marie antoinette and her son-第20章

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that　is　all！　I　sacrificed　my　own　safety　and　peace　to　the　welfare　of
my　exalted　friends；　and　I　now　complain　of　them　that　they　have
treated　me　unthankfully　in　this　matter。　But　they　must　bear　the
blame；　they　alone。　Let　the　queen　show　that　she　did　not　give　the
cardinal　a　rendezvous　in　the　park　of　Versailles；　let　her　further
show　that　she　did　not　sign　the　promissory　note；　and　the　letters　to
his　eminence；　and　then　I　shall　be　exposed　to　the　charge　of　being　a
deceiver　and　a　traitor。　But　so　long　as　this　is　not　doneand　it
cannot　be　done；　for　God　is　just；　and　will　not　permit　the　innocent　to
suffer　for　the　guiltyso　long　will　all　France；　yes；　all　Europe；　be
convinced　that　the　queen　is　the　guilty　one；　that　she　received　the
jewels；　and　paid　the　cardinal　for　them　as　a　coquette　and　light…
minded　woman　does；　with　tender　words；　with　smiles　and　loving　looks；
and；　last　of　all；　with　a　rendezvous！〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　the　attorney…general；　as　the　countess　ceased；
and　looked　around　her　with　a　victorious　smile〃you　are　quite　right；
God　IS　just；　and　He　will　not　permit　the　innocent　to　suffer　for　the
guilty。　He　will　not　let　your　infernal　intrigue　stand　as　truth；　He
will　tear　away　the　mask　of　innocence　from　your　deceiver's　face；　and
lot　you　stand　forth　in　all　your　impudence　and　deception。〃

〃My　lord；〃　cried　the　countess；　smiling；　〃those　are　very　high…
sounding　words；　but　they　are　no　proofs。〃

〃We　will　now　give　the　proofs；〃　answered　the　attorney…general；
turning　to　one　of　the　guards。　〃Let　the　lady　enter　who　is　waiting　in
the　room　outside。〃

The　officer　gave　a　sign　to　one　of　the　men　who　stood　near　the　door
leading　to　the　witness…room；　he　entered　the　adjoining　apartment；　but
soon　after　returned　alone　and　whispered　something　in　the　officer's
ear。

〃The　lady　asks　the　court's　indulgence　for　a　few　moments；〃　said　the
officer；　aloud。　〃As　she　must　be　separated　some　hours　from　her　child；
she　asks　permission　to　suckle　it　a　few　moments。〃

The　president　cast　an　inquiring　look　at　the　judges；　who　all　nodded
affirmatively。

The　law　was　silent　before　the　voice　of　Nature；　all　waited
noiselessly　till　the　witness　had　quieted　her　child。

And　now　the　door　of　the　witness…room　opened；　and　upon　the　threshold
was　seen　a　woman's　figure；　at　whose　unexpected　appearance　a　cry　of
amazement　rose　from　the　lips　of　all　the　spectators　on　the　tribune；
and　all　eyes　were　aflame　with　curiosity。

It　was　the　queenno　one　but　the　queen　who　was　entering　the　hall！　It
was　her　slim；　fine　figure；　it　was　her　fresh；　voting；　rosy
countenance；　with　the　fair；　charming　oval　of　her　delicately…tinted
cheeks；　it　was　her　finely…cut　mouth；　with　the　full；　lower　lips；
there　were　her　large；　grayish…blue　eyes；　her　high　forehead；　her
beautiful；　chestnut…brown　hair；　arranged　in　exactly　the　manner　that
Leonard；　the　queen's　hair…dresser；　was　accustomed　to　dress　hers。　The
rest　of　her　toilet；　also；　was　precisely　like　that　of　the　queen　when
she　appeared　in　the　gardens　of　Versailles　and　dispensed　with　court
etiquette。　A　bright　dress　of　light　linen　flowed　down　in　long；　broad
folds　over　her　beautiful　figure；　her　chest　and　the　full　shoulders
were　covered　by　a　short　white　robe　a　l'enfant；　and　on　the　loftily
dressed　hair　lay　a　white　cap；　trimmed　with　lace。

Yes；　it　was　the　queen；　as　she　had　often　been　seen　wandering　up　and
down　in　the　broad　walks　of　Versailles；　and　even　the　ladies　on　the
tribune；　who　often　enough　had　seen　the　monarch　close　at　hand　and　had
spoken　with　her；　looked　in　astonishment　at　the　entering　figure；　and
whispered；　〃It　is　she！　The　queen　herself　is　coming　to　give　her
evidence。　What　folly；　what　thoughtlessness！〃

While　all　eyes　were　directed　upon　this　unexpected　figure；　no　one　had
thought　of　the　Countess　Lamotte…Valois；　no　one　had　noticed　how　she
shrank　back；　and　then　started　from　her　seat；　as　if　she　wanted　to　fly
from　the　horror　which　so　suddenly　confronted　her。

