marie antoinette and her son-第11部分

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king　with　simplicity；　and　a　smile　of　pleasure　beautified　his　broad；
good　natured　face。　〃Yes；　Marie；　I　love　you　tenderly；　and　it　gives　me
joy　to　contribute　to　your　happiness。〃

The　queen　gently　laid　her　arm　around　Louis's　neck；　and　let　her　head
fall　upon　his　shoulder。　〃Do　you　still　know；　Louis；〃　asked　she；　〃do
you　still　know　what　you　said　to　me　when　you　gave　Trianon　to　me？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　shaking　his　head　slowly。　〃You　said　to　me；
'You　love　flowers。　I　will　present　to　you　a　whole　bouquet。　I　give　you
Little　Trianon。'　＇Footnote：　The　very　words　of　the　king。See
〃Memoire　de　Marquis　de　Crequy；〃　vol。　iv。＇　My　dear　sire！　you　have
given　me　not　only　a　bouquet　of　flowers；　but　a　bouquet　of　pleasant
hours；　of　happy　years；　for　which　I　thank　you；　and　you　alone。〃

〃And　may　this　bouquet　never　wither；　Marie！〃　said　the　king；　laying
his　hand　as　if　in　blessing　on　the　head　of　his　wife；　and　raising　his
good；　blue　eyes　with　a　pious　and　prayerful　look。　〃But；　my　good
woman；〃　said　he　then；　after　a　little　pause；　〃you　quite　let　me　forget
the　part　I　have　to　play；　and　the　mill　wheel　is　standing　still　again；
since　the　miller　is　not　there。　It　is；　besides；　in　wretched　order；
and　it　is　full　needful　that　I　practise　my　art　of　black　smith　here　a
little；　and　put　better　screws　and　springs　in　the　machine。　But
listen！　what　kind　of　song　is　that　without？〃

〃Those　are　the　peasants　greeting　us　with　their　singing；〃　said　the
queen；　smiling。　〃Come；　Mr。　Miller；　let　us　show　ourselves　to　them。〃

She　drew　the　king　out　upon　the　small　staircase。　Directly　at　the　foot
of　it　stood　the　king's　two　brothers；　the　Counts　de　Provence　and
Artois；　as　chief　official　and　schoolmaster；　and　behind　them　the
duchesses　and　princesses；　dukes　and　counts；　arrayed　as　peasants。　In
united　chorus　they　greeted　the　mistress　and　the　miller：

〃Oil　peut…on　etre　mieux；　Qu'au　seiu　de　sa　famille？〃

The　queen　smiled；　and　yet　tears　glittered　in　her　eyes；　tears　of　joy。

Those　were　happy　hours　which　the　royal　pair　spent　that　day　in
Trianonhours　of　such　bright　sunshine　that　Marie　Antoinette　quite
forgot　the　sad　clouds　of　the　morning；　and　gave　herself　undisturbed
to　the　enjoyment　of　this　simple；　country　life。　They　sat　down　to　a
country　dinnera　slight；　simple　repast；　brought　together　from　the
resources　of　the　hen…coop；　the　mill；　and　the　milk…room。　Then　the
whole　company　went　out　to　lie　down　in　the　luxuriant　grass　which　grew
on　the　border　of　the　little　grove；　and　looked　at　the　cows　grazing
before　them　on　the　meadow；　and　with　stately　dignity　pursuing　the
serious　occupation　of　chewing　the　cud。　But　as　peasants　have
something　else　to　do　than　to　live　and　enjoy；　their　mistress；　Marie
Antoinette；　soon　left　her　resting…place　to　set　her　people　a　good
example　in　working。　The　spinning…wheel　was　brought　and　set　upon　a
low　stool；　Marie　Antoinette　began　to　spin。　How　quickly　the　wheel
began　to　turn；　as　if　it　were　the　wheel　of　fortuneto…day　bringing
joy；　and　to…morrow　calamity！

The　evening　has　not　yet　come；　and　the　wheel　of　fortune　is　yet
turning；　yet　calamity　is　there。

Marie　Antoinette　does　not　yet　know　it；　her　eye　still　beams　with　joy；
a　happy　smile　still　plays　upon　her　rosy　lips。　She　is　sitting　now
with　her　company　by　the　lake；　with　the　hook　in　her　hand；　and　looking
with　laughing　face　and　fixed　attention　at　the　rod；　and　crying　aloud
as　often　as　she　catches　a　fish。　For　these　fishes　are　to　serve　as
supper　for　the　company；　and　the　queen　has　ceremoniously　invited　her
husband　to　an　evening　meal；　which　she　herself　will　serve　and
prepare。　The　queen　smiles　still　and　is　happy；　her　spinning…wheel　is
silent；　but　the　wheel　of　fate　is　moving　still。

