marie antoinette and her son-第4章

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Adelaide！〃　shouted　he　with　a　loud　voice；　and　the　lackey　repeated　it
in　the　same　tone；　quickly　opening　the　door　of　the　second
antechamber；　and　the　word　was　taken　up　by　the　chamberlains；　and
repeated　and　carried　along　where　the　queen　was　sitting。

Marie　Antoinette　shrugged　herself　together　a　little　at　this
announcement；　which　interrupted　her　while　engaged　in　charming
unrestrained　conversation　with　the　Duchess　de　Polignac；　and　a　shadow
flitted　across　her　lofty　brow。

With　fiery　quickness　she　flung　her　arms　around　the　neck　of　her
friend；　and　pressed　a　kiss　upon　her　lips。　〃Farewell；　Julia；　Madame
Adelaide　is　coming：　that　is　just　the　same　as　irritation　and
annoyance。　She　may　not　bear　the　least　suspicion　of　this　upon　her
fine　and　dearly…loved　face；　and　just　because　they　are　not　there；　I
must　tell　you；　my　dear　friend；　to　leave　me。　But　hold　yourself　in
readiness；　after　Madame　Annoyance　has　left　me；　to　ride　with　me　to
Trianon。　The　queen　must　remain　here　half　an　hour　still；　but　she　will
be　rewarded　for　it；　for　Marie　Antoinette　will　afterward　go　with　her
Julia　to　Trianon　to　spend　a　half　day　of　pleasure　with　her　husband
and　friends。〃

〃And　to　impart　to　her　friends　an　eternity　of　blissful
recollections；〃　said　the　duchess；　with　a　charming　smile；　pressing
the　hand　of　the　queen　to　her　lips；　and　taking　her　leave　with
inimitable　grace；　in　order　to　pass　out　through　the　little　side…door
which　entered　the　corridor　through　a　porcelain　cabinet；　intending
then　to　visit　the　rooms　of　the　'children　of　France。'

At　the　same　moment　in　which　the　lofty；　dignified　form　of　the　duchess
disappeared　through　the　side…door；　both　wings　of　the　main　entrance
were　flung　open；　and　the　two　maids　of　honor　of　the　queen　advanced　to
the　threshold；　and　made　so　deep　a　reverence　that　their　immense
petticoats　expanded　like　a　kettle。　Then　they　took　a　step　backward；
made　another　reverence　so　profound　that　their　heads；　bearing
coiffures　a　foot　and　a　half　high；　fell　upon　their　breasts。

〃Madame　Adelaide！〃　they　both　ejaculated　as　with　one　voice；　slowly
straightening　themselves　up　and　taking　their　places　at　the　sides　of
the　door。

The　princess　now　appeared　upon　the　threshold；　behind　her；　her　maids
of　honor　and　master　of　ceremonies；　the　grand…chamberlain；　the　pages；
and　both　masters　of　grooms；　standing　in　the　great　antechambers。

At　the　appearance　of　the　maids　of　honor；　Marie　Antoinette　had　taken
her　position　in　the　middle　of　the　chamber；　and　could　not　repress　a
faint　smile；　as　with　erect　head　she　noticed　the　confusion　instant
upon　the　princess's　imposing　entrance。

Madame　Adelaide　advanced　some　steps；　for　the　queen　did　not　change
her　position　nor　hasten　toward　her　as　she　had　perhaps　expected；　her
irritated　look　increased　still　more；　and　she　did　not　take　a　seat。

〃I　come　perhaps　at　an　inconvenient　season　for　your　majesty；〃　said
she；　with　a　tart　smile。　〃The　queen　perhaps　was　just　upon　the　point
of　going　to　Trianon；　whither　as　I　hear；　the　king　has　already
proceeded？〃

〃Has　your　highness　heard　that？〃　asked　the　queen；　smiling。　〃I　wonder
what　sharp　ears　Madame　Adelaide　always　has　to　catch　such　a　trifling
rumor；　while　my　younger　ones　have　never　caught　the　least　hint　of　the
important　approach　of　the　princess；　and　so　I　am　equally　surprised
and　delighted　at　the　unexpected　appearance　of　my　gracious　and　loving
aunt。〃

Every　one　of　these　words；　which　were　spoken　so　cheerily　and　with
such　a　pleasant　smile；　seemed　to　pierce　the　princess　like　the　prick
of　a　needle；　and　caused　her　to　press　her　lips　together　in　just　such
a　way　as　if　she　wanted　to　check　an　outcry　of　pain　or　suppress　some
hidden　rage。　Marie　Antoinette；　while　speaking　of　the　sharp　ears
which　madame　always　had；　had　hinted　at　the　advanced　age　no　less　than
at　the　curiosity　of　the　princess；　and　had　brought　her　young　and
unburdened　ears　into　very　advantageous　contrast　with　them。

