marie antoinette and her son-第28章

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with　an　oath　to　the　love　which　we　cherish　toward　our　queen！〃

He　offered　her　his　arm；　and；　both　smiling；　both　with　beaming　faces；
left　the　room；　and　joined　the　wedding　guests　who　had　long　been
waiting　for　them　with　growing　impatience。　They　entered　the　carriages
and　drove　to　the　church。　With　joyful　faces　the　bridal　pair　pledged
their　mutual　fidelity　before　the　altar；　and　their　hands　pressed　one
another；　and　their　eyes　met　with　a　secret　understanding　of　all　that
was　meant　at　that　wedding。　They　both　knew　that　at　that　moment　they
were　pledging　their　fidelity　to　the　queen；　and　that；　while　seeming
to　give　themselves　away　to　each　other；　they　were　really　giving
themselves　to　their　sovereign。

At　the　conclusion　of　the　ceremony；　they　left　the　church　of　St。　Louis
to　repair　to　the　wedding　dinner；　which　Councillor　Bugeaud　had
ordered　to　be　prepared　in　one　of　the　most　brilliant　restaurants　of
Versailles。

〃Will　you　not　tell　me　now；　my　dear　son；〃　he　said　to　Toulan〃will
you　not　tell　me　now　why　you　wish　so　strongly　to　celebrate　the
wedding　in　Versailles；　and　not　in　Paris；　and　why　in　the　church　of
St。　Louis？〃

〃I　will　tell　you；　father；〃　answered　Toulan；　pressing　the　arm　of　his
bride　closer　to　his　heart。　〃I　wanted　here；　where　the　country　erects
its　altar；　where　in　a　few　days　the　nation　will　meet　face　to　face
these　poor　earthly　majesties；　here；　where　in　a　few　days　the　States…
General　will　convene；　to　defend　the　right　of　the　people　against　the
prerogative　of　the　sovereign；　here　alone　to　give　to　my　life　its　new
consecration。　Versailles　will　from　this　time　be　doubly　dear　to　me。　I
shall　owe　to　it　my　life's　happiness　as　a　man；　my　freedom　as　a
citizen。　They　have　done　me　the　honor　in　Rouen　to　elect　me　to　a　place
in　the　Third　Estate；　and　as；　in　a　few　days；　the　Assembly　of　the
Nation　will　meet　here　in　Versailles；　I　wanted　my　whole　future
happiness　to　be　connected　with　the　place。　And　I　wanted　to　be　married
in　St。　Louis's　church；　because　I　love　the　good　King　Louis。　He　is　the
true　and　sincere　friend　of　the　nation；　and　he　would　like　to　make　his
people　happy；　if　the　queen；　the　Austrian；　would　allow　it。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　sighed　the　councillor；　who；　in　spite　of　his　relation
to　Madame　de　Campan；　belonged　to　the　opponents　of　the　queen〃　yes；
indeed；　if　the　Austrian　woman　allowed　it。　But　she　is　not　willing
that　France　should　be　happy。　Woe　to　the　queen；　all　our　misery　comes
from　her！




CHAPTER　IX。

THE　OPENING　OF　THE　STATES…GENERAL。


On　the　morning　of　the　5th　of　May；　1789；　the　solemn　opening　of　the
States…General　of　France　was　to　occur　at　Versailles。　This　early　date
was　appointed　for　the　convocation　of　the　estates；　in　order　to　be
able　to　protract　as　much　as　possible　the　ceremonial　proceedings。　But
at　the　same　time　this　occasion　was　to　be　improved　in　preparing　a
sensible　humiliation　for　the　members　of　the　Third　Estate。

In　the　avenue　of　the　Versailles　palace　a　large　and　fine　hall　was
fixed　upon　as　the　most　appropriate　place　for　receiving　the　twelve
hundred　representatives　of　France；　and　a　numerous　company　of
spectators　besides；　and；　being　chosen；　was　appropriately　fitted　up。
Louis　XVI。　himself；　who　was　very　fond　of　sketching　and　drawing
architectural　plans；　had　busied　himself　in　the　most　zealous　way　with
the　arrangements　and　decorations　of　the　hall。

It　had　long　been　a　matter　of　special　interest　to　the　king　to　fit　up
the　room　which　was　to　receive　the　representatives　of　the　nation；　in
a　manner　which　would　be　worthy　of　so　significant　an　occasion。　He　had
himself　selected　the　hangings　and　the　curtains　which　were　to　protect
the　audience　from　the　too　glaring　light　of　the　day。

