marie antoinette and her son-第68章

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who〃

〃Hush！〃　whispered　Madame　Elizabeth；　〃hush！　Madame　Tison　is
listening。〃

And；　in　fact；　at　the　glass…door；　which　led　from　the　sleeping…room　to
the　little　corridor；　stood　Madame　Tison；　looking　with　sharp；
searching　glances　into　the　chamber。

After　the　princesses　had　left　the　room；　Toulan　approached　still
closer　to　the　queen；　and　taking　a　cigar　from　his　breast…pocket；　he
handed　it　to　the　queen。　〃Take　it；　madame；〃　he　said；　〃and　do　me　the
honor　of　smoking　a　duet　with　me！〃

〃I　do　not　smoke；　sir；〃　replied　the　queen；　coolly　and　calmly。　〃I　beg
you　to　go　into　the　anteroom。　The　Convention　has　not；　so　far　as　I
understand；　ordered　the　officers　of　the　guard　to　tarry　in　my
sitting…room。〃

〃The　Convention　has　not　ordered　it；　nor　has　it　forbidden　it。　So　I
remain！〃

He　took　a　chair；　seated　himself　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and
rolled　out　great　clouds　of　smoke；　which　filled　Simon　with
unspeakable　delight　when　they　compelled　Marie　Antoinette　to　cough
violently。

〃Madame　Capet；　you　would　not　be　so　sensitive　to　smoke　if　you　would
only　join　me。　I　beg　you；　therefore；　to　take　this　cigar。〃

The　queen　repeated　calmly；　〃I　do　not　smoke。〃

〃You　mistake；　madame；　you　do　smoke。〃

〃See　the　jolly　fellow；〃　exclaimed　Simon；　〃that　is　splendid。〃

〃I　will　show　you　at　once　that　you　do　smoke；〃　continued　Toulan。
〃Madame；　if　you　will　do　me　the　honor　to　join　me　in　smoking　a　cigar；
I　will　give　you　my　word　as　a　republican　and　a　sans…culottes；　that
neither　I　nor　my　brothers　will　ever　smoke　here　again。〃

〃I　do　not　believe　you；〃　said　the　queen；　shaking　her　head。

〃Not　believe　me？　Would　you　believe　it　if　the　citizen　Simon　were　to
repeat　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　queen；　fixing　her　great；　sad　eyes　upon　Simon；　〃if
the　citizen　Simon　should　confirm　it；　I　would　believe　it；　for　he　is　a
trustworthy　man；　who　I　believe；　never　breaks　his　word。〃

〃Oh！　only　see　how　well　the　Austrian　understands　our　noble　brother
Simon；〃　cried　Lepitre。

〃Yes；　truly；　it　seems　so；〃　said　Simon；　who　had　been　flattered　by
this　praise　to　consent　to　what　he　had　no　inclination　for。　〃Well；　I
give　my　word　to　Widow　Capet；　as　a　republican　and　a　sans…culottes；
that　there　shall　be　no　smoking　in　the　anteroom　after　this　time；　if
she　will　do　my　friend　Toulan　the　favor　of　smoking　a　pipe　of　peace
with　him。〃

〃I　believe　your　word；〃　said　the　queen；　with　a　gentle　inclination　of
her　head；　and　then　turning　to　Toulan；　she　continued；　〃sir〃

〃There　are　no　'sirs'　here；　only　'citizens；'〃　interrupted　the
cobbler。

〃Citizen　Toulan；〃　said　the　queen；　changing　her　expression；　〃give　me
the　cigar；　I　see　that　I　was　wrong；　I　do　smoke！〃

Simon　cried　aloud　with　laughter　and　delight；　and　could　scarcely
control　himself；　when；　kneeling　before　the　queen；　as　the　players　do
in　the　grand　plays　at　the　theatre；　he　handed　her　a　cigar。

But　he　did　not　see　the　supplicatory　look　which　Toulan　fixed　upon　the
queen；　he　did　not　see　the　tears　which　started　into　his　eyes；　nor
hear　her　say；　during　his　inordinate　peals　of　laughter；　〃I　thank　you；
my　faithful　one！〃

〃Is　it　enough　if　I　take　the　cigar　in　my　mouth；　or　must　I　burn　it？〃
asked　the　queen。

〃Certainly；　she　must　burn　it；〃　cried　Simon。　〃Light　the　cigar　for
her；　Citizen　Toulan。〃

Toulan　drew　a　bit　of　paper　from　his　pocket；　folded　it　together；
kindled　it；　and　gave　it　to　the　queen。　Then；　as　soon　as　the　dry　cigar
began　to　burn；　he　put　out　the　light；　and　threw　it　carelessly　upon
the　table。

The　queen　put　the　little　smoking　cigarette　into　her　mouth。　〃Bravo；
bravo！〃　shouted　the　officials　and　Simon。

〃Bravo；　Citizen　Toulan　is　a　perfect　brick！　He　has　taught　Widow　Capet
how　to　smoke。〃

