marie antoinette and her son-第46章

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people；　head　behind　head；　and　all　their　blazing　eyes　were　directed
at　the　queen；　and　words　of　hate；　malediction；　and　threatening
followed　her　every　step　which　she　took　forward。

〃See；　see；〃　cried　a　woman；　with　dishevelled　hair；　which　streamed　out
from　her　round　cap；　and　fell　down　over　her　red；　angry　face〃　see；
that　is　the　baker's　woman；　and　the　monkey　that　jumps　in　front　of　her
is　the　apprentice…boy！　They　can　dress　themselves　up　and　be　fine；　for
all　is　well　with　them；　and　they　can　eat　cakes；　while　we　have　to　go
hungry。　But　wait；　only　wait！　times　will　be　different　by　and　by；　and
we　shall　see　the　baker…woman　as　hungry　as　we。　But　when　we　have　the
bread；　we　will　give　her　noneno；　we　will　give　her　none！〃

〃No；　indeed；　we　will　give　her　none！〃　roared；　and　cried；　and　laughed；
and　howled　the　mob。　And　they　all　pressed　closer　up　to　the　fence；　and
naked　arms　and　clinched　fists　were　thrust　through　the　palings；　and
threatened　the　queen；　and　the　dauphin；　who　walked　in　front　of　his
mother。

〃Will　he　be　able　to　bear　it？　Will　my　poor　boy　not　weep　with　fear　and
anxiety？　〃That　was　the　only　thought　of　the　queen；　as　she　walked　on
past　the　angry　roars　of　the　crowd。　To　the　dauphin　alone　all　her
looks　were　directed；　not　once　did　she　glance　at　the　fence；　behind
which　the　populace　roared　like　a　pack　of　lions。

All　at　once　the　breath　of　the　queen　stopped；　and　her　heart　ceased
beating；　with　horror。　She　saw　directly　at　the　place　where　the　path
turned　and　ran　away　from　the　fence；　but　where；　before　making　the
turn；　it　ran　very　near　the　fence；　the　bare　arm　of　a　man　extended
through　the　paling　as　far　as　possible；　and　stretching　in　fact　half…
way　across　the　path；　as　if　it　were　a　turnpike…bar　stopping　the　way。
The　eyes　of　the　queen；　when　they　fell　upon　this　dreadful；　powerful
arm；　turned　at　once　in　deep　alarm　to　the　dauphin。　She　saw　him
hesitate　a　little　in　his　hurried　course；　and　then　go　slowly　forward。
The　queen　quickened　her　steps　in　order　to　come　up　with　the　dauphin
before　he　should　reach　the　danger　which　confronted　him。　The　people
outside　of　the　fence；　when　they　saw　the　manoeuvre　of　the　man　who　was
forcing　his　arm　still　farther　in；　stopped　their　shouting　and　lapsed
into　a　breathless；　eager　silence；　as　sometimes　is　the　case　in　a
storm；　between　the　successive　bursts　of　wind　and　thunder。

Every　one　felt　that　the　touch　of　that　threatening　arm　and　that
little　child　might　be　like　the　contact　of　steel　and　flint；　and
elicit　sparks　which　should　kindle　the　fires　of　another　revolution。
It　was　this　feeling　which　made　the　crowd　silent；　the　same　feeling
compelled　the　queen　to　quicken　her　steps；　so　that　she　was　close　to
the　dauphin　before　he　had　reached　this　terrible　turnpike…bar。

〃Come　here；　my　son；〃　cried　the　queen；　〃give　me　your　hand！〃

But　before　she　had　time　to　grasp　the　hand　of　the　little　prince；　he
sprang　forward　and　stood　directly　in　front　of　the　outstretched　arm。

〃My　God！　what　will　he　do？〃　whispered　the　queen　to　herself。

At　the　same　instant；　there　resounded　from　behind　the　fence　a　loud；
mighty　bravo；　and　a　thousand　voices　took　it　up　and　cried；　〃Bravo！
bravo！〃

The　dauphin　had　stretched　up　his　little　white　hand　and　laid　it　upon
the　brown；　clinched　fist　that　was　stretched　out　toward　him；　and
nodded　pleasantly　at　the　man　who　looked　down　so　fiercely　upon　him。

〃Good…day；　sir！〃　he　said；　with　a　loud　voice〃good…day！〃

And　he　took　hold　with　his　little　hand　of　the　great　hand　of　the　man
and　shook　it　a　little；　as　in　friendly　salutation。　〃Little　knirps；〃
roared　the　man；　〃what　do　you　mean；　and　how　dare　you　lay　your　little
paw　on　the　claws　of　the　lion？〃

〃Sir；〃　said　the　boy；　smiling；　〃I　thought　you　were　stretching　out
your　hand　to　reach　me　with　it；　and　so　I　give　you　mine；　and　say；
'Good…day；　sir！'〃