When　the　members　of　the　Third　Estate　arrived；　they　saw　with　the
greatest　astonishment　that　they　were　not　to　enter　the　hall　by　the
same　entrance　which　was　appropriated　to　the　representatives　of　the
nobility　and　the　clergy；　who　were　chosen　at　the　same　time　with
themselves。　While　for　the　last　two　the　entrance　was　appointed
through　the　main　door　of　the　hall；　the　commoners　were　allowed　to
enter　by　a　rear　door；　opening　into　a　dark　and　narrow　corridor；
where；　crowded　together；　they　were　compelled　to　wait　till　the　doors
were　opened。

Almost　two　hours　elapsed　before　they　were　allowed　to　pass　out　of
this　dark　place　of　confinement　into　the　great　hall；　at　a　signal　from
the　Marquis　de　Brize；　the　master　of　ceremonies。

A　splendid　scene　now　greeted　their　eyes。　The　Salle　de　Menus；　which
had　been　fitted　up　for　the　reception　of　the　nobility；　displayed
within　two　rows　of　Ionic　pillars；　which　gave　to　the　hall　an　unwonted
air　of　dignity　and　solemnity。　The　hall　was　lighted　mainly　from
above；　through　a　skylight；　which　was　covered　with　a　screen　of　white
sarcenet。　A　gentle　light　diffused　itself　throughout　the　room；　making
one　object　as　discernible　as　another。　In　the　background　the　throne
could　be　seen　on　a　richly　ornamented　estrade　and　beneath　a　gilded
canopy；　an　easy…chair　for　the　queen；　tabourets　for　the　princesses；
and　chairs　for　the　other　members　of　the　royal　family。　Below　the
estrade　stood　the　bench　devoted　to　the　ministers　and　the　secretaries
of　state。　At　the　right　of　the　throne；　seats　had　been　placed　for　the
clergy；　on　the　left　for　the　nobility；　while　in　front　were　the　six
hundred　chairs　devoted　to　the　Third　Estate。

The　Marquis　de　Brize；　with　two　assistant　masters　of　ceremonies；　now
began　to　assign　the　commoners　to　their　seats；　in　accordance　with　the
situation　of　the　districts　which　they　represented。

As　the　Duke　d'Orleans　appeared　in　the　midst　of　the　other　deputies　of
Crespy；　there　arose　from　the　amphitheatre；　where　the　spectators　sat；
a　gentle　sound　of　applause；　which　increased　in　volume；　and　was
repeated　by　some　of　the　commoners；　when　it　was　noticed　that　the　duke
made　a　clergyman；　who　had　gone　behind　him　in　the　delegation　from
this　district；　go　in　front　of　him；　and　did　not　desist　till　the
round…bellied　priest　had　really　taken　his　place　before　him。　In　the
mean　time　the　bench　of　the　ministers　had　begun　to　fill。　They
appeared　as　a　body；　clothed　in　rich　uniforms；　heavy　with　gold。　Only
one　single　man　among　them　appeared　in　simple　citizen's　clothing；　and
bearing　himself　as　naturally　as　if　he　were　engaged　in　business　of
the　state；　or　in　ordinary　parlor　conversation；　and　by　no　means　as　if
taking　part　in　an　extraordinary　solemnity。　As　soon　as　he　was　seen；
there　arose　on　all　sides；　as　much　in　the　assembly　as　on　the　tribune；
a　movement　as　of　joy　which　culminated　in　a　general　clapping　of
hands。

The　man　who　received　this　salutation　was　the　newly…appointed
minister　of　finance；　Necker；　to　whom　the　nation　was　looking　for　a
reestablishment　of　its　prosperity　and　of　its　credit。

Necker　manifested　only　by　a　thoughtful　smile；　which　mounted　to　his
earnest；　thought…furrowed　face；　that　he　was　conscious　to　whom　the
garland　of　supreme　popularity　was　extended　at　this　moment。

Next；　the　deputation　of　Provence　appeared；　in　the　midst　of　which
towered　Count　Mirabeau；　with　his　proud；　erect　bearing；　advancing　to
take　the　place　appointed　for　him。　His　appearance　was　the　sign　for　a
few　hands　to　commence　clapping　in　a　distant　part　of　the　hall；　in
honor　of　a　man　so　much　talked　of　in　Prance；　and　of　whom　such　strange
things　were　said。　But　at　this　instant　the　king　appeared；　accompanied
by　the　queen；　followed　by　the　princes　and　princesses　of　the　royal
family。

