marie antoinette and her son-第4部分

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hurried　into　the　palace　and　ran　up　the　great　marble　staircase。　The
Duchess　de　Polignac　made　haste　to　follow　her；　while　the　Princess
Therese　and　the　dauphin　were　received　by　their　dames　of　honor　and
led　into　their　respective　apartments。　The　Norman　nurse；　shaking　her
head；　hurried　after　the　queen；　and　the　chamberlains　and　both　the
maids　of　honor；　shaking　their　heads；　too；　followed　her　into　the
great　ante…chamber。　After　riding　out；　the　queen　was　in　the　habit　of
dismissing　them　there；　but　to…day　Marie　Antoinette　had　gone　into　her
own　suite　of　rooms　without　saying　a　word；　and　the　door　was　already
closed。

〃What　shall　we　do　now？〃　asked　both　the　maids　of　honor　of　the
cavaliers；　and　received　only　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders　for　reply。

〃We　shall　have　to　wait；〃　at　last　said　the　Marchioness　de　Mailly。
〃Perhaps　her　majesty　will　have　the　kindness　to　remember　us　and　to
permit　us　to　withdraw。〃

〃And　if　she　should　happen　to　forget　it；〃　answered　the　Princess　de
Chimay；　〃we　shall　have　to　stand　here　the　whole　day；　while　the　queen
in　Trianon　is　amusing　herself　with　the　fantastic　pastoral　plays。〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　there　is　a　country　festival　in　Trianon　to…day；〃
said　the　Prince　de　Castines；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃and　it　might
easily　happen　that　we　should　be　forgotten；　and；　like　the
unforgetable　wife　of　Lot；　have　to　stand　here　playing　the　ridiculous
part　of　pillars　of　salt。〃

〃No；　there　comes　our　deliverance；〃　whispered　the　Marchioness　de
Mailly；　pointing　to　a　carriage　which　just　then　came　rolling　across
the　broad　palace…square。　〃It　was　yesterday　resolved　in　secret
council　at　the　Count　de　Provence's；　that　Madame　Adelaide　should　make
one　more　attempt　to　bring　the　queen　to　reason；　and　make　her
understand　what　is　becoming　and　what　is　unbecoming　to　a　Queen　of
France。　Now　look　you；　in　accordance　with　this　resolve；　Madame
Adelaide　is　coming　to　Versailles　to　pay　a　visit　to　her　distinguished
niece。〃

Just　then　the　carriage　of　the　Princess　Adelaide；　daughter　of　Louis
the　Fifteenth；　and　aunt　of　Louis　the　Sixteenth；　drove　through　the
great　gate　into　the　guarded　vestibule　of　the　palace；　two　outriders
rode　in　advance；　two　lackeys　stood　on　the　stand　behind　the　carriage；
and　upon　the　step　on　each　side；　a　page　in　richly…embroidered
garments。

Before　the　middle　portal；　which　could　only　be　used　by　the　royal
family；　and　which　had　never　been　desecrated　by　the　entrance　of　one
who　was　〃lowly…born；〃　the　carriage　came　to　a　standstill。　The　lackeys
hastened　to　open　the　gate；　and　a　lady；　advanced　in　years；　gross　in
form；　with　an　irritable　face　well　pitted　with　pock…marks；　and
wearing　no　other　expression　than　supercilious　pride　and　a　haughty
indifference；　dismounted　with　some　difficulty；　leaning　upon　the
shoulder　of　her　page；　and　toiled　up　the　steps　which　conducted　to　the
great　vestibule。

The　runner　sprang　before　her　up　the　great　staircase　covered　with　its
carpets；　and　with　his　long　staff　rapped　on　the　door　of　the　first
antechamber　that　led　to　the　apartments　of　the　queen。　〃Madame
Adelaide！〃　shouted　he　with　a　loud　voice；　and　the　lackey　repeated　it
in　the　same　tone；　quickly　opening　the　door　of　the　second
antechamber；　and　the　word　was　taken　up　by　the　chamberlains；　and
repeated　and　carried　along　where　the　queen　was　sitting。

Marie　Antoinette　shrugged　herself　together　a　little　at　this
announcement；　which　interrupted　her　while　engaged　in　charming
unrestrained　conversation　with　the　Duchess　de　Polignac；　and　a　shadow
flitted　across　her　lofty　brow。

