marie antoinette and her son-第38章

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been　changed　from　weak；　obedient　subjects　into　threatening；
domineering　rebels。　She　looked　with　steady　eye　down　into　the　abyss；
and　saw　the　monster　rise　from　the　depths　to　destroy　herself　and　her
whole　house；　but　she　would　not　draw　back；　she　would　not　yield。　She
would　rather　be　dragged　down　and　destroyed　than　meekly　and　miserably
to　make　her　way　to　the　camp　of　her　enemies；　to　take　refuge　with
them。

Better　to　die　with　the　crown　on　her　head　than　to　live　robbed　of　her
crown　in　lowliness　and　in　a；　subject　condition。　Thus　thought　Marie
Antoinette；　as　at　the　close　of　that　dreadful　day　she　went　to　rest；
this　was　her　prayer　as　she　sank　upon　her　couch：

〃Give　me　power；　O　God；　to　die　as　a　queen；　if　I　can　no　longer　live　as
a　queen！　And　strengthen　my　husband；　that　he　may　not　only　be　a　good
man；　but　a　king　too！〃

With　this　prayer　on　her　trembling　lips；　she　had　fallen　asleep。　But
when　Campan　stole　on　tiptoe　to　the　queen's　bed　to　watch　her　mistress
while　she　slept；　Marie　Antoinette　opened　her　eyes　again；　and　spoke
in　her　friendly　way　to　her　devoted　servant。

〃Go　to　bed；　Campan；〃　said　she；　〃and　the　second　maid　must　lie　down
too。　You　all　need　rest　after　this　evil　day；　and　sleep　is　so
refreshing。　Go；　Campan；　good…night！〃

Madame　de　Campan　had　to　obey；　and　stepped　out　into　the　antechamber；
where　were　the　two　other　maids。

〃The　queen　is　asleep；〃　she　said；　〃and　she　has　commanded　us　to　go　to
rest　too。　Shall　we　do　so？〃

The　two　women　answered　only　with　a　shake　of　the　head　and　a　shrug　of
the　shoulders。

〃I　know　very　well　that　we　are　agreed；〃　said　Madame　de　Campan；
reaching　her　hand　to　them。　〃For　us　there　must　be　no　sleep　to…night；
for　we　must　watch　the　queen。　Come；　my　friends；　let　us　go　into　the
antechamber。　We　shall　find　Mr。　Varicourt；　who　will　tell　us　what　is
going　on　outside。〃

On　tiptoe　the　three　women　stole　out　into　the　second　ante…chamber；
which　was　lighted　only　with　a　couple　of　glimmering　wax　tapers；　and
in　its　desolate　disorder；　with　the　confusion　of　chairs；　divans；　and
tables；　brought　back　sad　recollections　of　the　wild　women　who　had　on
the　day　before　pressed　into　this　apartment　in　their　desire　to　speak
with　the　queen。　Somebody　had　told　them　that　this　was　the　antechamber
of　the　queen；　and　they　had　withdrawn　in　order　to　go　to　the
antechamber　of　the　king。　But　they　now　knew　the　way　that　led　to　the
apartments　of　the　queen；　they　knew　now　that　if　one　turned　to　the
left　side　of　the　palace；　he　would　come　at　once　into　the　apartments
occupied　by　the　royal　family；　and　that　the　queen　occupied　the
adjacent　rooms；　directly　behind　the　hall　of　the　Swiss　Guard。

Madame　de　Campan　thought　of　this；　as　she　cast　her　glance　over　this
antechamber　which　adjoined　the　Swiss　hall；　and　this　thought　filled
her　with　horror。

Varicourt　had　not　yet　come　in；　nothing　disturbed　the　silence　around
her；　except　the　dreadful　shouting　and　singing　outside　of　the　palace。

〃Let　us　go　back　into　the　waiting…room；〃　whispered　her　companions；
〃it　is　too　gloomy　here。　Only　hear　how　they　shout　and　laugh！　O　God；
it　is　a　fearful　night！〃

〃Yes；　a　fearful　night；〃　sighed　Madame　de　Campan；　〃and　the　day　that
follows　it　may　be　yet　more　fearful。　But　we　must　not　lose　our
courage。　All　depends　upon　our　having　decision；　upon　our　defying
danger；　and　defending　our　mistress。　And　see；　there　comes　Mr。
Varicourt；〃　she　continued；　earnestly；　as　the　door　quickly　opened；
and　an　officer　of　the　Swiss　guard　came　in　with　great　haste。

