marie antoinette and her son-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


audaciously　in　supposing　that　the　queen　would　make　an　appointment
with　him　by　night；　and　that　for　this　he　would　ask　the　pardon　of　the
king　and　the　queen　in　presence　of　the　whole　court。　Further；　the
cardinal　is　enjoined　to　lay　down　his　office　as　grand　almoner　within
a　certain　time；　to　remove　to　a　certain　distance　from　the　royal
residence　and　not　to　visit　the　places　where　the　royal　family　may　be
living；　and　lastly；　to　remain　in　prison　till　the　complete
termination　of　the　trial。〃

The　friends　and　dependants　of　the　cardinal；　the　enemies　and
persecutors　of　the　queen；　received　this　decision　of　the　attorney…
general　with　vexation　and　anger；　they　found　fault　with　the　servility
of　the　man　who　would　suffer　the　law　to　bow　before　the　throne；　they
made　dishonorable　remarks　and　calumnious　innuendoes　about　the　queen；
who；　with　her　coquetry　and　the　amount　received　from　the　jewels；　had
gained　over　the　judges；　and　who　would；　perhaps　have　appointed　a
rendezvous　with　every　one　of　them　in　order　to　gain　him　over　to　her
side。

〃Even　if　the　judges　clear　her；〃　cried　the　sharp　voice　of　Marat　from
the　heart　of　the　crowd；　〃the　people　will　pass　sentence　upon　her。　The
people　are　always　right；　the　people　cannot　be　bribedthey　are　like
God　in　this；　and　the　people　will　not　disown　their　verdict　before　the
beautiful　eyes　and　the　seductive　smiles　of　the　Austrian　woman。　The
people　will　not　be　made　fools　of；　they　will　not　believe　in　the　story
of　the　counterfeited　letters　and　the　forged　signature。〃

〃No；〃　shouted　the　crowd；　laughing　in　derision；　〃we　will　not　believe
it。　The　queen　wrote　the　letters；　her　majesty　understands　how　to
write　love…letters！〃

〃The　queen　loves　to　have　a　hand　in　all　kinds　of　nonsense；〃　thundered
the　brewer　Santerre；　in　another　group。　〃She　wanted　to　see　whether　a
pretty　girl　from　the　street　could　play　the　part　of　the　Queen　of
France；　and　at　the　same　time　she　wanted　to　avenge　herself　upon　the
cardinal　because　she　knew　that　he　once　found　fault　with　her　before
her　mother　the　empress；　on　account　of　her　light　and　disreputable
behavior；　and　the　bad　manners　which；　as　the　dauphiness；　she　would
introduce　into　this　court。　Since　then　she　has　with　her　glances；　her
smiles；　and　her　apparent　anger；　so　worked　upon　the　cardinal　as　to
make　him　fall　over　ears　in　love　with　the　beautiful；　pouting　queen。
And　that　was　just　what　she　wanted；　for　now　she　could　avenge　herself。
She　appointed　a　rendezvous　with　the　cardinal；　and　while　she　secretly
looked　on　the　scene　in　the　thicket；　she　allowed　the　pretty
Mademoiselle　Oliva　to　play　her　part。　And　you　see　that　it　is　not　such
a　difficult　thing　to　represent　a　queen；　for　Mademoiselle　Oliva
performed　her　part　so　well　that　the　cardinal　was　deceived；　and　took
a　girl　from　the　streets　to　be　the　Queen　of　France。〃

〃Oh；　better　times　are　coming；　better　times　are　coming！〃　cried　Simon
the　cobbler；　who　was　close　by；　with　his　coarse　laugh。　〃The　cardinal
took　a　girl　from　the　streets　for　the　Queen　of　France；　but　wait　a
little　and　we　shall　see　the　time　when　she　will　have　to　sweep　the
streets　with　a　broom；　that　the　noble　people　may　walk　across　with　dry
feet！〃

In　the　loud　laugh　with　which　the　crowd　greeted　this　remark　of　the
cobbler；　was　mingled　one　single　cry　of　anger；　which；　however；　was
overborne　by　the　rough　merriment　of　the　mass。　It　came　from　the　lips
of　a　man　in　simple　citizen's　costume；　who　had　plunged　into　the　mob
and　worked　his　way　forward　with　strong　arms；　in　order　to　reach　a
place　as　near　as　possible　to　the　entrance…door　of　the　prison；　and　to
be　among　the　first　to　learn　the　impending　sentence。

No　one；　as　just　said；　had　heard　this　cry；　no　one　had　troubled
himself　about　this　young　man；　with　the　bold　defiant　face；　who；　with
shrugged　shoulders；　was　listening　to　the　malicious　speeches　which
were　uttered　all　around　him；　and　who　replied　to　them　all　with
flaming　looks　of　anger；　pressing　his　lips　closely　together；　in　order
to　hold　back　the　words　which　could　hardly　be　suppressed。

