marie antoinette and her son-第2章

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brother。〃

〃You　have　said　that　you　love　freedom；　and　therefore　I　greet　you　as
my　brother；〃　replied　the　stranger。　〃All　those　who　love　freedom　are
brothers；　for　they　confess　themselves　children　of　the　same　gracious
and　good　mother　who　makes　no　difference　between　her　children；　but
loves　them　all　with　equal　intensity　and　equal　devotion；　and　it　is
all　the　same　to　her　whether　this　one　of　her　sons　is　prince　or　count；
and　that　one　workman　or　citizen。　For　our　mother；　Freedom；　we　are　all
alike；　we　are　all　brethren。〃

〃That　sounds　very　finely；〃　said　the　cobbler；　shaking　his　head。
〃There　is　only　one　fault　that　I　can　find　with　it；　it　is　not　true。
For　if　we　were　all　alike；　and　were　all　brothers；　why　should　the　king
ride　round　in　his　gilded　chariot；　while　I；　an　old　cobbler；　sit　on　my
bench　and　have　my　face　covered　with　sweat？〃

〃The　king　is　no　son　of　Freedom！〃　exclaimed　the　stranger；　with　an
angry　gesture。　〃The　king　is　a　son　of　Tyranny；　and　therefore　he　wants
to　make　his　enemies；　the　sons　of　Freedom；　to　be　his　servants；　his
slaves；　and　to　bind　our　arms　with　fetters。　But　shall　we　always　bear
this？　Shall　we　not　rise　at　last　out　of　the　dust　into　which　we　have
been　trodden？〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　if　we　can；　then　we　will；〃　said　Simon；　with　his
gruff　laugh。　〃But　here　is　the　hitch；　sir；　we　cannot　do　it。　The　king
has　the　power　to　hold　us　in　his　fetters；　and　this　fine　lady；　Madame
Freedom；　of　whom　you　say　that　she　is　our　mother；　lets　it　come　to
pass；　notwithstanding　that　her　sons　are　bound　down　in　servitude　and
abasement。〃

〃It　must　be　for　a　season　yet；〃　answered　the　other；　with　loud；
rasping　voice；　〃but　the　day　of　a　rising　is　at　hand；　and　shows　with　a
laughing　face　how　those　whom　she　will　destroy　are　rushing　swiftly
upon　their　own　doom。〃

〃What　nonsense　is　that　you　are　talking？〃　asked　the　cobbler。　〃Those
who　are　going　to　be　destroyed　by　Madame　Liberty　are　working　out
their　own　ruin？〃

〃And　yet　they　are　doing　it；　Master　Simon；　they　are　digging　their　own
graves；　only　they　do　not　see　it；　and　do　not　know　it；　for　the
divinity　which　means　to　destroy　them　has　smitten　them　with
blindness。　There　is　this　queen；　this　Austrian　woman。　Do　you　not　see
with　your　wise　eyes　how　like　a　busy　spider　she　is　weaving　her　own
shroud？〃

〃Now；　that　is　certainly　an　error；〃　said　Simon；　〃the　queen　does　not
work　at　all。　She　lets　the　people　work　for　her。〃

〃I　tell　you；　man；　she　does　work；　she　is　working　at　her　own　shroud；
and　I　think　she　has　got　a　good　bit　of　it　ready。　She　has　nice
friends；　too；　to　help　her　in　it；　and　to　draw　up　the　threads　for　this
royal　spider；　and　so　get　ready　what　is　needed　for　this　shroud。
There；　for　example；　is　that　fine　Duke　de　Coigny。　Do　you　know　who
that　Duke　de　Coigny　is？〃

〃No；　indeed；　I　know　nothing　about　it；　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　the
court；　and　know　nothing　about　the　court　rabble。〃

〃There　you　are　right；　they　are　a　rabble；〃　cried　the　other；　laughing
in　return。　〃I　know　it；　for　I　am　so　unfortunate　as　not　to　be　able　to
say　with　you　that　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　court。　I　have　gone
into　palaces；　and　I　shall　come　out　again；　but　I　promise　you　that　my
exit　shall　make　more　stir　than　my　entrance。　Now；　I　will　tell　you　who
the　Duke　de　Coigny　is。　He　is　one　of　the　three　chief　paramours　of　the
queen；　one　of　the　great　favorites　of　the　Austrian　sultana。〃

〃Well；　now；　that　is　jolly；〃　cried　the　cobbler；　〃you　are　a　comical
rogue；　sir。　So　the　queen　has　her　paramours？〃

〃Yes。　You　know　that　the　Duke　de　Besenval；　at　the　time　that　the
Austrian　came　as　dauphiness　to　France；　said　to　her：　'These　hundred
thousand　Parisians；　madame；　who　have　come　out　to　meet　you；　are　all
your　lovers。'　Now　she　takes　this　expression　of　Besenval　in　earnest；
and　wants　to　make　every　Parisian　a　lover　of　hers。　Only　wait；　only
wait；　it　will　be　your　turn　by　and　by。　You　will　be　able　to　press　the
hand　of　this　beautiful　Austrian　tenderly　to　your　lips。〃

