marie antoinette and her son-第61章

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their　arms　and　raising　him　above　their　heads；　as　if　he　were　the
living　banner　in　whose　defence　they　wished　to　die。

As　the　morning　dawned；　the　king；　at　the　pressing　request　of　his
wife；　walked　with　her　and　the　children　through　the　halls　and
galleries　of　the　palace；　to　reanimate　the　courage　of　their　defenders
who　were　assembled　there；　and　to　thank　them　for　their　fidelity。
Everywhere　the　royal　family　was　received　with　enthusiasm；　everywhere
oaths　of　loyalty　to　death　resounded　through　the　rooms。　The　king　then
went；　accompanied　by　a　few　faithful　friends；　down　into　the　park；　to
review　the　battalions　of　the　National　Guard　who　were　stationed
there。

When　Louis　appeared；　the　cry；　〃Long　live　the　king！〃　began　to　lose
the　unanimity　which　had　characterized　it　in　the　palace。　It　was
suppressed　and　overborne　by　a　hostile　murmur；　and　the　farther　the
king　advanced；　the　louder　grew　these　mutterings；　till　at　last；　from
hundreds　and　hundreds　of　throats；　the　thundering　cry　resounded；
〃Abdication　or　death！　Long　live　Petion！　Resignation　or　death！〃

The　king　turned　hastily　around；　and；　with　pale　face　and　forehead
covered　with　drops　of　cold　sweat；　he　returned　to　the　palace。

〃All　is　lost！〃　cried　the　queen；　bitterly；　〃Nothing　more　remains　for
us　than　to　die　worthily。〃

But　soon　she　raised　herself　up　again；　and　new　courage　animated　her
soul；　when　she　saw　that　new　defenders　were　constantly　pressing　into
the　hall；　and　that　even　many　grenadiers　of　the　National　Guard
mingled　in　the　ranks　of　the　nobility。

But　these　noblemen；　these　〃Chevaliers　of　the　Dagger；〃　excited
mistrust；　and　a　major　of　the　National　Guard　demanded　their　removal
with　a　loud　voice。

〃No；〃　cried　the　queen；　eagerly；　〃these　noblemen　are　our　best
friends。　Place　them　before　the　mouth　of　the　cannon；　and　they　will
show　you　how　death　for　one's　king　is　met。　Do　not　disturb　yourselves
about　these　brave　people；〃

She　continued；　turning　to　some　grenadiers　who　were　approaching　her；
〃your　interests　and　theirs　are　common。

Every　thing　that　is　dearest　to　you　and　them…wives；　children；
property…depends　upon　your　courage　and　your　common　bravery。〃

The　grenadiers　extended　their　hands　to　the　chevaliers；　and　mutual
oaths　were　exchanged　to　die　for　the　royal　family；　to　save　the　throne
or　to　perish　with　it。　It　was　a　grand　and　solemn　moment；　full　of
lofty　eloquence！　The　hearts　of　these　noblemen　and　these　warriors
longed　impatiently　for　death。　With　their　hands　laid　upon　their
weapons；　they　awaited　its　coming。

The　populace　rolled　up　in　great　masses　to　the　palace。　〃Wild　shrieks
were　heard；　the　thunder　of　cannon；　the　harsh　cries　of　women；　and　the
yells　of　men。　Within　the　palace　they　listened　with　suspended　breath。
The　queen　straightened　herself　up；　grasped　with　a　quick　movement　the
hands　of　her　children；　drew　them　to　herself；　and；　with　head　bent
forward　and　with　breathless　expectation；　gazed　at　the　door；　like　a
lioness　awaiting　her　enemy；　and　making　herself　ready　to　defend　her
young　with　her　own　life。

The　door　was　suddenly　opened；　and　the　attorney…general　Roderer　burst
in。

〃Sire；〃　cried　he；　with　impassioned　utterance；　〃you　must　save
yourself！　All　opposition　is　vain。　Only　the　smallest　part　of　the
National　Guard　is　still　to　be　trusted；　and　even　this　part　only　waits
the　first　pretext　to　fraternize　with　the　populace。　The　cannoneers
have　already　withdrawn　the　loading　from　the　cannon；　because　they　are
unwilling　to　fire　upon　the　people。　The　king　has　no　time　to　lose。
Sire；　there　is　protection　for　you　only　in　the　National　Assembly；　and
only　the　representatives　of　the　people　can　now　protect　the　royal
family。〃

The　queen　uttered　a　cry　of　anger　and　horror。　〃How！〃　she　cried。　〃What
do　you　say？　We　seek　protection　with　our　worst　enemies？　Never；　oh；
never！　Rather　will　I　be　nailed　to　these　walls；　than　leave　the　palace
to　go　to　the　National　Assembly！〃　＇Footnote：　The　queen's　own　words。
See　Beauchesne；　vol。　i。；　p。　90。＇

