marie antoinette and her son-第67章

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the　bureau　for　the　control　of　the　effects　of　emigres。　Toulan　is；
besides；　a　member　of　the　Convention；　and　it　is　not　his　fault　that；
on　the　day　when　the　decision　was　made　respecting　the　king's　life　or
death；　he　was　not　in　the　Assembly。　He　had　been　compelled　at　that
time　to　make　a　journey　into　the　provinces；　to　attach　the　property　of
an　aristocrat　who　had　emigrated。　Had　Toulan　been　in　Paris；　he　would
naturally　have　given　his　voice　in　favor　of　the　execution　of　the
king。　He　says　this　freely　and　openly　to　every　one；　and　every　one
believes　him；　for　Toulan　is　an　entirely　unsuspected　republican。　He
belongs　to　the　sans…culottes；　and　takes　pride　in　not　being　dressed
better　than　the　meanest　citizen。　He　belongs　to　the　friends　of　Marat；
and　Simon　the　cobbler　is　always　happy　when　Toulan　has　the　watch　in
the　Temple；　for　Toulan　is　such　a　jovial；　merry　fellow；　he　can　make
such　capital　jokes　and　laugh　so　heartily　at　those　of　others。　They
have　such　fine　times　when　Toulan　is　there；　and　the　sport　is　the
greatest　when　his　friend　Lepitre　is　with　him　on　service　in　the
Temple。　Then　the　two　have　the　grandest　sport　of　all；　they　even　have
little　plays；　which　are　so　funny　that　Simon　has　to　laugh　outright；
and　even　the　turnkey　Tison；　and　his　wife；　forget　to　keep　guard；　and
leave　the　glass　door　through　which　they　have　been　watching　the　royal
family；　in　order　to　be　spectators　at　Toulan's　little　farces。

〃These　are　jolly　days　when　you　are　both　in　the　Temple；〃　said　Simon；
〃and　you　cannot　blame　me　if　I　like　to　have　you　here；　and　put　you　on
service　pretty　often。〃

〃Oh；　we　do　not　blame　you　for　that；〃　said　Toulan；　〃on　the　other　hand；
we　particularly　like　being　with　you；　you　are　such　a　splendid
fellow！〃

〃And　then；〃　adds　Lepitre　to　this；　〃it　is　so　pleasant　to　see　the
proud　she…wolf　and　her　young　ones；　and　to　set　them　down　a　little。
These　people；　when　they　were　living　in　the　Tuileries；　have　turned　up
their　noses　at　us　often　enough；　and　acted　as　if　we　were　only　dust
that　they　must　blow　away　from　their　exalted　presence。　It　is　time
that　they　should　feel　a　little　that　they　are　only　dust　for　us　to
blow　away！〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　chimed　in　Toulan；　〃it　is　high　time　that　they　should
feel　it！〃

〃And　you　both　understood　that　matter　capitally；〃　said　Simon；　with　a
laugh；　〃I　always　see　that　it　particularly　provokes　the　queen　to　have
you　on　service；　and　I　like　that；　and　I　am　especially　glad　to　have
you　here。〃

〃I've　thought　out　a　joke　for　to…day；〃　said　Toulan。　〃I　will　teach　the
widow　to　smoke。　You　know；　brother　Simon；　that　she　always　pretends
not　to　be　able　to　bear　the　smell　of　tobacco；　she　shall　learn　to　bear
it。　I　will　hand　her　a　paper　cigarette　to…day；　and　tell　her　that　if
she　does　not　want　us　to　smoke；　she　must　smoke　with　us。〃

〃Splendid　joke！〃　said　Simon；　with　a　loud　laugh。　〃But　there's　one
thing　to　be　thought　of　about　that；〃　said　Lepitre；　reflectively。　〃the
widow　Capet　might　perhaps　promise　to　smoke；　if　we　would　tell　her
that　we　would　never　smoke　afterward。　But　then　we　should　not　keep　our
word；　of　course。〃

〃What！　you　say　we　should　not　keep　our　word！〃　said　Toulan；　in
amazement。　〃We　are　republicans；　more　than　that；　we　are　sans…
culottes！　and　shall　we　not　keep　our　word？　ought　we　not　to　be　better
than　the　cursed　aristocrats；　that　never　kept　their　word　to　the
people？　How　can　you　disgrace　us　and　yourself　so　much？　Ask　our　noble
friend　and　brother　Simon；　whether　he　is　of　the　opinion　that　a　free
man　ought　not　to　keep　his　word；　even　if　he　has　only　given　it　to　a
woman　in　prison。〃

〃I　am　of　that　opinion；〃　said　Simon；　with　dignity。　〃I　swore　to　myself
that　the　king　should　lose　his　head；　and　I　kept　my　word。　I　promised
the　she…wolf　that　she　should　be　hanged；　and　I　hope　to　keep　this
promise　too。　If　I　keep　my　word　to　her　in　what　is　bad；　I　must　do　so
also　in　what　is　good。　If　a　republican　promises　any　thing；　he　must
hold　to　it。〃

