marie antoinette and her son-第7章

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friendly　way。　〃And　now；　Julia；　as　we　have　a　happy　vacation　day
before　us；　we　will　enjoy　it　like　two　young　girls　who　are　celebrating
the　birthday　of　their　grandmother　after　escaping　from　a　boarding
school。　Let　us　see　which　of　us　is　the　swiftest　of　foot。　We　will　make
a　wager　on　it。　See；　there　gleams　our　little　house　out　from　the
shrubbery；　let　us　see　which　of　us　gets　there　first。〃

〃Without　stopping　once　in　the　run？〃　asked　the　duchess；　amazed。

〃I　make　no　conditions；　I　only　say；　let　us　see　who　gets　there　first。
If　you　win；　Julia；　I　will　give　you　the　privilege　of　nominating　a　man
to　have　the　first　place　in　my　Swiss　guards；　and　you　may　select　the
protege　in　whose　behalf　you　were　pleading　yesterday。　Come；　let　us
run。　One！〃

〃No；　Marie；〃　interrupted　the　duchess。　〃Supposing　that　you　are　the
first；　what　shall　I　give　you？〃

〃A　kissa　hearty　kissJulia。　Now；　forward！　One；　two；　three！〃

And；　speaking　these　words　in　merry　accents；　Marie　Antoinette　sprang
forward　along　the　narrow　walk。　The　round　straw　hat　which　covered　her
head　was　tossed　up　on　both　sides；　the　blue　ribbons　fluttered　in　the
wind；　the　white　dress　puffed　up；　and　the　grand　chamberlain　of　the
queen　and　Madame　Adelaide　would　have　been　horrified　if　they　could
have　seen　the　queen　flying　along　like　a　girl　escaped　from　the
boarding…school。

But　she；　she　never　thought　of　there　being　any　thing　improper　in　the
run；　she　looked　forward　to　the　goal　with　laughing　glances；　as　the
white　house　emerged　more　and　more　from　the　verdure　by　which　it　was
surrounded；　and　then　sideways　at　her　friend；　who　had　not　been　able
to　gain　a　single　step　upon　her。

〃Forward；　forward！〃　shouted　the　queen；　〃I　will　and　I　must　win；　for
the　prize　is　a　kiss　from　my　Julia。〃　And　with　renewed　speed　the　queen
dashed　along。　The　lane　opened　and　terminated　in　a　square　in　front　of
the　palace。　The　queen　stopped　in　her　course；　and　turned　round　to　see
her　friend；　who　had　been　left　far　behind　her。

As　soon　as　the　duchess　saw　it　she　tried　to　quicken　her　steps；　and
began　to　run　again；　but　Marie　Antoinette　motioned　with　her　hand；　and
went　rapidly　back　to　meet　her。

〃You　shall　not　make　any　more　effort；　Julia；〃　said　she。　〃I　have　won；
and　you　cannot　bring　my　victory　into　question。〃

〃And　I　do　not　wish　to；〃　answered　the　duchess；　with　a　merry　look　of
defiance　on　her　gentle　features。　〃I　really　did　not　wish　to　win；　for
it　would　have　seemed　as　if　I　had　to　win　what　I　want　on　the　turn　of　a
merry　game。　You　have　done　wrong；　Marie　Antoinette。　You　want　me　to
forget　here　in　Trianon　that　you　are　the　Queen　of　France。　But　you
yourself　do　not　forget　it。　Only　the　queen　can　propose　such　a　prize
as　you　have　set；　and　only　the　queen　can　ask　so　insignificant　a　boon
on　the　other　side。　You　have　made　it　impossible　for　me　to　win；　for
you　know　well　that　I　am　not　selfish。〃

〃I　know　it；　and　that　is　just　the　reason　why　I　love　you　so　dearly；
Julia。　I　have　done　wrong；〃　she　went　on　to　say　with　her　gentle；　sweet
voice。　〃I　see　it；　and　I　beg　your　forgiveness。　Give　me　now　as　a　proof
that　you　do　forgive　me；　give　me　the　prize　which　I　have　wona　kiss；
Julia；　a　kiss。〃

〃Not　here；〃　answered　the　duchess。　〃O；　no；　not　here；　Marie。　Do　not
you　see　that　the　doors　of　the　saloons　are　open；　and　that　your
company　are　all　assembled。　They　would　all　envy　me；　they　would　all　be
jealous　if　they　were　to　see　the　preference　which　you　show　for　me。〃

〃Let　them　be　jealous；　let　them　envy　you；〃　cried　the　queen；　〃the
whole　world　shall　know　that　Julia　de　Polignac　is　my　best…loved
friend；　that　next　to　husband　and　children；　I　love　no　one　so　well　as
her。〃

With　gentle　violence　the　queen　threw　both　her　arms　around　the　neck
of　the　duchess；　and　kissed　her　passionately。