And　turning　to　the　king；　who　stood　silent　and　undecided；　she　spoke
to　him　with　flaming　words；　with　glowing　eloquence；　addressed　him　as
the　father　of　the　dauphin；　the　successor　of　Henry　IV。　and　Louis
XIV。；　sought　to　animate　his　ambition　and　touch　his　heart；　and　tried
for　the　last　time　to　kindle　him　with　her　courage　and　her　decision。

In　vain；　all　in　vain。　The　king　remained　silent　and　undecided。　A　cry；
one　single　cry　of　grief；　burst　from　the　lips　of　the　queen；　and　one
moment　her　head　sank　upon　her　breast。

〃Hasten；　hasten；　sire！〃　cried　Roderer；　〃every　moment　increases　the
peril。　In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　perhaps　the　queen　and　the　children
will　be　lost　beyond　remedy！〃

These　words　awakened　the　king　from　his　reverie。　He　looked　up　and
nodded　his　head。　〃We　can　do　nothing　else；〃　he　said。　〃Let　us　go　at
once　to　the　National　Assembly。〃

〃Sir；〃　cried　the　queen；　turning　to　Roderer；　〃is　it　true　that　we　are
deserted　by　all？〃

〃Madame；〃　answered　the　attorney…general；　sadly；　〃all　opposition　is
in　vain；　it　will　only　increase　the　danger。　Would　you　suffer
yourself；　the　king；　your　children；　and　friends；　to　be　killed？〃

〃God　forbid　it！　Would　that　I　alone　could　be　the　offering！〃

〃Another　minute；〃　urged　Roderer；　〃perhaps　another　second；　and　it　is
impossible　to　guarantee　your　life；　and　perhaps　that　of　your　husband
and　children。〃

〃My　children！〃　cried　the　queen；　throwing　her　arms　around　them；　and
drawing　them　to　her　breast。　〃No；　oh　no；　I　will　not　give　them　over　to
the　knife！〃

One　sigh；　one　last　sob；　burst　from　her　lips；　and　then　she　released
herself　from　the　children；　and　approached　the　king　and　his
ministers。

〃This　is　the　last　sacrifice；〃　she　said；　heavily；　〃that　I　can　offer。
I　submit　myself；　M。　Roderer；〃　and　then　with　louder　tones；　as　if　she
wanted　to　call　all　present　to　be　witnesses；　she　continued；　〃will　you
pledge　yourself　for　the　person　of　the　king；　and　for　that　of　my　son？〃

〃Madame；〃　answered　Roderer；　solemnly；　〃I　pledge　myself　for　this；
that　we　are　all　ready　to　die　at　your　side。　That　is　all　that　I　can
promise。〃

And　now　the　noblemen　and　the　grenadiers　pressed　up　to　take　the　king
and　queen　in　their　escort。

〃For　God's　sake；〃　cried　Roderer；　〃no　demonstration；　or　the　king　is
lost！

〃Remain；　my　friends；〃　said　the　king；　stolidly；　〃await　our　return
here。〃

〃We　shall　soon　return；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　and　leading　her　two
children；　she　followed　the　king；　who　walked　slowly　through　the　hall。
Princess　Lamballe　and　Madame　Tourzel　brought　up　the　rear。

It　was　done。　The　dying　monarchy　left　the　royal　palace　to　put　itself
under　the　protection　of　the　revolution；　which　was　soon　to　give　birth
to　the　republic。

It　was　six　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　the　royal　family　crossed　the
threshold　of　the　Tuileriesin　front　the　king；　conducting　Princess
Elizabeth　on　his　arm；　behind　him　the　queen　with　the　two　children。

Before　leaving　the　palace；　the　king　received　tidings　that　a　part　of
the　National　Guard　had　withdrawn；　in　order　to　protect　their　families
and　their　property　from　an　attack　of　the　populace；　and　that　another
part　had　declared；　itself　against　the　king　and　in　favor　of　the
revolution。

Louis　made　his　way　through　the　seething　crowd　that　scarcely　opened
to　allow　a　free　passage　for　the　royal　family；　and　overwhelmed　them
with　curses；　insults；　and　abuse。

Some　members　of　the　National　Assembly　went　in　advance；　and　could
themselves　scarcely　control　the　raging　waves　of　popular　fury。

On　the　Terrace　des　Feuillants　the　people　shouted；　〃Down　with　the
tyrants！　To　death；　to　death　with　them！〃

