marie antoinette and her son-第35章

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dangerous　than　the　exasperated　National　Guards。　Come；　General
Lafayette；　we　will　go　to　the　city　hall；　and　summon　the　magistracy
and　the　leaders　of　the　National　Guard；　to　take　counsel　of　them。〃

An　hour　later　the　drums　beat　through　all　the　streets　of　Paris；　for
in　the　city　hall　the　resolve　had　been　taken　that　the　National　Guard
of　Paris；　under　the　lead　of　General　Lafayette；　should　repair　to
Versailles　to　protect　the　royal　family　against　the　attacks　of　the
people；　but　at　the　same　time　to　protect　the　National　Assembly
against　the　attacks　of　the　royalist　troops。

But　long　before　the　troops　were　in　motion；　and　had　really　begun
their　march　to　Versailles；　the　troops　of　women　were　already　on　their
way。　Soldiers　of　the　National　Guard　and　armed　men　from　the　people
accompanied　the　women；　and　secured　among　them　a　certain　military
discipline。　They　marched　in　ten　separate　columns；　every　one　of　which
consisted　of　more　than　a　thousand　women。

Each　column　was　preceded　by　some　soldiers　of　the　National　Guard；
with　weapons　on　their　shoulders；　who；　of　their　own　free　will；　had
undertaken　to　be　the　leaders。　On　both　sides　of　each　column　marched
the　armed　men　from　the　people；　in　order　to　inspire　the　women　with
courage　when　they　grew　tired；　but　at　the　same　time　to　compel　those
who　were　weary　of　the　long　journey；　or　sick　of　the　whole
undertaking；　and　who　wanted　to　return　to　Paris；　to　come　back　into
the　ranks　and　complete　what　they　had　begun；　and　carry　the　work　of
revolution　still　further。　〃On　to　Versailles！〃

All　was　quiet　in　Versailles　that　day。　No　one　suspected　the　horrors
which　it　was　to　bring　forth。　The　king　had　gone　with　some　of　his
gentlemen　to　Meudon　to　hunt：　the　queen　had　gone　to　Trianon　alone
all　alone！

No　one　of　her　friends　was　now　at　her　side；　she　had　lost　them　all。　No
one　was　there　to　share　the　misery　of　the　queen　of　all　who　had　shared
her　happiness。　The　Duchess　de　Polignac；　the　princesses　of　the　royal
house；　the　cheery　brother　of　the　king；　Count　d'Artois；　the　Count　de
Coigny；　Lords　Besenval　and　Lauzun；　where　are　they　all　now；　the
friends；　the　suppliants　of　former　days？　Far；　far　away　in　distant
lands；　flown　from　the　misfortune　that；　with　its　dark　wings　sinking；
was　hovering　lower　and　lower　over　Versailles；　and　darkening　with　its
uncanny　shadows　this　Trianon　which　had　once　been　so　cheerful　and
bright。　All　now　is　desolate　and　still！　The　mill　rattles　no　more；　the
open　window　is　swung　to　and　fro　by　the　wind；　and　the　miller　no　more
looks　out　with　his　good…natured；　laughing　face；　the　miller　of
Trianon　is　no　longer　the　king；　and　the　burdens　and　cares　of　his
realm　have　bowed　his　head。　The　school…house；　too；　is　desolate；　and
the　learned　master　no　longer　writes　his　satires　and　jokes　upon　the
great　black…board　in　the　school…room。　He　now　writes　libels　and
pamphlets；　but　they　are　now　directed　against　the　queen；　against　the
former　mistress　of　Trianon。　And　there　is　the　fish…pond；　along　whose
shores　the　sheep　used　to　pasture；　where　the　courtly　company；
transformed　into　shepherds　and　shepherdesses；　used　to　lie　on　the
grass；　singing　songs；　arranging　tableaux；　and　listening　to　the　songs
which　the　band　played　behind　the　thicket。　All　now　is　silent。　No
joyous　tone　now　breaks　the　melancholy　stillness　which　fills　the
shady　pathways　of　the　grove　where　Marie　Antoinette；　the　mistress　of
Trianon；　now　walks　with　bended　head　and　heart…broken　spirit；　only
the　recollection　of　the　past　resounds　as　an　echo　in　her　inner　ear；
and　revives　the　cheerful　strains　which　long　have　been　silent。

