marie antoinette and her son-第59章

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little　fellow；　and　pressed　him　and　Theresa；　who　was　weeping　calmly；
to　her　heart；　whispering　a　few　quieting　words　into　their　ears。

While　the　mother　was　comforting　her　children；　Louis；　yielding　to
Acloque's　entreaties；　had　left　the　room；　in　order　to　show　himself　to
the　people。　Madame　Elizabeth；　his　sister；　followed　him　through　the
corridor　into　the　great　hall；　passing　through　the　seething　crowd；
which　soon　separated　her　from　the　king。　Pushed　about　on　all　sides；
Madame　Elizabeth　could　not　follow；　and　was　now　alone　in　the　throng；
accompanied　only　by　her　equerry；　M。　Saint…Pardoux。　Armed　men　pressed
up　against　the　princess；　and　horrid　cries　surged　around　her。

〃There　is　the　Austrian　woman！〃　and　at　once　all　pikes；　all　weapons
were　directed　against　the　princess。

〃For　God's　sake！〃　cried　M。　de　Saint　Pardoux；　〃what　do　you　want　to
do？　This　is　not　the　queen！〃

〃Why　do　you　undeceive　them？〃　asked　Madame　Elizabeth；　〃their　error
might　save　the　queen！〃

And　while　she　put　back　one　of　the　bayonets　directed　against　her
breast；　she　said；　gently：　〃Take　care；　sir；　you　might　wound　somebody；
and　I　am　convinced　that　you　would　be　sorry。〃

The　people　were　amazed　at　this；　and　respectfully　made　way　for　her　to
come　up　with　the　king。　He　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　hall；
surrounded　by　a　crowd　threatening　him　with　wild　curses。　One　of　these
desperadoes　pressed　close　up　to　the　king；　while　the　others　were
shouting　that　they　must　strangle　the　whole　royal　family；　and；
pulling　a　bottle　and　a　glass　out　of　his　pocket；　he　filled　the
latter；　gave　it　to　the　king；　and　ordered　him　to　drink　to　the　welfare
of　the　nation。

The　king　quietly　took　the　glass。　〃The　nation　must　know　that　I　love
it；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　have　made　many　sacrifices　for　it。　From　the
bottom　of　my　heart　I　drink　to　its　welfare；〃　and；　in　spite　of　the
warning　cries　of　his　friends；　he　put　the　glass　to　his　lips　and
emptied　it。

The　crowd　was　beside　itself　with　delight；　and　their　cries　were
answered　from　without　by　the　demand　of　the　bloodthirsty　rabble〃How
soon　are　you　going　to　throw　out　the　heads　of　the　king　and　the
queen？〃

Marie　Antoinette　had　meanwhile　succeeded　in　pacifying　the　dauphin。
She　raised　herself　up；　and　when　she　saw　that　the　king　had　gone　out；
she　started　toward　the　door。

Her　faithful　friends　stopped　the　way；　they　reminded　her　that　she　was
not　simply　a　queen；　that　she　was　a　mother；　too。　They　conjured　her
with　tears　to　give　ear　to　prudencenot　to　rush　in　vain　into　danger；
and　imperil　the　king　still　more。

〃No　one　shall　hinder　me　from　doing　what　is　my　duty；〃　cried　the
queen。　〃Leave　the　doorway　free。〃

But　her　friends　would　not　yield；　they　defied　even　the　wrath　of　the
queen。　At　that　moment；　some　of　the　National　Guards　came　in　through
another　door；　and　pacified　Marie　Antoinette；　assuring　her　that　the
life　of　the　king　was　not　threatened。

In　the　mean　while　the　shouting　came　nearer　and　nearer；　the　cries
resounded　from　the　guard…room；　the　doors　were　torn　open；　and　the
people　surged　in；　in　immense　waves；　like　the　sea　lashed　into　fury　by
the　storm。　The　National　Guards　rolled　a　table　before　the　queen　and
her　children；　and　placed　themselves　at　the　two　sides　to　defend　them。

Only　a　bit　of　wood　now　separated　the　queen　from　her　enemies；　who
brandished　their　weapons　at　her。　But　Marie　Antoinette　had　now
regained　her　whole　composure。　She　stood　erect；　at　her　right　hand；
her　daughter；　who　nestled　up　to　her　motherat　her　left；　the
dauphin；　who；　with　wide…open　eyes　and　looks　of　astonishment；　gazed
at　the　people　bursting　in。　Behind　the　queen　were　Princesses　Lamballe
and　Tarente；　and　Madame　Tourzel。

