marie antoinette and her son-第50章

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forgive　him　and　receive　him　as　a　defender　of　the　throne！〃

The　queen　shuddered；　and　looked　in　astonishment　and　terror　at　the
excited　face　of　Count　de　la　Marck。　〃Are　you　speaking　of　Mirabeau；
the　tribune　of　the　people；〃　she　asked；　〃the　fiery　orator　of　the
National　Assembly？〃

〃I　am　speaking　of　Count　Mirabeau；　who　yesterday　was　the　enemy　of　the
throne；　and　who　to…day　will　be　a　zealous　defender；　if　your　majesty
will　only　have　it　soif　your　majesty　will　only　speak　a　gracious
word　to　him。〃

〃It　is　impossible；　it　is　impossible！〃　whispered　the　queen。

De　la　Marck　continued：　〃Since　he　has　frequently　seen　your　majesty
since　he　has　had　occasion　to　observe　your　proud　spirit　and　lofty
resignationa　change　has　taken　place　in　the　character　of　Mirabeau。
He　is　subdued　as　the　lion　is　subdued；　when　the　beaming　eye　of　a　pure
soul　looks　it　in　the　face。　He　might　be　of　service　again；　he　might　be
reconciled！　He　writes；　he　speaks　of　his　exalted　queen　with
admiration；　with　enthusiasm；　he　glows　with　a　longing　desire　to
confess　his　sins　at　the　feet　of　your　majesty；　and　to　receive　your
forgiveness。〃

〃Does　the　king　know　this？〃　asked　Marie　Antoinette。　〃Has　any　one　told
his　majesty？〃

〃I　should　not　have　taken　the　liberty　of　speaking　to　your　majesty
about　these　things　if　the　king　had　not　authorized　me；〃　replied　Count
de　la　Marck；　bowing。　〃His　majesty　recognizes　it　to　be　a　necessary
duty　to　gain　Mirabeau　to　the　throne；　and　he　hopes　to　have　in　this
matter　the　cooperation　of　his　exalted　wife。〃

Marie　Antoinette　sadly　shook　her　head。　〃I　will　speak　with　his
majesty　about　it；〃　she　said；　with　a　sigh；　〃but　only　under
circumstances　of　extreme　urgency　can　I　submit　to　this；　I　tell　you　in
advance。〃

But　the　case　was　of　extreme　urgency；　and　when　Marie　Antoinette　had
seen　it　to　be　so；　she　kept　her　word　and　conformed　to　it；　and
commissioned　Count　de　la　Marck　to　tell　his　friend　Mirabeau　that　the
queen　would　grant　him　an　audience。

But　in　order　that　this　audience　might　be　of　advantage；　it　must　be
conducted　with　the　deepest　secrecy。　No　one　ought　to　suspect　that
Mirabeau；　the　tribune　of　the　people；　the　adored　hero　of　the
revolutionMirabeau；　who　ruled　the　National　Assembly；　and　Paris
itself；　whom　the　freest　of　the　free　hailed　as　their　apostle　and
saviour；　who　with　the　power　of　his　eloquence　ruled　the　spirits　of
thousands　and　hundreds　of　thousands　of　men；no　one　could　suspect
that　the　leader　of　the　revolution　would　now　become　the　devoted
dependant　upon　the　monarchy；　and　the　paid　servant　of　the　king。

Two　conditions　Mirabeau　had　named；　when　Count　de　la　Marck　had　tried
to　gain　him　over　in　the　name　of　the　king：　an　audience　with　the
queen；　and　the　payment　of　his　debts；　together　with　a　monthly　pension
of　a　hundred　louis…d'or。

〃I　am　paid；　but　not　bought；〃　said　Mirabeau；　as　he　received　his　first
payment。　〃Only　one　of　my　conditions　is　fulfilled；　but　what　will
become　of　the　other？〃

〃And　so　you　still　insist　on　having　an　audience　with　the　queen？〃
asked　La　Marck。

〃Yes；　I　insist　upon　it；〃　said　Mirabeau；　with　naming　eyes。　〃If　I　am
to　battle　and　speak　for　this　monarchy；　I　must　learn　to　respect　it。
If　I　am　to　believe　in　the　possibility　of　restoring　it；　I　must
believe　in　its　capacity　of　life；　I　must　see　that　I　have　to　deal　with
a　brave；　decided；　noble　man。　The　true　and　real　king　here　is　Marie
Antoinette；　and　there　is　only　one　man　in　the　whole　surroundings　of
Louis　XVI。；　and　that　is　his　wife。　I　must　speak　with　her；　in　order　to
hear　and　to　see　whether　she　is　worth　the　risking　of　my　life；　honor；
and　popularity。　If　she　really　is　the　heroine　that　I　hold　her　to　be；
we　will　both　united　save　the　monarchy；　and　the　throne　of　Louis　XVI。；
whose　king　is　Marie　Antoinette。　The　moment　is　soon　to　come　when　we
shall　learn　what　a　woman　and　a　child　can　accomplish；　and　whether　the
daughter　of　Maria　Theresa　with　the　dauphin　in　her　arms　cannot　stir
the　hearts　of　the　French　as　her　great　mother　once　stirred　the
Hungarians。〃　＇Footnote：Mirabeau's　own　words。See　〃Marie　Antoinette
et　sa　Famille。〃　Far　M。　de　Lescure。　p。　478。＇

