marie antoinette and her son-第69章

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bench　beneath　the　window；　took　out　the　package　which　Lepitre　had
placed　there；　and　with　a　timid；　anxious　look；　stepped　back　into　her
room。　Here　she　unfolded　the　bundle。　It　consisted　of　a　boy's　soiled
dress；　an　old　peruke；　and　an　old　felt　hat。

The　queen　looked　at　it　with　the　utmost　attention；　then；　after
casting　one　long；　searching　look　through　the　room；　she　hastened　to
the　divan；　pushed　back　the　already　loosened　cover　of　the　seat；
concealed　the　things　beneath　it；　and　then　carefully　smoothed　down
the　upholstery　again。

She　now　hurried　to　the　door　of　the　sleeping…room；　and　was　going　to
open　it　hastily。　But　she　bethought　herself　in　time。　Her　face　showed
too　much　emotion；　her　voice　might　betray　her。　Madame　Tison　was
certainly　lurking　behind　the　glass　door；　and　might　notice　her
excitement。　Marie　Antoinette　again　put　on　her　ordinary　sad　look；
opened　the　door　slowly　and　gravely；　and　quietly　entered　the
sleeping…room。　Her　great　eyes；　whose　brightness　had　long　since　been
extinguished　by　her　tears；　slowly　passed　around　the　chamber；　rested
for　a　moment　on　the　glass　door；　descried　behind　it　the　spying　face
of　Tison；　and　turned　to　the　two　princesses；　who　were　sitting　with
the　dauphin　on　the　little　divan　in　the　corner。

〃Mamma；〃　asked　the　boy；　〃are　the　bad　men　gone？〃

〃Do　not　call　them　so；　my　child；〃　replied　Marie　Antoinette；　gently。
〃These　men　only　do　what　others　order　them　to　do。〃

〃Then　the　others　are　bad；　mamma；〃　said　the　boy；　quickly。　〃Oh；　yes；
very　bad；　for　they　make　my　dear　mamma　weep　so　much。〃

〃I　do　not　weep　about　them；〃　answered　his　mother。　〃I　weep　because
your　father　is　no　more　with　us。　Think　about　your　father；　my　son；　and
never　forget　that　he　has　commanded　us　to　forgive　his　and　our
enemies。〃

〃And　never　to　take　vengeance　on　them；〃　added　the　boy；　with　a　grave
look　beyond　his　years；　as　he　folded　his　hands。　〃Yes；　I　have　sworn　it
to　my　dear　papa；　and　I　shall　keep　my　word。　I　mean　never　to　take
vengeance　on　our　enemies。〃

〃Sister；〃　said　the　queen；　after　a　pause；　〃I　want　to　ask　you　to　help
me　a　little　in　my　work。　You　know　how　to　mend；　and　I　want　to　learn　of
you。　Will　you　come　into　the　sitting…room？〃

〃And　we；　too；　mamma；〃　asked　the　dauphin；　〃may　we　not　stay　here？
Theresa　has　promised　to　tell　me　an　interesting　story　if　I　did　my
examples　in　arithmetic　correctly；　and　I　have　done　them。〃

〃Well；　she　may　tell　you　the　story。　We　will　leave　the　door　open　so
that　we　can　see　you；　for　you　know；　my　children；　you　are　now　the　only
comfort　left　to　your　aunt　and　me。　Come；　sister！〃

She　turned　slowly　and　went　into　the　next　room；　followed　by　Madame
Elizabeth。

〃Why；　what　does　this　mean？〃　asked　the　princess；　in　amazement；　as　she
saw　the　anteroom　deserted　and　the　door　closed。

〃All　his　work；　Elizabethall　the　work　of　this　noble；　faithful
Toulan。　He　went　through　a　whole　farce　in　order　to　get　the　people　out
of　here；　and　to　make　them　swear　that　they　never　would　smoke　after
this　in　the　anteroom。　Oh；　I　shall　never　be　able　to　repay　him　for
what　he　has　done　for　us　at　the　peril　of　his　life。〃

〃We　will　pray　for　him　every　morning　and　evening；〃　replied　the　pious
Elizabeth。　〃But　tell　me；　sister；　did　Toulon　keep　our　ball　of
thread？〃

〃Yes；　sister；　and　succeeded　in　giving　me　another　in　exchange　for　it。
Here　it　is。　To…night；　when　the　guards　are　asleep；　we　will　unwind　it
and　see　what　it　contains。　But　here　are　other　important　things　which
we　must　examine。　Here；　this　half…burned　light　and　this　cigarette！
Let　us　be　on　the　watch　that　no　one　surprise　us。〃

She　went　again　to　the　threshold　of　the　sleeping…room。　〃Can　you　hear
me　talk；　children？　Nod　with　your　head　if　you　heard　me。　Good。　If
Tison　comes　in；　speak　to　her　loudly；　and　call　her　by　name；　so　that
we　may　hear。〃