No；　the　officer　who　stood　near　her　chair　had　noticed　this　movement；
and　with　a　quick　and　strong　grasp　seized　her　arm。

〃What　do　you　want；　madame？　Why　do　you　rise　from　your　chair　after
being　told　to　sit　still；　if　you　do　not　want　to　be　chained？〃

At　the　touch　of　the　officer；　Lamotte　had；　as　it　appeared；　regained
her　whole　composure；　and　had　conquered　her　alarm。

〃I　rose；〃　she　said　calmly；　〃to　pay　my　respects　to　the　Queen　of
France；　like　a　good　subject；　but　as　I　see　that　no　one　else　stands
up；　and　that　they　allow　the　queen　to　enter　without　rising　from　their
seats；　I　will　take　mine　again。〃　And　the　countess　slowly　sank　into
her　chair。

〃Come　nearer；〃　cried　President　de　L'Aigre　to　the　royal　personage；
and　she　stepped　forward；　allowing　her　eyes　to　wander　unconstrainedly
through　the　hall；　and　then；　as　she　approached　the　table；　behind
which　the　president　and　the　judges　sat；　greeting　them　with　a
friendly　nod　and　smile　which　caused　her　lips　to　part。　Again　there
passed　through　the　hall　a　wave　of　amazement；　for　now；　when　the　lady
opened　her　mouth；　the　first　dissimilarity　to　the　queen　appeared。
Behind　her　cherry…red　lips　there　were　two　rows　of　poor；　broken
teeth；　with　gaps　between　them；　whereas　Marie　Antoinette　had；　on
account　of　her　faultless　teeth；　been　the　object　of　admiration　and
envy　to　all　the　ladies　of　her　court。

〃Who　are　you；　madame；　and　what　are　you　called？〃　asked　the　president。

〃Who　am　I；　sir？〃　replied　the　lady；　with　a　slight　flush；　〃Good　Lord！
that　is　hard　to　answer。　I　was　a　light…minded　and　idle　girl；　that　did
not　like　to　work；　but　did　like　to　live　well；　and　had　no　objection　to
dress；　and　led　a　tolerably　easy　life；　till　one　day　my　heart　was
surprised　by　love。　After　being　enamoured　of　my　Sergeant　George；　I
resolved　to　lead　an　honorable　and　virtuous　life；　and　since　my　little
son　was　born　I　have　tried　to　be　merely　a　good　mother　and　a　good
wife。　Do　you　now　want　to　know　what　I　am　called？　Down　to　the　present
time　I　am　called　Mademoiselle　Oliva。　You　had　me　arrested　in　Brussels
and　brought　here　exactly　nine　days　before　the　appointed　time　of　my
marriage　with　my　dear　George。　He　had　promised　me　that　our　child
should　be　able　to　regard　us　as　regularly　married　people；　and　he
wanted　to　keep　his　promise；　but　you　prevented　him；　and　it　is　your
fault　that　my　dear　little　boy　was　born　in　prison；　and　that　his
father　was　not　there　to　greet　him。　But　you　will　confess　that　I　am
guilty　of　no　crime；　and　then　you　will　fulfil　my　wish；　and　give　me　a
written　certificate　of　my　innocencethat　is；〃　she　corrected
herself；　blushing；　〃of　my　innocence　in　this　matter；　that　I　may　be
able　to　justify　myself　to　my　son；　when　I　have　to　tell　him　that　he
was　born　in　prison。　It　is　such　a　dreadful　thing　for　a　mother　to　have
anything　that　she　is　ashamed　to　confess　to　her　child！〃

A　murmur　of　applause　ran　through　the　hall；　and　the　ladies　upon　the
tribune　looked　with　sympathy　upon　this　fair　woman；　whose　faithful
love　made　her　beautiful；　and　whose　mother…feeling　gave　her　dignity。

〃So　your　name　is　Mademoiselle　Oliva？〃　asked　the　president。

〃Yes；　sir；　that　unfortunately　is　the　name　I　am　called　by；〃　answered
she；　sighing；　〃but　as　soon　as　I　leave　the　prison　I　shall　be　married；
and　then　I　shall　be　called　Madame　George。　For　my　child's　sake；　you
would　do　me　a　great　kindness　now　if　you　would　call　me　madame。〃

At　these　naive　words　a　smile　lighted　up　the　stern　faces　of　the
judges；　and　sped　like　a　ray　of　sunlight　over　all　the　countenances　of
the　spectators。　Even　the　rigid　features　of　the　attorney…general　were
touched　for　an　instant　with　the　glow；　only　those　of　the　Countess
Lamotte　darkened。