〃Did　you　notice；〃　said　the　Baron　de　Besenval　to　Lord　Adhemar；　with
whom　he　was　playing　a　game　of　backgammon　in　the　saloon；　〃did　you
notice　the　tableau　that　the　queen　is　presenting；　taking　for　her
theme　a　group　representing　Friendship？〃

〃I　wish　it　were　in　my　power　to　reproduce　this　wonderful　group　in
marble；〃　answered　Lord　Adhemar；　laughing。　〃It　would　be　a　companion
piece　to　Orestes　and　Pylades。〃

〃But　which；〃　asked　the　Duchess　de　Guemene；　looking　up　from　her
embroidery；　〃which　would　be　the　companion　of　Orestes；　pursued　of
Furies；　surrounded　by　serpents？〃

〃That　is　the　queen；〃　answered　the　Count　de　Vaudreuil；　who　was
sitting　at　the　piano　and　practising　a　new　piece　of　music。　〃The　queen
is　the　womanly　Orestes：　the　Furies　are　the　three　royal　aunts；　and
the　serpentspardon　me；　ladiesare；　with　the　exception　of
yourselves；　most　all　the　ladies　of　Paris。〃

〃You　are　malicious；　count；〃　cried　Madame　de　Morsan；　〃and　were　we　by
any　chance　not　here；　you　would　reckon　us　among　the　serpents。〃

〃If　I　should　do　so；〃　said　Count　Vaudreuil；　laughing；　〃I　should　only
wish　to　take　the　apple　from　you；　in　order　to　be　driven　out　of
paradise　with　you。　But　still！　the　queen　is　coming。〃

Yes；　just　then　the　queen　entered　the　apartment。　Her　cheeks　were
glowing　red　by　reason　of　her　run；　her　bosom　heaved　violently　with
her　hurried；　agitated　breathing。　Her　hat　had　fallen　upon　one　side；
and　the　dark　blond　hair　was　thrown　about　in　wild　confusion。

It　was　not　the　queen　who　entered　the　saloon；　it　was　only　Marie
Antoinette；　the　simple；　young　woman；　greeting　her　friends　with
brilliant　glances　and　lively　nods。　It　had　been　made　a　rule　with　her；
that　when　she　entered；　no　one　should　rise；　nor　leave　the　embroidery；
or　piano…playing；　or　any　other　occupation。

The　women　remained　at　their　work；　Lords　Besenval　and　Adhemar　went　on
playing　their　game　of　backgammon；　and　only　the　Count　de　Vaudreuil
rose　from　his　place　at　the　approach　of　the　queen。

〃What　have　you　been　playing；　count？〃　asked　Marie　Antoinette。　〃I　beg
your　pardon；　if　I　leave　your　question　unanswered；〃　replied　the
count；　with　a　gentle　inclination　of　the　head。　〃Your　majesty　has　such
a　fine　ear；　that　you　must　doubtless　recognize　the　composer　in　the
music。　It　is　an　entirely　new　composition；　and　I　have　taken　the
license　of　arranging　it　for　four　hands。　If　your　majesty　would
perhaps　be　inclined…〃

〃Come；〃　interrupted　the　queen；　〃let　us　try　it　at　once。〃

Quickly；　and　with　feverish　impatience；　she　drew　her　black　netted
gloves　from　her　delicate　white　hands；　and　at　once　took　her　place
next　to　the　count；　on　the　seat　already　prepared　for　her。

〃Will　not　the　music　be　too　difficult　for　me　to　play？〃　asked　she；
timidly。

〃Nothing　is　too　difficult　for　the　Queen　of　France。〃

〃But　there　is　a　great　deal　that　is　too　difficult　for　the　dilettante；
Marie　Antoinette；〃　sighed　the　queen。　〃Meanwhile；　we　will　begin　and
try　it。〃

And　with　great　facility　and　lightness　of　touch；　the　queen　began　to
play　the　base　of　the　piece　which　had　been　arranged　by　the　Count　de
Vaudreuil　for　four　hands。　But　the　longer　she　played；　the　more　the
laughter　and　the　unrestrained　gayety　disappeared　from　the　features
of　the　queen。　Her　noble　countenance　assumed　an　expression　of　deep
earnestness；　her　eye　kindled　with　feeling；　and　the　cheeks　which
before　had　become　purple…red　with　the　exercise　of　playing；　now　paled
with　deep　inward　emotion。

All　at　once；　in　the　very　midst　of　the　grand　and　impassioned　strains；
Marie　Antoinette　stopped；　and；　under　the　strength　of　her　feeling；
rose　from　her　seat。

〃Only　Gluck　can　have　written　this！〃　cried　she。　〃This　is　the　music；
the　divine　music　of　my　exalted　master；　my　great　teacher；　Chevalier
Gluck。〃

