marie antoinette and her son-第10章
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who； laughingly； pressed her to his heart； and drew her within the
mill。
〃I thank you； Louis！〃 cried the queen； bending forward and pressing
the hand of her husband to her lips。 〃What a pleasant surprise you
have prepared for me； and how good it is in you to meet me here in
my pleasant plantation！〃
〃Did you not say but lately that you wanted this masquerade？〃 asked
the king； with a pleasant smile。 〃Did not you yourself assign the
parts； and appoint me to be the miller； the Count de Provence to be
mayor； and the whimsical Artois to be schoolmaster de par la reine；
as it runs here in Trianon； and do you wonder now that we； as it
becomes the obedient； follow our queen's commands； and undertake the
charge which she intrusts to us？〃 〃Oh； Louis； how good you are！〃
said the queen； with tears in her eyes。 〃I know indeed how little
pleasure you； so far as you yourself are concerned； find in these
foolish sports and idle acts； and yet you sacrifice your own wishes
and take part in our games。〃 〃That is because I love you！〃 said the
king with simplicity； and a smile of pleasure beautified his broad；
good natured face。 〃Yes； Marie； I love you tenderly； and it gives me
joy to contribute to your happiness。〃
The queen gently laid her arm around Louis's neck； and let her head
fall upon his shoulder。 〃Do you still know； Louis；〃 asked she； 〃do
you still know what you said to me when you gave Trianon to me？〃
〃Well；〃 said the king； shaking his head slowly。 〃You said to me；
'You love flowers。 I will present to you a whole bouquet。 I give you
Little Trianon。' ＇Footnote： The very words of the king。See
〃Memoire de Marquis de Crequy；〃 vol。 iv。＇ My dear sire！ you have
given me not only a bouquet of flowers； but a bouquet of pleasant
hours； of happy years； for which I thank you； and you alone。〃
〃And may this bouquet never wither； Marie！〃 said the king； laying
his hand as if in blessing on the head of his wife； and raising his
good； blue eyes with a pious and prayerful look。 〃But； my good
woman；〃 said he then； after a little pause； 〃you quite let me forget
the part I have to play； and the mill wheel is standing still again；
since the miller is not there。 It is； besides； in wretched order；
and it is full needful that I practise my art of black smith here a
little； and put better screws and springs in the machine。 But
listen！ what kind of song is that without？〃
〃Those are the peasants greeting us with their singing；〃 said the
queen； smiling。 〃Come； Mr。 Miller； let us show ourselves to them。〃
She drew the king out upon the small staircase。 Directly at the foot
of it stood the king's two brothers； the Counts de Provence and
Artois； as chief official and schoolmaster； and behind them the
duchesses and princesses； dukes and counts； arrayed as peasants。 In
united chorus they greeted the mistress and the miller：
〃Oil peut…on etre mieux； Qu'au seiu de sa famille？〃
The queen smiled； and yet tears glittered in her eyes； tears of joy。
Those were happy hours which the royal pair spent that day in
Trianonhours of such bright sunshine that Marie Antoinette quite
forgot the sad clouds of the morning； and gave herself undisturbed
to the enjoyment of this simple； country life。 They sat down to a
country dinnera slight； simple repast； brought together from the
resources of the hen…coop； the mill； and the milk…room。 Then the
whole company went out to lie down in the luxuriant grass which grew
on the border of the little grove； and looked at the cows grazing
before them on the meadow； and with stately dignity pursuing the
serious occupation of chewing the cud。 But as peasants have
something else to do than to live and enjoy； their mistress； Marie
Antoinette； soon left her resting…place to set her people a good
example in working。 The spinning…wheel was brought and set upon a
low stool； Marie Antoinette began to spin。 How quickly the wheel
began to turn； as if it were the wheel of fortuneto…day bringing
joy； and to…morrow calamity！
The evening has not yet come； and the wheel of fortune is yet
turning； yet calamity is there。
Marie Antoinette does not yet know it； her eye still beams with joy；
a happy smile still plays upon her rosy lips。 She is sitting now
with her company by the lake； with the hook in her hand； and looking
with laughing face and fixed attention at the rod； and crying aloud
as often as she catches a fish。 For these fishes are to serve as
supper for the company； and the queen has ceremoniously invited her
husband to an evening meal； which she herself will serve and
prepare。 The queen smiles still and is happy； her spinning…wheel is
silent； but the wheel of fate is moving still。
The king is no longer there。 He has withdrawn into the mill to rest
himself。
And yet there he is not alone。 Who ventures to disturb him？ It must
be something very serious。 For it is well known that the king very
seldom goes to Trianon； and that when he is there he wishes to be
entirely free from business。
And yet he is disturbed today； yet the premier； Baron de Breteuil；
is come to seek the miller of Little Trianon； and to beseech him
even there to be the king again。
CHAPTER IV。
THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE。
Directly after a page； arrayed in the attire of a miller's boy； had
announced the Baron de Breteuil； the king with drew into his chamber
and resumed his own proper clothing。 He drew on the long； gray coat；
the short trousers of black velvet； the long； gold embroidered
waistcoat of gray satin； and over this the bright； thin ribbon of
