marie antoinette and her son-第37章

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are　hungry；　we　want　bread；〃　shouted　the　women。　〃We　are　not　going　to
live　on　words　any　more。　The　king　shall　give　us　bread；　and　then　we
shall　see　it　proved　that　he　loves　us　like　a　father；　then　we　will　go
back　to　Paris。　If　the　baker　believes　that　he　can　satisfy　us　with
words　and　fine　speeches；　he　is　mistaken。〃

〃If　he　has　no　bread；　he　shall　give　us　his　wife　to　eat！〃　roared　a　man
with　a　pike　in　his　hand　and　a　red　cap　on　his　head。　〃The　baker's　wife
has　eaten　up　all　our　bread；　and　it　is　no　more　than　fair　that　we
should　eat　her　up　now。〃

〃Give　us　the　heart　of　the　queen；〃　was　now　the　cry；　〃give　us　the
heart　of　the　queen！〃

Marie　Antoinette　heard　the　words；　but　she　appeared　not　to　be
alarmed。　With　dignity　and　composure；　she　cast　a　look　at　the
ministers　and　gentlemen；　who；　pale　and　speechless；　had　gathered
around　the　royal　couple。

〃I　know　that　this　crowd　has　come　from　Paris　to　demand　my　head！　I
learned　of　my　mother　not　to　fear　death；　and　I　shall　meet　it　with
courage　and　steadfastness。〃　＇Footnote：　The　words　of　the　queen。See
〃Histoire　de　Marie　Antoinette；〃　p。　194。＇

And　firmly　and　fearlessly　Marie　Antoinette　remained　all　this
dreadful　evening；　which　was　now　beginning　to　overshadow　Versailles。
Outside　of　the　palace　raged　the　uproar；　revolutionary　songs　were
sung；　veiled　forms；　the　leaders　of　the　revolution；　stole　around；　and
fired　the　people　with　new　rage　against　the　baker　and　the　baker's
wife。　Torches　were　lighted　to　see　by；　and　the　blood…red　glare　shone
into　the　faces　there；　and　tended　to　exasperate　them　still　more。　What
dances　were　executed　by　the　women；　with　torches　in　their　hands！　and
the　men　roared　in　accompaniment；　ridiculing　the　king　and　threatening
the　queen　with　death。

At　times　the　torches　threw　their　flickering　glare　into　the　windows
of　the　palace；　where　were　the　ministers　and　servants　of　the　king；　in
silent　horror。　Among　all　those　counsellor　of　the　king；　there　was　at
this　time　but　one　Man；　Marie　Antoinette！　She　alone　preserved　her
steadfastness　and　discretion；　she　spoke　to　every　one　friendly；
inspiriting　words。　She　roused　up　the　timid；　at　times　she　even
attempted　to　bring　the　king　to　some　decisive　action；　and　yet　she　did
not　complain　when　she　found　herself　unable　to　do　so。

Once　her　face　lighted　up　in　hope　and　joy。　That　was　when　a　company　of
deputies；　headed　by　Toulan；　entered　the　hall；　to　offer　their
services　to　the　royal　couple；　and　to　ask　permission　to　be　allowed　to
remain　around　the　king　and　queen。

But　scarcely　had　this　request　been　granted；　when　both　the
secretaries　of　the　president　of　the　National　Assembly　entered；
warning　the　members；　in　the　name　of　the　president；　to　return　at　once
to　the　hall　and　to　take　part　in　the　night　session　which　was　to　be
held。

〃They　call　our　last　friends　away　from　us；〃　murmured　the　queen；　〃for
they　want　us　to　be　entirely　defenceless！〃

All　at　once　the　cries　on　the　square　below　were　more　violent　and
loud；　musket…shots　were　heard；　at　the　intervals　between　rose　the
thousand…voiced　clamor；　and　at　one　time　the　thunder　of　a　cannon。
There　was　a　rush　of　horses；　and　clash　of　arms；　more　musket…shots；
and　then　the　cry　of　the　wounded。

The　king　had　withdrawn　to　hold　a　last　consultation　with　his
ministers　and　a　few　faithful　friends。　At　this　fearful　noise；　this
sound　of　weapons；　this　shout　of　victory；　his　first　thought　was　of
the　queen。　He　rose　quickly　and　entered　the　hall。

No　one　was　there；　the　red　glare　of　the　torches　was　thrown　from　below
into　the　deserted　room；　and　showed　upon　the　wall　wondrous　shadows　of
contorted　human　figures；　with　clinched　fists　and　with　raised　and
threatening　arms。

