the memoirs of marie antoinette-第26章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
During the winter the Queen attended the Opera balls with a single lady of the palace； and always found there Monsieur and the Comte d'Artois。 Her people concealed their liveries under gray cloth greatcoats。 She never thought she was recognized； while all the time she was known to the whole assembly； from the first moment she entered the theatre； they pretended； however； not to recognise her； and some masquerade manoeuvre was always adopted to give her the pleasure of fancying herself incognito。
Louis XVI。 determined once to accompany the Queen to a masked ball； it was agreed that the King should hold not only the grand but the petit coucher； as if actually going to bed。 The Queen went to his apartment through the inner corridors of the palace； followed by one of her women with a black domino； she assisted him to put it on； and they went alone to the chapel court； where a carriage waited for them； with the captain of the Guard of the quarter； and a lady of the palace。 The King was but little amused； spoke only to two or three persons； who knew him immediately； and found nothing to admire at the masquerade but Punches and Harlequins； which served as a joke against him for the royal family； who often amused themselves with laughing at him about it。
An event； simple in itself； brought dire suspicion upon the Queen。 She was going out one evening with the Duchesse de Lupnes； lady of the palace； when her carriage broke down at the entrance into Paris； she was obliged to alight； the Duchess led her into a shop； while a footman called a 'fiacre'。 As they were masked； if they had but known how to keep silence； the event would never have been known； but to ride in a fiacre is so unusual an adventure for a queen that she had hardly entered the Opera…house when she could not help saying to some persons whom she met there： 〃That I should be in a fiacre！ Is it not droll？〃
From that moment all Paris was informed of the adventure of the fiacre。 It was said that everything connected with it was mysterious； that the Queen had kept an assignation in a private house with the Duc de Coigny。 He was indeed very well received at Court； but equally so by the King and Queen。 These accusations of gallantry once set afloat； there were no longer any bounds to the calumnies circulated at Paris。 If； during the chase or at cards； the Queen spoke to Lord Edward Dillon； De Lambertye； or others； they were so many favoured lovers。 The people of Paris did not know that none of those young persons were admitted into the Queen's private circle of friends； the Queen went about Paris in disguise； and had made use of a fiacre； and a single instance of levity gives room for the suspicion of others。
Conscious of innocence； and well knowing that all about her must do justice to her private life； the Queen spoke of these reports with contempt； contenting herself with the supposition that some folly in the young men mentioned had given rise to them。 She therefore left off speaking to them or even looking at them。 Their vanity took alarm at this； and revenge induced them either to say； or to leave others to think； that they were unfortunate enough to please no longer。 Other young coxcombs； placing themselves near the private box which the Queen occupied incognito when she attended the public theatre at Versailles； had the presumption to imagine that they were noticed by her； and I have known such notions entertained merely on account of the Queen's requesting one of those gentlemen to inquire behind the scenes whether it would be long before the commencement of the second piece。
The list of persons received into the Queen's closet which I gave in the preceding chapter was placed in the hands of the ushers of the chamber by the Princesse de Lamballe； and the persons there enumerated could present themselves to enjoy the distinction only on those days when the Queen chose to be with her intimates in a private manner； and this was only when she was slightly indisposed。 People of the first rank at Court sometimes requested special audiences of her； the Queen then received them in a room within that called the closet of the women on duty； and these women announced them in her Majesty's apartment。
The Duc de Lauzun had a good deal of wit； and chivalrous manners。 The Queen was accustomed to see him at the King's suppers； and at the house of the Princesse de Guemenee； and always showed him attention。 One day he made his appearance at Madame de Guemenee's in uniform； and with the most magnificent plume of white heron's feathers that it was possible to behold。 The Queen admired the plume； and he offered it to her through the Princesse de Guemenee。 As he had worn it the Queen had not imagined that he could think of giving it to her； much embarrassed with the present which she had； as it were； drawn upon herself； she did not like to refuse it； nor did she know whether she ought to make one in return； afraid； if she did give anything； of giving either too much or too little； she contented herself with once letting M。 de Lauzun see her adorned with the plume。 In his secret 〃Memoirs〃 the Duke attaches an importance to his present； which proves him utterly unworthy of an honour accorded only to his name and rank
