liar and impostor!" again here, and pressingly desires an audience." "1This. chief," said Fouch6', slowly, and measur- Bonaparte rose, and threw away the knife ing every word, " this chief is General Moreau." "Real! " he cried in a loud tone. ~288 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE' AND- HER SON. The man who was summoned immediately ap- "Murat! " cried Bonaparte, loudly; and at once peared at the open door-a tall, grave personage, the person summoned, General Murat, at that with a face so pale and distorted that Bonaparte time governor of Paris, appeared at the door of noticed it, despite his great agitation. the cabinet. What is it, Real?" he asked, eagerly. "U ave "Murat," said Bonaparte, in the tones in which you spoken with the condemned man?" he issued his commands on the battle-field, Yes, general, I have spoken with him," wliis- orders at once that the gates of Paris e closed, pered Ral, with pale lips. and that no stranger be allowed to go out of the And it is as I said, is it not? This Doctor city till'you have further orders. You will come Querolle has only pretended to be able to make to me in an hour. and receive a proclamation to great disclosures, only to prolong his own life a your soldiers, which you will sign; have it printed few hours. He has poisoned his wife, in order to and posted at the street-corners of Paris. Make marry his mistress, and the poisoner is executed." all these preparations! Go!"'General, cried Fouch6, almost with an air of Murat withdrew from the room with a salutajoy, "I knew Querolle, and I knew that his wife tion of deference, and now the commanding voice poisoned herself. Querolle is not a poisoner." of Bonaparte summoned his chief adjutant from hat is he then, M. Omniscience?" the reception-roonm. enera he is a conspirator!" "Duroc," said the First Consul, with calm, alA conspirator!" repeated Bonaparte, and most solemn voice, "you will go with twelve olnow his troubled face turned again to the coun- diers in pursuit of General Moreau, and arrest cillor. Ral, what do you know? What did him wherever you find him." the condemned man say to you?" The noble, open face of Duroc grew pale, and hConsul e swore that he was innocent of the put on an expression of horror and amazement. death of his wife, but he acknowledged himself a "1General," he whispered, " I beg, that-" member of a conspiracy, the object of which is to But this time Bonaparte would not listen to the' murder General Bonaparte. He asserts that the soothing words of his favorite. royalists and republicans have allied themselves; "No replies!" h1e thundered. "1You have only that fifty emissaries of the Count de Lille and the to obey! Nothing more! 1' Duke, d'Eiighien, Pichegru and Geonrges at their Duroc, pale and agitated, withdrew, and Bonahead, have crept into Paris; that they had an in- parte closed the door of the cabinet.1 "Real," terviewvyesterday with General Moreau, and with he said, " return to the prison of the comidemned the so-called King~ Louis XVII., who is secreted in man; take him 4'his pardon, and bring him to me, Paris, and that'at this houi those fifty men are that Imay hearbhim myself. Hasten!" prowling arou nd the streets of the city, and are Real withdrew, and Bonaparte and Foueh6 rewatching the Tuileries, waiting for an opportunity mained alone. to kill the First Consul." "You have given your proofs, Fouchd, and now The troubled eye of Bonaparte turned slowly I believe you. When wolves are to be hunted from the pale face of Councillor Real to the calm, down you are a good bloodhound, and we will besagacious face of Fouchd', which guarded itself gin the chase. I make you from this moment well from expressing any token of triumph and chief of the secret police; your first duty will be satisfaction. The consul then walked slowly to bring this matter to an end, and help me to through the room, and with his foot pushed open tear to pieces the whole murderous web, your rethe door leading into the g reat reception-room, ward being that I will nominate you again Ininisin which, at this hour every day, —all the dignita- ter of police.* I will fulfil my promise so soon ries of the republic were assembled, to receive the *The appointment of Fouch6 as the chief of pollee orders of Bonaparte. took place in June of the year 1804. JOSEPHINE.289 as you sall have made good yours, and put me nized the voice, and knew that i leader was no in possession of the chief conspirators." other than Josephine, the wife of the First Con"You have just arrested Moreau, general," re- sul. plied Fouch, deferentially. "I give you my word Through the secret door at the end of the crthat in a few hours Pichegru and Georges will be ridor they entered a small and gloomy antecham~~~~~~~apprehended."ber, exactly like the one which adjoined the cabiYou forget the chief person," cried Bonaparte, net of the consul, and from it Josephine ushered over whose brazen forehead a thunder-cloud Fouch6 into her cabinet. seemed to pass. You forget the caricature of "You will say nothing to Bonaparte about this buried royalty, the so-called King Louis XVII. secret way, Fouche," said Josephine, with a genHush! I tell you I will have this man. I will tle, supplicatory tone. "He does not know of it. draw out the fangsof this royal adder, so that he I have had it made without his knowlede while cannot bite any more! Bring the man before he was in Boulogne last year. Will you swear to me. The republic is an angry goddess, and de- me that you will not reveal it? mands a royal offering. Give this impostor into "I do swear, madame." my hands, or something worse will happen! Go, "God knows that I have not ad it made out and I advise you to bring me, before the sun goes of curiosity to overhear Bonaparte," continued downthe tidings that this fabled King Louis is Josephine. "But it is necessary sometimes for arrested, or the sun of your good fortune is set me to know what is going on, and that when the forever! Now away! Go out through the little general is angry I should hasten to hi to calm corridor, and then through the secret gate-you him and turn aside his wrath. havewadedoff know the way. Go!" many a calamity since this private way was opened, Fouch did not dare to contradict the impera- and I have been able to overhear Bonaparte. But.tive order, but softly and hastily moved t.owa.rd what have I been compelled to listen to to-day1 the curtain which led to the gloomy anteroom, Oh, Fouch6', it was God Himself who impelled me and thence through a door, which only those ini- to listen! I was with him when you were antiated knew how to open, and which led to the nounced, and I suspected that your' visit purported little corridor, something unusual, something dreadful. I have But scarcely had Fouch6 entered this little dis- heard all, Fouch6'-all, I tell you! I know that Mal room, when a hand was laid upon his arm, his life is