The　king　walked　hastily　through　the　fearfully　illuminated　hall；
called　for　the　queen　with　a　loud　voice；　burst　into　the　cabinet；　then
into　her　sleeping…room；　but　no　Marie　Antoinette　was　to　be　foundno
one　gave　reply　to　the　anxious　call　of　the　king。

More　dreadful　grew　the　wild　shrieks　and　howls；　the　curses　and
maledictions　which　came　in　from　without。

The　king　sprang　up　the　little　staircase　which　led　to　the　rooms　of
the　children；　and　dashed　through　the　antechamber；　where　the　door　was
open　that　led　to　the　dauphin's　sleeping…room。

And　here　Louis　stood　still；　and　looked　with　a　breath　of　relief　at
the　group　which　met　his　tearful　eyes。　The　dauphin　was　lying　in　his
bed　fast　asleep；　with　a　smile　on　his　face。　Marie　Antoinette　stood
erect　before　the　bed　in　an　attitude　of　proud　composure。

〃Marie；〃　said　the　king；　deeply　moved〃Marie；　I　was　looking　for
you。〃

The　queen　slowly　turned　her　head　toward　him　and　pointed　at　the
sleeping　prince。

〃Sire；〃　answered　she　calmly；　〃I　was　at　my　post。〃　＇Footnote：　This
conversation；　as　well　as　this　whole　scene；　is　historical。See
Beauchesne's　〃Louis　XVII。；〃　vol。　i。＇

Louis；　overcome　by　the　sublimity　of　a　mother's　love；　hastened　to　his
wife　and　locked　her　in　his　arms。

〃Remain　with　me；　Marie；〃　he　said。　〃Do　not　leave　me。　Breathe　your
courage　and　your　decision　into　me。〃

The　queen　sighed　and　sadly　shook　her　head。　She　had　not　a　word　of
reproach；　she　did　not　say　that　she　no　longer　believed　in　the　courage
and　decision　of　the　king；　but　she　had　no　longer　any　hope。

But　the　doors　of　the　room　now　opened。　Through　one　came　the　maids　of
the　queen　and　the　governess　of　the　dauphin；　through　the　other；　some
gentlemen　of　the　court；　to　call　the　king　back　into　the　audience…
hall。

After　the　first　panic；　every　one　had　come　back　to　consciousness
again；　and　all　vied　in　devoting　themselves　to　the　king　and　the
queen。　The　gentlemen　brought　word　that　something　new　had　occurred；
and　that　this　was　the　cause　of　the　dreadful　tumult　below　upon　the
square。　The　National　Guard　of　Paris　had　arrived；　they　had
fraternized　with　the　National　Guard　of　Versailles；　and　with　the
people；　they　had　been　received　by　the　women　with　shouts　of　applause；
and　by　the　men　with　a　volley　of　musket…shots　in　salutation。　General
Lafayette　had　entered　the　palace　to　offer　his　services　to　the　king；
and　he　now　asked　for　an　audience。

〃Come；　madame；〃　said　Louis　quickly；　cheered　up；　〃let　us　receive　the
general。　You　see　that　things　are　not　so　bad　with　us　as　you　think。　We
have　faithful　servants　yet　to　hasten　to　our　assistance。〃

The　queen　made　no　reply。　Quietly　she　followed　the　king　into　the
hall；　in　which　Lafayette；　surrounded　by　the　ministers　and　gentlemen；
was　standing。　On　the　entrance　of　the　royal　couple；　the　general
advanced　to　meet　them　with　a　reverential　salutation。

〃Sire；〃　said　Lafayette；　with　cheerful　confidence〃　sire；　I　have
come　to　protect　your　majesties　and　the　National　Assembly　against　all
those　who　shall　venture　to　threaten　you。〃

〃Are　you　assured　of　the　fidelity　and　trustworthiness　of　your
troops？〃　asked　the　queen；　whose　flaming　eyes　rested　upon　Lafayette's
countenance　as　if　she　wanted　to　read　his　utmost　thoughts。

But　these　eyes　did　not　confuse　the　cheerful　calmness　of　the　general。

〃I　know；　madame；　that　I　can　rely　upon　the　fidelity　of　my　soldiers；〃
answered　he；　confidently。　〃They　are　devoted　to　me　to　the　death；　and
as　I　shall　command　them；　they　will　watch　over　the　security　of　the
king　and　queen；　and　keep　all　injury　from　them。〃

The　queen　detected　the　touch　of　scorn　in　these　loud…sounding　words；
but　she　pretended　to　believe　them。　At　last　she　really　did　believe
them；　for　Lafayette　repeated　emphatically　that　from　this　time
nothing　more　was　to　be　feared　for　the　royal　family；　and　that　all
danger　was　past。　The　guard　should　be　chosen　this　night　from　his　own
troops；　the　Paris　National　Guard　should　restore　peace　again　in
Versailles；　and　keep　an　eye　upon　the　crowds　which　had　encamped　upon
the　great　square　before　the　palace。