At　the　entrance　of　the　king；　the　whole　assembly　broke　into　a　loud；
enthusiastic　shout　of　applause　and　of　joy。　The　Third　Estate　as　well；
at　a　signal　from　Count　Mirabeau；　had　quickly　risen；　but　continued　to
stand　without　bending　the　knee；　as　had　been；　at　the　last　time　when
all　the　estate　were　assembled；　the　invariable　rule。　Only　one　of　the
representatives　of　the　Third　Estate；　a　young　man　with　energetic；
proud　face；　and　dark；　glowing　eyes；　bent　his　knee　when　he　saw　the
queen　entering　behind　the　king。　But　the　powerful　hand　of　his
neighbor　was　laid　upon　his　shoulder　and　drew　him　quickly　up。

〃Mr。　Deputy；〃　whispered　this　neighbor　to　him；　〃it　becomes　the
representatives　of　the　nation　to　stand　erect　before　the　crown。〃

〃It　is　true；　Count　Mirabeau；〃　answered　Toulan。　〃I　did　not　bend　my
knee　to　the　crown；　but　to　the　queen　as；　a　beautiful　woman。〃

Mirabeau　made　no　reply；　but　turned　his　flaming　eyes　to　the　king。

Louis　XVI。　appeared　that　day　arrayed　in　the　great　royal　ermine；　and
wore　upon　his　head　a　plumed　hat；　whose　band　glistened　with　great
diamonds；　while　the　largest　in　the　royal　possession；　the　so…called
Titt；　formed　the　centre；　and　threw　its　rays　far　and　wide。　The　king
appeared　at　the　outset　to　be　deeply　moved　at　the　reception　which　had
been　given　him。　A　smile；　indicating　that　his　feelings　were　touched；
played　upon　his　face。　But　afterward；　when　all　was　still；　and　the
king　saw　the　grave；　manly；　marked　faces　of　the　commoners　opposite
him；　his　manner　became　confused；　and　for　an　instant　he　seemed　to
tremble。

The　queen；　however；　looked　around　her　with　a　calm　and　self…possessed
survey。　Her　fine　eyes　swept　slowly　and　searchingly　over　the　rows　of
grave　men　who　sat　opposite　the　royal　couple；　and　dwelt　a　moment　on
Toulan；　as　if　she　recalled　in　him　the　young　man　who；　two　years
before；　had　brought　the　message　of　Cardinal　Rohan's　acquittal。　A
painful　smile　shot　for　an　instant　over　her　fine　features。　Yes；　she
had　recognized　him；　the　young　man　who；　at　Madame　de　Campan's　room；
had　sworn　a　vow　of　eternal　fidelity　to　her。　And　now　he　sat　opposite
her；　on　the　benches　of　the　commoners；　among　her　enemies；　who　gazed
at　her　with　angry　looks。　That　was　his　way　of　fulfilling　the　vow
which　he　had　made　of　his　own　free　will！

But　Marie　Antoinette　wondered　at　nothing　now；　she　had　witnessed　the
falling　away　of　so　many　friends；　she　had　been　forsaken　by　so　many
who　were　closely　associated　with　her；　and　who　were　indebted　to　her；
that　it　caused　her　no　surprise　that　the　young　man　who　hardly　knew
her；　who　had　admired　her　in　a　fit　of　youthful　rapture；　had　done　like
all　the　rest　in　joining　the　number　of　her　enemies。

Marie　Antoinette　sadly　let　her　eyes　fall。　She　could　look　at　nothing
more；　she　had　in　this　solemn　moment　received　a　new　wound；　seen　a　new
deserter！

Toulan　read　her　thoughts　in　her　sad　mien；　on　her　throbbing　forehead；
but　his　own　countenance　remained　cheerful　and　bright。

〃She　will　live　to　see　the　day　when　she　will　confess　that　I　am　her
friend；　am　true　to　her；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃And　on　that　day　I
shall　be　repaid　for　the　dagger…thrusts　which　I　have　just　received
from　her　eyes。　Courage；　Toulan；　courage！　Hold　up　your　head　and　be
strong。　The　contest　has　begun；　you　must　fight　it　through　or　die！〃

But　the　queen　did　not　raise　her　head　again。　She　looked　unspeakably
sad　in　her　simple；　unadorned　attirein　her　modest；　gentle　bearing
and　it　was　most　touching　to　see　the　pale；　fair　features　which　sought
in　vain　to　disclose　nothing　of　the　painful　emotions　of　her　soul。

The　king　now　arose　from　his　throne　and　removed　his　plumed　hat。　At
once　Marie　Antoinette　rose　from　her　armchair；　in　order　to　listen
standing　to　the　address　of　the　king。

〃Madame；〃　said　the　king；　bowing　to　her　lightly；　〃madame；　be　seated；
I　beg　of　you。〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　Marie　Antoinette；　calmly；　〃allow　me　to　stand；　for
it　does　not　become　a　subject　to　sit　while　the　king　is　standing。〃

A