threatened, that'fifty daggers, are diand a woman's voice whisper~ed to him',: rected toward him. 0 God! this perpetual fear "I must speak to you-at once!1 Come!1 this and excitement will kill me! I have no peace way!" of mind, no'rest more! Since the unhappy day The hand drew him forward to the wall, a' door when we left our dear little house to live in the sprang open without sound, and the voi6e whis- Tuileries, since that day there has been an end to pered: "Four stairs down. Be careful!" all joy! Why did we do it? why did w'enot remain in our little Luxembourg? why have we been persuaded to live in the palace of the kings?"7 "It is proper for the greatest man in France to live in the house where the departed race of kings CHAPTER XXX~~~~~l. once had their home,") replied Fouche'. " Oh, yes," sighed'Josephine. "1I know these JO~~i~HINE. ~ tricks of speech, with which you have turned the FoucHr' did not hesitate; he followed his guide head of my poor Bonaparte. Oh!1 you, you, his down the little staircase, along the dark corridor, flatterer, you who urged him on, will bear the and up another short staircase. He had recog- blame if misfortune b reaks in upon us! You 19 ~290 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. have intoxicated him with the incense of adula- with your flatteries! I am contented with being tion; youpour into his veins daily and hourly the a beloved and happy wife; I desire no crown. sweet poison which is to destroy our happiness The crowned heads that have dwelt in the Tuile and our peae! He was so good, so cheerful, so ries have become the prey of destruction, and the happy, my Bonaparte! He was contented with pearls of their diadems have been changed t the laurels which victory laid upon his brow, but tears! But what advantage is it that I shold you continued to whisper in his ear that a crown say all this to you? It is all in vain in vain! I would add new grace to his laurels. You flattered did not bring you to talk of this. It was somehis ambition; and what was quietly sleeping at thing entirely different. Listen, Fouch, I cannot the botom of his heart, and what I hushed with prevent Bonaparte's becoming an emperor, but my kisses and with my hand, that you took all you shall not make him a regicide! I will nt efforts to bring out into the light: his vanity-his suffer it! By Heaven, and all the holy angels, I love of power! Oh, Fouche! you are wicked, will not suffer it!" cruel. and pitiless! I hate, I abhor you all, for "I do not understand you, madame. I do not you are the murderers of my Bonaparte!" know what you mean." She spoke all this softly, with quick. breath, "Oh, you understand me very well, Fouche'. while the tears were streaming over her beautiful You know that I. am speaking of ing Louis face, and her whole frame trembled with emotion. XVII." She then sank, wholly overcome, upon a lounge, "Ah, madame, you are speaking of the imand pressed her small hands, sparkling with jew- postor, who gives himself out to be the orphan els, over her eyes. of the Temple.'" Madame, you are unjust," replied Fouch6, "He is it, Fouch6. I know it, I am acquainted softly. If you have overheard my conversation with the history of his flight. I was a prisoner with the First Consul, you are aware that the in the Conciergerie at the same time with Toulan, direct object of my coming was to save him from the queen's loyal servant. He knew my devotion murderers, and to insure his precious life." to the unhappy Marie Antoinette; he intrusted to "11And, moreover, to pour into his ear the poison me his secret of the dauphin's escape. Later, of a future imperial crown!" said Josephine, in- when I was released, Tallien and Barras confirmed dignantly. "Oh, I know it! With talk of cion- the story of his flight, and informed me that be spiracies and of dap,gers you urged him on. You was secreted by the Prince de Conde'. I have want him to be an emperor, that you may be a known it all, and I tell you I knew who Kleber's prince or duke! I see it all, and I cannot pre- adjutant was; I inquired for himy after he ditapvent it, for he no longer listens to me, he no peared at the battle of Marengo, and when my longer heeds the voice of his Josephine, only that agents told me that the young king died there, I of his ambitious flatterers, and he will put on the wore mourning and prayed for him. And, now imperial crown and complete our misfortune! that I learn that the son of my beautiful queen Oh! I knew it! This imperial crown will ruin is still alive, shall I suffer him to die like a us. It was prophesied to me in my youth that I traitor? No, never! Fouche', I tell you I will should be an empress, but it was added that it never suffer it; I will not have this unfortunate would be for no long time. And yet I should like young man sacrificed!1 You must save him- -I to live, and I should like to be happy still!" will have it so!"1 "You will be so, madame, " said Fouche6, with I!"cri ed Fouch6e, in amazement. "But you a smile. "1It is always good fortune to wear an im- know that it is impossible, for you have henrd my penial crown, and your beautiful head is worthy t o conversation with the consul. He himself said, bear one."'-The republic demands a royal victim. If it is "No, no,' she cried, angrily. "1Do not try me not this so-called King Louis, let it be the Duke JOSEPHINE. 291 d'Engien, for a victim must fall, in order to in- counselled him to make a friend, rather than an timidate the royalists, and bring peace at last.'" enemy, out of the all-powerfulwife o the future "But I will nothave you bring human vie- emperor. tims cried Josephine; "the republic shall no "Rise, madame," he said. "What mortal is longer be a cruel Moloch, as it was in the days of able to resist your requests, since Bonaparte hite guillotine. You shall, and you must, save self cannot? I will save your prog, whatevr the son of Queen Marie Antoinette. I desire to shall come to me afterward from it." have peace in my conscience, that I may live She sprang up, and in the wildness of her joy without reproach, and be happier perhaps than threw her beautiful arms around Fouchs neck, ~~~~~now.")