marie antoinette and her son-第52章

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With　excited　and　radiant　looks；　Mirabeau　returned　to　his　nephew；　who
was　waiting　for　him　at　the　gate　of　the　park。

〃Oh！〃　said　he；　with　a　breath　of　relief；　laying　his　hand　upon　the
shoulder　of　Saillant；　〃what　have　I　not　heard　and　seen！　She　is　very
great；　very　noble；　and　very　unhappy；　Victor！　But；〃　cried　he；　with　a
loud；　earnest　voice；　〃I　will　save　herI　will　save　her！〃　＇Footnote：
〃Marie　Antoinette　et　sa　Famille；〃　p　480。＇

Mirabeau　was　in　earnest　in　this　purpose；　and　not　because　he　had　been
bought　over；　but　because　he　had　been　woncarried　away　with　the
noble　aspect　of　the　queendid　he　become　from　this　time　a　zealous
defender　of　the　monarchy；　an　eloquent　advocate　in　behalf　of　Marie
Antoinette。　But　he　was　not　now　able　to　restrain　the　dashing　waves　of
revolution；　he　could　not　even　save　himself　from　being　engulfed　in
these　raging　waves。

Mirabeau　knew　it　well；　and　made　no　secret　of　the　peril　of　his
position。　On　the　day　when；　before　the　division；　he　spoke　in　defence
of　the　monarchy　and　the　royal　prerogative；　and　undertook　to　decide
the　question　of　peace　or　waron　that　day　he　first　announced　himself
openly　for　the　king；　and　raised　a　storm　of　excitement　and　disgust　in
the　National　Assembly。　Still　he　spoke　right　bravely　in　behalf　of　the
crown；　and　while　doing　so；　he　cried；　〃I　know　well　that　it　is　only　a
single　step　from　the　capitol　to　the　Tarpeian　rock！〃

Step　after　step！　And　these　successive　steps　Mirabeau　was　soon　to
take。　Petion　had　not　in　vain　characterized　Mirabeau　as　the　most
dangerous　enemy　of　the　republic。　Marat　had　not　asserted；　without
knowing　what　he　said；　that　Mirabeau　must　let　all　his　aristocratic
blood　flow　from　his　veins；　or　bleed　to　death　altogether！　Not　with
impunity　could　Mirabeau　encounter　the　rage　of　parties；　and　fling
down　the　gauntlet　before　them；　saying；　at　the　same　moment；　〃He　would
defend　the　monarchy　against　all　attacks；　from　what　side　soever；　and
from　what　part　soever　of　the　kingdom　they　might　come。〃

The　leaders　of　the　republican　factions　knew　very　well　how　to
estimate　the　power　of　Mirabeau；　they　knew　very　well　that　Mirabeau
was　able　to　fit　together　the　fragments　of　the　crown　which　he　had
helped　to　break。　And；　to　prevent　his　doing　this；　they　knew　that　he
must　be　buried　beneath　these　fragments。

Soon　after　his　interview　with　the　queenafter　his　dissenting　speech
in　behalf　of　the　prerogative　of　the　kingMirabeau　began　to　fail　in
health。　His　enemies　said　that　it　was　only　the　result　of　over…
exertion；　and　a　cold　which　he　had　brought　on　by　drinking　a　glass　of
cold　water　during　a　speech；　in　the　National　Assembly。　His　friends
whispered　about　a　deadly　poison　which　had　been　mingled　with　this
glass　of　water；　in　order　to　rid　themselves　of　this　powerful　and
dangerous　opponent。

Mirabeau　believed　this；　and　the　increasing　torpor　of　his　limbs；　the
pains　which　he　felt　in　his　bowels；　appeared　to　him　to　be　the　sure
indications　of　poison　given　him　by　his　enemies。

The　lion；　who　had　been　willing　to　crouch　at　the　foot　of　the　throne
for　the　purpose　of　guarding　it；　was　now　nothing　but　a　poor；　sick
man；　whose　voice　was　lost；　and　whose　power　was　extinguished。　For　a
season　he　sought　to　contend　against　the　malady　which　was　lurking　in
his　body；　but　one　day；　in　the　midst　of　a　speech　which　he　was　making
in　behalf　of　the　queen；　he　sank　in　a　fainting…fit；　and　was　carried
unconsciously　to　his　dwelling。　After　long　efforts　on　the　part　of　his
physician；　the　celebrated　Cabanis；　Mirabeau　opened　his　eyes。
Consciousness　was　restored；　but　with　it　a　fixed　premonition　of　his
approaching　death。