The　king　is　no　longer　there。　He　has　withdrawn　into　the　mill　to　rest
himself。

And　yet　there　he　is　not　alone。　Who　ventures　to　disturb　him？　It　must
be　something　very　serious。　For　it　is　well　known　that　the　king　very
seldom　goes　to　Trianon；　and　that　when　he　is　there　he　wishes　to　be
entirely　free　from　business。

And　yet　he　is　disturbed　today；　yet　the　premier；　Baron　de　Breteuil；
is　come　to　seek　the　miller　of　Little　Trianon；　and　to　beseech　him
even　there　to　be　the　king　again。




CHAPTER　IV。

THE　QUEEN'S　NECKLACE。


Directly　after　a　page；　arrayed　in　the　attire　of　a　miller's　boy；　had
announced　the　Baron　de　Breteuil；　the　king　with　drew　into　his　chamber
and　resumed　his　own　proper　clothing。　He　drew　on　the　long；　gray　coat；
the　short　trousers　of　black　velvet；　the　long；　gold　embroidered
waistcoat　of　gray　satin；　and　over　this　the　bright；　thin　ribbon　of
the　Order　of　Louis…the　attire　in　which　the　king　was　accustomed　to
present　himself　on　gala…days。

With　troubled；　disturbed　countenance；　he　then　entered　the　little
apartment　where　his　chief　minister；　the　Baron　de　Breteuil；　was
awaiting　him。

〃Tell　me　quickly；〃　ejaculated　the　king；　〃do　you　bring　bad　news？　Has
any　thing　unexpected　occurred？〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　the　minister；　respectfully；　〃something　unexpected
at　all　events；　but　whether　something　bad　will　be　learned　after
further　investigation。〃

〃Investigation！〃　cried　the　king。　〃Then　do　you　speak　of　a　crime？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　of　a　crime…the　crime　of　a　base　deception；　and；　as　it
seems；　of　a　defalcation　involving　immense　sums　and　objects　of　great
value。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　the　king；　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　〃then　the　trouble　is
only　one　of　money。〃

〃No；　sire；　it　is　one　which　concerns　the　honor　of　the　queen。〃

Louis　arose；　while　a　burning　flush　of　indignation　passed　over　his
face。

〃Will　they　venture　again　to　assail　the　honor　of　the　queen？〃　he
asked。

〃Yes；　sire；〃　answered　Breteuil；　with　his　invincible　calmness〃yes；
sire；　they　will　venture　to　do　so。　And　at　this　time　it　is　so　infernal
and　deeply…laid　a　plan　that　it　will　be　difficult　to　get　at　the
truth。　Will　your　majesty　allow　me　to　unfold　the　details　of　the
matter　somewhat　fully？〃

〃Speak；　baron；　speak；〃　said　the　king；　eagerly；　taking　his　seat　upon
a　wooden　stool；　and　motioning　to　the　minister　to　do　the　same。

〃Sire；〃　answered　the　premier；　with　a　bow；　〃I　will　venture　to　sit；
because　I　am　in　fact　a　little　exhausted　with　my　quick　run　hither。〃

〃And　is　the　matter　so　pressing？〃　muttered　the　king；　drawing　out　his
tobacco…box；　and　in　his　impatience　rolling　it　between　his　fingers。

〃Yes；　very　pressing；〃　answered　Breteuil；　taking　his　seat。　〃Does　your
majesty　remember　the　beautiful　necklace　which　the　court　jeweller；
Bohmer；　some　time　since　had　the　honor　to　offer　to　your　majesty？〃

〃Certainly；　I　remember　it；〃　answered　the　king；　quickly　nodding。　〃The
queen　showed　herself　on　that　occasion　just　as　unselfish　and
magnanimous　as　she　always　is。　It　was　told　me　that　her　majesty　had
very　much　admired　the　necklace　which　Bohmer　had　showed　to　her；　and
yet　had　declined　to　purchase　it；　because　it　seemed　to　her　too　dear。
I　wanted　to　buy　it　and　have　the　pleasure　of　offering　it　to　the
queen；　but　she　decisively　refused　it。〃

