marie antoinette and her son-第36部分

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evil　forebodings。　She　held　the　dauphin　in　her　arms；　and　led　her
little　daughter。　Her　eyes；　from　which　the　heavy　veils　of　sadness
were　now　withdrawn；　cast　joyful　glances　over　the　immense；　shouting
crowds　of　people　approaching　the　palace；　at　whose　head　she　joyfully
recognized　her　husband；　the　king；　wearing　an　expression　of
cheerfulness　which　for　a　time　she　had　not　seen　on　his　face。

When　the　king　caught　sight　of　his　wife；　he　hastened　to　remove　his
hat　and　salute　her。　But　few　of　the　deputies　followed　the　royal
example；　and　silently；　without　any　salutation；　without　any　cries　of
acclamation；　they　looked　up　at　the　queen。　Marie　Antoinette　turned
pale；　and　stepped　hack　with　her　children　into　the　hall。

〃It　is　all　over；〃　she　said；　with　a　gush　of　tears；　〃it　is　all　over
with　my　hopes。　The　Queen　of　France　is　still　to　be　the　poorest　and
most　unhappy　woman　in　France；　for　she　is　not　loved；　she　is
despised。〃

Two　soft　young　arms　were　laid　around　her　neck；　and　with　a　face　full
of　sorrow；　and　with　tears　in　his　great　blue　eyes；　the　dauphin　looked
up　to　the　disturbed　countenance　of　his　mother。

〃Mamma　queen；〃　he　whispered；　pressing　fondly　up　to　her；　〃mamma
queen；　I　love　you　and　everybody　loves　you；　and　my　dear　brother　in
heaven　prays　for　you。〃

With　a　loud　cry　of　pain；　that　escaped　her　against　her　will；　the
queen　pressed　her　son　to　her　heart　and　covered　his　head　with　her
kisses。

〃Love　me；　my　son；　love　me；〃　she　whispered；　choking；　〃and　may　thy
brother　in　heaven　pray　for　me　that　I　may　soon　be　released　from　the
pains　which　I　suffer！〃

But　as　she　heard　now　the　voice　of　the　king　without；　taking　leave　of
his　retinue　with　friendly　words；　Marie　Antoinette　hastily　dried　her
tears；　and　putting　down　the　dauphin；　whispered　to　him；　〃Do　not　tell
papa　that　I　have　been　crying；〃　and　in　her　wonted　lofty　bearing；　with
a　smile　upon　her　trembling　lips；　she　went　to　meet　her　husband。

As　it　grew　late　and　dark　in　the　evening；　several　baggage…wagons
heavily　laden　and　tightly　closed　moved　noiselessly　and　hastily　from
the　inner　courts　of　the　palace；　and　took　the　direction　toward　the
country。　In　these　carriages　were　the　Count　d'Artois；　the　Duke
d'Angouleme；　and　the　Duke　de　Berry；　the　Prince　de　Conde；　the　Duke　de
Bourbon；　and　the　Duke　d'Enghein；　who　were　leaving　the　kingdom　in
secret　flight。

Louis　XVI。　had　tried　to　quiet　the　anxieties　of　his　brother；　the
Count　d'Artois；　by　advising　him　to　leave　France　for　some　time；　and
to　remain　in　a　foreign　land；　until　the　times　should　be　more　quiet
and　peaceful。　The　other　princes；　although　not　so　sorely　threatened
with　popular　rage　as　the　Count　d'Artois；　whose　head　had　already　been
demanded　at　Paris；　had；　with　the　exception　of　the　king's　other
brother；　been　so　overcome　with　their　anxieties　as　to　resolve　upon
flight。　They　were　followed　on　the　next　day　by　the　new　ministers；　who
now；　yielding　to　the　demands　of　the　National　Assembly；　had　handed　in
their　resignation　to　the　king；　but　did　not　consider　it　safe　to
remain　within　range　of　the　capital。

But　another　offering；　and　one　more　painful　to　the　queen；　had　to　be
made　to　the　hatred　of　the　people　and　the　hostile　demands　of　the
National　Assembly。　Marie　Antoinette　herself　felt　it；　and　had　the
courage　to　express　it。