〃Your　majesty　plays　to…day　the　NAIVE　part　of　a　paysanne　perversee；〃
cried　she；　with　a　hard；　shrill　voice。　〃It　is　well　known　that　your
majesty　loves　to　play　comedies；　and　that　you　are　sometimes　content
with　even　the　minor　parts。　Now；　do　not　look　at　me；　Mrs。　Queen；　with
such　a　withering　look。　Do　not　forget　that　you　are　playing　the　part
of　Mademoiselle　Oliva；　and　that　you　have　come　secretly　from
Versailles　to　save　your　honor　and　your　diamonds。〃

〃Officer；〃　cried　the　president；　〃if　the　accused　allows　herself　to
speak　a　single　word　without　being　asked；　lock　her　up　and　gag　her。〃

The　officer　bowed　in　token　of　his　unconditional　obedience；　and　drew
out　the　wooden　gag；　which　he　showed　the　countess；　going　straight　to
her　chair。

〃I　will　comply　with　your　wish；〃　said　the　president；　turning　to　the
living　portrait　of　the　queen。　〃I　will　call　you　madame；　if　you　will
promise　me　in　return　to　answer　all　my　questions　faithfully。〃

〃I　promise　you　that；　by　my　child；〃　answered　Mademoiselle　Oliva；
bowing　slightly。

〃Tell　me；　then；　do　you　know　the　person　who　sits　in　that　chair？〃

Mademoiselle　Oliva　cast　a　quick　look　at　Lamotte；　who　glared　at　her
from　her　seat。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　know　her；〃　she　said。　〃That　is；　I　do　not　know　her　name；　I
only　know　that　she　lives　in　a　splendid　palace；　that　she　is　very
rich；　and　has　everything　nice。〃

〃How　do　you　know　this　lady？　Tell　us　that。〃

〃I　will　tell　you；　gentlemen；　and　I　swear　to　you　that　so　sure　as　I
want　to　be　an　honorable　wife；　I　will　tell　you　the　whole　truth。　I　was
walking　one　day　in　the　Palais　Royal；　when　a　tall；　slim；　gentlemanly
man；　who　had　passed　me　several　times；　came　up　to　me；　said　some　soft
things；　and　asked　permission　to　visit　me。　I　answered　him；　smiling；
that　he　could　visit　me　at　once　if　he　would　take　me　into　one　of　the
eating…houses　and　dine　with　me。　He　accepted　my　proposition；　and　we
dined　together；　and　were　merry　and　jolly　enough　for　a　new
acquaintance。　When　we　parted　we　promised　to　meet　there　again　on　the
morrow；　and　so　we　did。　After　the　second　dinner；　the　amiable
gentleman　conducted　me　home；　and　there　told　me　that　he　was　very
distinguished　and　influential；　that　he　had　friends　at　court；　and　was
very　well　acquainted　with　the　king　and　queen。　He　told　me　that　he
would　procure　for　me　powerful　patrons；　and　told　me　that　a　very
distinguished　lady；　who　had　interested　herself　in　my　behalf　through
his　description；　would　visit　me　and　make　my　acquaintance。　On　the
next　day　he　really　came　in　company　with　a　lady；　who　greeted　me　very
friendly；　and　was　astonished　at　her　first　glimpse　of　me。〃

〃Who　was　that　lady？〃　asked　the　president。

Mademoiselle　pointed　with　her　thumb　over　her　shoulder。　〃The　lady
yonder；〃　said　she。

〃Are　you　sure　of　it？〃

〃As　of　my　own　life；　Mr。　President。〃

〃Good。　Good。　You　saw　the　lady　quite　frequently？〃

〃Yes；　she　visited　me　twice　more；　and　told　me　about　the　queen；　and
the　splendid　way　they　lived　at　the　court；　she　promised　me　that　she
would　bring　me　to　the　court　and　make　a　great　lady　out　of　me；　if　I
would　do　what　she　wanted　me　to　do。　I　promised　it　gladly；　and
declared　myself　ready　to　do　every　thing　that　she　should　order　me；　if
she　would　keep　her　promise　and　bring　me　to　the　court；　that　I　might
speak　with　the　king　and　the　queen。〃

〃But　why　were　you　so　curious　to　go　to　the　court　and　speak　with　the
king　and　the　queen？〃

〃Why？　Good　Lord！　that　is　very　simple　and　natural。　It　is　a　very　easy
thing　for　the　king　to　make　a　captain　out　of　a　sergeant；　and　as　the
king；　so　people　say；　does　nothing　but　what　the　queen　tells　him　to；　I
wanted　of　course　before　every　thing　to　have　a　good　word　from　the
queen。　I　should　have　liked　to　see　my　dear　George　wearing　epaulets；
and　it　must　have　tremendously　pleased　my　boy　to　have　come　in