marie antoinette and her son-第12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！


with　the　Duke　de　Conti　and　the　Count　d'Artois；　toward　the　door
through　which　the　royal　couple　would　enter。　All　at　once　the　portal
opened；　a　royal　page　stepped　in　and　glanced　searchingly　around；　and
seeing　the　towering　figure　of　the　cardinal　in　the　middle　of　the
hall；　he　at　once　advanced　through　the　glittering　company；　and
approached　the　cardinal。　〃Monseigneur；〃　he　whispered　to　him；　〃his
majesty　is　awaiting　your　eminence's　immediate　appearance　in　the
cabinet。〃

The　cardinal　broke　off　abruptly　his　conversation　with　Lord　Conti；
hurried　through　the　hall　and　entered　the　cabinet。

No　one　was　there　except　the　king　and　queen；　and　in　the　background　of
the　apartment；　in　the　recess　formed　by　a　window；　the　premier；　Baron
Breteuil；　the　old　and　irreconcilable　enemy　of　the　proud　cardinal；
who　in　this　hour　would　have　his　reward　for　his　year　long　and
ignominious　treatment　of　the　prince。

The　cardinal　had　entered　with　a　confident；　dignified　bearing；　but
the　cold　look　of　the　king　and　the　flaming　eye　of　the　queen　appeared
to　confuse　him　a　little；　and　his　proud　eye　sank　to　the　ground。

〃You　have　been　buying　diamonds　of　Bohmer？〃　asked　the　king；
brusquely。

〃Yes；　sire；〃　answered　the　cardinal。

〃What　have　you　done　with　them？　Answer　me；　I　command　you。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　the　cardinal；　after　a　pause；　〃I　supposed　that　they　were
given　to　the　queen。〃

〃Who　intrusted　you　with　this　commission？〃

〃Sire；　a　lady　named　Countess　Lamotte…Valois。　She　gave　me　a　letter
from　her　majesty；　and　I　believed　that　I　should　be　doing　the　queen　a
favor　if　I　should　undertake　the　care　of　the　commission　which　the
queen　had　the　grace　to　intrust　to　me。〃

〃I！〃　cried　the　queen；　with　an　expression　of　intense　scorn；　〃should　I
intrust　you　with　a　commission　in　my　behalf？　I；　who　for　eight　years
have　never　deigned　to　bestow　a　word　upon　you？　And　I　should　employ
such　a　person　as　you；　a　beggar　of　places？〃

〃I　see　plainly；〃　cried　the　cardinal；　〃I　see　plainly　that　some　one
has　deceived　you　grievously　about　me。　I　will　pay　for　the　necklace。
The　earnest　wish　to　please　your　majesty　has　blinded　your　eyes
regarding　me。　I　have　planned　no　deception；　and　am　now　bitterly
undeceived。　But　I　will　pay　for　the　necklace。〃

〃And　you　suppose　that　that　ends　all！〃　said　the　queen；　with　a　burst
of　anger。　〃You　think　that；　with　a　pitiful　paying　for　the　brilliants；
you　can　atone　for　the　disgrace　which　you　have　brought　upon　your
queen？　No；　no；　sir；　I　desire　a　rigid　investigation。　I　insist　upon　it
that　all　who　have　taken　part　in　this　ignominious　deception　be
brought　to　a　relentless　investigation。　Give　me　the　proofs　that　you
have　been　deceived；　and　that　you　are　not　much　rather　the　deceiver。〃

〃Ah；　madame；〃　cried　the　cardinal；　with　a　look　at　once　so　full　of
reproach　and　confidence；　that　the　queen　fairly　shook　with　anger。
〃Here　are　the　proofs　of　my　innocence；〃　continued　he；　drawing　a　small
portfolio　from　his　pocket；　and　taking　from　it　a　folded　paper。　〃There
is　the　letter　of　the　queen　to　the　Countess　Lamotte；　in　which　her
majesty　empowered　me　to　purchase　the　diamonds。〃

The　king　took　the　paper；　looked　over　it　hastily；　read　the　signature；
and　gave　it；　with　a　suspicious　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　to　his　wife。

The　queen　seized　the　letter　with　the　wild　fury　of　a　tigress；　which
has　at　last　found　its　prey；　and　with　breathless　haste　ran　over　the
paper。　Then　she　broke　out　into　loud；　scornful　laughter；　and；
pointing　to　the　letter；　she　looked　at　the　cardinal　with　glances　of
flame。

〃That　is　not　my　handwriting；　that　is　not　my　signature！〃　cried　she；
furiously。　〃How　are　yousir；　a　prince　and　grand　almoner　of　France
how　are　you　so　ignorant；　so　foolish；　as　to　believe　that　I　could
subscribe　myself　'Marie　Antoinette　of　France？'　Everybody　knows　that
queens　write　only　their　baptismal　names　as　signatures；　and　you　alone
have　not　known　that？〃