He　succeeded　at　last　in　reaching　the　very　door　of　the　prison；　and
stood　directing　his　eyes　thither　with　gloomy　looks　of　curiosity。

His　whole　soul　lay　in　this　look；　he　heard　nothing　of　the　mocking
speeches　which　echoed　around　him；　he　saw　nothing　of　what　took　place
about　him。　He　saw　only　this　fatal　door；　he　only　heard　the　noises
which　proceeded　from　within　the　prison。

At　last；　after　long　waiting；　and　when　the　sun　had　set；　the　door
opened　a　little；　and　a　man　came　out。　The　people　who；　at　his
appearance；　had　broken　into　a　loud　cry　of　delight；　were　silent　when
it　was　seen　that　it　was　not　the　officer　who　would　announce　the
verdict　with　his　stentorian　voice；　but　that　it　was　only　one　of　the
ordinary　servants　of　the　court；　who　had　been　keeping　watch　at　the
outer　gate。

This　man　ascended　with　an　indifferent　air　the　steps　of　the
staircase；　and　to　the　loud　questions　which　were　hurled　at　him　by　the
crowd；　whether　the　cardinal　were　declared　innocent；　he　answered
quietly；　〃I　do　not　know。　But　I　think　the　officer　will　soon　make　his
appearance。　My　time　is　up；　and　I　am　going　home；　for　I　am　half　dead
with　hunger　and　thirst。〃

〃Let　the　poor　hungry　man　go　through；〃　cried　the　young　man；　pressing
up　to　him。　〃Only　see　how　exhausted　he　is。　Come；　old　fellow；　give　me
your　hand；　support　yourself　on　me。〃

And　he　took　the　man　by　the　arm；　and　with　his　powerful　elbows　forced
a　way　through　the　crowd。　The　people　let　them　pass；　and　directed
their　attention　again　to　the　door　of　the　prison。

〃The　verdict　is　pronounced？〃　asked　the　young　man；　softly。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Toulan；〃　he　whispered；　〃the　councillor　gave　me　just　now；
as　I　was　handing　him　a　glass　of　water；　the　paper　on　which　he　had
written　it。〃

〃Give　it　to　me；　John；　but　so　that　nobody　can　see；　otherwise　they
will　suspect　what　the　paper　contains；　and　they　will　all　grab　at　it
and　tear　it　in　bits。〃

The　servant　slid；　with　a　quick　motion；　a　little　folded　paper　into
the　hand　of　the　young　man；　who　thanked　him　for　it　with　a　nod　and　a
smile；　and　then　quickly　dropped　his　arm；　and　forced　his　way　in
another　direction　through　the　crowd。　Soon；　thanks　to　his　youth　and
his　skill；　he　had　worked　through　the　dense　mass；　then　with　a　flying
step　he　sped　through　the　street　next　to　the　square；　then　more
swiftly　still　through　the　side　streets　and　alleys；　till　he　reached
the　gate　that　led　out　to　the　street　of　Versailles。　Outside　of　this
there　was　a　young　man　in　a　blue　blouse；　who；　in　an　idle　and　listless
manner；　was　leading　a　bridled　horse　up　and　down　the　road。

〃Halloo；　Richard；　come　here！〃　cried　the　young　man。

〃Ah！　Mr。　Toulan；〃　shouted　the　lad　in　the　blouse；　running　up　with　the
horse。　〃You　have　come　at　last；　Mr。　Toulan。　I　have　been　already
waiting　eight　hours　for　you。〃

〃I　will　give　you　a　franc　for　every　hour；〃　said　Mr。　Toulan；　swinging
himself　into　the　saddle。　〃Now　go　home；　Richard；　and　greet　my
sweetheart；　if　you　see　her。〃

He　gave　his　horse　a　smart　stroke；　pressed　the　spurs　into　his　flanks；
and　the　powerful　creature　sped　like　an　arrow　from　a　bow　along　the
road　to　Versailles。

In　Versailles；　too；　and　in　the　royal　palace；　this　day　had　been
awaited　with　anxious　expectations。　The　king；　after　ending　his　daily
duties　with　his　ministers；　had　gone　to　his　workshop　in　order　to　work
with　his　locksmith；　Girard；　upon　a　new　lock；　whose　skilful
construction　was　an　invention　of　the　king。

The　queen；　too；　had　not　left　her　room　the　whole　day；　and　even　her
friend；　the　Duchess　Julia　de　Polignac；　had　not　been　able　to　cheer　up
the　queen　by　her　pleasant　talk。

At　last；　when　she　saw　that　all　her　efforts　were　vain；　and　that
nothing　could　dissipate　the　sadness　of　the　queen；　the　duchess　had
made　the　proposition　to　go　to　Trianon；　and　there　to　call　together
the　circle　of　her　intimate　friends。