〃Tell　us；　my　friend；　what　news　do　you　bring　us？〃

〃Bad　news；〃　sighed　Varicourt。　〃The　crowd　is　increasing　every　moment。
New　columns　have　arrived　from　Paris；　and　not　only　the　common　people；
but　the　speakers　and　agitators　are　here。　Everywhere　are　groups
listening　to　the　dreadful　speeches　which　urge　on　to　regicide　and
revolution。　It　is　a　dreadful；　horrible　night。　Treachery；　hatred；
wickedness　around　the　palace；　and　cowardice　and　desertion　pass　out
from　the　palace　to　them；　and　open　the　doors。　Many　of　the　royal
soldiers　have　made　common　cause　with　the　people；　and　walk　arm　in　arm
with　them　around　the　square。〃

〃And　what　do　these　dreadful　men　want？〃　asked　Campan。　〃Why　do　they
encamp　around　the　palace？　What　is　their　object？〃

Mr。　Varicourt　sadly　bowed　his　head；　and　a　loud　sigh　came　from　his
courageous　breast。　〃They　want　what　they　shall　never　have　while　I　am
alive；〃　he　then　said；　with　a　decided　look。　〃I　have　sworn　fidelity　to
the　king　and　queen；　and　I　shall　keep　it　to　death。　My　duty　calls　me；
for　the　hour　of　changing　guards　is　near；　and　my　post　is　below　at　the
great　staircase　which　leads　up　here。　We　shall　meet　at　daylight；　if　I
am　then　alive。　But　till　then　we　shall　do　our　duty。　I　shall　guard　the
grand　staircase；　do　you　guard　the　sleeping…room　of　the　queen。〃

〃Yes；　we　will　do　our　duty；〃　answered　Madame　de　Campan；　extending　her
hand　to　him。　〃We　will　watch　over　those　to　whom　we　have　devoted
ourselves；　and　to　whom　we　have　vowed　fidelity。　No　one　shall　pass
into　the　chamber　of　the　queen　while　we　are　alive；　shall　there？〃

〃Never；〃　replied　both　of　the　women；　with　courageous　decision。

〃And　no　one　shall　ascend　the　great　staircase　so　long　as　I　live；〃
said　Varicourt。　〃Adieu　now；　ladies；　and　listen　carefully　to　every
sound。　If　a　voice　calls　to　you；　'It　is　time；'　wake　the　queen　and
save　her；　for　danger　will　then　be　right　upon　her。　Hark；　it　is
striking　three；　that　is　the　hour　of　changing　guard。　Farewell！〃

He　went　quickly　to　the　door；　but　there　he　stood　still；　and　turned
once　more　around。　His　glance　encountered　that　of　his　friend；　and
Madame　de　Campan　understood　its　silent　language　well；　for　she
hastened　to　him。

〃You　have　something　to　say　to　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　whispered　softly；　〃I　have　a　presentiment　that　I　shall　not
survive　the　horrors　of　this　night。　I　have　one　whom　I　love；　who；　as
you　know；　is　betrothed　to　me。　If　I　fall　in　the　service　of　the　king；
I　ask　you　to　see　my　Cecilia；　and　tell　her　that　I　died　with　her　name
upon　my　lips！　Tell　her　not　to　weep　for　me；　but　at　the　same　time　not
to　forget　me。　Farewell。〃

He　hurriedly　opened　the　door　and　hastened　away。　Madame　de　Campan
repressed　the　tears　which　would　fill　her　eyes；　and　turned　to　the　two
maids。

〃Now；〃　said　she；　with　decisive　tones；　〃let　us　return　to　the　waiting…
room　and　watch　the　door　of　the　queen's　chamber。〃

With　a　firm　step　she　walked　on；　and　the　ladies　followed。　Without　any
noise　they　entered　the　little　hall；　where　in　the　mornings　those
ladies　of　the　court　used　to　gather　who　had　the　right　to　be　present
while　the　queen　dressed　herself。　Madame　de　Campan　locked　the　door
through　which　they　had　entered；　behind　her；　drew　out　the　key　and　hid
it　in　her　pocket。

〃No　one　will　enter　here　with　my　will；〃　said　she。　〃Now　we　will　place
chairs　before　the　door　of　the　sleeping…room；　and　sit　there。　We　shall
then　have　erected　a　barricade　before　our　queen；　a　wall　which　will　be
as　strong　as　any　other；　for　there　beat　three　courageous　hearts
within　it。〃

They　sat　down　upon　the　chairs；　whose　high　backs　leaned　against　the
door　of　the　queen's　room；　and；　taking　one　another's　hands；　began
their　hallowed　watch。

All　was　still　and　desolate　around　them。　No　one　of　the　women　could
break　the　silence　with　a　word　or　a　remark。　With　dumb　lips；　with　open
eyes；　the　three　watchers　sat　and　hearkened　to　the　sounds　of　the
night。　At　times；　when　the　roaring　without　was　uncommonly　loud　and
wild；　they　pressed　one　another's　hands；　and　spoke　to　one　another　in
looks；　but　when　the　sounds　died　away；　they　turned　their　eyes　once
more　to　the　windows　and　listened。

