marie antoinette and her son-第25部分

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the　high　court　of　Parliament；　forty…nine　in　number；　gathered　at　the
council…room　in　order　to　pronounce　sentence。　At　the　same　early　hour；
an　immense；　closely…thronged　crowd　gathered　in　the　broad　square　in
front　of　the　prison；　and　gazed　in　breathless　expectation　at　the
great　gate　of　the　building；　hoping　every　minute　that　the　judges
would　come　out；　and　that　they　should　learn　the　sentence。

But　the　day　wore　on；　and　still　the　gates　remained　shut；　no　news　came
from　the　council…room　to　enlighten　the　curiosity　of　the　crowd　that
filled　the　square　and　the　adjacent　streets。

Here　and　there　the　people　began　to　complain；　and　loud　voices　were
heard　grumbling　at　the　protracted　delay；　the　long　deliberations　of
the　judges。　Here　and　there　faces　were　seen　full　of　scornful
defiance；　full　of　laughing　malice；　working　their　way　through　the
crowd；　and　now　and　then　dropping　stinging　words；　which　provoked　to
still　greater　impatience。　All　the　orators　of　the　clubs　and　of　the
secret　societies　were　there　among　the　crowd；　all　the　secret　and　open
enemies　of　the　queen　had　sent　their　instruments　thither　to　work　upon
the　people　with　poisonous　words　and　mocking　observations；　and　to
turn　public　opinion　in　advance　against　the　queen；　even　in　case　the
judges　did　not　condemn　her；　that　is；　if　they　did　not　declare　the
cardinal　innocent　of　conspiracy　against　the　sovereign；　and　contempt
of　the　majesty　of　the　queen。

It　was　known　that　in　his　resume；　the　attorney…general　had　alluded　to
the　punishment　of　the　cardinal。　That　was　the　only　news　which　had
worked　its　way　out　of　the　court…room。　Some　favored　journalist；　or
some　friend　of　the　queen；　had　heard　this；　it　spread　like　the　wind
all　over　Paris；　and　in　thousands　upon　thousands　of　copies　the　words
of　the　attorney…general　were　distributed。

His　address　purported　to　run　as　follows：　that　〃Cardinal　de　Rohan　is
indicted　on　the　accusation；　and　must　answer　the　Parliament　and　the
attorney…general　respecting　the　following　charges：　of　audaciously
mixing　himself　up　with　the　affairs　of　the　necklace；　and　still　more
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？〃
ask