〃Do　you　then　believe　the　danger　is　so　great；〃　asked　La　Marck；　〃that
it　is　necessary　to　resort　to　extreme；　heroic　measures？〃

Mirabeau　grasped　his　arm　with　a　sudden　movement；　and　an　expression
of　solemn　earnestness　filled　his　lion…like　face。　〃I　am　convinced　of
it；〃　he　answered；　〃and　I　will　add；　the　danger　is　so　great；　that　if
we　do　not　soon　meet　it　and　in　heroic　fashion；　it　will　not　be
possible　to　control　it。　There　is　no　other　security　for　the　queen
than　through　the　reestablishment　of　the　royal　authority。　I　believe
of　her；　that　she　does　not　desire　life　without　her　crown；　and　I　am
certain　that；　in　order　to　keep　her　life；　she　must　before　all　things
preserve　her　crown。　And　I　will　help　her　and　stand　by　her　in　it；　and
for　this　end　I　must　myself　speak　with　her　and　have　an　audience。〃
＇Footnote：　Mirabeau's　own　words。See　Count　de　la　Marck；　〃Mirabeau；〃
vol。　21。　p。　50。＇

And　Mirabeau；　the　first　man　in　the　revolution　had　his　audience　with
Marie　Antoinette；　the　dying　champion　of　monarchy。

On　the　3rd　of　July；　1790；　the　meeting　of　the　queen　and　Mirabeau　took
place　in　the　park　of　St。　Cloud。　Secrecy　and　silence　surrounded　them；
and　extreme　care　had　been　taken　to　let　no　one　suspect；　excepting　a
few　intimate　friends；　what　was　taking　place　on　this　sequestered；
leaf…embowered　grass…plat　of　St。　Cloud。

A　bench　of　white　marble；　surrounded　by　high　oleander　and　taxus
trees；　stood　at　the　side　of　this　grass…plat。　It　was　the　throne　on
which　Marie　Antoinette　should　receive　the　homage　of　her　new　knight。
Mirabeau　had　on　the　day　before　gone　from　Paris　to　the　estate　of　his
niece；　the　Marchioness　of　Aragan。　There　he　spent　the　night；　and　the
next　morning；　accompanied　by　his　nephew；　M。　de　Saillant；　he　walked
to　the　park　of　St。　Cloud。

At　the　nether　gate　of　the　park；　which　had　been　left　open　for　this
secret　visit；　Mirabeau　took　leave　of　his　companion；　and　extended　him
his　hand。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice；　which　so　often　had　made　the
windows　of　the　assembly　hall　shake　with　its　thunder；　was　now　weak
and　tremulous；　〃I　do　not　know　why　this　dreadful　presentiment　creeps
over　me　all　at　once；　and　why　voices　whisper　to　me；　'Turn；　back；
Mirabeau；　turn　back！　Do　not　step　over　the　threshold　of　this　door；
for　there　you　are　stepping　into　your　open　grave！'　〃

〃Follow　this　voice；　uncle；　there　is　still　time；〃　implored　M。　de
Saillant；　〃it　is　with　me　as　it　is　with　you。　I；　too；　have　a　sad；
anxious　feeling！〃

〃May　they　not　have　laid　snares　for　me　here？〃　whispered　Mirabeau；
thoughtfully。　〃They　are　capable　of　every　thing；　these　artful
Bourbons。　Who　knows　whether　they　have　not　invited　me　here　to　take　me
prisoner；　and　to　cast　me；　whom　they　hold　to　be　their　most　dangerous
enemy；　into　one　of　their　oubliettes；　their　subterranean　dungeons？　My
friend；〃　he　continued；　hastily；　〃wait　for　me　here；　and　if　in　two　or
three　hours　I　do　not　return；　hasten　to　Paris；　go　to　the　National
Assembly；　and　announce　to　them　that　Mirabeau；　moved　by　the　queen's
cry　of　distress；　has　gone　to　St。　Cloud；　and　is　there　held　a
prisoner。〃

〃I　will　do　it；　uncle；〃　said　the　marquis；　〃but　I　do　not　believe　in
any　such　treachery　on　the　part　of　the　queen　or　her　husband。　They
both　know　that　without　Mirabeau　they　are　certainly　lost；　and　that
he；　perhaps；　is　able　to　save　them。　I　fear　something　entirely
different。〃