Slowly；　dreadfully　slowly　moved　the　fingers　of　the　great　clock　above
on　the　chimney。　Madame　de　Campan　often　fixed　her　gaze　upon　it；　and
it　seemed　to　her　as　if　time　must　have　ceased　to　go　on；　for　it
appeared　to　be　an　eternity　since　Varicourt　had　taken　leave　of　her；
and　yet　the　two　longer　fingers　on　the　dial　had　not　indicated　the
fourth　hour　after　midnight。　But　the　pendulum　still　continued　its
regular；　even　swinging；　the　time　went　forward；　only　every　moment
made　the　horror；　the　fear　of　unknown　danger　seem　like　an　eternity！

At　last；　slowly；　with　calm　stroke；　the　hour　began　to　strike　four
o'clock。　And　amid　the　dreadful　sounds　outside　the　palace；　the　women
could　recognize　the　deep　tones　of　the　great　clock　on　the　Swiss　hall。
Four　o'clock！　One　solitary；　dreadful　hour　is　passed！　Three　hours
more；　three　eternities　before　daylight　comes！

But　hark！　what　new；　fearful　noise　without？　That　is　no　more　the　sound
of　singing　and　shouting；　and　cryingthat　is　the　battle…cry…that　is
the　rattle　and　clatter　of　muskets。　The　three　women　sprang　up；　moved
as　if　by　one　thought；　animated　by　one　purpose。　They　moved　the　chairs
back　from　the　door；　ready；　as　soon　as　danger　should　approach；　to　go
into　the　chamber　of　the　queen　and　awaken　her。　Campan　then　slipped
across　the　room　to　the　door　of　the　antechamber；　which　she　had　looked
before。　She　laid　her　ear　to　the　key…hole；　and　listened。　All　was
still　and　quiet　in　the　next　room；　no　one　was　in　the　antechamber。
There　was　no　immediate　danger　near；　for　Varicourt's　voice　had　not
yet　uttered　the　cry　of　warning。

But　more　fearful　grew　the　noise　outside。　The　crackle　of　musketry　was
more　noticeable；　and　every　now　and　then　there　seemed　to　be　heavy
strokes　as　if　directed　against　the　palace；　sounding　as　if　the　people
were　attempting　to　force　the　iron　gate　of　the　front　court。

〃I　must　know　what　is　going　on；〃　whispered　Campan；　and　with　cool
decision　she　put　the　key　into　the　door；　turned　it；　entered　the
antechamber；　and　flew　to　the　window；　where　there　was　a　view　of　the
whole　court；　and　a　fearful　sight　met　her　there。　The　crowd　had　broken
the　gate；　pressed　into　the　court；　and　was　surging　in　great　masses
toward　the　palace　doors。　Here　and　there　torches　threw　their　glare
over　these　masses；　disclosing　men　with　angry　gestures；　and　women
with　streaming　hair；　swinging　their　arms　savagely；　and　seeming　like
a　picture　of　hell；　not　to　be　surpassed　in　horror　even　by　the
phantasms　of　Dante。　Women　changed　to　furies　and　bacchanalians；
roaring　and　shouting　in　their　murderous　desires；　men；　like　blood…
thirsty　tigers；　preparing　to　spring　upon　their　prey；　and　give　it　the
death…stroke；　swinging　pikes　and　guns；　which　gleamed　horribly　in　the
glare　of　the　torches；　arms　and　fists　bearing　threatening　daggers　and
knives！　All　this　was　pressing　on　upon　the　palaceall　these　clinched
fists　would　soon　be　engaged　in　hammering　upon　the　walls　which
separated　the　king　and　queen　from　the　peoplethe　executioner　from
his　victim！

All　at　once　there　rang　out　a　fearful；　thundering　cry；　which　made　the
windows　rattle；　and　called　forth　a　terrible　echo　above　in　the
deserted　hall；　for　through　all　these　shrieks　and　howls；　there
resounded　now　a　piercing　cry；　such　as　only　the　greatest　pain　or　the
most　instant　need　can　extort　from　human　lips。

〃That　was　a　death…cry；〃　whispered　Madame　de　Campan；　trembling；　and
drawing　back　from　the　window。　〃They　have　certainly　killed　the　Swiss
guards；　who　are　keeping　the　door；　they　will　now　pour　into　the
palace。　O　God！　what　will　become　of　Varicourt？　I　must　know　what　is
going　on！〃

She　flew　through　the　antechamber　and　opened　the　door　of　the　Swiss
hall。　It　was　empty；　but　outside　of　it　could　be　heard　a　confused；
mixed　mass　of　sounds；　cries；　and　the　tramping　as　of　hundreds　and
hundr