〃Well；　I　will　let　you　know　in　advance；　then；〃　said　Simon；　savagely；
〃that　I　will　press　it　in　such　right　good　earnest；　that　it　shall
always　bear　the　marks　of　it。　You　were　speaking　just　now　of　the　three
chief　paramourswhat　are　the　names　of　the　other　two？〃

〃The　second　is　your　fine　Lord　de　Adhemar；　a　fool；　a　rattle…head；　a
booby；　but　he　is　handsome；　and　a　jolly　lover。　Our　queen　likes
handsome　men；　and　everybody　knows　that　she　is　one　of　the　laughing
kind；　a　merry　fly；　particularly　since　the　carousals　on　the　palace
terrace。〃

〃Carousals！　What　was　that？〃

〃Why；　you　poor　innocent　child；　that　is　the　name　they　give　to　those
nightly　promenades　that　our　handsome　queen　took　a　year　ago　in　the
moonlight　on　the　terrace　at　Versailles。　Oh；　that　was　a　merry　time！
The　iron　fences　of　the　park　were　not　closed；　and　the　dear　people　had
a　right　to　enter；　and　could　walk　near　the　queen　in　the　moonlight；
and　hear　the　fine　music　which　was　concealed　behind　the　hedges。　You
just　ask　the　good…looking　officer　of　the　lancers；　who　sat　one
evening　on　a　bench　between　two　handsome　women；　dressed　in　white；　and
joked　and　laughed　with　them。　He　can　tell　you　how　Marie　Antoinette
can　laugh；　and　what　fine　nonsense　her　majesty　could　afford　to
indulge　in。〃　＇Footnote：　See　Madame　de　Campane。　〃Memoires；〃　vol。　i。＇

〃I　wish　I　knew　him；　and　he　would　tell　me　about　it；〃　cried　cobbler
Simon；　striking　his　fists　together。　〃I　always　like　to　hear　something
bad　about　this　Austrian　woman；　for　I　hate　her　and　the　whole　court
crowd　besides。　What　right　have　they　to　strut　and　swell；　and　put　on
airs；　while　we　have　to　work　and　suffer　from　morning　till　night？　Why
is　their　life　nothing　but　jollity；　and　ours　nothing　but　misery？　I
think　I　am　of　just　as　much　consequence　as　the　king；　and　my　woman
would　look　just　as　nice　as　the　queen；　if　she　would　put　on　fine
clothes　and　ride　round　in　a　gilded　carriage。　What　puts　them　up　and
puts　us　down？〃

〃I　tell　you　why。　It　is　because　we　are　ninnies　and　fools；　and　allow
them　to　laugh　in　their　sleeves　at　us；　and　make　divinities　out　of
themselves；　before　whom　the　people；　or；　as　they　call　them；　the
rabble；　are　to　fall　upon　their　knees。　But　patience；　patience！　There
will　come　a　time　when　they　will　not　laugh；　nor　compel　the　people　to
fall　upon　their　knees　and　beg　for　favor。　But　no　favor　shall　be
granted　to　them。　They　shall　meet　their　doom。〃

〃Ha！　I　wish　the　time　were　here；〃　shouted　the　cobbler；　laughing；　〃and
I　hope　I　may　be　there　when　they　meet　their　punishment。〃

〃Well；　my　friend；　that　only　depends　upon　yourself；〃　said　the
stranger。　〃The　time　will　come；　and　if　you　wish　you　can　contribute
your　share；　that　it　may　approach　with　more　rapid　steps。〃

〃What　can　I　do？　Tell　me；　for　I　am　ready　for　every　thing？〃

〃You　can　help　whet　the　knife；　that　it　may　cut　the　better；〃　said　the
stranger；　with　a　horrible　grimace。　〃Come；　come；　do　not　look　at　me　so
astonished；　brother。　There　are　already　a　good　number　of　knife…
sharpeners　in　the　good　city　of　Paris；　and　if　you　want　to　join　their
company；　come　this　evening　to　me；　and　I　will　make　you　acquainted
with　some；　and　introduce　you　to　our　guild。〃

〃Where　do　you　live；　sir；　and　what　is　your　name？〃　asked　the　cobbler；
with　glowing　curiosity。

〃I　live　in　the　stable　of　the　Count　d'Artois；　and　my　name　is　Jean
Paul　Marat。〃

〃In　the　stable！〃　cried　the　cobbler。　〃My　faith；　I　had　not　supposed
you　were　a　hostler　or　a　coachman。　It　must　be　a　funny　sight；　M。
Marat；　to　see　you　mounted　upon　a　horse。〃

