marie antoinette and her son-第29部分

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father　was　not　among　them！　But　we　comforted　ourselves　with　the
thought；　it　was　not　possible　to　receive　answers　so　quickly；　and　on
the　next　day　we　went　to　the　gallery　again；　and　so　on　for　fourteen
successive　days；　but　all　in　vain；　the　name　of　my　father　was　never
called。　Still　we　went　every　day　to　the　gallery　and　took　our　old
place　there；　only　the　countenance　of　my　father　was　daily　growing
paler；　his　step　weaker；　and　his　poor　boy　more　trustless　and　weak。　We
had　no　longer　the　means　of　stilling　our　hunger；　we　had　consumed
every　thing；　and　my　father's　cross　of　St。　Louis　was　our　last
possession。　But　that　we　dared　not　part　with；　for　it　was　our　passport
to　the　palace；　it　opened　to　us　the　doors　of　the　great　gallery；　and
there　was　still　one　last　hope。　'We　go　to…morrow　for　the　last　time；'
said　my　father　to　me　on　the　fifteenth　day。　'If　it　should　be　in　vain
on　the　morrow；　then　I　shall　sell　my　cross；　that　you；　Louis；　may　not
need　to　be　hungry　any　more；　and　then　may　God　have　mercy　upon　us！'　So
we　went　the　next　day　to　the　gallery　again。　My　father　was　to…day
paler　than　before；　but　he　held　his　head　erect；　he　fixed　his　eye；
full　of　an　expression　of　defiance　and　scorn；　upon　the　talkative；
laughing　gentlemen　around　him；　who　strutted　in　their　rich　clothes；
and　overlooked　the　poor　chevalier　who　stood　near　them；　despised　and
alone。　In　my　poor　boy's　heart　there　was　a　fearful　rage　against　these
proud；　supercilious　men；　who　thought　themselves　so　grand　because
they　wore　better　clothes；　and　because　they　had　distinguished
acquaintances　and　relations；　and　yet　were　no　more　than　my　fatherno
more　than　suppliants　and　petitioners；　tears　of　anger　and　of　grief
filled　my　eyes；　and　the　depth　of　our　poverty　exasperated　my　soul
against　the　injustice　of　fate。　All　at　once　the　whispering　and
talking　ceased；the　king　and　the　queen　had　entered　the　gallery。　The
king　advanced　to　the　middle　of　the　hall；　the　grand　almoner　called
the　names；　and　the　favored　ones　approached　the　king；　to　receive　from
him　the　fulfilment　of　their　wishes；　or　at　least　keep　their　hope
alive。　Near　him　stood　the　young　queen；　and　while　she　was　converging
with　some　gentlemen　of　the　court；　her　beautiful　eyes　glanced　over　to
us；　and　lingered　upon　the　noble　but　sad　form　of　my　father。　I　had
noticed　that　on　previous　days；　and　every　time　it　seemed　to　me　as　if
a　ray　from　the　sun　had　warmed　my　poor　trembling　heartas　if　new
blossoms　of　hope　were　putting　forth　in　my　soul。　To…day　this
sensation；　when　the　queen　looked　at　us；　was　more　intense　than
before。　My　father　looked　at　the　king　and　whispered　softly；　'I　see
him　to…day　for　the　last　time！'　But　I　saw　only　the　queen；　and　while　I
pressed　the　cold；　moist　hand　of　my　father　to　my　lips；　I　whispered；
'Courage；　dear　father；　courage！　The　queen　has　seen　us。'　She　stopped
short　in　her　conversation　with　the　gentleman　and　advanced　through
the　hall　with　a　quick；　light　step　directly　to　us；　her　large　gray…
blue　eyes　beamed　with　kindness；　a　heavenly　smile　played　around　her
rosy　lips；　her　cheeks　were　flushed　with　feeling；　she　was　simply
dressed；　and　yet　there　floated　around　her　an　atmosphere　of　grace　and
nobleness。　'My　dear　chevalier；'　said　she；　and　her　voice　rang　like
the　sweetest　music；　'my　dear　chevalier；　have　you　given　a　petition　to
the　king？'　'Yes；　madame；'　answered　my　father　trembling；　'fourteen