Lafayette　promised　well　for　his　army；　for　the　howling；　shrieking
women；　for　the　cursing；　raging　men。

And　the　king　was　satisfied　with　these　assurances　of　General
Lafayette；　and　so；　too；　was　Marie　Antoinette　at　last。

Louis　ordered　the　garde　du　corps　to　march　to　Rambouillet；　and
reserved　only　the　necessary　sentinels　in　the　palace。　In　the
immediate　neighborhood　the　soldiers　of　Lafayette　were　stationed。　The
general　once　more　made　the　rounds；　and　then；　as　if　every　thing　was
in　a　position　of　the　greatest　security；　he　went　into　the　palace　to
spend　the　night　there；　and　in　peaceful　slumbers　to　refresh　himself
for　the　labors　of　the　day。

The　king；　too；　had　retired　to　his　apartments；　and　the　valets　who　had
assisted　his　majesty　to　undress　had　not　left　the　sleeping…room；　when
the　loud；　uniform　breathing　which　issued　from　the　silken　curtains　of
the　bed　told　them　that　the　king　had　already　fallen　asleep。　The
queen；　too；　had　gone　to　rest；　and　while　laying　her　wearied　and　heavy
head　upon　the　cushions；　she　tenderly　besought　both　her　maids　to　lie
down　too。　All　was　quiet　now　in　the　dark　palace　of　Versailles。　The
king　and　the　queen　slept。

But　through　the　dark；　deserted　halls　which　that　day　had　witnessed　so
much　pain　and　anxiety；　resounded　now　the　clang　of　the　raging；
howling　voices　which　came　up　from　the　square；　and　hurled　their
curses　against　the　queen。

In　the　palace　of　Versailles　they　were　asleep；　but　without；　before
the　palace；　Uproar　and　Hate　kept　guard；　and　with　wild　thoughts　of
murder　stalked　around　the　palace　of　the　Kings　of　France。

How　soon　were　these　thoughts　to　become　fact！　Sleep；　Marie
Antoinette；　sleep！　One　last　hour　of　peace　and　security！

One　last　hour！　Before　the　morning　dawns　Hate　will　awaken　thee；　and
Murder's　terrible　voice　will　resound　through　the　halls　of　the　Kings
of　France！




CHAPTER　XIII。

THE　NIGHT　OF　HORROR。


Marie　Antoinette　slept！　The　fearful　excitement　of　the　past　day　and
of　the　stormy　evening；　crowded　with　its　events；　had　exhausted　the
powers　of　the　queen；　and　she　had　fallen　into　that　deep；　dreamless
sleep　which　sympathetic　and　gracious　Nature　sometimes　sends　to　those
whom　Fate　pursues　with　suffering　and　peril。

Marie　Antoinette　slept！　In　the　interior　of　the　palace　a　deep　calm
reigned；　and　Lafayette　had　withdrawn　from　the　court　in　order　to
sleep　too。　But　below；　upon　this　court；　Revolution　kept　her　vigils；
and　glared　with　looks　of　hatred　and　vengeance　to　the　dark　walls
behind　which　the　queen　was　sleeping。

The　crown　of　France　had　for　centuries　sinned　so　much；　and　proved
false　so　much；　that　the　love　of　the　people　had　at　last　been
transformed　into　hate。　The　crown　had　so　long　sown　the　wind；　that　it
could　not　wonder　if　it　had　to　reap　the　whirlwind。　The　crimes　and
innovations　which　Louis　XIV。　and　Louis　XV。　had　sown　upon　the　soil　of
France；　had　created　an　abyss　between　the　crown　and　the　people；　out
of　which　revolution　must　arise　to　avenge　those　crimes　and　sins　of
the　past　upon　the　present。　The　sins　of　the　fathers　had　to　be　visited
upon　the　children　to　the　third　and　fourth　generation。

Marie　Antoinette　did　not　know　it；　she　did　not　see　the　abyss　which
had　opened　between　the　crown　and　the　people；　the　courtiers　and
flatterers　had　covered　it　with　flowers；　and　with　the　sounds　of
festivity　the　cries　of　a　distressed　people　had　been　drowned。

Now　the　flowers　were　torn　away；　the　festive　sounds　had　ceased；　and
Marie　Antoinette　saw　the　abyss　between　the　crown　and　the　people；　she
heard　the　curses；　the　raging　cries　of　these　exasperated　men；　who　had
been　changed　from　weak；　obedient　subjects　into　threatening；
domineering　rebels。　S