〃And　if　I　wanted；　I　could　crush　your　hand　in　my　fist　as　if　it　were
in　a　vise；〃　cried　the　man；　holding　the　little　hand　firmly。

〃You　shall　not　do　it；〃　cried　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　voices　in　the
crowd。　〃No；　Simon；　you　shall　not　hurt　the　child。〃

〃Who　of　you　could　hinder　me　if　I　wanted　to？〃　asked　the　man；　with　a
laugh。　〃See　here；　I　hold　the　hand　of　the　future　King　of　France　in　my
fist；　and　I　can　break　it　if　I　want　to；　and　make　it　so　that　it　can
never　lift　the　sceptre　of　France。　The　little　monkey　thought　he　would
take　hold　of　my　hand　and　make　me　draw　it　back；　and　now　my　hand　has
got　his　and　holds　it　fast。　And　mark　this；　boy；　the　time　is　past　when
kings　seized　us　and　trod　us　down；　now　we　seize　them　and　hold　them
fast；　and　do　not　let　them　go　unless　we　will。〃

〃Sir！〃　cried　the　queen；　motioning　back　with　a　commanding　gesture　the
two　lackeys　who　were　hurrying　up　to　release　the　dauphin　from　the
hand　of　the　man；　〃sir；　I　beg　you　to　withdraw　your　hand；　and　not　to
hinder　us　in　our　walk。〃

〃Ah！　you　are　there；　too；　madame；　the　baker's　wife；　are　you？〃　cried
the　man；　with　a　horrid　laugh。　〃We　meet　once　more；　and　the　eyes　of
our　most　beautiful　queen　fall　again　upon　the　dirty；　pitiable　face　of
such　a　poor；　wretched　creature　as；　in　your　heavenly　eyes；　the
cobbler　Simon　is！〃

〃Are　you　Simon　the　cobbler？〃　asked　Marie　Antoinette。

〃It　is　true；　I　bethink　me　now；　I　have　spoken　with　you　once　before。
It　was　when　I　carried　the　prince　here；　for　the　first　time；　to　Notre
Dame；　that　God　would　bless　him；　and　that　the　people　might　see　him。
You　stood　then　by　my　carriage；　sir！〃

〃Yes；　it　is　true；〃　answered　Simon；　visibly　flattered。　〃You　have；　at
least；　a　good　memory；　queen。　But　you　ought　to　have　paid　attention　to
what　I　said　to　you。　I　am　no　'sir；'　I　am　a　simple　cobbler；　and　earn
my　poor　bit　of　bread　in　the　sweat　of　my　brow；　while　you　strut　about
in　your　glory　and　happiness；　and　cheat　God　out　of　daylight。　Then　I
held　the　hand　of　your　daughter　in　my　fist；　and　she　cried　out　for
fear；　merely　because　a　poor　fellow　like　me　touched　her。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Simon；　you　see　very　plainly　that　I　do　not　cry　out；〃　said
the　dauphin；　with　a　smile。　〃I　know　that　you　do　not　want　to　do　me　any
harm；　and　I　ask　you　to　be　so　good　as　to　take　away　your　arm；　that　my
mamma　can　go　on　in　her　walk。〃

〃But；　suppose　that　I　do　not　do　as　you　want　me　to？〃　asked　the
cobbler；　defiantly。　〃I　suppose　it　would　come　that　your　mamma　would
dictate　to　me；　and　perhaps　call　some　soldiers；　and　order　them　to
shoot　the　dreadful　people？〃

〃You　know；　Master　Simon；　that　I　give　no　such　command；　and　never　gave
any　such；〃　said　the　queen；　quickly。

〃The　king　and　I　love　our　people；　and　never　would　give　orders　to　our
soldiers　to　fire　upon　them。〃

〃Because　you　would　not　be　sure；　madame；　that　the　soldiers　would　obey
your　commands；　if　you　should；〃　laughed　Simon。　〃Since　we　got　rid　of
the　Swiss　guards；　there　are　no　soldiers　left　who　would　let
themselves　be　torn　in　pieces　for　their　king　and　queen；　and　you　know
well　that　if　the　soldiers　should　fire　the　first　shot　at　us；　the
people　would　tear　the　soldiers　in　pieces　afterward。　Yes；　yes；　the
fine　days　at　Versailles　are　past；　here；　in　Paris；　you　must　accustom
yourself　to　ask；　instead　of　command；　and　the　arm　of　a　single　man　of
the　people　is　enough　to　stop　the　Queen　and　the　Dauphin　of　France。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　sir；〃　said　the　queen；　whose　proud　heart　could　no
longer　be　restrained；　and　allow　her　to　take　this　humble　stand；　〃the
Queen　of　France　and　her　son　will　no　longer　be　detained　by　you　in
their　walk。〃