days　ago　I　presented　a　petition　to　the　king。'　'And　have　you　received
no　answer　yet？'　she　asked　quickly。　'I　see　you　every　day　here　with
the　lad　there；　and　conclude　you　are　still　hoping　for　an　answer。'　'So
it　is；　madame；'　answered　my　father；　'I　expect　an　answer；　that　is　I
expect　a　decision　involving　my　life　or　death。'　'Poor　man！'　said　the
queen；　with　a　tone　of　deep　sympathy。　'Fourteen　days　of　such　waiting
must　be　dreadful！　I　pity　you　sincerely。　Have　you　no　one　to　present
your　claims？'　'Madame；'　answered　my　father；　'I　have　no　one　else　to
present　my　claims　than　this　empty　sleeve　which　lacks　a　right　armno
other　protection　than　the　justice　of　my　cause。'　'Poor　man！'　sighed
the　queen；　'you　must　know　the　world　very　little　if　you　believe　that
this　is　enough。　But；　if　you　allow　me；　I　will　undertake　your
protection；　and　be　your　intercessor　with　the　king。　Tell　me　your　name
and　address。'　My　father　gave　them；　the　queen　listened　attentively
and　smiled　in　friendly　fashion。　'Be　here　to…morrow　at　this　hourI
myself　will　bring　you　the　king's　answer。'　We　left　the　palace　with
new　courage；　with　new　hope。　We　felt　no　longer　that　we　were　tired　and
hungry；　and　heeded　not　the　complaints　of　our　host；　who　declared　that
he　had　no　more　patience；　and　that　he　would　no　longer　give　us　credit
for　the　miserable　chamber　which　we　had。　His　scolding　and　threatening
troubled　us　that　day　no　more。　We　begged　him　to　have　patience　with　us
till　to…morrow。　We　told　him　our　hopes　for　the　future；　and　we
rejoiced　in　our　own　cheerful　expectations。　At　length　the　next　day
arrived；　the　hour　of　the　audience　came；　and　we　repaired　to　the　great
gallery。　My　heart　beat　so　violently　that　I　could　feel　it　upon　my
lips；　and　my　father's　face　was　lighted　up　with　a　glow　of　hope；　his
eye　had　its　old　fire；　his　whole　being　was　filled　with　new　life；　his
carriage　erect　as　in　our　happy　days。　At　last　the　doors　opened　and
the　royal　couple　entered。　'Pray　for　me；　my　son；'　my　father
whispered'pray　for　me　that　my　hopes　be　not　disappointed；　else　I
shall　fall　dead　to　the　earth。'　But　I　could　not　pray；　I　could　not
think。　I　could　only　gaze　at　the　beautiful　young　queen；　who　seemed　to
my　eyes　as　if　beaming　in　a　golden　cloud　surrounded　by　all　the　stars
of　heaven。　The　eyes　of　the　queen　darted　inquiringly　through　the
hall；　at　last　she　caught　mine　and　smiled。　Oh　that　smile！　it　shot
like　a　ray　of　sunlight　through　my　soul；　it　filled　my　whole　being
with　rapture。　I　sank　upon　my　knee；　folded　my　hands；　and　now　I　could
think；　could　pray：　'A　blessing　upon　the　queen！　she　comes　to　save　my
dear　father's　life；　for　she　frees　us　from　our　sufferings。'　The　queen
approached；　so　beautiful；　so　lovely；　with　such　a　beaming　eye。　She
held　a　sealed　paper　in　her　hand　and　gave　it　to　my　father　with　a
gentle　inclination　of　her　head。　'Here；　sir；'　she　said；　'the　king　is
happy　to　be　able　to　reward；　in　the　name　of　France；　one　of　his　best
officers。　The　king　grants　you　a　yearly　pension　of　three　hundred
louis…d'or；　and　I　wish　for　you　and　your　son　that　you　may　live　yet
many　years　to　enjoy　happiness　and　health。　Go　at　once　with　this　paper
to　the　treasury；　and　you　will　receive　the　first　quarterly　payment。'
Then；　when　she　saw　that　my　father　was　almost　swooning；　she　summoned
with　a　loud　voice　some　gentlemen　of　the　court；　and　commanded　them　to
take　care　of　my　father；　to　take　him　out　into　the　fresh　air；　and　to
arrange　that　he　be　sent　home　in　a　carriage。　Now　all　these　fine
gentlemen　were　busy　in　helping　us。　Every　one　vied　with　the　others　in