〃We　well　remember　the　beautiful　answer　which　her　majesty　gave　to　her
husband；〃　said　Breteuil；　gently　bowing。　〃All　Paris　repeated　with
delight　the　words　which　her　majesty　uttered：　'Sir；　we　have　more
diamonds　than　ships。　Buy　a　ship　with　this　money！'〃　＇Footnote：
〃Correspondence　Secrete　de　la　Cour　de　Louis　XVI。〃＇

〃You　have　a　good　memory；〃　said　the　king；　〃for　it　is　five　years　since
this　happened。　Bohmer　has　twice　made　the　attempt　since　then　to　sell
this　costly　necklace　to　me；　but　I　have　dismissed　him；　and　at　last
forbidden　him　to　allude　to　the　matter　again。〃

〃I　believe　that　he　has；　meanwhile；　ventured　to　trouble　the　queen
several　times　about　the　necklace。　It　appears　that　he　had　almost
persuaded　himself　that　your　majesty　would　purchase　it。　Years　ago　he
caused　stones　to　be　selected　through　all　Europe；　wishing　to　make　a
necklace　of　diamonds　which　should　be　alike　large；　heavy；　and
brilliant。　The　queen　refusing　to　give　him　his　price　of　two　million
francs；　he　offered　it　at　last　for　one　million　eight　hundred
thousand。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　that；〃　said　the　king。　〃Her　majesty　was　at　last
weary　of　the　trouble；　and　gave　command　that　the　court　jeweller；
Bohmer；　should　not　be　admitted。〃

〃Every　time；　therefore；　that　he　came　to　Versailles　he　was　refused
admittance。　He　then　had　recourse　to　writing；　and　two　weeks　ago　her
majesty　received　from　him　a　begging　letter；　in　which　he　said　that　he
should　be　very　happy　if；　through　his　instrumentality；　the　queen
could　possess　the　finest　diamonds　in　Europe；　and　imploring　her
majesty　not　to　forget　her　court　jeweller。　The　queen　read　this
letter；　laughing；　to　her　lady…in…waiting；　Madame　de　Campan；　and　said
it　seemed　as　if　the　necklace　had　deprived　the　good　Bohmer　of　his
reason。　But　not　wishing　to　pay　any　further　attention　to　his　letter
or　to　answer　it；　she　burned　the　paper　in　a　candle　which　was
accidentally　standing　on　her　table。〃

〃Good　Heaven！　How　do　you　know　these　details？〃　asked　the　king；　in
amazement。

〃Sire；　I　have　learned　them　from　Madame　de　Campan　herself；　as　I　was
compelled　to　speak　with　her　about　the　necklace。〃

〃But　what　is　it　about　this　necklace？　What　has　the　queen　to　do　with
that？〃　asked　the　king；　wiping　with　a　lace　handkerchief　the　sweat
which　stood　in　great　drops　upon　his　lofty　forehead。

〃Sire；　the　court　jeweller；　Bohmer；　asserts　that　he　sold　the　necklace
of　brilliants　to　the　queen；　and　now　desires　to　be　paid。〃

〃The　queen　is　right；〃　exclaimed　the　king；　〃the　man　is　out　of　his
head。　If　he　did　sell　the　necklace　to　the　queen；　there　must　have　been
witnesses　present　to　confirm　it；　and　the　keepers　of　her　majesty's
purse　would　certainly　know　about　it。〃

〃Sire；　Bohmer　asserts　that　the　queen　caused　it　to　be　bought　of　him
in　secret；　through　a　third　hand；　and　that　this　confidential
messenger　was　empowered　to　pay　down　thirty　thousand　francs；　and　to
promise　two　hundred　thousand　more。〃

〃What　is　the　name　of　this　confidential　messenger？　What　do　they　call
him？〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　the　Baron　de　Breteuil；　solemnly〃sire；　it　is　the
cardinal　and　grand　almoner　of　your　majesty；　Prince　Louis　de　Rohan。〃

The　king　uttered　a　loud　cry；　and　sprang　quickly　from　his　seat。

〃Rohan？〃　asked　he。　〃And　do　they　dare　to　bring　this　man　whom　the
queen　hates；　whom　she　scorns；　into　relations　with　her？　Ha；　Breteuil！
you　can　go；　the　story　is　too　foolishly　put　together　for　any　one　to
believe　it。〃

〃Your