〃I　see　into　it；〃　muttered　the　cardinal；　pale　under　the　look　of　the
queen；　and　so　weak　that　he　had　to　rest　upon　the　table　for　support；
〃I　see　into　it；　I　have　been　dreadfully　deceived。〃

The　king　took　a　paper　from　his　table　and　gave　it　to　the　cardinal。
〃Do　you　confess　that　you　wrote　this　letter　to　Bohmer；　in　which　you
send　him　thirty　thousand　francs　in　behalf　of　the　queen；　in　part
payment　for　the　necklace？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　I　confess　it；〃　answered　the　cardinal；　with　a　low　voice；
which　seemed　to　contradict　what　he　uttered。

〃He　confesses　it；〃　cried　the　queen；　gnashing　her　teeth；　and　making
up　her　little　hand　into　a　clinched　fist。　〃He　has　held　me　fit　for
such　infamyme；　his　queen！〃

〃You　assert　that　you　bought　the　jewels　for　the　queen。　Did　you
deliver　them　in　person？〃

〃No；　sire；　the　Countess　Lamotte　did　that。〃

〃In　your　name；　cardinal？〃

〃Yes；　in　my　name；　sire；　and　she　gave　at　the　same　time　a　receipt　to
the　queen　for　one　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　francs；　which　I　lent
the　queen　toward　the　purchase。〃

〃And　what　reward　did　you　have　from　the　queen？〃

The　cardinal　hesitated；　then；　as　he　felt　the　angry；　cold；　and
contemning　look　of　the　queen　resting　upon　him；　the　red　blood　mounted
into　his　face；　and　with　a　withering　glance　at　Marie　Antoinette；　he
said：

〃You　wish；　madame；　that　I　should　speak　the　whole　truth！　Sire；　the
queen　rewarded　me　for　this　little　work　of　love　in　a　manner　worthy　of
a　queen。　She　granted　me　an　appointment　in　the　park　of　Versailles。〃

At　this　new　and　fearful　charge；　the　queen　cried　aloud；　and；
springing　forward　like　a　tigress；　she　seized　the　arm　of　her　husband
and　shook　it。

〃Sire；〃　said　she；　〃listen　to　this　high　traitor；　bringing　infamy　upon
a　queen！　Will　you　bear　it？　Can　his　purple　protect　the　villain？〃

〃No；　it　cannot；　and　it　shall　not！〃　cried　the　king。　〃Breteuil；　do
your　duty。　And　you；　cardinal；　who　venture　to　accuse　your　queen；　to
scandalize　the　good　name　of　the　wife　of　your　king；　go。〃

〃Sire；〃　stammered　the　cardinal；　〃sire；　I〃

〃Not　a　word；〃　interrupted　the　king；　raising　his　hand　and　pointing
toward　the　door；　〃out；　I　say；　out　with　you！〃

The　cardinal　staggered　to　the　door；　and　entered　the　hall　filled　with
a　glittering　throng；　who　were　still　whispering；　laughing；　and
walking　to　and　fro。

But　hardly　had　he　advanced　a　few　steps；　when　behind　him；　upon　the
threshold　of　the　royal　cabinet；　appeared　the　minister　Breteuil。

〃Lieutenant；〃　cried　Breteuil；　with　a　loud　voice；　turning　to　the
officer　in　command　of　the　guard；　〃lieutenant；　in　the　name　of　the
king；　arrest　the　Cardinal　de　Rohan；　and　take　him　under　escort　to　the
Bastile。〃

A　general　cry　of　horror　followed　these　words；　which　rolled　like　a
crashing　thunder…clap　through　the　careless；　coquetting；　and
unsuspecting　company。　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　cardinal；　like　all　in
fact；　approached　the　great　ecclesiastic；　and　gently　took　his　arm。

〃Cardinal；〃　said　he；　with　sorrowful　tone；　〃in　the　name　of　the　king；
I　arrest　your　eminence。　I　am　ordered；　monseigneur；　to　conduct　you　to
the　Bastile。〃

〃Come；　then；　my　son；〃　answered　the　cardinal；　quickly；　making　his　way
slowly　through　the　throng；　which　respectfully　opened　to　let　him
pass〃　come；　since　the　king　commands　it；　let　us　go　to　the　Bastile。〃

He　passed　on　to　the　door。　But　when　the　officer　had　opened　it；　he
turned　round　once　more　to　the　hall。　Standing　erect；　with　all　the
exalted　dignity　of　his　station　and　his　person；　he　gave　the　amazed
company　his　blessing。