being　friendly　to　us；　and　the　poor　neglected　invalid　who　had　been
crowded　to　the　wall；　the　overlooked　officer　Toulan；　was　now　an
object　of　universal　care　and　attention。　We　rode　home　to　our　inn　in　a
royal　carriage；　and　the　host　did　not　grumble　any　longer；　he　was
anxious　to　procure　us　food；　and　very　active　in　caring　for　all　our
needs。　The　queen　had　saved　us　from　misfortune；　the　queen　had　made　us
happy　and　well　to　do。〃

〃A　blessing　upon　the　dear　head　of　our　queen！〃　cried　Margaret；
raising　her　folded　hands　to　heaven。　〃Now　I　shall　doubly　love　her；
for　she　is　the　benefactor　of　him　I　love。　Oh；　why　have　you　waited
until　now　before　telling　me　this　beautiful；　touching　story？　Why　have
I　not　enjoyed　it　before？　But　I　thank　you　from　my　heart　for　the　good
which　it　has　done　me。〃

〃My　dear　one；〃　answered　Toulan；　gravely；　〃there　are　experiences　in
the　human　soul　that　one　may　reveal　only　in　the　most　momentous　epochs
of　lifejust　as　in　the　Jewish　temple　the　Holy　of　Holies　was
revealed　only　on　the　chief　feast…days。　Such　a　time；　my　dear　one；　is
to…day；　and　I　withdraw　all　veils　from　my　heart；　and　let　you　see　and
know　what；　besides　you；　only　God　sees　and　knows。　Since　that　day　when
I　returned　with　my　father　from　the　palace；　and　when　the　queen　had
made　us　happy　againsince　that　day　my　whole　soul　has　belonged　to
the　queen。　I　thanked　her　for　all；　for　the　contentment　of　my　father；
for　every　cheerful　hour　which　we　spent　together；　and　all　the
knowledge　I　have　gained；　all　the　studies　I　have　attempted；　I　owe　to
the　beautiful；　noble　Marie　Antoinette。　We　went　to　our　home；　and　I
entered　the　high…school　in　order　to　fit　myself　to　be　a　merchant；　a
bookseller。　My　father　had　enjoined　upon　me　riot　to　choose　a
soldier's　lot。　The　sad　experience　of　his　invalid　life　hung　over　him
like　a　dark　cloud；　and　he　did　not　wish　that　I　should　ever　enter　into
the　same。　'Be　an　independent；　free　man；'　said　he　to　me。　'Learn　to
depend　on　your　own　strength　and　your　own　will　alone。　Use　the　powers
of　your　mind；　become　a　soldier　of　labor；　and　so　serve　your　country。
I　know；　indeed；　that　if　the　hour　of　danger　ever　comes；　you　will　be　a
true；　bold　soldier　for　your　queen；　and　fight　for　her　till　your　last
breath。'　I　had　to　promise　him　on　his　death…bed　that　I　would　so　do。
Even　then　he　saw　the　dark　and　dangerous　days　approach；　which　have
now　broken　upon　the　realmeven　then　he　heard　the　muttering　of　the
tempest　which　now　so　inevitably　is　approaching；　and　often　when　I
went　home　to　his　silent　chamber　I　found　him　reading；　with　tears　in
his　eyes；　the　pamphlets　and　journals　which　had　come　from　Paris　to　us
at　Rouen；　and　which　seemed　to　us　like　the　storm…birds　announcing　the
tempest。　'The　queen　is　so　good；　so　innocent；'　he　would　sigh；　'and
they　make　her　goodness　a　crime　and　her　innocence　they　make　guilt！
She　is　like　a　lamb；　surrounded　by　tigers；　that　plays　thoughtlessly
with　the　flowers；　and　does　not　know　the　poison　that　lurks　beneath
them。　Swear　to　me；　Louis；　that　you　will　seek；　if　God　gives　you　the
power；　to　free　the　lamb　from　the　bloodthirsty　tigers。　Swear　to　me
that　your　whole　life　shall　be　devoted　to　her　service。'　And　I　did
swear　it；　Margaret；　not　merely　to　my　dear　father；　but　to　myself　as
well。　Every　day　I　have　repeated；　'To　Queen　Marie　Antoinette　belongs
my　life；　for　every　thing　that　makes　life　valuable　I　owe　to　her。'
〃When　my　father　died；　I　left　Rouen　and　removed　to　Paris；　there　to
pursue　my　business　as　a　bookseller。　My　suspicio