But　the　queen　sorrowfully　shook　her　head；　and　gazed　at　the　duchess
with　a　troubled　look。

〃You　speak　of　the　circle　of　my　friends；〃　she　said。　〃Ah！　the　circle
of　those　whom　I　considered　my　friends　is　so　rent　and　broken；　that
scarcely　any　torn　fragments　of　it　remain；　and　I　fear　to　bring　them
together　again；　for　I　know　that　what　once　is　broken　cannot　be　mended
again。〃

〃And　so　does　your　majesty　not　believe　in　your　friends　any　more？〃
asked　the　duchess；　reproachfully。　〃Do　you　doubt　us？　Do　you　doubt
me？〃

〃I　do　not　doubt　you　all；　and；　before　all　things　else；　not　you；〃　said
Marie　Antoinette；　with　a　lingering；　tender　look。　〃I　only　doubt　the
possibility　of　a　queen's　having　faithful　friends。　I　always　forgot；
when　I　was　with　my　friends；　that　I　was　the　queen；　but　they　never
forgot　it。〃

〃Madame；　they　ought　never　to　forget　it；〃　replied　the　duchess；
softly。　〃With　all　their　love　for　your　majesty；　your　friends　ought
never　to　forget　that　reverence　is　due　you　as　much　as　love；　and
subjection　as　much　as　friendship。　They　ought　never　to　make
themselves　your　majesty's　equals；　and　if　your　majesty；　in　the　grace
of　your　fair　and　gentle　heart；　designs　to　condescend　to　us　and　make
yourself　like　us；　yet　we　ought　never　to　be　so　thoughtless　as　to
raise　ourselves　to　you；　and　want　to　make　ourselves　the　equals　of　our
queen。〃

〃Oh；　Julia！　you　pain　meyou　pain　me　unspeakably；〃　sighed　Marie
Antoinette；　pressing　her　hand　to　her　heart；　as　if　she　wanted　to　keep
back　the　tears　which　would　mount　into　her　eyes。

〃Your　majesty　knows；〃　continued　the　duchess；　with　her　gentle；　and
yet　terribly　quiet　manner；　〃your　majesty　knows　how　modestly　I　make
use　of　the　great　confidence　which　you　most　graciously　bestow　upon
me；　how　seldom　and　how　tremblingly　my　lips　venture　to　utter　the　dear
name　of　my　queen；　of　whom　I　may　rightly　talk　only　in　intimate
converse　with　your　exalted　mother　and　your　royal　husband。　Your
majesty　knows　further〃

〃Oh！　I　know　all；　all；〃　interrupted　the　queen；　sadly。　〃I　know　that　it
is　not　the　part　of　a　queen　to　be　happy；　to　love；　to　be　loved；　to
have　friends。　I　know　that　you　all；　whom　I　have　so　tenderly　loved；
feel　yourselves　more　terrified　than　benefited；　I　know；　that　with
this　confession；　happiness　has　withdrawn　from　me。　I　look　into　the
future　and　see　the　dark　clouds　which　are　descending；　and　threatening
us　with　a　tempest。　I　see　all；　I　have　no　illusions　more。　The　fair
days　are　all　pastthe　sunshine　of　Trianon；　and　the　fragrance　of　its
flowers。〃

〃And　will　your　majesty　not　go　there　to…day？〃　asked　the　duchess。　〃It
is　such　beautiful　weather；　the　sun　shines　so　splendidly；　and　we
shall　have　such　a　glorious　sunset。〃

〃A　glorious　sunset！〃　repeated　Marie　Antoinette；　with　a　bitter　smile。
〃A　queen　is　at　least　allowed　to　see　the　sun　go　down；　etiquette　has
not　forbidden　a　queen　to　see　the　sun　set　and　night　approach。　But　the
poor　creature　is　not　allowed　to　see　the　sun　rise；　and　rejoice　in　the
beauty　of　the　dawn。　I　have　once；　since　I　was　a　queen；　seen　the　sun
rise；　and　all　the　world　cried　'Murder；'　and　counted　it　a　crime；　and
all　France　laughed　at　the　epigrams　and　jests　with　which　my　friends
punished　me　for　the　crime　that　the　queen　of　France；　with　her　court；
had　seen　the　sun　rise。　And　now　you　want　to　allow　me　to　see　it　set；
but　I　will　not；　I　will　not　look　at　this　sad　spectacle　of　coming
night。　In　me　it　is　night；　and　I　feel　the　storms　which　are　drawing
nigh。　Go；　Julia；　leave　me　alone；　for　you　can　see　that　there　is
nothing　to　be　done　with　me　to…day。　I　cannot　laugh；　I