〃You　think　that　such　a　big　toad　as　I　does　not　belong　there　exactly。
Well；　there　you　are　right；　brother　Simon。　My　real　business　is　not　at
all　with　the　horses；　but　with　the　men　in　the　stable。　I　am　the　horse…
doctor；　brother　Simon；　horse…doctor　of　the　Count　d'Artois；　and　I　can
assure　you　that　I　am　a　tolerably　skilful　doctor；　for　I　have　yoked
together　many　a　hostler　and　jockey　whom　the　stable…keepers　of　the
dear　Artois　have　favored　with　a　liberal　dispensation　of　their　lash。
So；　come　this　evening　to　me；　not　only　that　I　may　introduce　you　to
good　society；　but　come　if　you　are　sick。　I　will　restore　you；　and　it
shall　cost　you　nothing。　I　cure　my　brothers　of　the　people　without　any
pay；　for　it　is　not　the　right　thing　for　brothers　to　take　money　one　of
another。　So；　brother　Simon；　I　shall　look　for　you　this　evening　at　the
stable；　but　now　I　must　leave　you；　for　my　sick　folks　are　expecting
me。　Just　one　more　word。　If　you　come　about　seven　o'clock　to　visit　me；
the　old　witch　that　keeps　the　door　will　certainly　tell　you　that　I　am
not　at　home。　I　will；　therefore；　give　you　the　pass…word；　which　will
allow　you　to　go　in。　It　is　'Liberty；　Equality；　Fraternity。'　Good…by。〃

He　nodded　to　the　cobbler　with　a　fearful　grimace；　and　strode　away
quickly；　in　spite　of　not　being　able　to　lift　his　left　foot　over　the
broad　square　of　the　Hotel　de　Ville。

Master　Simon　looked　after　him　at　first　with　a　derisive　smile；　and
this　diminutive　figure；　with　his　great　head；　on　which　a　high；　black
felt　hat　just　kept　its　position；　seemed　to　amuse　him　excessively。
All　at　once　a　thought　struck　him；　and；　like　an　arrow　impelled　from
the　bow；　he　dashed　forward　and　ran　after　Jean　Paul　Marat。

〃Doctor　Marat；　Doctor　Marat！〃　he　shouted；　breathless；　from　a
distance。

Marat　stood　still　and　looked　around　with　a　malicious　glance。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　snarled　he；　〃and　who　is　calling　my　name　so
loud？〃

〃It　is　I；　brother　Marat；〃　answered　the　cobbler；　panting。　〃I　have
been　running　after　you　because　you　have　forgotten　something。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Marat；　feeling　in　his　pockets　with　his　long
fingers。〃　I　have　my　handkerchief　and　the　piece　of　black　bread　that
makes　my　breakfast。　I　have　not　forgotten　anything。〃

〃Yes；　Jean　Paul　Marat；　you　have　forgotten　something；〃　answered
Master　Simon。　〃You　were　going　to　tell　me　the　names　of　the　three
chief　paramours　of　the　queen；　and　you　have　given　only　twothe　Duke
de　Coigny　and　Lord　Adhemar。　You　see　I　have　a　good　memory；　and　retain
all　that　you　told　me。　So　give　me　the　name　of　the　third　one；　for　I
will　confess　to　you　that　I　should　like　to　have　something　to　say
about　this　matter　in　my　club　this　afternoon；　and　it　will　make　quite
a　sensation　to　come　primed　with　this　story　about　the　Austrian
woman。〃

〃Well；　I　like　that；　I　like　that；〃　said　Marat；　laughing　so　as　to　show
his　mouth　from　one　ear　to　the　other。　〃Now；　that　is　a　fine　thing　to
have　a　club；　where　you　can　tell　all　these　little　stories　about　the
queen　and　the　court；　and　it　will　be　a　real　pleasure　to　me　to　tell
you　any　such　matters　as　these　to　communicate　to　your　club；　for　it　is
always　a　good　thing　to　have　any　thing　that　takes　place　at　Versailles
and　St。　Cloud　get　talked　over　here　at　Paris　among　the　dear　good
people。〃

〃In　St。　Cloud？〃　asked　the　cobbler。　〃What　is　it　that　can　happen
there？　That　is　nothing　at　all　but　a　tiresome；　old…forgotten　pleasure
palace　of　the　king。〃

〃It　is　lively　enough　there　now；　depend　upon　it；〃　replied　Marat；　with
his　sardonic　laugh。　〃King　Louis　the　well　beloved　has　given　this
palace　to　his　wife；　in　order　that　she　may　establish　there　a　larger
harem　than　Trianon；　that　miserable；　worthless　little　mouse…nest；
where　virtue；　honor；　and　worth　get　hectored　to　death；　is　not　large
enough　for　her。　Yes；　yes；　that　fine；　great　palace　of　the　French
kings；　the　noble　St。　Cloud；　is　now　the　heritage　and　possession　of
this　fine　Austrian。　And　do　you　know　what　she　has　done？　Close　by　the