〃Right；　Simon；　you　are　a　noble　and　wise　man。　It　remains　fixed；　then；
that　the　queen　shall　smoke；　but　if　we　have　our　joke　out；　we　shall
not　smoke　any　more。〃

〃I　will　put　up　a　placard　on　the　door：　'Smoking　forbidden　in　the
anteroom　of　the　she…wolf。'〃

〃Good；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃that　is　worthy　of　you。〃

〃Let　us　go　up　now；〃　said　Simon；　〃the　two　other　sentries　are　up…
stairs　already；　they　will　wonder　that　you　come　so　late；　but　I　do
like　to　chat　with　you。　Come　on；　let's　go　up。　I'll　stay　there　to　see
the　joke。　But　wait　a　moment；　there　is　something　new。　It　has　been
proposed　that　not　so　many　guards　are　needed　to　watch　the　Capets；　and
that　it　has　the　appearance　as　if　the　government　was　afraid　of　these
howling　women　and　this　little　monkey；　whom　the　crazy　royalists　call
King　Louis　XVII。　It　is　very　likely　that　they　will　reduce　the　guard
to　two。〃

〃Very　good；〃　said　Toulan；　approvingly。〃What's　the　use　of　wearying
out　so　many　other　men　and　condemning　them　to　such　idleness？　We
cannot　be　making　jokes　all　the　time；　and　then　again　it　is　not
pleasant　always　looking　on　these　people's　long　faces。〃

〃So　only　two　guards；〃　said　Lepitre；　〃but　that　seems　to　me　rather　too
few；　for　what　if　the　widow　should　succeed　in　winning　them　over　and
getting　them　to　help　her　escape？〃

〃Impossible！〃　cried　Simon；　〃she'll　never　come　around　me；　and　as　long
as　I　have　my　eyes　open；　she　and　her　brood　will　never　get　away。　No
one　can　come　down　the　staircase　without　my　hearing　and　seeing　it；
for　you　know　my　rooms　are　near　the　stairs；　and　the　door　is　always
open　and　I　am　always　there；　and　then　there　is　the　turnkey　Ricard；
who　watches　the　door　that　leads　to　the　court　like　a　cerberus。　Then
there　are　three　sentries　at　the　doors　leading　from　the　inner　court
to　the　outer　one；　and　the　four　sentries　at　the　doors　leading　from
the　outer　court　to　the　street。　No；　no；　my　friends；　if　the　she…wolf
wants　to　escape　she　must　use　magic；　and　make　wings　grow　on　her
shoulders　and　fly　away。〃

〃That　is　good；　I　like　that；〃　said　Toulan；　springing　up　the
staircase。

〃And　that　settles　my　doubts　too；〃　said　Lepitre。　〃I　should　think　two
official　guards　would　suffice；　for　it　is　plain　that　she　cannot
escape。　Simon　is　on　the　look…out；　and　it　is　plain　that　the　she…wolf
cannot　transform　herself　into　an　eagle。〃

〃Well　said；〃　laughed　Simon；　〃here　we　are　before　the　door；　let's　go
in　and　have　our　fun。〃

He　dashed　the　door　open　noisily；　and　went　into　the　room　with　the　two
men。　Two　officials　were　sitting　in　the　middle　of　the　room　at　the
table；　and　were　actively　engaged　playing　cards。　Through　the　open
door　you　could　look　into　the　sitting…room　of　the　Capet　family。　The
queen　was　sitting　on　the　divan　behind　the　round　table；　clothed　in
her　sad　suit　of　mourning；　with　a　black　cap　upon　her　gray　locks。

She　was　busy　in　dictating　an　exercise　to　the　dauphin　from　a　book
which　she　held　in　her　hand。　The　prince；　also　clad　in　black　and　with
a　broad　crape　about　his　arm；　sat　upon　a　chair　by　her　side。　His　whole
attention　was　directed　to　his　work；　and　he　was　visibly　making　an
effort　to　write　as　well　as　possible；　for　a　glowing　red　suffused　hia
cheeks。

On　the　other　side　of　the　queen　sat　Madame　Elizabeth；　near　her　the
Princess　Maria　Theresa；　both　busy　in　preparing　some　clothing　for　the
queen。

No　one　of　the　group　appeared　to　notice　the　loud　opening　of　the　door；
no　one　observed　the　entering　forms；　or　cast　even　a　momentary　glance
at　them。

But　Toulan　was　not　contented　with　this；　he　demanded　nothing　less
than　that　the　she…wolf　should　look　at　him。　He　hurried　through　the
anteroom　with　a　threatening　tread；　advanced　to　the　door　of　the
sitting…room；　and　stopped　upon　the　threshold；　making　such　a　deep　and
ceremonious　bow；　and　swinging　his　arm　so　comically；　that　Simon　was
compelled　to　laugh　aloud。