~ ~and kissed him. "Fouch," she saidI ive "Btitisimpossible,"insistedFouche. "You you this kiss in the name of Queen Marie Anhave heard yourself that if, before the sun goes toinette. It is a kiss of forgiveness, and of down, Louis be not imprisoned, the sun of my blessing. You swear to e that you will save good fortune will have set." him?" "And I told you, Fouche, that if you do this- "I swear it, madame!" if you become a ricide a second time-I will be "And I swear to you that as soon as he is your unappeasable enemy your whole life long; I' saved, and Bonaparte's anger can no longer reach will undertake'to avenge on you the death of the him, I will confess all to my husband, and put it queen and her son; I will follow your every step in such a light that Bonaparte shall thank and with my hate, and will not rest till I have over- reward you. Now tell me, how you will save thrown you. And you know well that Bonaparte him." loves me, that I have influence with him, and "I shall only be able if you will help me, that what I mean to do, I accomplish at last by madame." prayers, tears, and frowns. So- do not exasperate "I am ready for any thing,-that you know me, Fouch6; do not make me your irreconcilable well. Tell me what I shall do." enemy. Save the son of the king whom you "You maust yourself direct a few lines to the killed, conciliate the shades of his unhappy pa- young man, conjuring him in the name of his rents. Foucehd, we are in the cabinet of the mother to fly, to save himself from the anger of queen! Here she often tarried, here she often the First Consul-to leave Europe." pressed' her son to her heart, and asked "Oh! Fouche', how sly you are!" said. Jose God's blessing' on him. Fouched, the spirit of phine, sadly.'- "You want my handwriting, in Marie Antoinette is with us, and she will know it order to justify yourself to the First. Consul in if you in pity spare the life of her son. Marie case of emergency. Very good. I will write the Antoinette will accuse you at the- throne of God, billet." and ple ad with God to show you no compassion, She hastened to her'table, dashed a few words if you refuse to be merciful to her son. Fouchd, upon paper, and then paseed the'note to Fouch6. in the name of the queen-on my knees-I im- "Read it, she said; "it contains all that is neplore you, save her son! cessary,.does it not?" And Josephine, her face bathed in tears, sank "Yes, madame; and you have written in such before him and raised her folded hands sup- beautiful and moving words, that the young man pliantly to Fouche6. The minister, deeply moved,. will be melted, tfnd will obey you. Will you now pale with the recollections which Josephine have the goodness to put the note in an envelope awakened within him, stooped down to, her, and and to address it?" bade her arise; and when she refused, and begged She folded it, and put it into an envelope. and threatened, and wept, his obstinacy was "To whom shall I address it?" she then asked. at last touched, or perhaps his prudence, which "Address it to King, Louis XVII." ~292 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. She did so with a quick stroke of the pen and Fouche received her there, and was unwearied in handed th letter to Fouch6. "Take it," she his complaints of the poor carriage which th said, "it is your justification. And in order that wife of the First Consul must use. you may e entirely secure," she continued, with Josephine smiled, " My dear sir," she said, sliht smile, "retain this letter yourself. What "there have been times when I should have been I would say to this young man I would rather very proud and very happy tohavead such a communicate by word of mouth." fiacre as this, and not to have been compelled to How cried Fouch6, "you want-" walk through the muddy streets of Paris. Let it "To see and speak with the king," she said, be as it is! The present days of superfluity have sorrowfully, "to beg his forgiveness for myself not made me proud, and I have a vivid recollection and Bonaparte. H1ush! do not oppose me, I am of the past. But tell me, Fouch whither are we resolved upon it. I want to see the young man." driving, and where does the young king live But e cannot come here, madame-here, into "We are driving, if you graciously approve of the ver den of the lion." it, to my house, and I have brougt the you No, not here, into the desecrated palace of man there, for in his own house he is no loger she answered, bitterly. "No, he can- safe. I have had it surrounded by agents of the not comeere-I shall go to him." secret police, with orders to arrest him on his - You are jesting, madame, it is impossible. turn. He will, of' course, not return, and it will be You, the wife of the First Consul, you will-" easier to assume the appeararnce that he receive "I want to fulfil a duty of gratitude and an intimation of his peril and escaped in season. of loyalty, Fouchb. In my heart I still feel my- But here we are before my door, and if you will self the subject of the queen. Let me ffollow the draw the thick veil whic happily you have fascall of my heart! Listen.! My carriage stands ready. tened to your bonnet, carefully before your face, I was intending to drive. to my frieaid Madame I hopefthat no on'e will see that the most beautiTallien. I will take a pleasure-drive instead., In ful lady in'Paris honors my house with her disthe Bois de Boulogne I will cause, the carriage to tinguished presence."...stop, send it away, and return on foot. You Josephine made -no reply to this flattery, but will await- in there with a flacre and. take me to -drew the black lace veil closely over her face, the kingb." and hastened to leave the fia cre, and entered the "It shall be so," said Fouchd'. "Your will house. shall be my law. I only ask that you hasten, for "Fouche'," she whispered, as s he ascended the you know -well that I have much to do to-day. I staircase, " my-heart bee-ts as violently as it did shall take advantage of the time' to procure for when I drove to the Tui leries to be presented to the yvoung man the necessary passports for Marie Antoinette. It was the first time that I travel. But, madame, you mi~st help him leave spoke with the Queen of France." the city. For you know that the gates are all "And now, madame," said Fouched, with a closed." smlile, "4you will speak withi the last King of' "I will tell Bonaparte that I am troubled to France." be in the eity) now that it is so shut in. I will "Does he know who I am? drive out to St. Cloud. His' carriage can follow "No, madame; I' have left it to you to inform nfine, and if the gate-keeper puts hinderances in him. Here we are at the saloon-he is within!"7 the way, 1 will command him to let Louis pass. "WVait only a moenaet Fotaclae. I must colNow let us hasten 1 lect myself. My haeart beats dreadfually. Now, An hour lat~er Josephine, after dismissing her -now you may open the door!" equipage watla the servanats, ent-ered the flacre They entered the little saloon. Jo~ophine stood Wh-ich waIs Wa ithig for her -near the fountain, still near the door, aaad while she haastily removed JOSEPHINE. 