〃I　told　you　I　would；〃　said　Toulan；　proudly。　〃Widow　Capet　has　had　to
comply　with　our　will；　and　that　is　enough。　You　need　not　go　on；
madame。　You　have　acknowledged　our　power；　and　that　is　all　we　wanted。
That　is　enough；　Simon；　is　it　not？　She　does　not　need　to　smoke　any
longer；　and　we；　too；　must　stop。〃

〃No；　she　does　not　need　to　smoke　any　longer；　and　there　will　be　no
more　smoking　in　the　antechamber。〃

The　queen　took　the　paper　cigarette　from　her　mouth；　put　out　the
burning　end；　and　laid　the　remaining　portion　in　her　work…basket。

〃Citizen　Toulan；〃　said　she；　〃I　will　keep　this　cigar　as　a
remembrancer　of　this　hour；　and　if　you　ever　smoke　here　again；　I　shall
show　it　to　you。〃

〃I　should　like　to　see　this　Austrian　woman　doubting　the　word　of　a
sans…culottes；〃　cried　Simon。

〃And　I　too；　Simon；〃　replied　Toulan；　going　back　into　the　anteroom。
〃We　will　teach　her　that　she　must　trust　our　word。　You　see　that　I　am　a
good　teacher。〃

〃An　excellent　one；〃　cried　Simon；　〃I　must　compliment　you　on　it；
citizen。　But　if　you　have　no　objections；　we　will　play　a　game　or　two
of　cards　with　the　citizens　here。〃

〃All　right；〃　replied　Toulan。　〃But　I　hope　you　have　got　the　new　kind
of　cards；　which　have　no　kings　and　queens　on　them。　For；　I　tell　you；　I
do　not　play　with　the　villanous　old　kind。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　chimed　in　Lepitre。　〃It　makes　me　mad　to　see　the　old　stupids
with　their　crowns　on　that　are　on　the　old　kind　of　cards。〃

〃You　are　a　pair　of　out…and…out　republicans；〃　said　Simon；　admiringly。
〃Truly；　one　might　learn　of　you　how　a　sans…culottes　ought　to　bear
himself。〃

〃Well；　you　can　calm　yourselves　about　these；　brothers；〃　said　one　of
the　officials；　〃we　have　no　tyrant…cardswe　have　the　new　cards　of
the　republic。　See　there！　instead　of　the　king；　there　is　a　sans…
culottes；　instead　of　the　queen；　we　have　a　'knitter；'　＇Footnote：　The
market…women　and　hucksters　had　the　privilege　of　claiming　the　first
seats　on　the　spectators'　platform；　near　the　guillotine。　They　sat
there　during　the　executions；　knitting　busily　on　long　stockings；
while　looking　at　the　bloody　drama　before　them。　Every　time　that　a
head　was　cut　off　and　dropped　into　the　basket　beneath　the　knife；　the
women　made　a　mark　in　their　knitting…work；　and　thus　converted　their
stockings　into　a　kind　of　calendar；　which　recorded　the　number　of
persons　executed。　From　this　circumstance　the　market…women　received
the　name　of　〃knitters。〃＇　and　for　the　jack；　we　have　a　Swiss　soldier；
for　they　were　the　menials　of　the　old　monarchy。〃　＇Footnote：
Historical。…See　〃Memoires　de　la　Marquise　de　Crequi；〃　vol。　III。＇

〃That　is　good；　well；　we　will　play　then；〃　cried　Toulan；　with　an　air
of　good…humor。

They　all　took　their　places　at　the　table；　while　the　queen　took　up　the
sewing　on　which　the　princesses　had　been　engaged　before。

After　some　time；　when　the　thread　with　which　she　was　sewing　was
exhausted；　Marie　Antoinette　raised　her　eyes　and　turned　them　to　the
men；　who　had　laid　their　pipes　aside；　and　were　zealously　engaged　upon
their　cards。　The　mien　of　the　queen　was　no　longer　so　calm　and　rigidly
composed　as　it　had　been　before；　and　when　she　spoke；　there　was　a
slight　quivering　discernible　in　her　voice。

〃Citizen　Toulan；〃　she　said；　〃I　beg　you　to　give　me　the　ball　of　thread
again。　I　have　no　more；　and　this　dress　is　in　a　wretched　condition；　I
must　mend　it。〃

Toulan　turned　toward　her　with　a　gesture　of　impatience。

〃You　disturb　me；　madame；　and　put　me　out　in　the　game。　What　are　you
saying？〃

〃I　asked　you；　Citizen　Toulan；　to　give　me　the　thread　again；　because；
without　it；　I　cannot　work。〃

〃Oh！　the　ball　which　little　Miss　Capet　gave　me　a　short　time　ago。　And
so　you　won't　let　me　keep　a　remembrance　of　the　pretty　girl？〃