And　with　a　quick　movement　she　caught　the　dauphin；　struck　back　at　the
same　moment　the　fist　of　the　cobbler；　snatched　the　boy　away　like
lightning；　and　passed　by　before　Simon　had　time　to　put　his　arm　back。

The　people；　delighted　with　this　energetic　and　courageous　action　of
the　queenthe　people；　who　would　have　howled　with　rage；　if　the　queen
had　ordered　her　lackeys　to　push　the　cobbler　back；　now　roared　with
admiration　and　with　pleasure；　to　see　the　proud…hearted　woman　have
the　boldness　to　repel　the　assailant；　and　to　free　herself　from　him。
They　applauded；　they　laughed；　they　shouted　from　thousands　upon
thousands　of　throats；　〃Long　live　the　queen！　Long　live　the　dauphin！〃
and　the　cry　passed　along　like　wildfire　through　the　whole　mass　of
spectators　behind　the　fence；　and　all　eyes　followed　the　tall　and
proud　figure　of　the　queen　as　she　walked　away。

Only　the　eyes　of　Simon　pursued　her　with　a　malicious　glare；　and　his
clinched　fists　threatened　her　behind　her　back。

〃She　shall　pay　for　this！〃　he　muttered；　with　a　withering　curse。　〃She
has　struck　back　my　hand　to…day；　but　the　day　will　come　when　she　will
feel　it　upon　her　neck；　and　when　I　will　squeeze　the　hand　of　the
little　rascal　so　that　he　shall　cry　out　with　pain！　I　believe　now；
what　Marat　has　so　often　told　me；　that　the　time　of　vengeance　is　come；
and　that　we　must　bring　the　crown　down　and　tread　it　under　our　feet；
that　the　people　may　rule！　I　will　have　my　share　in　it。　I　will　help
bring　it　down；　and　tread　it　under　foot。　I　hate　the　handsome　Austrian
woman；　who　perks　up　her　nose；　and　thinks　herself　better　than　my
wife；　and　if　the　golden　time　has　come　of　which　Marat　speaks；　when
the　people　are　the　master；　and　the　king　is　the　servant；　Marie
Antoinette　shall　be　my　waiting…maid；　and　her　son　shall　be　my
choreboy；　and　his　buckle　shall　make　acquaintance　with　my　shoe…
straps！〃

And　while　Master　Simon　was　muttering　this　to　himself；　he　was　making
a　way　through　the　crowd　with　those　great　elbows　of　his；　a　slipping
along　the　fence；　to　be　able　to　follow　as　long　as　possible　the　tall
figure　of　the　queen；　who　was　now　leading　the　dauphin　by　the　hand；
traversing　the　Arcadian　Walk。　At　the　end　of　it　was　the　fence　which
led　into　the　little　garden　reserved　for　the　royal　family。　Through
the　iron　gate；　hard　by；　adorned　with　the　arms　of　the　kings　of
France；　Marie　Antoinette　entered　an　asylum；　which　had　been　saved　to
the　crown；　free　from　the　intrusion　of　the　people；　and　she　drew　a
free　breath　when　one　of　the　lackeys　closed　the　gate；　and　she　heard
the　key　grate　in　the　lock。

She　stood　still　a　moment　to　regain　her　composure；　and　then　she　felt
that　her　feet　were　trembling；　and　that　she　scarcely　had　the　power　to
go　farther。　It　would　have　been　a　relief　to　her　to　have　fallen　there
upon　her　knees；　and　poured　all　her　sorrows　and　trials　into　the　ear
of　God。　But　there　were　the　lackeys　behind　her；　there　was　her　little
son；　looking　up　to　her　with　his　great　eyes；　and　there　was　that
dreadful　cry　coming　up　from　the　quay　like　the　roaring　of　the　sea。

The　queen　could　not　utter　a　word　of　grief　or　sorrow；　she　could　not
sink　to　the　ground　in　her　weakness；　she　had　to　show　a　cheerful　face
to　her　son；　and　a　proud　brow　to　her　servants。　God　only　could　look
into　her　heart　and　see　the　tears　which　glowed　there　like　burning
coals。　Yet　in　all　her　sadness　she　had　a　feeling　of　triumph；　of　proud
satisfaction。　She　had　preserved　her　freedom；　her　independence；　she
was　not　Lafayette's　prisoner！　No；　the　Queen　of　France　had　not　put
herself　under　the　protection　of　the　people's　general；　she　had　not
given　him　the　power　of　watching　her　with　his　hated　National　Guard；
and　of　saying　to　them：　〃At　this　or　that　hour　the　queen　takes　her
walks；　and；　that　she　may　recreate　herself；　we　will　protect　her
against　the　rage　of　the　people！〃

No；　she　had　defended　herself；　she　had　remained　the　queen　all　the
while；　the　free　queen；　and　she　had　gained　a　victory　over　the　people
by　showing　them　that　she　did　not　fear　them。

〃Ma