293 her bonnet and the thick veil and handed them to Germany, and from that time I have always to Fouch, her large, brilliant, brown eyes were lived in foreign parts. Since I have been in Paris turned to the young man who stood in the win- I have made the effort to learn somtin about w-niche, his ands calmly folded oter his him,'but n6 one could inform me and so I solaced breast. In this attitude, with the calm look of myself with the hope that he ad eally gone to his face, the gentle glance of his blue eyes, he America, for that was his object, as the other bore so close a resemblance to the pictures which gentleman who assisted me in my release inrepresented Louis XVI. in his youth, that Jose- formed me at that time." pine couldnot repress a cry of surprise, and "This other gentleman," said Josephine, softly, hastened forward to the young man, who now "was the Baron de Jarjayes, and the child who advanced out of the window recess. was carried into the Temple was the-"'"aa, e said, bowing low before this "The son of the Count de Frott rejoined beautiful and dignified lady wMhom he did not Louis. know but whose ympathizing face made his "Fouch6, it is he!" cried Josephine. "It is heart tremble-" madame, doubtless you are the the son of my noble, unfortunateQueen Marie An lady whom M. Foch said I might expect to toinette.-Oh, sire, let me testify my hoage to ~~~~~meet here." ~you, as becomes a subject when she stands before "Yes," I am she replied Josephine, with a her king. Sire, I bow my knee before you, and I Lvoice trembling with emotion, her eyes, flooded would gladly pour out my whole life in tears, and with tears all the while being fixed on the grave, with each of these tears beg your forgiveness for youthful face which brought back so many memo- France, for us all." ries of the past. I have come to see you and to And the beautiful, passionate creole sank upon bring you the greetings of a man whom you her knee, and raised her tearful eyes to the young loved, who revered you, and who died blessing man who, perplexed and blushing, gazed at her, you.~ then hastily stooped to her and conjured her to "Of whom do you speak?" asked Louis, turn- rise. ing pale. "Not, sire, she cried, "until you tell me that "Men called him Toulan," whispered Josephine. you have forgiven me-that you have forgiven us "Queen Marie Antoinette termed him Fide'le." all." "Fidie!"e cried Louis, in a tone of anguish.."I forgive you? What have I to forgive in. "Fide'le is dead!1-my deliverer, he whose fidelity you? Monsieur Fouche', who is this lady who and bravery released me from my dreadful prison, knows me and my destinies, and who brings me Oh, madame, what sad thoughts do you bring greetings from Fid~le? What have I to forgive back with his name!" inbher? Who is she? Tellime her name?" Josephine turned with a triumphant look to "Monsieur," said Fouche', slowly approaching, Fouche', who was still standing behind her in the' "this lady is__ aeighborhood of the door. Her look said, "1You "Hush! Fouche, I will tell him myself," hitersee he is no traitor, he hag stood the proof." rupted Josephine. "ISire, when your beautiful, Fouche' understood the language of this look exalted mother was still -living in Versailles, I Peerfectly, and a smile played over his features. had the honor to be presented to her, both at the Then Josephine turned again to the young man, grand receptions and at the minor ones. One " You did not know that Toulan wa s dead?" day-it was already in the unhappy Reignu of she asked, softly. Terror-when the queen had left Versailles and "How could I know it?" he cried,7 bitterly. Trianon, and was already living in the Tuileries, "I was taken at that time, to a solitary castle, I went thither to pay my respects." where I remained several years, anid then I went "That is to say, madame," cried Louis, "Iyou ~294 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. were a brave and loyal woman, for only the brave fore me-this beautiful queen and her childrenand the loyal ventured then to go to the Tuileries. and it is with me to-day as then, I must weep." Oh, n! speak on! You wanted to pay "And I!-oh, my God!-and I whispered your respects to the queen, you were saying.; she Louis, putting both his hands before his quiverreceived you, did she not? You were taken into ing face. Even Fouche seemed moved his lips the little saffron saloon?" trembled and his cheeks grew pale. No, sire, the queen was not there, she was in A long pause ensued. Nothing was heard but the little music-hall; and, because at that time the convulsive sobbing of the young man, who etiquette was no longer rigidly enforced, I was still held his hands before his face, and wept so allowed to accompany the Marchioness de Tourzel violently that the tears poured down in heavy into the music-room. The queen did not notice drops between his fingers. our entrance, for she was singing. I remained "Sire," cried Josephine, with supplicatory standin at the door, and contemplated the won- voice-" sire, by the recollection of that hour I drous picture that I saw there. The queen, in a conjure you, forgive me that I now live in those simle white dress, her light brown, slightly pow- rooms which Marie Antoinette once inhabited. dered hair concealed by a black lace head-dress, Ah! it has not been my wish, and I have done it sat at the spinet on which her white hands rested. only with pain and grief. Believe me, sire, and Near her in the window-niche sat madame, engaged forgive me that I have been compelled to live in with her embroidery. Very near her sat, in a the palace of the kings." little arm-cair, a boy of five years, a lovely child, He took his hands from his face, and gazed at with long golden locks, with large blue eyes, and her. "You live in the Tuileries? Who are you? loong like an angel. The little hands, sur- Madame, who are you?" -rounded by lace wristbands, leaned on the sup- "Sire, I was formerly Viscountess Beauharnais; port of the chair, while his looks rested inces- now I am-" santly upon the, countenance of the queen, and "The wife of the First Consld 1" exclaimed the his whole child's soul was absorbed in the gaze prince, drawing back in terror-" the wife of him which he directed to his mother. The queen was who is pursuing me, and who, as Fouche' says, singing, and the tones of her soulful voice re- means to bri-ng me to the scaffold." sound still in my. heart. The song was this: "Oh, sire, forgive him! implored Josephine;'Dors, mon enfant, clos ta paupie're,"hisntwceeisotrulbtcium Tes crbs me d~chbrent be eceur; stances compel him to act as he does. God I-im. Dors, mon enfant, ta pauvre mere self, it would seem; has chosen him to restore, A bien asez, de sadonleur.-with his heroic sword and his heroic spirit, peace And while she sang, she turned her head toward and prosperity to this. unfortunate land, bleeding her son, who listened to her mot~ionless and as if fr-om. a thousand wounds. Hle was the savior of enchanted.' See,'I cried madame, the sister of the France, and the grateful nation hailed him with *pretty boy, I'I believe Louis Charles has fallen pteans, and full of confide-nce laid the reins of asleep.' The child started up, and a glowing red- goerment in his hands. Through his victories ness suffused his cheeks.'Oh! 1Theresa,' he and his administration of affairs, France has again cid'how could any one go to sleep when MY grown stro-ng and great and happy; and yet he is mamma queen was sing-ing?' His mother stooped -daily threatened by assassins,lyet there are con. down to him, pressed a. long kiss upon his brow, tinual. conspiracies~ whose aim is to murder the and a tear fell from her eyes upon his golden man to whom France is indebted for its new hair. I saw it, and involuntarily my eyes filled; birth. What wonder that he at last, to put an I could not hold back my tears, and went softly end to these conspiracies, and these attempts out to compose myself. Sire, I see you still be- upon his life, will, by a deed of horror, inspire JOSEPHINE. 