the Order of Louis…the attire in which the king was accustomed to
present himself on gala…days。
With troubled； disturbed countenance； he then entered the little
apartment where his chief minister； the Baron de Breteuil； was
awaiting him。
〃Tell me quickly；〃 ejaculated the king； 〃do you bring bad news？ Has
any thing unexpected occurred？〃
〃Sire；〃 answered the minister； respectfully； 〃something unexpected
at all events； but whether something bad will be learned after
further investigation。〃
〃Investigation！〃 cried the king。 〃Then do you speak of a crime？〃
〃Yes； sire； of a crime…the crime of a base deception； and； as it
seems； of a defalcation involving immense sums and objects of great
value。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the king； with a sigh of relief； 〃then the trouble is
only one of money。〃
〃No； sire； it is one which concerns the honor of the queen。〃
Louis arose； while a burning flush of indignation passed over his
face。
〃Will they venture again to assail the honor of the queen？〃 he
asked。
〃Yes； sire；〃 answered Breteuil； with his invincible calmness〃yes；
sire； they will venture to do so。 And at this time it is so infernal
and deeply…laid a plan that it will be difficult to get at the
truth。 Will your majesty allow me to unfold 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 minister to do the same。
〃Sire；〃 answered the premier； with a bow； 〃I will venture to sit；
because I am in fact a little exhausted with my quick run hither。〃
〃And is the matter so pressing？〃 muttered the king； drawing out his
tobacco…box； and in his impatience rolling it between his fingers。
〃Yes； very pressing；〃 answered Breteuil； taking his seat。 〃Does your
majesty remember the beautiful necklace which the court jeweller；
Bohmer； some time since had the honor to offer to your majesty？〃
〃Certainly； I remember it；〃 answered the king； quickly nodding。 〃The
queen showed herself on that occasion just as unselfish and
magnanimous as she always is。 It was told me that her majesty had
very much admired the necklace which Bohmer had showed to her； and
yet had declined to purchase it； because it seemed to her too dear。
I wanted to buy it and have the pleasure of offering it to the
queen； but she decisively refused it。〃
〃We well remember the beautiful answer which her majesty gave to her
husband；〃 said Breteuil； gently bowing。 〃All Paris repeated with
delight the words which her majesty uttered： 'Sir； we have more
diamonds than ships。 Buy a ship with this money！'〃 ＇Footnote：
〃Correspondence Secrete de la Cour de Louis XVI。〃＇
〃You have a good memory；〃 said the king； 〃for it is five years since
this happened。 Bohmer has twice made the attempt since then to sell
this costly necklace to me； but I have dismissed him； and at last
forbidden him to allude to the matter again。〃
〃I believe that he has； meanwhile； ventured to trouble the queen
several times about the necklace。 It appears that he had almost
persuaded himself that your majesty would purchase it。 Years ago he
caused stones to be selected through all Europe； wishing to make a
necklace of diamonds which should be alike large； heavy； and
brilliant。 The queen refusing to give him his price of two million
francs； he offered it at last for one million eight hundred
thousand。〃
〃I have heard of that；〃 said the king。 〃Her majesty was at last
weary of the trouble； and gave command that the court jeweller；
Bohmer； should not be admitted。〃
〃Every time； therefore； that he came to Versailles he was refused
admittance。 He then had recourse to writing； and two weeks ago her
majesty received from him a begging letter； in which he said that he
should be very happy if； through his instrumentality； the queen
could possess the finest diamonds in Europe； and imploring her
majesty not to forget her court jeweller。 The queen read this
letter； laughing； to her lady…in…waiting； Madame de Campan； and said
it seemed as if the necklace had deprived the good Bohmer of his
reason。 But not wishing to pay any further attention to his letter
or to answer it； she burned the paper in a candle which was
accidentally standing on her table。〃
〃Good Heaven！ How do you know these details？〃 asked the king； in
amazement。
〃Sire； I have learned them from Madame de Campan herself； as I was
compelled to speak with her about the necklace。〃
〃But what is it about this necklace？ What has the queen to do with
that？〃 asked the king； wiping with a lace handkerchief the sweat
which stood in great drops upon his lofty forehead。
〃Sire； the court jeweller； Bohmer； asserts that he sold the necklace
of brilliants to the queen； and now desires to be paid。〃
〃The queen is right；〃 exclaimed the king； 〃the man is out of his
head。 If he did sell the necklace to the queen； there must have been
witnesses present to confirm it； and the keepers of her majesty's
purse would certainly know about it。〃
〃Sire； Bohmer asserts that the queen caused it to be bought of him
in secret； through a third hand； and that this confidential
messenger was empowered to pay down thirty thousand francs； and to
promise two hundred thousand more。〃
〃What is the name of this confidential messenger？ What do they call
him？〃
〃Sire；〃 answered the Baron de Breteuil； solemnly〃sire； it is the
cardinal and grand almoner of your majesty； Prince Louis de Rohan。〃
The king uttered a loud cry； and sprang quickly from his seat。
〃Rohan？〃 asked he。 〃And do they dare to bring this man whom the
queen hates； whom she scorns； into relations with her？ Ha； Breteuil！
you can go； the story is too foolishly put together for