〃I　am　dying！〃　he　said；　softly。　〃I　am　bearing　in　my　heart　the　funeral
crape　of　the　monarchy。　These　raging　partisans　want　to　pluck　it　out；
deride　it；　and　fasten　it　to　their　own　foreheads。　And　this　compels
them　to　break　my　heart；　and　this　they　have　done！〃　＇Footnote：
Mirabeau's　own　words。See　〃Memoires　sur　Mirabeau；〃　vol。　iv。；。　p。
296。＇

Yes；　they　had　broken　itthis　great　strong　heart；　in　which　the
funeral　crape　of　monarchy　lay。　At　first　the　physician　and　his
friends　hoped　that　it　might　be　possible　to　overcome　his　malady；　but
Mirabeau　was　not　flattered　by　any　such　hope；　he　felt　that　the　pains
which　were　racking　his　body　would　end　only　with　death。

After　one　especially　painful　and　distressing　night；　Mirabeau　had　his
physician　Cabanis　and　his　friend　Count　de　la　Marck　summoned　to　his
bed；　and　extended　to　them　both　his　hands。　〃My　friends；〃　he　said　to
them　with　gentle　voice　and　with　peaceful　face；　〃my　friends；　I　am
going　to　die　to…day。　When　one　has　been　brought　to　that　pass；　there
is　only　one　thing　that　remains　to　be　done：　to　be　perfumed；
tastefully　dressed；　and　surrounded　with　flowers；　so　as　to　fall
agreeably　into　that　last　sleep　from　which　there　is　no　waking。　So；
call　my　servants！　I　must　be　shaved；　dressed；　and　nicely　arrayed。　The
window　must　be　opened；　that　the　warm　air　may　stream　in；　and　then
flowers　must　be　brought。　I　want　to　die　in　the　sunshine　and　flowers。〃
＇Footnote：　Mirabeau's　words。See　〃Memoires　sur　Mirabeau；〃　vol。　iv。；
p。　298。＇

His　friends　did　not　venture　to　oppose　his　last　wish。　The　gladiator
wanted　to　make　his　last　toilet　and　be　elaborately　arrayed　in　order
to　fall　in　the　arena　of　life　as　a　hero　falls；　and　even　in　death　to
excite　the　wonder　and　the　applause　of　the　public。

All　Paris　was　in　this　last　scene　the　public　of　this　gladiator；　all
Paris　had；　in　these　last　days　of　his　battle　for　life；　only　one
thought；　〃How　is　it　with　Mirabeau？　Will　he　compel　the　dreadful　enemy
Death　to　retire　from　before　him；　or　will　he　fall　as　the　prey　of
Death？〃　This　question　was　written　on　all　faces；　repeated　in　all
houses　and　in　all　hearts。　Every　one　wanted　to　receive　an　answer　from
that　still　house；　with　its　closely…drawn　curtains；　where　Mirabeau
lived。　All　the　streets　which　led　thither　were；　during　the　last　three
days　before　his　death；　filled　with　a　dense　mass　of　men；　and　no
carriage　was　permitted　to　drive　through　the　neighborhood；　lest　it
should　disturb　Mirabeau。　The　theatres　were　closed；　and；　without　any
consultation　together；　the　merchants　shut　their　stores　as　they　do　on
great　days　of　national　fasting　or　thanksgiving。

On　the　morning　of　the　fourth　day；　before　life　had　begun　to　move　in
the　streets　of　Paris；　and　before　the　houses　were　opened；　a　cry　was
heard　in　the　great　highways　of　the　city；　ringing　up　into　all　the
houses；　and　entering　all　the　agitated　hearts　that　heard　it：
〃Flowers；　bring　flowers！　Mirabeau　wants　flowers！　Bring　roses　and
violets　for　Mirabeau！　Mirabeau　wants　to　die　amid　flowers！〃

This　cry　awoke　slumbering　Paris　the　2d　of　April；　1791；　and；　as　it
resounded　through　the　streets；　windows　and　doors　opened；　and
hundreds；　thousands　of　men　hastened　from　all　directions　toward
Mirabeau's　house；　carrying　nosegays；　bouquets；　whole　baskets　of
flowers。　One　seemed　to　be　transferred　from　cool；　frosty　spring
weather　to　the　warm；　fragrant　days　of　summer；　all　the　greenhouses；
all　the　chambers　poured　out　their　floral　treasures　to　prepare　one
last　summer　day　for　the　dying　tribune　of　the　people。　His　whole　house
was　filled　with　flowers　and　with　fragrance。　The　hall；　the　staircase；
the　antechamber；　and　the　drawing…room　were　overflowing　with　flowers；
and　there　in　the　middle　of　the　drawing…room　lay　Mirabeau　upon　a
lounge；　carefully　dressed；　shaved　and　powdered；　as　if　for　a　royal
festival。　The　most　beautiful　of　the　flowers；　the　fairest　exotics
surrounded　his　couch；　and　bent　their　variegated　petals　down　to　the
pale；　death…stricken　gladiator；　who　still　had　power　to　summon　a
smile　to　his　lips；　and　with　one　last　look　of　affection　to　bid
farewell　to　his　weeping　friendsfarewell　to　the　flowers　and　the
sunlight！