295 the conspirators with fear? He is firmly re- mies of Queen Marie Antoinette, and who would solved on this. The lion has been aroused from be your mocking heirs. Will you grant to the his calmness by new conspiracies, and the shak- Count de Lille the uncontested right of calling ig of his mane will this time annihilate all who himself Louis XVIII.?-the Count de Lille, who venture to conspire against him. Sire, I do not caused Marie Antoinette to shed so many tears." accuse you; I do not say that you do wrongly to The prince flamed up at this, and his eyes make every attempt to regain the inheritance of flashed. your fathers. May God judge between you and "No," he cried, "the Count de Lille shall not your enemies But your enemies have the power have this joy. He shall not rest his curse-laden in their ands, and you must yield to that power. head upon the pillow with the calm consciousness Oh my dear, unfortunate, pitiable lord, I conjure that he will be the king of the future. My vision from the anger of the First shall disturb his sleep, and the possibility that I Consul, and from the pursuers who have been shall return and demand my own again, shall be sent out to seek you. If you are found, you are the terror that shall keep peace far from him. lost, and no one in the world will then be able to You are right, madame, I must live. The spirit save yu. Fly, therefore-fly, while there is still of Marie Antoinette hovers over me, and demands ~~~~~~~time!"~ ~ ~that I live, and by my life avenge her of her most Fly! cried the young prince, bitterly, "ever- bitter enemy. Let it be so, then. Tell me, more fly! My whole life is a perpetual flight, a Fouche, whither shall I go? Where shall the continuous concealment. Like the Wandering poor criminal hide himself, whose only offence Jew I must journey from land to land-nowhere lies in this, that he is alive, and that he is the son can I rest, nowhere find peace. Without a home, of his father? Where is there a cave in which without.parents, without a name, I wander around, the poor hunted game can hi mself from the and, like a hunted wild beast, I must continually hounds?" start afresh, for the hounds are close behind me. "Sire, you must away, away into for'eign lands. Well, be it so, then; I am weary of defying my The arm of the First Consul is powerful, and his. fate longer; I surrender myself to what is inevita- eagle eye scans all Europe, and would discover ble. The First Consul may send me as a conspir- -you at any point." ator to the scaffold. I am prepared to die. I "You must for' the present find a home beyond shall find that peaceo in death -at least that life so the sea," said Fouche, approaching nearer. "I I cruelly denies me. I will not fly-I will remain, have already taken -measures which will allow you The example of my parents will teach me how to to do so.,There are ships sailing southward from die." Marseilles every day, and in one of these you must "Oh, speak not so!I" exclaimed Josephine. go-to America. America is the land of freedom, "Have pity on me, have pity on yourself. You of adventures, and'of great deeds. You will there are still so young, life has so much for you yet, find sufficient occupation for your spirit and for there remains so much to you yet to hope for. your love of work." You must live, not to avenge the' death of your "It is true"' said Louis, with a bitter smile;.illustrkous parents, but to make its memory less " I will go to America. I will find a refuge with poignant. Son of kings, you have received life the savages. Perhaps they will appoint me as from God, and from your parents, you may -not their chieftain, and adorn my head with a crown llghtly throw it away, but must defend it, for the of feathers instead of the crown of gold. Yes, blessing of your mother rests upon your head, I will go to America. In the primeval forests, which you must save from the scaffold." with the children of nature,' there will be a home' "You must live, said Fouche, "for your death for the exile, the homeless one. Madame, I thank would bring joy to those who we're the bitter ene- you for your sympathy and your goodness, and ~290~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. y thanks shall consist in this, that I subject (JH AP TE R X XxX I myself wholly to your will. You loved Queen Marie Antoinette. A blessing on you, and all AFTER LONG WANDERINGS. who love you." FOR the city of Paris the 16th of February e extended both his hands to Josephine, and, 1 1804, was a day of terror. The gate as she was about to press them to her lips, he closed the whole day, military patrols passd Lrd her with a sad smile. stooped toward her with a sad smile. through the streets, at whose corners the proclaMdmbless my poor brow with the touch, bless my poor brow with the touch mations were posted, by. which Murat, the govof those lips which once kissed the hand of my ernor of Paris, announced to the cl assassins were within the walls, intent on taking Josephine did as she was asked, and a tear the life of the First Consu the life of the First Consul. eyes upon his fair hair. The condemned surgeon, Querolle, had mean"Go, sireshe said "and may God bless and time, made his confession, and named the head! If you ever need my help, call upon protect yo Ify n, c of the conspiracy and their accomplices, and, only me, and be sure that I will never neglect your after all the persons mentioned by him were Rvater all the persons mentioned by. rested, were the gates of the city opened. An hour later the wife of the First Consul drove A great trial then commenced of th.oud. At the corner of the Rue St.. had been sent by the Bourbons for this nefarious onore a second carriage joined her own, and a purpose. Among the. accused we young man who sat in it greeted Josephine deferPichegru, the abettor of Georges,a entially as she leaned far out of the carriage to Moreau, the most prominent of all. reunhsslute. return his saflute..The history of this trial was enveloped in oarriers the carriage stopped, for the At brrt c p, f scurity, and it was faintly whispered that Pichegates of the city were still closed. But Josephine gin. had taken his own life in, prison, and more beckoned the officer of the guard to her carriage, faintly yet was it rumored that'he was secretly and, fortunately, he knew the wife of the Firstdipthdnprs.Adteonneftee