〃Would　your　majesty　grant　me　the　favor　of　an　interview？〃　asked
Madame　Adelaide；　who　did　not　possess　the　power　of　entering　on　a
contest　with　her　exalted　niece；　with　sharp　yet　graceful　words。

〃I　am　prepared　with　all　pleasure；〃　answered　the　queen；　cheerfully；
〃and　it　depends　entirely　upon　madame　whether　the　audience　shall　be
private　or　public。〃

〃I　beg　for　a　half　hour　of　entire　privacy；〃　said　Madame　Adelaide；
with　choler。

〃A　private　audience；　ladies！〃　called　the　queen　to　her　maids　of
honor；　as　motioning　with　her　hand　she　dismissed　them。　Then　she
directed　her　great　brilliant　eyes　to　the　door　of　the　antechamber。
〃My　lord　grooms；　in　half　an　hour　I　should　like　to　have　my　carriage
ready　for　Trianon。〃

The　maids　of　honor　withdrew　into　the　great　antechamber；　and　closed
the　doors　behind　them。

The　queen　and　Madame　Adelaide　were　alone。

〃Let　us　sit；　if　it　pleases　you；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　motioning
the　princess　to　an　arm…chair；　while　she　took　her　own　place　upon　a
simple　ottoman。　〃You　have　something　to　say　to　me；　and　I　am　entirely
ready　to　hear　you。〃

〃Would　to　God；　madame；　that　you　would　not　only　hear　my　words；〃　said
Madame　Adelaide；　with　a　sigh；　〃but　that　you　would　take　them　to　heart
as　well！〃

〃If　they　deserve　it；　I　certainly　shall；〃　said　the　queen；　smiling。

〃They　certainly　do　deserve　it；〃　said　the　princess；　〃for　what　I　aim
at　in　my　words　concerns　the　peace；　the　security；　the　honor　of　our
family。　Madame；　allow　me　first　to　disburden　myself　of　something　that
has　been　committed　to　me。　My　noble　and　pious　sister；　Madame　Louise；
has　given　me　this　letter　for　your　majesty；　and　in　her　name　I　ask　our
royal　niece　to　read　the　same　at　once　and　in　my　presence。〃

She　drew　from　the　great　reticule；　which　was　attached　to　her　arm　by
its　silken　cords；　a　sealed　letter；　and　handed　it　to　the　queen。

But　Marie　Antoinette　did　not　raise　her　hand　to　receive　it；　but　shook
her　head　as　if　in　refusal；　and　yet　with　so　eager　a　motion　that　her
elaborate　coiffure　fairly　trembled。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　madame；〃　said　she；　earnestly；　〃but　I　cannot
receive　this　letter　from　the　prioress　of　the　Carmelite　convent　at
St。　Denis；　for　you　well　know　that　when　Madame　Louise　sent　me　some
years　ago；　through　your　highness；　a　letter　which　I　read；　that　I
never　again　will　receive　and　read　letters　from　the　prioress。　Have
the　goodness；　then；　to　take　this　back　to　the　sender。〃

〃You　know；　madame；　that　this　is　an　affront　directed　against　a
princess　of　France！〃　was　the　emphatic　reply。

〃I　know；　madame；　that　that　letter　which　I　then　received　from　Madame
Louise　was　an　affront　directed　by　the　princess　against　the　Queen　of
France；　and　I　shall　protect　the　majesty　of　my　station　from　a　similar
affront。　Unquestionably　this　letter　is　similar　in　tone　to　that　one。
That　one　contained　charges　which　went　so　far　as　to　involve　open
condemnation；　and　contained　proffers　of　counsel　which　meant　little
less　than　calumny。　＇Footnote：　Gondrecourt；　〃Histoire　de　Marie
Antoinette；〃　p。　59。＇　And　what　would　this　be　likely　to　contain
different；　which　your　highness　takes　the　trouble　to　bring　to　me？〃

〃Well；〃　cried　Madame　Adelaide；　angrily；　〃its　purport　may　be　similar
to　that　of　the　former　letter；　for；　unfortunately；　the　causes　are　the
same；　and　we　may　not　wonder　if　the　effects　are　also　the　same。〃