On　his　lofty　brow；　on　his　smiling　lips；　there　was　written；　after
Death　had　claimed　him；　after　the　gladiator　had　fallen；　〃The　dying
one　greets　you！〃

The　day　of　his　death　was　the　day　of　his　last　triumph；　and　the
flowers　that　all　Paris　sent　to　him；　were　to　Mirabeau　the　parting
word　of　love　and　admiration！

Four　times　daily　the　king　had　sent　to　inquire　after　Mirabeau's
welfare；　and　when　at　noon；　on　the　2d　of　April；　Count　de　la　Marck
brought　the　tidings　of　his　death；　the　king　turned　pale。　〃Disaster　is
hovering　over　us；〃　he　said；　sadly；　〃Death　too　arrays　himself　on　the
side　of　our　enemies！〃

Marie　Antoinette　was　also　very　deeply　moved　by　the　tidings。　〃He
wanted　to　save　us；　and　therefore　must　die！　The　burden　was　too　heavy；
the　pillar　has　broken　under　the　weight；　the　temple　will　plunge　down
and　bury　us　beneath　its　ruins；　if　we　do　not　hasten　to　save
ourselves！　Mirabeau's　bequest　was　his　counsel　to　speedy　and　secret
flight！　We　must　follow　his　advice；　we　must　remove　from　Paris。　May
the　spirit　of　Mirabeau　enlighten　the　heart　of　the　king；　that　he　may
be　willing　to　do　what　is　necessary；that　he　may　be　willing　to　leave
Paris！〃




CHAPTER　XVIII。

REVOLUTION　IN　THE　THEATRE。


All　Paris　was　again　in　commotion；　fear；　and　uproar。　The　furies　of
the　revolution；　the　market…women；　went　howling　again　through　the
streets　on　the　20th　of　June；　1791；　uttering　their　horrid　curses　upon
the　king　and　the　Austrian　woman；　and　hurling　their　savage　words　and
dirty　songs　against　Madame　Veto；　against　la　chienne　d'Autriche。

Around　the　Tuileries　stood　in　immense　masses　the　corps　of　the
National　Guard；　with　grave　and　threatening　mien；　and　with　difficulty
holding　back　the　people；　who　were　filling　the　whole　broad　square　in
front　of　the　palace；　and　who　could　only　with　great　effort　be
prevented　from　breaking　through　those　strong　cordons　of　guards　who
held　both　ends　of　the　street　leading　to　the　Tuileries；　and　kept　at
least　the　middle　of　the　way　free　and　open。

It　was　a　way　for　the　king；　the　queen；　and　the　royal　family；　who　were
to　reenter　Paris　that　day。　Lafayette　had；　at　the　order　of　the
National　Assembly；　gone　with　some　regiments　of　the　guard　to
Varennes；　to　conduct　the　king　back　to　the　capital。　Thousands　upon
thousands　had　hurried　out　after　him　in　order　to　observe　this　return
of　the　representatives　of　monarchy；　and　to　take　part　in　this　funeral
procession！

For　it　was　a　funeral　of　the　monarchy　which　was　celebrated　that　day；
and　this　great；　heavy　carriage；　surrounded　by　soldiers；　and　the
ribald；　mocking　populacethis　great　carriage；　which　now　drove　along
the　streets　leading　to　the　Tuileries；　amid　the　thunder　of　cannon；
and　the　peals　of　bells　from　towers；　was　the　funeral　car　of　monarchy。

The　king；　the　queen；　the　royal　children；　the　sister　of　the　king；
Madame　Tourzel；　and　the　two　deputies　whom　the　National　Assembly　had
sent　to　Varennes　to　accompany　the　royal　family；　Petion　and　Barnave；
were　in　this　carriage。

They　had　tried　to　follow　the　advice　of　the　dying　Mirabean；　and　to
save　themselves　from　the　revolution。　That　was　the　offence　of　this
king　and　this　queen；　who　were　now　brought　back　in　triumph　to　the
Tuileries；　the　palace　of　kings；　and　from　that　time　a　royal　prison。

Tri…colored　banners　waved　from　all　roofs　and　from　all　windows；
placards　were　displayed　everywhere；　bearing　in　immense　letters　the
words：　〃Whoever　applauds　the　king　shall　be　scourged；　whover　insults
him　shall　be　hanged！〃

They　had　wished　to　escape；　these　unhappy　ones；　who　are　now　brought
back　from　Varennes；　where　they　were　identified　and　detained。　Now
they　were　returning；　no　longe