A　man；　with　dishevelled　hair　and　bare　bosom；　gave　the　queen　a
handful　of　rods；　bearing　the　inscription；　〃For　Marie　Antoinette！〃
Another　showed　her　a　guillotine；　a　third　a　gallows；　with　the
inscription；　〃Tremble；　tyrant！　thy　hour　has　come！〃　Another　held　up
before　her；　on　the　point　of　a　pike；　a　human　heart　dripping　with
blood；　and　cried：　〃Thus　shall　they　all　bleedthe　hearts　of　tyrants
and　aristocrats！〃

The　queen　did　not　let　her　eyes　fall；　her　fixed　look　rested　upon　the
shrieking　and　howling　multitude；　but　when　this　man；　with　the
bleeding　heart；　approached　her；　her　eyelids　trembleda　deathly
paleness　spread　over　her　cheeks；　for　she　recognized　himSimon　the
cobblerand　a　fearful　presentiment　told　her　that　this　man；　who　had
always　been　for　her　the　incarnation　of　hatred；　is　now；　when　her　life
is　threatened；　to　be　the　source　of　her　chief　peril。

From　the　distance　surged　in　the　cries：　〃Long　live　Santerre！　Long
live　the　Faubourg　Saint　Antoine！　Long　live　the　sans…culottes！〃

And　at　the　head　of　a　crowd　of　half…naked　fellows；　the　brewer
Santerre；　arrayed　in　the　fantastic　costume　of　a　robber　of　the
Abruzzo　Mountains；　with　a　dagger　and　pistol　in　his　girdle；　dashed
into　the　room；　his　broad…brimmed　hat；　with　three　red　plumes；　aslant
upon　his　brown　hair；　that　streamed　down　on　both　sides　of　his　savage
countenance；　like　the　mane　of　a　lion。

The　queen　lifted　the　dauphin　up；　set　him　upon　the　table；　and
whispered　softly　to　him；　he　must　not　cry；　he　must　not　grieve；　and
the　child　smiled　and　kissed　his　mother's　hands。　Just　then　a　drunken
woman　rushed　up　to　the　table；　threw　a　red　cap　down　upon　it；　and
ordered　the　queen；　on　pain　of　death；　to　put　it　on。

Marie　Antoinette　threw　both　her　arms　around　the　dauphin；　kissed　his
auburn　hair；　and　turned　calmly　to　General　de　Wittgenhofen；　who　stood
near　her。

〃Put　the　cap　upon　me；〃　said　she；　and　the　women　howled　with　pleasure；
while　the　general；　pale　with　rage　and　trembling　with　grief；　obeyed
the　queen's　command；　and　put　the　red　cap　upon　that　hair　which
trouble　had　already　turned　gray　in　a　night。

But；　after　a　minute；　General　Wittgenhofen　took　the　red　cap　from　the
head　of　the　queen；　and　laid　it　on　the　table。

From　all　sides　resounded　thus　the　commanding　cry：　〃The　red　cap　for
the　dauphin！　The　tri…color　for　Little　Veto！〃　And　the　women　tore
their　three…colored　ribbons　from　their　caps　and　threw　them　upon　the
table。

〃If　you　love　the　nation；〃　cried　the　women　to　the　queen；　〃put　the　red
cap　on　your　son。〃

The　queen　motioned　to　Madame　Tourzel；　who　put　the　red　cap　on　the
dauphin；　and　decked　his　neck　and　arms　with　the　ribbons。　The　child
did　not　understand　whether　it　was　a　joke　or　a　way　of　insulting　him；
and　looked　on　with　a　smile　of　astonishment。

Santerre　leaned　over　the　table　and　looked　complacently　at　the
singular　group。　The　proud　and　yet　gentle　face　of　the　queen　was　so
near　him；　that　when　he　saw　the　sweat…drops　rolling　down　from　beneath
the　woollen　cap　over　the　dauphin's　forehead；　even　he　felt　a　touch　of
pity；　and；　straightening　himself　up；　perhaps　to　escape　the　eye　of
the　queen；　he　called　out；　roughly：　〃Take　that　cap　off　from　that
child；　don't　you　see　how　he　sweats？〃

The　queen　thanked　him　with　a　mute　glance；　and　took　the　cap　herself
from　the　head　of　the　poor　child。

At　this　point　a　horde　of　howling　women　pressed　up　to　the　table；　and
threatened　the　queen　with　their　fists；　and　hurled　wild　curses　at
her。

〃Only　see　how　proudly　and　scornfully　this　Austrian　looks　at　us！〃
cried　a　young　woman；　who　stood　in　the　front　rank。〃　She　would　like　to
blast　us　with　her　eyes；　for　she　hates　us。〃

Marie　Antoinette　turned　kindly　to　them：　〃Why　should　I　hate　you？〃　she
asked；　in　gentle　tones。　〃It　is　you　that　hate　meyou。　Have　I　ever
done　you　any　harm？〃