〃And　what　do　you　fear？〃

〃I　fear　your　enemies　in　the　National　Assembly；〃　said　M。　de　Saillant；
and　with　a　pained　expression。　〃I　fear　these　enraged　republicans；　who
have　begun　to　mistrust　you　since　you　have　begun　to　speak　in　favor　of
royalty　and　mon　archy；　and　since　you　have　even　ventured　to　defend
the　queen　personally　against　the　savage　and　mean　attacks　which　Marat
hurls　against　Marie　Antoinette　in　his　journal；　the　Ami　du　Peuplt。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Mirabeau；　with　a　smile；　〃they　have　mistrusted　me；
these　enraged　republicans；　since　then；　and　they　tell　me　that　Petion；
this　republican　of　steel　and　iron；　turned　to　Danton　at　the　close　of
my　speech；　and　said：　'This　Mirabeau　is　dangerous　to　liberty；　for
there　is　too　much　of　the　blood　of　the　count　flowing　through　the
veins　of　the　tribune　of　the　people。　Danton　answered　him　with　a
smile：　'In　that　case　we　must　draw　off　the　count's　blood　from　the
tribune　of　the　people；　that　he　may　either　be　cured　of　his
reactionary　disease　or　die　of　it！'〃

〃And　when　they　told　Marat；　uncle；　that　you　had　spoken　angrily　and
depreciatingly　of　his　attacks　upon　the　queen；　he　raised　his　fist
threateningly；　and　cried：　'Mirabeau　is　a　traitor；　who　wants　to　sell
our　new；　young　liberty　to　the　monarchy。　But　he　will　meet　the　fate　of
Judas；　who　sold　the　Saviour。　He　will　one　day　atone　for　it　with　his
head；　for　if　we　tap　him　for　his　treachery；　we　shall　do　for　him　what
Judas　did　for　himself。　This　Mirabeau　Judas　must　take　care　of
himself。〃

〃And　do　you　suppose　that　this　disputatious　little　load　of　a　Marat
will　hang　me？〃　asked　Mirabeau；　with　a　scornful　smile。

〃I　think　that　you　must　watch　him；〃　answered　M。　de　Saillant。　〃Last
evening；　in　the　neighborhood　of　our　villa；　I　met　two　disguised　men；
who；　I　would　swear；　were　Perion　and　Marat；　and　on　our　way　here；　as　I
looked　around；　I　feel　certain　that　I　saw　these　same　disguised
figures　following　us！〃

〃What　if　it　be？〃　answered　Mirabeau；　raising　himself　up；　and　looking
around　him　with　a　proud　glance。　〃The　lion　does　not　fear　the　annoying
insect　that　buzzes　about　him；　he　shakes　it　off　with　his　mane　or
destroys　it　with　a　single　stroke　of　his　paw。　And　Mirabeau　fears　just
as　little　such　insects　as　Petion　and　Marat；　they　would　much　better
keep　out　of　his　way。　I　will　tread　them　under　foot；　that　is　all！　And
now；　farewell；　my　dear　nephew；　farewell；　and　wait　for　me　here！〃

He　nodded　familiarly　to　his　nephew；　passed　over　the　threshold；　and
entered　the　park；　from　whose　entrance　the　popular　indignation　had
long　since　removed　the　obnoxious　words；　De　par　la　Reine；　the　garden
belonging　now　to　the　king　only　because　the　nation　willed　it　so。

Mirabeau　hastened　with　an　anxious　mind　and　a　light　step　along　the
walk；　and　again　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　dark　spirits　were　whispering
to　him；　〃Turn　back；　Mirabeau；　turn　back！　for　with　every　step　forward
you　are　only　going　deeper　into　your　grave。〃　He　stopped；　and　with　his
hand…kerchief　wiped　away　the　drops　of　cold　sweat　which　gathered　upon
his　forehead。

〃It　is　folly；〃　he　said；　〃perfect　folly。　Truly　I　am　as　tremulous　as　a
girl　going　to　her　first　rendezvous。　Shame　on　you；　Mirabeau；　be　a
man！〃

He　shook　his　head　as　if　he　wanted　to　dispel　these　evil　forebodings；
and　hastened　forward　to　meet　Count　de　la　Marck；　who　appeared　at　the
bending　of　the　allee。

〃The　queen　is　already　here；　and　is　waiting　for　you；　Mirabeau；〃　said
the　marquis；　with　a　slight　reproach　in　his　voice。

Mirabeau　shrugged　his　shoulders　instead　of　replying；　and　went　on
more　rapidly。　There　soon　opened　in　front　of　them　a　small　grass…plat；
surrounded　by　bushes；　and　on　the　bench　opposite；　the　lady　in　the
white；　neat　dress；　with　a　straw　hat　on　her　arm；　her　hair　veiled　with
black　lacethat　lady　was　Marie　Antoinette。

Mirabeau　stopped　in　his　walk；　and　fixed　a　long；　searching　look　upon
her。　When　he　turned　again　to　his　friend；　his　face　was　pale；　and　bore
plain　traces　of　emo