At　the　fish…pond　all　is　still；　no　flocks　grazing　on　the　shore；　no
picturesque　groups；　no　songs。　The　spinning…wheel　no　longer　whirls；
the　hand　of　the　queen　no　longer　turns　the　spindle；　she　has　learned
to　hold　the　sceptre　and　the　pen；　and　to　weave　public　policy；　and　not
a　net　of　linen。　The　trees　with　their　variegated　autumn　foliage　are
reflected　in　the　dark　water　of　the　pond；　some　weeping…willows　droop
with　their　tapering　branches　down　to　the　water；　and　a　few　swans　come
slowly　sailing　across　with　their　necks　raised　in　their　majestic
fashion。　As　they　saw　the　figure　on　the　shore；　they　expanded　their
wings　and　sailed　quicker　on；　to　pick　up　the　crumbs　which　the　white
hands　of　the　queen　used　to　throw　to　them。

But　these　hands　have　to…day　no　gifts　for　the　solitary；　forgotten
swans。　All　the　dear；　pleasant　customs　of　the　past　are　forgotten；
they　have　all　ceased。

Yet　the　swans　have　not　forgotten　her；　they　sail　unquietly　hither　and
thither　along　the　shore　of　the　pond；　they　toss　up　their　slender
necks；　and　then　plunge　their　red　beaks　down　into　the　dark　water
seeking　for　the　grateful　bits　which　were　not　there。　But　when　they
saw　that　they　were　disappointed；　they　poured　forth　their　peculiarly
mournful　song　and　slowly　sailed　away　down　the　lakelet　into　the
obscurity　of　the　distance；　letting　their　complaining　notes　be　heard
from　time　to　time。

〃They　are　singing　the　swan's　song　of　my　happiness；〃　whispered　the
queen；　looking　with　tearful　eyes　at　the　beautiful　creatures。　〃They
too　turn　away　from　me；　and　now　I　am　alone；　all　alone。〃

She　had　spoken　this　loudly；　and　her　quivering　voice　wakened　the　echo
which　had　been　artistically　contrived　there；　to　repeat　cheery　words
and　merry　laughter。

〃Alone！〃　sounded　back　from　the　walls　of　the　Marlborough　Tower　at　the
end　of　the　fish…pond。　〃Alone！〃　whispered　the　water　stirred　with　the
swans。　〃Alone！〃　was　the　rustling　cry　of　the　bushes。　〃Alone！〃　was
heard　in　the　heart　of　the　queen；　and　she　sank　down　upon　the　grass；
covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　and　wept　aloud。　All　at　once　there
was　a　cry　in　the　distance；　〃The　queen；　where　is　the　queen？　〃

Marie　Antoinette　sprang　up　and　dried　her　eyes。　No　one　should　see
that　she　had　wept。　Tears　belong　only　to　solitude；　but　she　has　no
longer　even　solitude。　The　voice　comes　nearer　and　nearer；　and　Marie
Antoinette　follows　the　sound。　She　knows　that　she　is　going　to　meet　a
new　misfortune。　People　have　not　come　to　Trianon　to　bring　her　tidings
of　joy；　they　have　come　to　tell　her　that　destruction　awaits　her　in
Versailles；　and　the　queen　is　to　give　audience　to　it。

A　man　came　with　hurried　step　from　the　thicket　down　the　winding
footpath。　Marie　Antoinette　looked　at　him　with　eager；　sharp　eye。　Who
is　he；　this　herald　of　misfortune？　No　one　of　the　court　servants；　no
one　of　the　gentry。

He　wears　the　simple　garments　of　a　citizen；　a　man　of　the　people；　of
that　Third　Estate　which　has　prepared　for　the　poor　queen　so　much
trouble　and　sorrow。

He　had　perhaps　read　her　question　in　her　face；　for；　as　he　now　sank
breathless　at　her　feet；　his　lips　murmured：　〃Forgive　me；　your
majesty；　forgive　me　that　I　disturb　you。　I　am　Toulan；　your　most
devoted　servant；　and　it　is　Madame　de　Campan　who　sends　me。〃

〃Toulan；　yes；　I　recognize　you　now；〃　said　the　queen；　hastily。　〃It　was
you；　was　it　not；　who　brought　me　the　sad　news　of　the　acquittal　of
Rohan？〃

〃It　appears；　your　majesty；　that　a　cruel　misfortune　has　always　chosen
me　to　be　the　bearer　of　evil　tidings　to　my　exalted　queen。　And　to…day
I　come　only　with　such。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　cried　the　queen；　eagerly。　〃Has　any　thing　happened　to
my　husband？　Are　my　children　threatened？　Speak　quickly；　say　no　or
yes。　Let　me　know　the　whole　truth　at　once。　Is　the　king　dead？　Are　my
children　in　danger？〃