Her　friends　the　Polignacs　must　be　sent　away。　In　all　the　libellous
pamphlets　which　had　been　directed　against　the　queen；　and　which
Brienne　had　sedulously　given　to　her；　it　was　one　of　the　main　charges
which　had　been　hurled　against　her；　that　the　queen　had　given　to　her
friends　enormous　sums　from　the　state's　treasury；　that　the　Duchess
Julia；　as　governess　of　the　royal　children；　and　her　husband　the　Duke
de　Polignac；　as　director　of　the　royal　mews；　received　a　yearly　salary
of　two　million　francs；　and　that　the　whole　Polignac　family　together
drew　nearly　six　million　francs　yearly　from　the　national　treasury。

Marie　Antoinette　knew　that　the　people　hated　the　Polignacs　on　this
account；　and　she　wanted　at　least　to　put　her　friends　in　a　place　of
safety。

At　the　same　hour　in　which　the　brothers　of　the　king　and　the　princes
of　the　royal　family　left　Versailles；　the　Duke　and　the　Duchess　de
Polignac　were　summoned　to　the　queen；　and　Marie　Antoinette　had　told
them　with　trembling　voice　that　they　too　must　fly；　that　they　must
make　their　escape　that　very　night。　But　the　duchess；　as　well　as　the
duke；　refused　almost　with　indignation　to　comply　with　the　request　of
the　queen。　The　duchess；　who　before　had　been　characterized　by　so　calm
a　manner；　now　showed　for　the　first　time　a　glow　of　affection　for　her
royal　friend；　and　unreckoning　tenderness。　〃Let　us　remain　with　you；
Marie；〃　she　said；　choking；　and　throwing　both　her　arms　around　the
neck　of　the　queen。　〃Do　not　drive　me　from　you。　I　will　not　go；　I　will
share　your　perils　and　will　die　for　you；　if　it　must　be。〃

But　Marie　Antoinette　found　now　in　her　great　love　the　power　to　resist
these　requeststhe　power　to　hold　back　the　tears　which　started　from
her　heart　and　to　withdraw　herself　from　the　arms　of　her　friend。

〃It　must　be；〃　she　said。　〃In　the　name　of　our　friendship　I　conjure
you；　Julia；　take　your　departure　at　once；　for；　if　you　are　not　willing
to；　I　shall　die　with　anxiety　about　you。　There　is　still　time　for　you
and　yours　to　escape　the　rage　of　my　enemies。　They　hate　you　not　for
your　own　sake；　and　how　would　it　be　possible　to　hate　my　Julia？　It　is
for　my　sake；　and　because　they　hate　me；　that　they　persecute　my
dearest　friend。　Go；　Julia；　you　ought　not　to　be　the　victim　of　your
friendship　for　me。〃

〃No；　I　remain；〃　said　the　duchess；　passionately。　〃Nothing　shall
separate　me　from　my　queen。〃

〃Duke；〃　implored　the　queen；　〃speak　the　word；　say　that　it　is
necessary　for　you　to　fly！〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　replied　the　duke；　gravely；　〃I　can　only　repeat　what
Julia　says：　nothing　shall　separate　us　from　our　queen。　If　we　have　in
the　days　of　prosperity　enjoyed　the　favor　of　being　permitted　to　be
near　your　majesty；　we　must　claim　it　as　the　highest　favor　to　be
permitted　to　be　near　you　in　the　days　of　your　misfortune！〃

Just　then　the　door　opened　and　the　king　entered。

〃Sire；〃　said　the　queen；　as　she　advanced　to　meet　him；　〃help　me　to
persuade　these　noble　friends　that　they　ought　to　leave　us！〃

〃The　queen　is　right；〃　said　Louis；　sadly；　〃they　must　go　at　once。　Our
misfortune　compels　us　to　part　with　all　who　love　and　esteem　us。　I
have　just　said　farewell　to　my　brother；　now　I　say　the　same　to　you；　I
command　you　to　go。　Pity　us；　but　do　not　lose　a　minute's　time。　Take
your　children　and　your　servants　with　you。　Reckon　at　all　times　upon
me。　We　shall　meet　again　in　happier　days；　after　our　dangers　are　past；
and　then　you　shall　both　resume　your　old　places。　Farewell！　Once　more
I　command　you　to　go！〃　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。　This　intense
parting　scene　is　strictly　historical；　according　to　the　concurrent
communications　of　Montjoie　in　his　〃Histoire　de　Marie　Antoinette。〃
Campan；　Mem。；　ii。　Weber；　Mem。；　i。＇