With　fiery　quickness　she　flung　her　arms　around　the　neck　of　her
friend；　and　pressed　a　kiss　upon　her　lips。　〃Farewell；　Julia；　Madame
Adelaide　is　coming：　that　is　just　the　same　as　irritation　and
annoyance。　She　may　not　bear　the　least　suspicion　of　this　upon　her
fine　and　dearly…loved　face；　and　just　because　they　are　not　there；　I
must　tell　you；　my　dear　friend；　to　leave　me。　But　hold　yourself　in
readiness；　after　Madame　Annoyance　has　left　me；　to　ride　with　me　to
Trianon。　The　queen　must　remain　here　half　an　hour　still；　but　she　will
be　rewarded　for　it；　for　Marie　Antoinette　will　afterward　go　with　her
Julia　to　Trianon　to　spend　a　half　day　of　pleasure　with　her　husband
and　friends。〃

〃And　to　impart　to　her　friends　an　eternity　of　blissful
recollections；〃　said　the　duchess；　with　a　charming　smile；　pressing
the　hand　of　the　queen　to　her　lips；　and　taking　her　leave　with
inimitable　grace；　in　order　to　pass　out　through　the　little　side…door
which　entered　the　corridor　through　a　porcelain　cabinet；　intending
then　to　visit　the　rooms　of　the　'children　of　France。'

At　the　same　moment　in　which　the　lofty；　dignified　form　of　the　duchess
disappeared　through　the　side…door；　both　wings　of　the　main　entrance
were　flung　open；　and　the　two　maids　of　honor　of　the　queen　advanced　to
the　threshold；　and　made　so　deep　a　reverence　that　their　immense
petticoats　expanded　like　a　kettle。　Then　they　took　a　step　backward；
made　another　reverence　so　profound　that　their　heads；　bearing
coiffures　a　foot　and　a　half　high；　fell　upon　their　breasts。

〃Madame　Adelaide！〃　they　both　ejaculated　as　with　one　voice；　slowly
straightening　themselves　up　and　taking　their　places　at　the　sides　of
the　door。

The　princess　now　appeared　upon　the　threshold；　behind　her；　her　maids
of　honor　and　master　of　ceremonies；　the　grand…chamberlain；　the　pages；
and　both　masters　of　grooms；　standing　in　the　great　antechambers。

At　the　appearance　of　the　maids　of　honor；　Marie　Antoinette　had　taken
her　position　in　the　middle　of　the　chamber；　and　could　not　repress　a
faint　smile；　as　with　erect　head　she　noticed　the　confusion　instant
upon　the　princess's　imposing　entrance。

Madame　Adelaide　advanced　some　steps；　for　the　queen　did　not　change
her　position　nor　hasten　toward　her　as　she　had　perhaps　expected；　her
irritated　look　increased　still　more；　and　she　did　not　take　a　seat。

〃I　come　perhaps　at　an　inconvenient　season　for　your　majesty；〃　said
she；　with　a　tart　smile。　〃The　queen　perhaps　was　just　upon　the　point
of　going　to　Trianon；　whither　as　I　hear；　the　king　has　already
proceeded？〃

〃Has　your　highness　heard　that？〃　asked　the　queen；　smiling。　〃I　wonder
what　sharp　ears　Madame　Adelaide　always　has　to　catch　such　a　trifling
rumor；　while　my　younger　ones　have　never　caught　the　least　hint　of　the
important　approach　of　the　princess；　and　so　I　am　equally　surprised
and　delighted　at　the　unexpected　appearance　of　my　gracious　and　loving
aunt。〃

Every　one　of　these　words；　which　were　spoken　so　cheerily　and　with
such　a　pleasant　smile；　seemed　to　pierce　the　princess　like　the　prick
of　a　needle；　and　caused　her　to　press　her　lips　together　in　just　such
a　way　as　if　she　wanted　to　check　an　outcry　of　pain　or　suppress　some
hidden　rage。　Marie　Antoinette；　while　speaking　of　the　sharp　ears
which　madame　always　had；　had　hinted　at　the　advanced　age　no　less　than
at　the　curiosity　of　the　princess；　and　had　brought　her　young　and
unburdened　ears　into　very　advantageous　contrast　with　them。