Then　the　door　closed　behind　him；　and　with　pale　faces　the　lords　and
ladies　of　the　court　dispersed　to　convey　the　horrible　tidings　to
Versailles　and　Paris；　that　the　king　had　caused　the　cardinal；　the
grand　almoner　of　France；　to　be　arrested　in　his　official　robes；　and
that　it　was　the　will　of　the　queen。

And　the　farther　the　tidings　rolled　the　more　the　report　enlarged；
like　an　avalanche　of　calumnies。

In　the　evening；　Marat　thundered　in　his　club：　〃Woe；　woe　to　the
Austrian！　She　borrowed　money　of　the　Cardinal　de　Rohan　to　buy　jewels
for　herself；　jewels　while　the　people　hungered。　Now；　when　the
cardinal　wants　his　money；　the　queen　denies　having　received　the
money；　and　lets　the　head　of　the　Church　be　dragged　to　the　Bastile。

〃Woe；　woe　to　the　Austrian！〃

〃Woe；　woe　to　the　Austrian！〃　muttered　brother　Simon；　who　sat　near　the
platform　on　which　Marat　was。　〃We　shall　not　forget　it　that　she　buys
her　jewels　for　millions　of　francs；　while　we　have　not　a　sou　to　buy
bread　with。　Woe　to　the　Austrian！〃

And　all　the　men　of　the　club　raised　their　fists　and　muttered　with
him；　〃Woe　to　the　Austrian！〃




CHAPTER　V。

ENEMIES　AND　FRIENDS。


All　Paris　was　in　an　uproar　and　in　motion　in　all　the　streets；　the
people　assembled　in　immense　masses　at　all　the　squares；　and　listened
with　abated　breath　to　the　speakers　who　had　taken　their　stand　amid
the　groups；　and　who　were　confirming　the　astonished　hearers
respecting　the　great　news　of　the　day。

〃The　Lord　Cardinal　de　Rohan；　the　grand　almoner　of　the　king；〃　cried　a
Franciscan　monk；　who　had　taken　his　station　upon　a　curbstone；　at　the
corner　of　the　Tuileries　and　the　great　Place　de　Carrousel〃Cardinal
de　Rohan　has　in　a　despotic　manner　been　deprived　of　his　rights　and
his　freedom。　As　a　dignitary　of　the　Church；　he　is　not　under　the
ordinary　jurisdiction；　and　only　the　Pope　is　the　rightful　lord　of　a
cardinal；　only　before　the　Holy　Father　can　an　accusation　be　brought
against　a　servant　of　the　Church。　For　it　has　been　the　law　of　the
Church　for　centuries　that　it　alone　has　the　power　to　punish　and
accuse　its　servants；　and　no　one　has　ever　attempted　to　challenge　that
power。　But　do　you　know　what　has　taken　place？　Cardinal　de　Rohan　has
been　withdrawn　from　the　jurisdiction　of　his　rightful　judges；　he　has
been　denied　an　ecclesiastical　tribunal；　and　he　is　to　be　tried　before
Parliament　as　if　he　were　an　ordinary　servant　of　the　king；　secular
judges　are　going　to　sit　in　judgment　upon　this　great　church
dignitary；　and　to　charge　him　with　a　crime；　when　no　crime　has　been
committed！　For　what　has　he　done；　the　grand　almoner　of　France；
cardinal；　and　cousin　of　the　king？　A　lady；　whom　he　believed　to　be　in
the　queen's　confidence；　had　told　him　that　the　queen　wanted　to
procure　a　set　of　jewels；　which　she　was　unfortunately　not　able　to
buy；　because　her　coffers；　as　a　natural　result　of　her　well…known
extravagance；　were　empty。　The　lady　indicated　to　the　lord　cardinal
that　the　queen　would　be　delighted　if　he　would　advance　a　sum
sufficient　to　buy　the　jewels　with；　and　in　his　name　she　would　cause
the　costly　fabric　to　be　purchased。　The　cardinal；　all　the　while　a
devoted　and　true　servant　of　the　king；　hastened　to　gratify　the　desire
of　the　queen。　He　took　this　course　with　wise　precaution；　in　order
that　the　queen；　whose　violence　is　well　known；　should　not　apply　to
any　other　member　of　the　court；　and　still　further　compromise　the
royal　honor。　And　say　yourselves；　my　noble　friends；　was　it　not　much
better　that　it　should　be　the　lord　cardinal　who　should　lend　money　to
the　queen；　than　Lord　Lauzun；　Count　Coigny；　or　the　musical　Count
Vaudreuil；　the　special　favorite　of　the　queen？　Was　it　not　better　for
him　to　make　this　sacrifice　and　do　the　queen　this　great　favor？〃

〃Certainly　it　was　better；〃　cried　the　mob。　〃The　lord　cardinal　is　a
noble　man。　Long　live　Cardinal　de