And　as　the　king　perceived　that　the　tears　were　starting　into　his
eyes；　and　that　his　voice　was　trembling；　he　silently　bowed　to　his
friends；　and　hastily　withdrew。

〃You　have　heard　what　the　king　commands；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；
eagerly；　〃and　you　will　not　venture　to　disobey　him。　Hear　also　this：　I
too；　the　Queen　of　France；　command　you　to　take　your　departure　this
very　hour。〃

The　duke　bowed　low　before　the　queen；　who　stood　with　pale　cheeks；　but
erect；　and　with　a　noble　air。

〃Your　majesty　has　commanded；　and　it　becomes　us　to　obey。　We　shall
go。〃

The　duchess　sank；　with　a　loud　cry　of　grief；　on　her　knee　before　the
queen；　and　buried　her　face　in　the　royal　robe。

Marie　Antoinette　did　not　disturb　her；　did　not　venture　to　speak　to
her；　for　she　knew　that；　with　the　first　word　which　she　should　utter；
the　pain　of　her　heart　would　find　expression　on　her　lips；　and　she
would　be　composed；　she　would　not　let　her　friend　see　how　severe　the
sacrifice　was　which　her　love　compelled　her　to　make。

〃Let　me　remain　with　you；〃　implored　the　duchess；　〃do　not　drive　me
from　you；　Marie；　my　Marie！〃

The　queen　turned　her　great　eyes　upward；　and　her　looks　were　a　prayer
to　God　to　give　her　power　and　steadfastness。　Twice　then　she　attempted
to　speak；　twice　her　voice　refused　to　perform　its　duty；　and　she
remained　silent；　wrestling　with　her　grief；　and　at　last　overcoming
it。

〃Julia；〃　she　saidand　with　every　word　her　voice　became　firmer　and
stronger〃　Julia；　we　must　part。　I　should　be　doubly　unhappy　to　draw
you　and　yours　into　my　misfortunes；　it　will；　in　all　my　troubles；　be　a
consolation　to　me；　that　I　have　been　able　to　save　you。　I　do　not　say；
as　the　king　did；　that　we　shall　meet　again　in　happier　days；　and　after
our　perils　are　pastfor　I　do　not　believe　in　any　more　happy　dayswe
shall　not　be　able　to　survive　those　perils；　but　shall　perish　in　them。
I　say；　farewell；　to　meet　not　in　this；　but　in　a　better　world！　Not　a
word　more。　I　cannot　bear　it！　Your　queen　commands　you　to　go　at　once！
Farewell！〃

She　extended　her　hand　firmly　to　her；　but　she　could　not　look　at　her
friend；　who　lay　at　her　feet　weeping　and　choking；　she　saluted　the
duke　with　a　mere　wave　of　the　hand；　turned　quickly　away；　and　hastened
into　the　adjoining　room；　and　then　on　till　she　reached　her　own
toilet…room；　where　Madame　de　Campan　was　awaiting　her。

〃Campan；〃　she　cried；　in　tones　of　anguish；　〃Campan；　it　is　done！　I
have　lost　my　friend！　I　shall　never　see　her　again。　Close　the　door；
draw　the　bolt；　that　she　cannot　come　in；　II　shall　die！〃　And　the
queen　uttered　a　loud　cry；　and　sank　in　a　swoon。

At　midnight　two　well…packed　carriages　drove　out　of　the　inner　courts
of　the　palace。　They　were　the　Polignacs；　they　were　leaving　France；　to
take　refuge　in　Switzerland。

In　the　first　carriage　was　the　Duchess　de　Polignac；　with　her　husband
and　her　daughter。　She　held　two　letters　in　her　hand。　Campan　had　given
her　both；　in　the　name　of　the　queen；　as　she　was　stepping　into　the
carriage。

One　was　directed　to　Minister　Necker；　who；　after　his　dismissal；　had
withdrawn　to　Basle。　Since　the　National　Assembly；　the　clubs；　the
whole　population　of　Paris；　desired　Necker's　return；　and　declared　him
to　be　the　only　man　who　could　restore　the　shattered　finances　of　the
country；　the　queen　had　persuaded　her　husband　to　recall　the　minister；
although　an　opponent　of　hers；　and　appoint　him　again　minister　of
finance。　The　letter　of　the　qu