〃Ah！　one　can　easily　see　that　your　highness　knows　the　contents　of　the
letter；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　smiling；　〃and　you　will　therefore
certainly　pardon　me　for　not　reading　it。　It　was　unquestionably
written　in　the　presence　of　your　highness；　in　the　pious　cell　of　the
prioress。　She　gave　over　for　a　while　her　prayers　for　the　repose　of
the　departed　king；　in　order　to　busy　herself　a　little　with　worldly
things；　and　to　listen　to　the　calumnies　which　Madame　Adelaide；　or　the
Count　de　Provence；　or　the　Cardinal　de　Kohan；　or　some　other　of　the
enemies　of　my　person；　have　sought　to　hurl　against　the　Queen　of
France。〃

〃Calumnies！〃　replied　Madame　Adelaide；　with　an　angry　flash　in　her
eyes。　〃Would　to　God；　madame；　that　it　were　calumnies　with　which　we
have　to　do；　and　that　all　these　things　which　trouble　and　disturb　us
were　only　malicious　calumnies；　and　not　sober　facts！〃

〃And　will　your　highness　not　have　the　goodness　to　communicate　these
facts　to　me？〃　said　the　queen；　undisturbed；　but　smiling；　and　so　only
increasing　the　anger　of　the　princess。

〃These　facts　are　of　so　varied　kinds　that　it　would　be　a　difficult
thing　to　choose　out　any　separate　ones　among　them；〃　cried　she；　with
fiery　tone。　〃Every　day；　every　hour　of　the　life　of　your　majesty；
brings　new　facts　to　light。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　〃I　had　no　idea　that　your　highness　had
such　tender　care　for　me。〃

〃And　I　had　no　idea；　madame；　that　your　frivolity　went　so　far　as
continually　to　wound　the　laws；　the　customs；　and　the　hallowed　order
of　things。　You　do　ityou　do　it；　scorning　every　thing　established
with　the　random　wantonness　of　a　child　that　plays　with　fire；　and　does
not　know　that　the　waves　will　flare　up　and　consume　it。　Madame；　I　have
come　here　to　warn　you　once　more；　and　for　the　last　time。〃

〃God　be　thanked；　for　the　last　time！〃　cried　the　queen；　with　a
charming　glance　of　her　eyes。

〃I　conjure　you；　queen；　for　your　own　sake；　for　your　husband's；　for
your　children's；　change　your　course；　take　a　new　direction；　leave　the
path　of　danger　on　which　you　are　hastening　to　irretrievable
destruction。〃

The　countenance　of　the　queen；　before　so　pleasant　and　animated；　now
darkened。　Her　smile　gave　way　to　a　deep　earnestness；　she　raised　her
head　proudly　and　put　on　a　royal　bearing。

〃Madame；〃　said　she；　〃up　to　this　time　I　have　been　inclined　to　meet
your　biting　philippics　with　the　quiet　indifference　which　innocence
gives；　and　to　remain　mindful　of　the　reverence　due　to　age；　and　not　to
forget　the　harsh　eyes　with　which　the　aged　always　look　upon　the　deeds
of　youth。　But　you　compel　me　to　take　the　matter　more　earnestly　to
heart；　for　you　join　to　my　name　that　of　my　husband　and　my　children；
and　so　you　appeal　to　my　heart　of　hearts。　Now；　then；　tell　me；　madame；
what　you　have　to　bring　against　me。〃

〃Your　boundless　frivolity；　your　culpable　short…sightedness；　your
foolish　pleasures；　your　extravagance；　your　love　of　finery；　your
mixing　with　politics；　your　excessive　jovialness；　your
entertainments；　your〃

Marie　Antoinette　interrupted　this　series　of　charges　with　loud；　merry
laughter；　which　more　enraged　the　princess　than　the　most　stinging
words　would　have　done。

〃Yes；〃　she　continued；　〃you　are　frivolous；　for　you　suppose　the　life
of　a　queen　is　one　clear　summer's　day；　to　be　devoted　to　nothing　but
singing　and　laughing。　You　are　short…sighted；　for　you　do　not　see　that
the　flowers　of　this　summer's　day　in　which　you　rejoice；　only　bloom
above　an　abyss　into　which　you；　with　your　wanton　dancing；　are　about
to　plunge。　You　indulge　in　foolish　pleasures；　instead　of；　as　becomes
a　Queen　of　France；　passing　your　life　in　seclusion；　in　devout
meditation；　in　the　exercise　of　beneficence；　in　pious　deeds。　You　are
a　spendthrift；　for　you　give　the　income　of　France　to　your　favorites；
to　this　Polignac　family；　which　it　has　been　reckoned　receives　alone　a
twentieth　part　of　the　whole　income　of　the　state；　to　these　gracious
lords　and　ladies　of　your　so…called　'society；'　supporting　them　in
their　frivolity；　allowing　them　to　make　golden　gain　out　of　you。　You
are　a　lover　of　finery；　not　holding　it　beneath　your　dignity　to　spend
whole　hours　with　a