〃You　are　right；　your　majesty　is　a　great　musician；〃　cried　Lord
Vaudreuil；　in　amazement；　〃the　ideal　pupil　of　the　genial　maestro。
Yes；　this　music　is　Gluck's。　It　is　the　overture　to　his　new　opera　of
'Alcestes；'　which　he　sent　me　from　Venice　to　submit　to　your　majesty。
These　tones　shall　speak　for　the　master；　and　entreat　for　him　the
protection　of　the　queen。〃

〃You　have　not　addressed　the　queen；　but　my　own　heart；〃　said　Marie
Antoinette；　with　gentle；　deeply　moved　voice。　〃It　was　a　greeting　from
my　home；　a　greeting　from　my　teacher；　who　is　at　the　same　time　the
greatest　composer　of　Europe。　Oh；　I　am　proud　of　calling　myself　his
pupil。　But　Gluck　needs　no　protection；　it　is　much　more　we　who　need
the　protection　which　he　affords　us　in　giving　us　the　works　of　his
genius。　I　thank　you；　count；〃　continued　Marie　Antoinette；　turning　to
Vaudreuil　with　a　pleasant　smile。

〃This　is　a　great　pleasure　which　you　have　prepared　for　me。　But
knowing；　as　I　now　do；　that　this　is　Gluck's　music；　I　do　not　dare　to
play　another　note；　for；　to　injure　a　note　of　his　writing；　seems　to　me
like　treason　against　the　crown。　I　will　practise　this　piece；　and　then
some　day　we　will　play　it　to　the　whole　court。　And　now；　my　honored
guests；　if　it　pleases　you；　we　go　to　meet　the　king。　Gentlemen；　let
each　one　choose　his　lady；　for　we　do　not　want　to　go　in　state
procession；　but　by　different　paths。〃

All　the　gentlemen　present　rushed　toward　the　queen；　each　desirous　to
have　the　honor　of　waiting　upon　her。　Marie　Antoinette　thanked　them
all　with　a　pleasant　smile；　and　took　the　arm　of　the　eldest　gentleman
there；　the　Baron　de　Besenval。

〃Come；　baron；〃　said　she；　〃I　know　a　new　path；　which　none　of　these
gentry　have　learned；　and　I　am　sure　that　we　shall　be　the　first　to
reach　the　place　where　the　king　is。〃

Resting　on　the　arm　of　the　baron；　she　left　the　saloon；　and　passed　out
of　the　door　opposite；　upon　the　little　terrace　leading　to　the　well…
shaded　park。

〃We　will　go　through　the　English　garden。　I　have　had　them　open　a　path
through　the　thicket；　which　will　lead　us　directly　to　our　goal；　while
the　others　will　all　have　to　go　through　the　Italian　garden；　and　so
make　a　circuit。　But　look；　my　lord；　somebody　is　coming　therewho　is
it？〃

And　the　queen　pointed　to　the　tall；　slim　figure　of　a　man　who　was　just
then　striding　along　the　terrace。

〃Madame；〃　answered　the　baron；　〃it　is　the　Duke　de　Fronac。〃

〃Alas！〃　murmured　Marie　Antoinette；　〃he　is　coming　to　lay　new　burdens
upon　us；　and　to　put　us　in　the　way　of　meeting　more　disagreeable
things。〃

〃Would　it　be　your　wish　that　I　should　dismiss　him？　Do　you　give　me
power　to　tell　him　that　you　extend　no　audience　to　him　here？〃

〃Oh！　do　not　do　so；〃　sighed　Marie　Antoinette。　〃He；　too；　is　one　of　my
enemies；　and　we　must　proceed　much　more　tenderly　with　our　dear
enemies　than　with　our　friends。〃

Just　then　the　Duke　de　Fronac　ascended　the　last　terrace；　and
approached　the　queen　with　repeated　bows；　which　she　reciprocated　with
an　earnest　look　and　a　gentle　inclination　of　the　head。

〃Well；　duke；　is　it　I　with　whom　the　chief　manager　of　the　royal
theatres　wishes　to　speak？〃

〃Madame；〃　answered　the　duke；　〃I　am　come　to　beg　an　audience　of　your
majesty。〃

〃You　have　it；　and　it　is；　as　you　see；　a　very　imposing　audience；　for
we　stand　in　the　throne　room　of　God；　and　the　canopy　of　Heaven　arches
over　us。　Now　say；　duke；　what　brings　you　to　me？〃

〃Your　majesty；　I　am　come　to　file　an　accusation！〃

〃And　of　course　against　me？〃　asked　the　queen；　with　a　haughty　smile。
The　duke　pretended　not　to　hear　the　question；　and　went　on：　〃I　am　come
to　bring　a　charge　and　to　claim　my　rights。　His　majesty　has　had　the
grace　to　appoint　me　manager…in…chief　of　all　the　royal　theatres；　and
to　give　me　their　supreme　control。〃

〃Well；　what　has　that　to　do　with　me？〃　asked　the　queen　in　her　coldest
way。　〃　You　have　then　your　duties　assigned　you；　to　he　rightfully
fulfilled；　and　to　keep　your　theat