Consul. dythere were to be seen through all Paris "It is not necessary," said Josephine, with a onlyspl, saCaeanD umrfhro charming smile, "it is not -necessary. that I should ran through all the streets and all the houses. procure a permit from. the First Cons'ul to allow Tesoywscretta h uedEg myself and my escort to pass the gate? You do hetegado ftePic eCn~ a not uppse hatI ad m ~ecetay, ho itsin~been arrested by French soldiers at Baden, beyond th nxtcarige blog o hevilanswh the frontiers, and had been brought to Viucennes; threatenthe lif of my usbandthat he was accused there that same night of beThe officer, enchanted with the grace of Josephine, bowed low, and commanded the guard in- ing an accomplice in a plQt to take the life of the *First Consul, and to disturb the peace of the restantly to open the gate and allow the two car-pulcththewsqikyonmedba -riages to paspblc;tathewssuiky.onene b riages to pass. ~~~~~court-martial, and shot before morning within the And so the son of the queen was saved. For frrs fVnens the second time he left Paris, to, go forth as an The report was. only too true. Bonaparte had exileand n adentuer tomeethis atekept his word.; he had sacrificed a royal victim to the threatened cause of the republic; he would, by one deed of horror, fill the conspirators witl] fea r, and cause them to abandon their, bloody plans. The means' employed were cruel, but the end was reached which Bonaparte hoped to attain, AFTER LONG WANDERINGS. 29 and thbtorh her were no more conspiracies The days passed by, the days of splendor, and aainst the life of the First Consul, who, on the then followed for Josephine the days of misery 18t of May, that same year, declared himself and grief. Repelled by Napoleon, she mourned ~~~~~~emperor. ~four years over her spurned love and her ruined A few days after this, the public trial of the fortunes; but then, when Napoleon's star went accsed began, which Fouche attended as the down, when he was robbed of his imperial crown reinstalled minister of police, and over which and compelled to leave France, Josephine's heart Regnier presided in his new capacity of chief broke, and she hid herself in her grave, in order ~~~~~~~~judge. ~not to witness Napoleon's humiliation. Seventeen of those indicted were condemned And thus the empire was abolished, and the todeath others to years of imprisonment, and Count de Lille called back by foreign potentates, amon these was General Moreau. But the pop- and not by the French nation, in order as Louis ular voiqe declared itself, so loudly and euergeti- XVIII., to re6rect the throne of the Lilies. cally for the brave general of the republic, that it And where, all this time, was the son of Queen ws considered expedient to heed it. Moreau Marie Antoinette? Where wa s Li was released from prison, and went to the Spanish He had kept his word which he gave to Josefrontier, wence he sailed to North America. phine. He had gone to the primeval forets and On the 25th of June, twelve of the conspira- to the savages, and they had given him a crown tors, Georges at their head, were executed; the of feathers and made him their kin.* For years other five, who had been condemned to death, he lived among them, honored as t had their sentence commuted to banishment. as their hero. Then a l9nging for his country The gentle, kind-hearted Josephine viewed all seized him, and going to Brazil in these things with sadness, for her power over the his people, he made use of the opportunity to heart of her husband was waning, and the sun of enter into a contract with Don Juan, and not reher glory had set. Her prayers and tears had no turn'to his copper-colored tribe. The precious longer a prevailing influence over Bonaparte, and treasure which he possessed, his papers, he - hail she had not been able to avert: the death of the been able to preserve during all the journeys and Duke d'Enghien. amid all the perils of his life, and these'papers. "I have tried all means,,' she said, with tears, procured him a hospitable and honorable recapto Bourrienne, the chief secretary of the emperor; tion with Don Juan. From him the king without "I wanted. at anv cost to turn him aside from his name or inheritance learned the changes that had dreadful intention. He had -not apprised me of meanwhile taken place in France, and,,at the first.it, but you know in what way I learned it. At opportunity which offered, he returned to Europe, my request he confessed to me his purpose, but arriv ing at Paris in the middle of the year 1816. lie was steeled against my prayers. I -clung to The Prince de Conde', now the Duke de Bourhim., I fell on my knees before him.'Do not bon, received the wanderer with tenderness, hut meddle with what. is none of your business! he with deep regret, for now it was too late, and his cried, angrily, as he pushed me away from him, hope for a restoration of the returning prince'These are not women's affairs-leave me in could rest on no basis. The Count de Provence je~ace.' And so I had to let the worst Come, and was. now Kingr L ouis XVIII., and never would he could do nothing to hinder it. But afterward, deS`cen1 from his throne to give back to the son when all was over, Bonaparte was deeply affected, of Marie Antoinette that crown which he wore and for several days he remained sad and silent, with so much satisfaction and pride. and scolded me no more when. he found me in. Much more simple and'easy was it to treat the'tears." pretender as a lunatic or as an adventurer, and *Bourrienne, "M.,4moires du Con'sulat et de 1'Empire."1 * "M~moires dnDuiede Normandia." pp. 89-162. ~298 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. to set his claims aside forever. Useless were all "My bed was carried, he said, into thb w the letters which the Baron de Richemont, the cell that was prepared for me, and as soon as the name that Louis still bore, addressed to his uncle inspectors had left me alone, my first care was to the king, to his sister the Duchess de Angoulame, examine the walls. There were to be seen there imploring them for an interview. No answer was some words, recollections of the past, written received. No audience was granted to this ad- with chalk with pencil, or with a sharp tool. I Venturer, whose claims could not be recognized found there also two pretty French lines, which I without dethroning Louis XVIII., and destroying am sorry I did not copy. I begantosing them the prospects of the crown for the duchess's son, to my melody of The Poor ilagdalen,' when the Duke de Berri. Louis XVII. had died and a voice near me responded with another air. he could t return to the living. IIe saw it, he When the singer ended, I called out, Bravo! He knew it, and a deep sorrow took possession of replied with a polite salutation, and asked me if him. But he rose above it-he would not die; he I was Erench. would live, a terror and an avenger to his