〃Would　your　majesty　grant　me　the　favor　of　an　interview？〃　asked
Madame　Adelaide；　who　did　not　possess　the　power　of　entering　on　a
contest　with　her　exalted　niece；　with　sharp　yet　graceful　words。

〃I　am　prepared　with　all　pleasure；〃　answered　the　queen；　cheerfully；
〃and　it　depends　entirely　upon　madame　whether　the　audience　shall　be
private　or　public。〃

〃I　beg　for　a　half　hour　of　entire　privacy；〃　said　Madame　Adelaide；
with　choler。

〃A　private　audience；　ladies！〃　called　the　queen　to　her　maids　of
honor；　as　motioning　with　her　hand　she　dismissed　them。　Then　she
directed　her　great　brilliant　eyes　to　the　door　of　the　antechamber。
〃My　lord　grooms；　in　half　an　hour　I　should　like　to　have　my　carriage
ready　for　Trianon。〃

The　maids　of　honor　withdrew　into　the　great　antechamber；　and　closed
the　doors　behind　them。

The　queen　and　Madame　Adelaide　were　alone。

〃Let　us　sit；　if　it　pleases　you；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　motioning
the　princess　to　an　arm…chair；　while　she　took　her　own　place　upon　a
simple　ottoman。　〃You　have　something　to　say　to　me；　and　I　am　entirely
ready　to　hear　you。〃

〃Would　to　God；　madame；　that　you　would　not　only　hear　my　words；〃　said
Madame　Adelaide；　with　a　sigh；　〃but　that　you　would　take　them　to　heart
as　well！〃

〃If　they　deserve　it；　I　certainly　shall；〃　said　the　queen；　smiling。

〃They　certainly　do　deserve　it；〃　said　the　princess；　〃for　what　I　aim
at　in　my　words　concerns　the　peace；　the　security；　the　honor　of　our
family。　Madame；　allow　me　first　to　disburden　myself　of　something　that
has　been　committed　to　me。　My　noble　and　pious　sister；　Madame　Louise；
has　given　me　this　letter　for　your　majesty；　and　in　her　name　I　ask　our
royal　niece　to　read　the　same　at　once　and　in　my　presence。〃

She　drew　from　the　great　reticule；　which　was　attached　to　her　arm　by
its　silken　cords；　a　sealed　letter；　and　handed　it　to　the　queen。

But　Marie　Antoinette　did　not　raise　her　hand　to　receive　it；　but　shook
her　head　as　if　in　refusal；　and　yet　with　so　eager　a　motion　that　her
elaborate　coiffure　fairly　trembled。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　madame；〃　said　she；　earnestly；　〃but　I　cannot
receive　this　letter　from　the　prioress　of　the　Carmelite　convent　at
St。　Denis；　for　you　well　know　that　when　Madame　Louise　sent　me　some
years　ago；　through　your　highness；　a　letter　which　I　read；　that　I
never　again　will　receive　and　read　letters　from　the　prioress。　Have
the　goodness；　then；　to　take　this　back　to　the　sender。〃

〃You　know；　madame；　that　this　is　an　affront　directed　against　a
princess　of　France！〃　was　the　emphatic　reply。

〃I　know；　madame；　that　that　letter　which　I　then　received　from　Madame
Louise　was　an　affront　directed　by　the　princess　against　the　Queen　of
France；　and　I　shall　protect　the　majesty　of　my　station　from　a　similar
affront。　Unquestionably　this　letter　is　similar　in　tone　to　that　one。
That　one　contained　charges　which　went　so　far　as　to　involve　open
condemnation；　and　contained　proffers　of　counsel　which　meant　little
less　than　calumny。　＇Footnote：　Gondrecourt；　〃Histoire　de　Marie
Antoinette；〃　p。　59。＇　And　what　would　this　be　likely　to　contain
different；　which　your　highness　takes　the　trouble　to　bring　to　me？〃

〃Well；〃　cried　Madame　Adelaide；　angrily；　〃its　purport　may　be　similar
to　that　of　the　former　letter；　for；　unfortunately；　the　causes　are　the
same；　and　we　may　not　wonder　if　the　effects　are　also　the　same。〃

〃Ah！　one　can　easily　see　that　your　highness　knows　the　c