〃Madame；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃I　have　the　inexpressible　honor　of　greeting
your　grace。〃

〃He　is　a　brick；　a　perfect　brick；〃　roared　Simon。

Lepitre　had　gone　to　the　window；　and　turned　his　back　upon　the　room；
he　was　perhaps　too　deficient　in　spirit　to　join　in　the　joke。　Nobody
paid　any　attention　to　him；　nobody　saw　him　take　a　little　packet　from
his　coat…pocket；　and　slide　it　slowly　and　carefully　behind　the　wooden
box　that　stood　beneath　the　window。

〃Madame；〃　cried　Toulan；　in　a　still　louder　voice；　〃I　fear　your　grace
has　not　heard　my　salutation。〃

The　queen　slowly　raised　her　eyes；　and　turned　them　to　the　man　who　was
still　standing　upon　the　threshold。　〃I　heard　it；〃　she　said；　coldly；
〃go　on　writing；　my　son。〃　And　she　went　on　in　the　sentence　that　she
had　just　then　begun　to　dictate。

〃I　am　so　happy　at　being　heard　by　Madame　Veto　that　I　shall　have　to
celebrate　it　by　a　little　bonfire！〃said　Toulan；　taking　a　cigar　from
his　breast…pocket。　〃You　see；　my　friends；　that　I　am　a　very　good
courtier；　though　I　have　the　honor　to　be　a　sans…culottes。　In　the
presence　of　handsome　ladies　I　only　smoke　cigars！　Hallo！　bring　me　a
little　fire。〃

One　of　the　officials　silently　passed　him　his　long　pipe。　Toulan
lighted　his　cigar；　placed　himself　at　the　threshold；　and　blew　great
clouds　of　smoke　into　the　chamber。

The　ladies　still　continued　to　sit　quietly　without　paying　any
attention　to　Toulan。　The　queen　dictated；　and　the　dauphin　wrote。　The
queen　only　interrupted　herself　in　this　occupation；　when　she　had　to
cough　and　wipe　her　eyes；　which　the　smoke　filled　with　tears。

Toulan　had　followed　every　one　of　her　movements　with　an　amused　look。
〃Madame　does　not　appear　to　take　any　pleasure　in　my　bonfire！〃　he
said。　〃Will　madame　not　smoke？〃

The　queen　made　no　reply；　but　quietly　went　on　with　her　dictation。

〃Madame；〃　cried　Toulan；　laughing　loudly；　〃I　should　like　to　smoke　a
pipe　of　peace　with　you；　as　our　brown　brethren　in　happy；　free　America
domadame；　I　beg　you　to　do　me　the　honor　to　smoke　a　pipe　of　peace
with　me。〃

A　flash　lightened　in　the　eyes　which　the　queen　now　directed　to
Toulan。　〃You　are　a　shameless　fellow！〃　she　said。

〃Hear　that；〃　said　Simon；　〃that　is　what　I　call　abusing　you。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　it　delights　me；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃for　you　will
confess　that　it　would　be　jolly　if　she　should　smoke　now；　and　I　tell
you；　she　will　smoke。〃

He　advanced　some　paces　into　the　room；　and　made　his　deep　bow　again。

〃He　understands　manners　as　well　as　if　he　had　been　a　rascally
courtier　himself；〃　said　Simon；　laughing。　〃It　is　a　splendid　joke。〃

The　two　princesses　had　arisen　at　the　entrance　of　Toulan；　and　laid
their　sewing…work　aside。　A　ball　of　white　cotton　had　fallen　to　the
ground　from　the　lap　of　one　of　them；　and　rolled　through　the　room
toward　Toulan。

He　picked　it　up；　and　bowed　to　the　princesses。　〃May　I　view　this
little　globe；〃　he　said；　〃as　a　reminder　of　the　favor　of　the　loveliest
ladies　of　France？　Oh；　yes；　I　see　in　your　roguish　smile　that　I　may；
and　I　thank　you；〃　said　Toulan；　pressing　the　round　ball　to　his　lips；
and　then　putting　it　into　his　breast…pocket。

〃He　plays　as　well　as　the　fellows　do　in　the　theatre；〃　said　Simon；
laughing。

〃Go　into　our　sleeping…room；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　turning　to　the
princesses。　〃It　is　enough　for　me　to　have　to　bear　these　indignities
go；　my　son；　accompany　your　aunt。〃

The　dauphin　stood　up；　pressed　a　kiss　upon　the　hand　of　his　mother；
and　followed　the　two　princesses；　who　had　gone　into　the　adjoining
apartment。

〃Dear　aunt；〃　whispered　the　dauphin；　〃is　this　bad　man　the　good　friend
who〃

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