cruel "'No, I am Italian and am called Silvio P~~~~~~~~~~relatives. ~lico.' But it was a restless life that the son of the "'The author of Francesca da imini?' queen must lead, in order to protect himself from "' Yes, the same.' the daggers of his powerful enemies. The Prince "And now there followed a courtly compliment, de Cond conjured him to secure himself against with the usual regrets for my imprisonment. He the attacks which were made more than once asked in what part of Italy I was born, and when upon the Baron de Richemont, and Louis gave I told him in Saluzzo, in Piedmont, he awarded heed to his requests and tears. He travelled the Piedmontese some words of high praise, and abroad; but after returning in two years from spoke particularly of Bodoni (a celebrated printer, a journey in Asia and Africa, on landing -on the director of the national printing establishment at Italian coast, he was arrested in 1818, at the in- Parma). His compliments were brief and disstigation. of the Austrian ambassador at Manuta, criminating, and disclosed a finely cultivated and confined in the prison of Milan. mind. Seve yer teuhap ricIpetite "And now, sir,' said I,' allow me to ask you Austrian prison, without once being summoned who you are.' before a judge-seven years of solitude, of dark- "'You were just singing a song that I wrote.' ness, and of want. But the son of Marie Antoi- "These pretty verse's here, upoin the wall, are nette had learned in his youth to bear these they yours ~ things, and his prison-life in Milan was not so "Yes, they, are.".cruel as that'-in the Temple under Simon. Here "You are therefore-' there were at IONAs sympathizi ng souls who pitied "The Duke de Normandie.' him; even the turnkeys of the prison were cour-, The watchman was just thien walking past my teous and kind when they entered the cell of' the window and so I was still. After some time we "King of France; " and one day, beyond the wall resumed our conversation. When I asked whether of his apartment, was heard a voice singing, in he was Louis XVII., he -responded in the affirmagentle, melodious tones, a romqnza which Louis tive, and began to declaim hotly against Louis had composed, and written on the wall when he XVIII. his uncle, the usurper of his rights. occupied the neighboring cell. "I implored him to give me his history in brief This voice, which sounded like a greeting from outlines. He did so, and related to me all the the world, was that of Silvio Pellico. The cele- detalls connected with the life of Louis XVII., brated author of "Le Mie Prigioni," relates in which I knew only in part. He told me how he touching words this salutation of his neighbor: had been imprisoned with Simon the cobbler, AFTER LONG WANDERINGS. 299 been compelled to sign a calumniating charge again; the death of King Louis XVIII. ad re. against his mother, etc. He then related to stored him to the walks of men. Bt another me the story of his escape and his flight to King of France assumed his place at once; the America of his return to reclaim the throne of Count d'Artois ascended the throne under the title his fathers, and his arrest in Mantua. of Charles X. He portrayed his history with extraordinary The poor Baron de Richemont bore his sorrows' —!.. life. All the incidents of the French Revolution and his humiliation into the valleys of Sitzer were present before him; he spoke with natural land. But when, in the year 1830,. King Charles eloquence, and wove in piquant anecdotes very X. abdicated the throne, the son of Marie Antoiapopos. His manner of expression smacked nette again came forth from his solitude, issued once in a while of the soldier, but there was no a proclamation to the French eople, and, in lack of the elegance that disclosed his intercourse the presence of all Europe, demanded his inheritwith good society, ance. Will you allow me,' I asked him,' to treat you Yet, amid the clash of weapons and the roar as a friend and leave off all titles?' of revolutions, the voice of the unfortunate prince I want exactly that,' he answered.'Misfor- was overborne. He had no soldiers, no cannon, tune has taught me the good lesson to despise all to enforce silence and make himself be eard. the vanities of earth. Believe me, my pride does But the Duke d'Orleans, Louis Philippe, had solnot lie in this, that I am a king, but that I am a diers and cannon; and the arms of his depend~~~~~~man.)'~ ~ants, and the magic of his wealth, placed him After this we had long conversations mornings upon the throne in July, 1830.* and evenins, and I recognized in him a noble,' The poor Baron de Richemont, the son of kings, beautiful soul, sensitive to all that is good. He the last of the Bourbons in France, ad now a sinknew how to win hearts, and even the turnkeys gle friend, who, perhaps, would receive him. This were kind to him. One of them said to me on friend was the Duke de Bo~urbon-Conde', now an coming from the cell of my neighbor: II have old man of. eighlty years. One day, some weeks strong hopes that he will make me chief porter after the accession of Louis Philippe, the Duke de when he is king; I have had the boldness to Bourbon received at his palace of St. Len a genask him for the position, and he has promised it.' tleeman whom nobody knew, who announced him-. "To the veneration of the turnkeys for the king self as the Baron de Richemont. of tkeftiture I owe it that one day when I was The duke went out into the anteroom, gree ted led to trial, and had to pass by his cell, they his guest with the greatest deference, and led him opened the doors that. I might see my lllustrious into his cabinet. There the two gentlemen carfriend. He was of medium size, from forty'to nied on -a long and earnest conversation, and the forty-five years of age, somewhat. embonpoint, and secretary of the duke, who was at work in the had a thoroughly Bourbon physiognomy." * library hard. by, distinctly heard his master say, After seven years of imprisonment, the gates with trembling tones:."Sire, I implore you, foropened at last for the Baron de Richemont; and give me. The circumstances were stronger than he who had been placed there without the sen- my will. Sire, go not into judgment with metence of a judge, was released with as little show forgive me." of authorit y. The son of the queen was free To this an angry voice replied: "No, I will not forgive you, for you have dealt perfidiously with * SivioPelico,"LaTite Prgioi,"p. 5 etseq Anthe son, as you did once with the mother! You examination of Silvio Pellico's work will convince the reader that Silvio Pellico was by no means a believer in havie not redeemed the oath that you once gave the gennineness of his companion's claims. Miss MUMl- m.Ilaeyu a o egaiu oyu bach seems to have heen scarcely just in leaving the im -________________________ pression conveyed in the text.-Ta., It~ was the 9th of August.