A short time afterwards he solicited an audience； the Queen granted it； as she would have done to any other courtier of equal rank。 I was in the room adjoining that in which he was received； a few minutes after his arrival the Queen reopened the door； and said aloud； and in an angry tone of voice； 〃Go； monsieur。〃 M。 de Lauzun bowed low； and withdrew。 The Queen was much agitated。 She said to me： 〃That man shall never again come within my doors。〃 A few years before the Revolution of 1789 the Marechal de Biron died。 The Duc de Lauzun； heir to his name； aspired to the important post of colonel of the regiment of French guards。 The Queen； however； procured it for the Duc du Chaatelet。 The Duc de Biron espoused the cause of the Duc d'Orleans； and became one of the most violent enemies of Marie Antoinette。
It is with reluctance that I enter minutely on a defence of the Queen against two infamous accusations with which libellers have dared to swell their envenomed volumes。 I mean the unworthy suspicions of too strong an attachment for the Comte d'Artois； and of the motives for the tender friendship which subsisted between the Queen； the Princesse de Lamballe； and the Duchesse de Polignac。 I do not believe that the Comte d'Artois was； during his own youth and that of the Queen； so much smitten as has been said with the loveliness of his sister…in…law； I can affirm that I always saw that Prince maintain the most respectful demeanour towards the Queen； that she always spoke of his good…nature and cheerfulness with that freedom which attends only the purest sentiments； and that none of those about the Queen ever saw in the affection she manifested towards the Comte d'Artois more than that of a kind and tender sister for her youngest brother。 As to the intimate connection between Marie Antoinette and the ladies I have named； it never had； nor could have； any other motive than the very innocent wish to secure herself two friends in the midst of a numerous Court； and notwithstanding this intimacy； that tone of respect observed by persons of the most exalted rank towards majesty never ceased to be maintained。
The Queen； much occupied with the society of Madame de Polignac； and an unbroken series of amusements； found less time for the Abbe de Vermond； he therefore resolved to retire from Court。 The world did him the honour to believe that he had hazarded remonstrances upon his august pupil's frivolous employment of her time； and that he considered himself； both as an ecclesiastic and as instructor； now out of place at Court。 But the world was deceived his dissatisfaction arose purely from the favour shown to the Comtesse Jules。 After a fortnight's absence we saw him at Versailles again； resuming his usual functions。
The Queen could express herself with winning graciousness to persons who merited her praise。 When M。 Loustonneau was appointed to the reversion of the post of first surgeon to the King； he came to make his acknowledgments。 He was much beloved by the poor； to whom he had chiefly devoted his talents； spending nearly thirty thousand francs a year on indigent sufferers。 The Queen replied to his thanks by saying： 〃You are satisfied； Monsieur； but I am far from being so with the inhabitants of Versailles。 On the news of your appointment the town should have been illuminated。〃〃How so； Madame？〃 asked the astonished surgeon； who was very modest。 〃Why；〃 replied the Queen； 〃if the poor whom you have succoured for the past twenty years had each placed a single candle in their windows it would have been the most beautiful illumination ever witnessed。〃
The Queen did not limit her kindness to friendly words。 There was frequently seen in the apartments of Versailles a veteran captain of the grenadiers of France； called the Chevalier d'Orville； who for four years had been soliciting from the Minister of War the post of major； or of King's lieutenant。 He was known to be very poor； but he supported his lot without complaining of this vexatious delay in rewarding his honourable services。 He regularly attended the Marechal de Segur； at the hour appointed for receiving the numerous solicitations in his department。 One day the Marshal said to him： 〃You are still at Versailles； M。 d'Orville？〃〃Monsieur；〃 he replied； 〃you may observe that by this board of the flooring where I regularly place myself； it is already worn down several lines by the weight of my body。〃 The Queen frequently stood at the window of her bedchamber to observe with her glass the people walking in the park。 Sometimes she inquired the names of those who were unknown to her。 One day she saw the Chevalier d'Orville passing； and asked me the name of that knight of Saint Louis； whom she had seen everywhere for a long time past。 I knew who he was； and related his history。 〃That must be put an end to；〃 said the Queen； with some vivacity。 〃Such an example of indifference is calculated to discourage our soldiers。〃 Next day； in crossing the gallery to go to mass； the Queen perceived the Chevalier d'Orville； she went directly towards him。 The poor man fell back in the recess of a window； looking to the right and left to discover the person whom the Queen was seeking； when she thus addressed him： 〃M。 d'Orville； you have been several years at Versailles； soliciting a majority or a King's lieutenancy。 You must have very powerless patrons。〃〃I have none； Madame；〃 replied the Chevalier； in great confusion。 〃Well！ I will take you under my protection。 To…morrow at the same hour be here with a petition； and a memorial of your services。〃 A fortnight after； M。 d'Orville was appointed King's lieutenant； either at La Rochelle or at Rochefort。
＇Louis XVI。 vied with his Queen in benevolent actions of this kind。 An old officer had in vain solicited a pension during the administration of the Duc de Choiseul。 He returned to the charge in the times of the Marquis de Montesnard and the Duc d'Aiguillon。 He urged his claims； to Comte du Muy； who made a note of them。 Tired