〃And　now；　sister；〃　she　continued；　turning　to　the　table；　〃let　us　see
what　Toulan　has　sent　us。　First；　the　cigar…light！〃

She　unfolded　the　paper；　one　side　of　which　was　burned；　and　showed　a
black；　jagged　edge。

〃A　letter　from　M。　de　Jarjayes；〃　she　said；　and　then；　in　a　subdued
voice；　she　hastily　read：　〃I　have　spoken　with　the　noble　messenger
whom　you　sent　to　me　with　a　letter。　He　has　submitted　his　plan　to　me；
and　I　approve　it　entirely；　and　am　ready　to　undertake　any　thing　that
is　demanded　of　me　in　behalf　of　those　to　whom　my　life；　my　property；
and　my　blood　belong；　and　who　never　shall　have　occasion　to　doubt　my
fidelity。　The　'true　one'　will　bring　you　to…morrow　every　thing　that
is　needful；　and　talk　the　matter　over　with　you。J。〃　〃And　now　the
cigarette；〃　said　the　queen；　taking　it　out　of　her　basket。

〃Let　us　first　tear　the　paper　to　pieces；〃　said　Princess　Elizabeth；
warningly。

〃No；　no；　Tison　would　find　the　bits；　and　think　them　suspicious。　I
will　hide　the　paper　in　my　dress…pocket；　and　this　evening　when　we
have　a　light　we　will　burn　it。　Quickly　now；　the　cigar！〃

〃A　paper　cigarette！〃　said　Elizabeth。

〃Yes；　and　see　on　the　outer　paper；　'Unroll　carefully！'〃

And　with　extreme　caution　Marie　Antoinette　removed　the　external
covering。　Beneath　it　was　another；　closely　written　over；　this　the
queen　proceeded　to　unfold。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　the　Princess　Elizabeth；　impatiently。

〃See；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　with　a　faint　smile：

〃'Plan　for　the　escape　of　the　royal　family。　To　learn　by　heart；　and
then　to　burn。'　Oh！　sister；　do　you　believe　that　escape　is　possible
for　us？〃

At　this　instant　Simon　was　heard　outside；　singing　with　his　loud；
coarse　voice：

〃Madame　a　sa　tour　monte　Ne　salt　quand　descendra；　Madame　Veto　la
dansera。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Madame　will　take　her　turn；　She　knows　not　when
it　will　come；　But　Madame　Veto　will　swing。〃＇

The　queen　shuddered；　and　Madame　Elizabeth　folded　her　hands　and
prayed　in　silence。

〃You　hear　the　dreadful　answer；　sister；　that　this　sans…culotte　gives
to　my　question！　Well；　so　long　as　there　is　a　breath　left　within　us　we
must　endeavor　to　save　the　life　of　King　Louis　XVII。　Come；　sister；　we
will　read　this　plan　for　our　escape；　which　the　faithful　Toulan　has
made。〃




CHAPTER　XXII。

THE　PLAN　OF　THE　ESCAPE。


Marie　Antoinette　and　Madame　Elizabeth　listened　again　at　the　door；
and　as　Simon　was　just　then　beginning　a　new　verse　of　his　ribald　song；
they　carefully　unrolled　the　paper　and　spread　it　out　before　them。

〃Read　it　to　me；　sister；〃　said　the　queen。　〃My　eyes　are　bad　and　pain
me　very　much；　and　then　the　words　make　more　impression　when　I　hear
them　than　when　I　read　them；　I　beg　you　therefore　to　read　it。〃

In　a　light　whisper　the　princess　began　to　read　〃The　Plan　of　Escape。〃
〃The　queen　and　Princess　Elizabeth　must　put　on　men's　clothes。　The
necessary　garments　are　already　in　their　possession；　for　T。　and　L。
have　within　the　last　few　days　secreted　them　in　the　cushions　and
mattresses。　In　addition；　the　queen　receives　to…day　a　dirty；　torn
boy's　suit　and　a　peruke；　and　a　pair　of　soiled　children's　shoes。
These　are　for　the　dauphin　and　Madame　Royale；　and　if　the　queen　looks
attentively　at　the　things；　she　will　find　that　they　are　exact　copies
of　the　clothing　in　which　the　two　children　appear　who　always
accompany　the　lamplighter　into　the　tower　and　assist　him　in　lighting
the　lamps。　So　much　for　the　clothing。　The　plan　of　escape　is　as
follows：　To…morrow　evening；　at　six　o'clock；　the　royal　children　will
change　their　dress　in　the　little　tower　next　to　the　chamber　of　the
queen。　In　their　soiled　costume　they　will　remain　within　the　tower；
whither　it　is　known　that　Tison　and　his　wife　never　come；　and　will
wait　there　until　some　one　gives　them　a　signal　and　calls　them。　Toulan
and　Lepitre　will　arrange　to　have　the　watch　again　to…morrow　in　the
tower。　At　a　quarter　before　seven　in　the　evening；　Toulan　will　give　a
pinch　of　snuff　to　Madame　Tison　and　her　husband；　who　are　both
passionately　fond　of　it；　and　they　will　speedily　take　it　as　they
always　do。　This　pinch　of　snuff　will　consist　entirely　of　colored
opium。　They　will　fall　into　a　heavy　sleep；　which　will　last　at　least
seven　hours；　and　during　this　times　the　flight　of　all　the　members　of
the　royal　family　must　be　accomplished〃