-Ta. ~300 ~ MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON. and pardon you. Take care that He does not trial. Spectators poured in from all sides, and punish you for the treachery that you have shown also, in an un'expected manner, witnesses who de. to me. You swore that you would acknowledge dcared themselves ready to prove the identity of no other king but me, and yet you have taken the Baron de Richemont with the Duke de Nor your oath to the third king. Farewell! May the mandie, son of Louis XVI. The accused appeared Almighty protect you! We shall see each other, entirely calm and dignified before the bar, and per a better world, and there you will when the'counsel'for the government accused him have to give your account to a Judge whom of appropriating a name that did not belong to nothing can mitigate. Be happy, and may the him, he asked quietly, "Gentlemen, if I am not dead seep in peace!" * Louis XVII., will you tell me who I am? The secreta then heard the forcible closing No one knew how to reply to this question of a door, and all became still. After an hour he but many eminent legitimists had come to solentered the duke's cabinet, because the silence emnly declare that the accused was in truth their troubled him. The old duke sat in his arm-chair, king, and that he was the rescued orphan of the pale, and gazing with constant looks at the door Temple. trough which the stranger had departed. He Even the president of the court seemed to be was reticent the whole day, and in the night fol- convinced of this, and his closin words in ad lowin his valet heard him softly praying and dressing the jury were these; Gentlemen wo weeping. On the next morning, August 27th, is the accused who stands before you to-day? 1830, on entering the sleeping-room of his mas- What is his name, his lineage, his family? What ter, he found him.dead and already rigid. The are his antecedents, his whole history? Is bean duke had anged himself at the window of his instrument of the enemies of France, r is he ~~~~~~own room. ~much more, an unfortunate who has miraculously The last dependant of the unhappy king, who esc aped the horrors of a bloody revolution, and,.still hore the name of the pretender, was dead, as laid under bans by h is birth'. has now no name were all his relations, including his sister, the and no refuige for his head?" Duchess d'Angoul~me. But from the dead there The jury, however, were not called upon to came a greeting.' She bad ordered a large sum to.answer this question; they had simply to reply be paid yearly to the'Baron de Richemont, and to the question whether the accused was guilty the report was that she had wished to recognize of a conspiracy against, the state. This they anhim on bar death-bed as her brother. But her'swered with a " Guilty," and condemned the acconfessor bad counselled her that suc h a recogni- cused to an imprisonment of twelve years. tion would introduce new contentions among the The Duke de Normandie, or King Louis Charles, Bourbons,, and give the pretender Henry V. equal as we may choose to call him, was taken to St. claims witha Louis XVII. Pe'lagie; but during the next year, through the Yet the Duke de' Normandie was not silent; he assistance of powerful friends, which his trial spoke so loudly of his rights that Louis Philippe had gained *over to him, he was released from at last held it advisable to arrest him and bring prison, and again spent some quiet years in him to trial. The preliminary investigation con- Swit zerland. tinned -fifteen months; then he was brought be- Then came the year 1848, the year of revolufore the court, and accused of conspiracy against tions, whose storm-waves drove Louis Philippe the safety of the state' to England, neVer to ascend again tfme throne of The Gazette des Tr-ibunaux of the 3d, 4th, and France. 5th of November, 1834, gave the details of this Again Louis Charles issued from his solitude, and this time nDot alone. A swarm of rich and *The very wordg of Bichemont.-See "1Mdmoires du Due de Normnandie," p. 243. powerful legitimists thronged around him, a jour. AFTER LONG WANDERINGS. 301 nal-L'nexible-was sedured to the interests misfortune for me, but it would certainly be a of the Duke de Normandie, and La Vendee, greatelr one for France, and it would rightly be with a thousand loyal voices, summoned King said of both of us that we merit our misfortune; Louis XVI to herself. There, as he was on still less do I hope to attain to wealth and igh the point of hastening to his faithful ones, God station by being recognized. You know that I laid his hand upon him and held him back; need very little for my support,and that this stroke of paralysis crippled his limbs. After re- little is amply provided for. What else should I cover ro this attack, the strength of his strive for? To avenge myself? My fried, I am id was taken away, and the decided, fiery, in- at all age when the blood flows slower through dftigable pretender became a gentle, pious the veins, and when one finds an inexpressible onk, who asted and prayed, and wandered to charmin forgiving. What, then, do I wish? What Rome to have an interview with Pope Pius IX., -could I have? Why do I incessantly strive? and received absolution from him for all his sins. This is the reason, my friend: Ishould like, beThe pope met the Duke de Normandiet at Gaeta fore my death, to convince all who have disinteron the 20th of February, 1849, and had.a long and estedly believed in me, that it is not a political secret conversation with him; and, when Louis adventurer, but the royal'orphan of te Temple,' arles withdrew, it was as a quiet, pious, smil- who owes them his friendship, and gives them ing man, who never denied his high extraction, his gratitude." but who had no longer a wish to be restored to And this last goal of his life was within his the inheritance of his fathers. More and more reach. The friends and legitimists who surhe withdrew from the world, and lived only in the rounded him believed in him, aind when he diedl circle of a few noble-born legitimists, who never. his dJpendants and servants mourned for him'as addressed him excepting as "1sire." He accepted for a departed king., They bore him with solemn the title as one that was his due, and never re- pomp to his grave, at the dead of night. Some fused it even when approached by many adherents fifty persons followed his coffin,.and a priest went of the new Napoleonic dynasty. At that time he before it. He was buried in the churchyard of wrote to his friends: Villefranche, and his tombstone bears the follow"You ask me what I wish, what the end of my ing inscription: struggle is, which has now lasted more than a half R RET century? I will tell you. You do not suppose, LOI CARE, FFAN, I trus t, that I am still determined to ascend'theBonaVesilMrc2,185 throne of France: to do this would be a great Died in the ChAteaui of Vaux-Renaud, Auguist 10, is5a THE END.