〃No；　your　majesty。〃

〃No；〃　cried　the　queen；　breathing　a　breath　of　relief。　〃I　thank　you；
air。　You　see　that　you　accused　Fate　falsely；　for　you　have　brought　me
good　tidings。　And　yet　again　I　thank　you；　for；　I　remember；　I　have
much　to　thank　you　for。　It　was　you　who　raised　your　voice　in　the
National　Assembly；　and　voted　for　the　inviolability　of　the　queen。　It
was　not　your　fault；　and　believe　me　not　mine　either；　that　your　voice
was　alone；　that　no　one　joined　you。　The　king　has　been　declared
inviolable；　but　not　the　queen；　and　now　I　am　to　be　attacked；　am　I
not？　Tell　me　what　is　it？　Why　does　my　faithful　Campan　send　you　to
me？〃

〃Your　majesty；　to　conjure　you　to　come　to　Versailles。〃

〃What　has　happened　there？〃

〃Nothing　as　yet；　your　majesty；　butI　was　early　this　morning　in
Paris；　and　what　I　saw　there　determined　me　to　come　hither　at　once；　to
bring　the　news　and　warn　your　majesty。〃

〃What　is　it？　Why　do　you　hesitate？　Speak　out　freely。〃

〃Your　majesty；　all　Paris　is　in　motion；　all　Paris　is　marching　upon
Versailles！〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　asked　Marie　Antoinette；　passionately。
〃What　does　Paris　want？　Does　it　mean　to　threaten　the　National
Assembly？　Explain　yourself；　for　you　see　I　do　not　understand　you。〃

〃Your　majesty；　the　people　of　Paris　hunger。　The　bakers　have　made　no
bread；　for　they　assert　that　there　is　no　more　meal。　The　enemies　of
the　realm　have　taken　advantage　of　the　excitement　to　stir　up　the
masses　and　even　the　women。　The　people　are　hungry；　the　people　are
coming　to　Versailles　to　ask　the　king　for　bread。　Ten　thousand　women
are　on　the　road　to　Versailles；　accompanied　by　armed　bodies　of　men。〃

〃Let　us　hasten；　sir；　I　must　go　to　my　children；〃　said　the　queen；　and
with　quick　steps　she　went　forward。　Not　a　glance　back；　not　a　word　of
farewell　to　the　loved　plantation　of　Trianon；　and　yet　it　is　the　last
time　that　Marie　Antoinette　is　to　look　upon　it。　She　will　never　return
hither；　she　turns　her　back　forever　upon　Trianon。

With　flying　steps　she　hurries　on；　Toulan　does　not　venture　to　address
her；　and　she　has　perhaps　entirely　forgotten　his　presence。　She　does
not　know　that　a　faithful　one　is　near　her；　she　only　knows　that　her
children　are　in　Versailles；　and　that　she　must　go　to　them　to　protect
them；　and　to　the　king　too；　to　die　with　him；　if　it　must　be。

When　they　were　not　far　from　the　great　mall　of　the　park　at
Versailles；　the　Count　de　St。　Priest　came　running；　and　his　frightened
looks　and　pale　face　confirmed　the　news　that　Mr。　Toulan　had　brought。

〃Your　majesty；〃　cried　the　count；　breathless；　〃I　took　the　liberty　of
looking　for　your　majesty　at　Trianon。　Bad　news　has　arrived。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　answered　the　queen；　calmly。　〃Ten　thousand　women　are
marching　upon　Versailles；　Mr。　Toulan　has　informed　me；　and　you　see　I
am　coming　to　receive　the　women。〃

All　at　once　she　stood　still　and　turned　to　Toulan；　who　was　walking
behind　her　like　the　faithful　servant　of　his　mistress。

〃Sir；〃　said　she；　〃I　thank　you；　and　I　know　that　I　may　reckon　upon
you。　I　am　sure　that　to…day　as　always　you　have　thought　upon　our
welfare；　and　that　you　will　remain　mindful　of　the　oath　of　fidelity
which　you　once　gave　me。　Farewell！　Do　you　go　to　the　National
Assembly。　I　will　go　to　the　palace；　and　may　we　each　do　our　duty。〃　She
saluted　Toulan　with　a　gentle　inclination　of　her　head　and　with
beaming　looks　of　gratitude　in　her　beautiful　eyes；　and　then　hurried
on　up　the　grand　mall　to　the　palace。

In　Versailles　all　was　confusion　and　consternation。　Every　one　had
lost　his　senses。　Every　one　asked；　and　no　one　answered；　for　the　only
one　who　could　answer；　the　king；　was　not　there。　He　had　not　yet
returned　from　the　hunt　in　Meudon。

But　the　queen　was　there；　and　with　a　grand　calmness　and　matchless
grasp　of　mind　she　undertook　the　duties　of　the　king。　First；　she　sent
the　chief　equerry；　the　Marquis　de　Cubieres；　to　meet　the　king　and
cause　him　to　hasten　home　at　once。　She　intrusted　Count　St。　Priest；
minister　of　the　interior；　with　a　division　of　the　guards　in　the　inner
court　of　the　palace。　She　inspired