〃I　must　mend　this　dress；〃　said　the　queen；　gently。

〃Well；　if　you　must；　you　must；〃　growled　Toulan；　rising。

〃Wait　a　moment；　brothers；　till　I　carry　her　the　ball。〃

〃What　do　you　want　to　get　up　for？〃　asked　Simon。

〃You　can　throw　it　from　here。〃

〃Or　give　it　a　roll　like　a　ball；〃　added　Lepitre。

〃That　is　a　good　idea；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃I'll　have　a　little　game　of
nine…pins。　I　am　quite　at　home　there；　and　can　do　it　well。　Now　look
sharp！　I　will　contrive　to　roll　the　ball　between　the　four　feet　of　the
table；　and　strike　the　foot　of　the　queen。〃

〃There　is　no　queen；〃　cried　Lepitre；　passionately。

〃I　am　speaking　of　the　game；　Citizen　Lepitre；　do　me　the　pleasure　of
not　making　yourself　an　ass。　Now　look；　and　see　me　roll　it　as　I　said！〃

〃Well；　go　ahead；　we　should　like　to　see　you　do　it；〃　cried　Simon。

〃Yes；　we　would　like　to　see　you　do　it；〃　chimed　in　the　officials；
laying　down　their　cards。

Toulan　now　drew　out　of　his　breast…pocket　a　black　ball　of　silk；　and
counted　〃One；　two；　three！〃　He　then　gave　it　a　skilful　roll　across　the
floor。　With　attention　and　laughing　looks；　they　all　watched　it　take
its　course　across　the　waxed　floor；　as　it　moved　just　where　Toulan　had
said　it　would。

〃Bravo；　bravo！〃　shouted　the　men；　as　the　ball　struck　the　foot　of　the
queen；　who　stooped　down　slowly　and　picked　it　up。

〃Toulan　is　a　jolly　good　fellow；〃　cried　Simon；　striking　the　table
with　his　fists　in　an　ecstasy　of　delight。　〃But　I　declare　it　seems　to
me　that　the　ball　is　a　good　deal　larger　now　than　it　was　before。〃

〃It　may　be；〃　answered　Toulan；　emphatically。　〃Every　thing　grows　and
enlarges　itself；　that　a　true　and　genuine　sans…culottes　carries　next
to　his　heart。〃

〃Well　said；〃　replied　Lepitre。　〃But　listen　to　me；　I　want　to　make　a
proposition　to　you。　I　must　say　that　it　is　hard　workplaying　cards
without　smoking。〃

〃I　find　it　so；　too；〃　sighed　Toulan。

〃I　rather　think　we　all　do；〃　chimed　in　the　others。

〃But　we　must　keep　our　word；　or　else　the　she…wolf　will　think　that　we
republicans　are　no　better　than　the　aristocrats　were！〃

〃Yes；　we　must　keep　our　word；〃　said　Lepitre；　〃and　that　is　why　I
wanted　to　make　the　proposition　that　we　go　out　and　establish
ourselves　in　the　entry。　We　can　put　the　table　close　to　the　door；　and
then　we　are　certainly　safethat　no　one　can　step　in。　What　do　you
say；　brother　Simon？〃

〃I　say　that　it　is　a　very　good　plan；　and　that　we　will　carry　it　into
execution　directly。　Come；　friends；　let　us　take　up　the　table；　and
carry　it　out。　If　the　dogs　are　on　the　watch　outside；　the　badger　does
not　creep　out　of　his　house。　Come；　it　is　much　pleasanter　out　there；
and　we　are　not　ambitious　of　the　honor　of　looking　at　Widow　Capet　all
the　time。　We　are　perfectly　satisfied；　if　we　do　not　see　her。　I　hope
there　will　be　an　end　of　this　tedious　service；　and　that　she　will　soon
go　to　the　place　whither　Louis　Capet　has　already　gone。〃

〃Or；〃　cried　Toulan；　laughing；　〃she　must　change　herself　into　an
eagle；　and　fly　out　of　the　window。　Come；　brothers；　I　long　for　my
pipe。　Let　us　carry　the　table　out　into　the　entry。〃

Simon　opened　the　door　that　led　out　upon　the　landing；　the　officials
took　up　the　table；　and　Toulan　and　Lepitre　the　wooden　stools。　One
quick　look　they　cast　into　the　room　of　the　queen；　whose　eyes　were
turned　to　them。　A　sudden　movement　of　Lepitre's　hand　pointed　to　the
bench　beneath　the　window：　a　movement　of　Toulan's　lips　said　〃To…
morrow；〃　then　they　both　turned　away；　went　with　their　stools　out　upon
the　landing；　and　closed　the　door。

The　queen　held　her　breath　and　listened。　She　heard　them　moving　the
chairs　outside；　and　pushing　the　table　up　against　the　door；　and
detected　Simon's　harsh　voice；　saying；　〃Now　that　we　have　put　a
gigantic　wooden　lock　on　the　door；　let　us　smoke　and　play。〃

The　queen　sprang　up。　〃God　bless　my　faithful　one；〃　whispered　she；
〃yes；　God　bless　him！〃

She　went　hastily　into　the　anteroom；　pressed　her　hand　in　behind　the
bench　beneath　the　window；　took　out　the　package　which　Lepitre　had
placed　there；　and　with　a　timid；　anxious　look；　stepped　b