〃Wait　a　moment；　sister；〃　whispered　the　queen；　〃I　feel　dizzy；　and　my
heart　beats　violently；　as　if　we　were　engaged　now　in　the　very
execution　of　the　plan。　It　seems　to　me　as　if；　in　the　darkness　of　the
dreadful　night　which　surrounds　us；　a　glimmer　of　hope　was　suddenly
appearing；　and　my　eyes　are　blinded　with　it。　Oh；　sister；　do　you
really　think　it　possible　that　we　can　escape　this　place　of　torment？〃

〃Escape　we　will　certainly；　my　dear　sister；〃　answered　Elizabeth；
gently；　〃but　it　lies　in　God's　hands　whether　it　is　our　bodies　or　our
souls　only　that　will　escape。　If　we　do　not　succeed；　they　will　kill
us；　and　then　our　freed　souls　will　ascend　to　God。　Oh；　my　noble　queen
and　sister；　let　us　pray　that　God　would　give　us　courage　and
steadfastness　to　hope　in　Him　and　to　conform　to　His　will。〃

〃Yes；　sister；　let　us　pray；〃　said　the　queen；　folding　her　hands；　and
reverentially　bending　her　head。　Then　after　a　pause；　in　which　they
could　hear　from　without　the　noisy　laughter　of　Simon　and　his
comrades；　the　queen　raised　herself　up；　and　her　countenance　had
regained　its　wonted　calm　and　grave　expression。

〃And　now；　Elizabeth；　read　on　further。　Let　us　hear　the　continuation
of　the　plan。〃

Madame　Elizabeth　took　the　paper　and　read　on　in　a　whispering　voice：
〃As　soon　as　Tison　and　his　wife　have　fallen　asleep；　the　queen　and
Madame　Elizabeth　will　put　on　their　clothes。　Over　the　men's　garments
they　will　throw　the　cloaks　which　Toulan　brought　yesterday；　and　these
cloaks　will　disguise　their　gait　and　size。　But　care　must　be　taken
that　the　tri…colored　sashes　of　the　commissaries　which　Lepitre
brought　yesterday　with　the　admission…cards　of　the　same　authorities；
should　peep　out　from　beneath　the　cloaks　so　as　to　be　visible　to　every
one。　Thus　arrayed；　the　two　ladies　will　pass　by　the　sentry；　showing
him　the　card　as　they　go　out　（meanwhile　talking　with　Lepitre）；　leave
the　Temple；　and　go　with　Lepitre　to　the　Rue　de　la　Conderie；　where　M。
de　Jarjayes　will　be　waiting　to　conduct　the　ladies　farther。〃

〃But　the　children；〃　whispered　the　queen；　〃do　the　children　not
accompany　us？　Oh！　they　ought　not　to　think　that　I　would　leave　this
place　while　my　dear　children　are　compelled　to　remain　here。　What　is
to　be　done　with　the　children；　Elizabeth？〃

〃We　shall　soon　learn　that；　sister；　allow　me　to　read　on。　'At　seven
o'clock；　as　soon　as　the　guard　is　changed；　a　man　disguised　as　a
lamplighter；　with　his　tin　filler　in　his　hand；　will　appear　at　the
gate　of　the　Temple；　knock　loudly　and　demand　of　the　guard　that　his
children；　who　had　this　day　been　taking　care　of　the　lantern；　should
be　allowed　to　come　out。　On　this；　Toulan　will　bring　the　dauphin　and
Madame　Royale　in　their　changed　costume；　and　while　delivering　them
over　to　the　supposed　lamplighter　he　will　scold　him　soundly　for　not
taking　care　of　the　lanterns　himself；　but　giving　it　to　the　children。
This　is　the　plan　whose　execution　is　possible　and　probable；　if　every
thing　is　strictly　followed。　Before　the　affair　is　discovered；　there
will　be　at　least　seven　hours'　advantage　and　the　royal　family　will　be
able；　with　the　passes　already　secured　by　M。　Jarjayes；　to　be　a　long
way　off　before　their　flight　will　be　discovered　by　Tison。　In　a　secure
house；　whither　Toulan　will　lead　them；　the　royal　family　will　find
simple　citizen's　clothing。　Without　exciting　any　stir；　and
accompanied　by　Messie