〃Not　to　me；〃　answered　the　young　woman；　〃not　to　me；　but　to　the
nation。〃

〃Poor　child！〃　answered　the　queen；　gently；　〃they　have　told　you　so；
and　you　have　believed　it。　What　advantage　would　it　bring　to　me　to
harm　the　nation？　You　call　me　the　Austrian；　but　I　am　the　wife　of　the
King　of　France；　the　mother　of　the　dauphin。　I　am　French　with　all　my
feelings　of　wife　and　mother。　I　shall　never　see　again　the　land　in
which　I　was　born；　and　only　in　France　can　I　be　happy　or　unhappy。　And
when　you　loved　me；　I　was　happy　there。〃　＇Footnote：　The　queen's　own
words。See　Beauchesne；　vol。　i。；　p。　106。＇

She　said　this　with　quivering　voice　and　moving　tones；　the　tears
filling　her　eyes；　and　while　she　was　speaking　the　noise　was　hushed；
and　even　these　savage　creatures　were　transformed　into　gentle；
sympathetic　women。

Tears　came　to　the　eyes　of　the　young　woman　who　before　had　spoken　so
savagely　to　the　queen。　〃Forgive　me；〃　she　said；　weeping；　〃I　did　not
know　you；　now　I　see　that　you　are　not　bad。〃

〃No；　she　is　not　bad；〃　cried　Santerre；　striking　with　both　fists　upon
the　table；　〃but　bad　people　have　misled　her；〃　and　a　second　time　he
struck　the　table　with　his　resounding　blows。　Marie　Antoinette
trembled　a　little；　and　hastily　lifting　the　dauphin　from　the　table；
she　put　him　by　her　side。

〃Ah！　madame；〃　cried　Santerre；　smiling；　〃don't　be　afraid；　they　will
do　you　no　harm；　but　just　think　how　you　have　been　misled；　and　how
dangerous　it　is　to　deceive　the　people。　I　tell　you　that　in　the　name
of　the　people。　For　the　rest；　you　needn't　fear。〃

〃I　am　not　afraid；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　calmly；　〃no　one　need　ever
be　afraid　who　is　among　brave　people；〃　and　with　a　graceful　gesture
she　extended　her　hands　to　the　National　Guards　who　stood　by　the
table。

A　general　shout　of　applause　followed　the　words　of　the　queen；　the
National　Guards　covered　her　hands　with　kisses；　and　even　the　women
were　touched。

〃How　courageous　the　Austrian　is！〃　cried　one。　〃How　handsome　the
prince　is！〃　cried　another；　and　all　pressed　up　to　get　a　nearer　view
of　the　dauphin；　and　a　smile　or　a　look　from　him。

The　great　eyes　of　Santerre　remained　fixed　upon　the　queen；　and
resting　both　arms　upon　the　table　he　leaned　over　to　her　until　his
mouth　was　close　by　her　ear。

〃Madame；〃　he　whispered；　〃you　have　very　unskilful　friends；　I　know
people　who　would　serve　you　better；　who〃

But　as　if　ashamed　of　this　touch　of　sympathy；　he　stopped；　sprang　back
from　the　table；　and　with　a　thundering　voice；　commanded　all　present
to　march　out　and　leave　the　palace。

They　obeyed　his　command；　filed　out　in　military　order　past　the　table；
behind　which　stood　the　queen　with　her　children　and　her　faithful
friends。

A　rare　procession；　a　rare　army；　consisting　of　men　armed　with　pikes；
hatchets；　and　spades；　of　women　brandishing　knives　and　scissors　in
their　hands；　and　all　directing　their　countenances；　before　hyena…like
and　scornful；　but　now　subdued　and　sympathetic；　to　the　queen；　who
with　calm　eye　and　gentle　look　responded　to　the　salutations　of　the
retreating　crowd　with　a　friendly　nod。

In　the　mean　while　the　long…delayed　help　had　reached　the　king：　the
National　Guards　had　overcome　the　raging　multitude；　and　gained
possession　of　the　great　reception…room　where　Louis　was。　The　mayor　of
Paris；　Petion；　had　come　at　last；　and；　hailed　loudly　by　the　crowd
which　occupied　the　whole　space　in　the　rear　of　the　National　Guards；
he　approached　the　king。

〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　just　learned　what　is　going　on　here。〃

〃I　am　surprised　at　that；〃　answered　the　king；　with　a　reproachful
look；　〃the　mayor　of　Paris　ought　to　have　learned　before　this　about
this　tumult；　which　has　now　been　lasting　three　hours。〃

〃But　is　now　at　an　end；　sire；　since　I　have　come；〃　cried　Petion；
proudly。　〃You　have　now　nothing　more　to　fear；　sire。〃

〃To　fear？〃　replied　Louis　with　a　proud　shrug。　〃A　man　who　has　a　good
conscience　does　not　fear。　Feel；〃　he　said；　taking　the　hand　of　the
grenadier　who　st