The　dauphin　cried　aloud　with　fright；　for　the　bloody　hands　of　two
yelling　women　were　extended　after　him。　A　grenadier　sprang　forward；
seized　the　boy　with　his　strong　arm；　and　raised　him　upon　his
shoulder。

〃My　son；　give　me　back　my　son！〃　cried　the　queen；　wildly。　The
grenadier　bowed　to　her。　〃Do　not　be　afraid；　do　you　not　recognize　me？〃

Marie　Antoinette　looked　at　him；　and　the　hint　of　a　smile　passed　over
her　face。　She　did　indeed　recognize　him　who；　like　a　good　angel；　was
always　present　when　danger　and　death　threatened　her。　It　was　Toulan；
the　faithful　one；　by　her　side　in　the　uniform　of　a　National
Guardsman。

〃Courage；　courage；　good　queen；　the　demons　are　loose；　but　good　angels
are　near　thee　too；　and　where　those　curse　and　howl；　these　bring
blessing　and　reconciliation。〃

〃Down　with　the　tyrants！〃　roared　the　savage　women。

〃Do　not　be　afraid；　my　prince；〃　said　the　grenadier；　to　the　dauphin
whom　he　carried　upon　his　shoulder；　in　order　to　protect　him　from　the
thronging　of　the　crowd。　〃Nobody　will　hurt　you。〃

〃Not　me；　but　my　dear　papa；〃　sobbed　the　child；　while　the　tears　rolled
over　his　pale　cheeks。

The　poor　child　trembled　and　was　afraid；　and　how　could　he　help　it？
Even　the　king　was　terrified　for　a　moment；　and　felt　as　if　the　tears
were　coming　into　his　eyes。　The　queen　too　wept；　dried　her　tears；　and
then　wept　again。　The　sad　march　consumed　more　than　an　hour；　in　order
to　traverse　the　bit　of　way　to　the　Manege；　where　the　National
Assembly　met。　Before　the　doors　of　this　building　the　cries　were
doubled；　the　attorney…general　harangued　the　mob；　and　sought　to　quiet
it；　and　pushed　the　royal　family　into　the　narrow　corridor；　in　which；
hemmed　in　by　abusive　crowds；　they　made　their　way　forward　slowly。　At
last　the　hall　doors　opened；　and　as　Marie　Antoinette　passed　in　behind
the　king；　Toulan　gave　the　little　dauphin　to　her；　who　flung　both　his
arms　around　the　neck　of　his　mother。

A　death…like　silence　reigned　in　the　hall。　The　deputies　looked　with
dark　faces　at　the　new…comers。　No　one　rose　to　salute　the　king；　no
word　of　welcome　was　spoken。

The　king　took　his　place　by　the　side　of　the　president；　the　queen　and
her　ladies　took　the　chairs　of　the　ministers。　Then　came　an　angry　cry
from　the　tribune：　〃The　dauphin　must　sit　with　the　king；　he　belongs　to
the　nation。　The　Austrian　has　no　claim　to　the　confidence　of　the
people。〃

An　officer　came　down　to　take　the　child　away；　but　Louis　Charles　clung
to　his　mother；　fear　was　expressed　on　his　features；　tears　stood　in
his　eyes；　and　won　a　word　of　sympathy；　so　that　the　officer　did　not
venture　to　remove　the　prince　forcibly。

A　deep　silence　sat　in　again；　till　the　king　raised　his　voice。　〃I　have
come　hither；〃　he　said；　〃to　prevent　a　great　crime；　and　because　I
believe　that　I　am　safest　surrounded　by　the　representatives　of　the
nation。〃

〃Sire；〃　replied　President　Vergniaud；　〃you　can　reckon　upon　the
devotion　of　the　National　Assembly。　It　knows　its　duties；　its　members
have　sworn　to　live　and　to　die　in　defence　of　the　rights　of　the　people
and　of　the　constitutional　authorities。〃

Voices　were　heard　at　this　point　from　all　sides　of　the　hall；
declaring　that　the　constitution　forbids　the　Assembly　holding　its
deliberations　in　the　presence　of　the　king　and　the　queen。

They　then　took　the　royal　family　into　the　little　low　box　scarcely　ten
feet　long；　in　which　the　reporters　of　the　〃Logograph〃　used　to　write
their　accounts　of　the　doings　of　the　Assembly。　Into　this　narrow　space
were　a　king；　a　queen；　with　her　sister　and　her　children；　their
ministers　and　faithful　servants；　crowded；　to　listen　to　the
discussions　concerning　the　deposition　of　the　king。

From　without　there　came　into　the　hall　the　wild　cry　of　the　populace
that　the　Swiss　guards　had　been　killed；　and　shouts　accompanied　the
heads　as　they　were　carried　about　on　the