marie antoinette and her son-第68部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


come　hither；〃　he　said；　〃to　prevent　a　great　crime；　and　because　I
believe　that　I　am　safest　surrounded　by　the　representatives　of　the
nation。〃

〃Sire；〃　replied　President　Vergniaud；　〃you　can　reckon　upon　the
devotion　of　the　National　Assembly。　It　knows　its　duties；　its　members
have　sworn　to　live　and　to　die　in　defence　of　the　rights　of　the　people
and　of　the　constitutional　authorities。〃

Voices　were　heard　at　this　point　from　all　sides　of　the　hall；
declaring　that　the　constitution　forbids　the　Assembly　holding　its
deliberations　in　the　presence　of　the　king　and　the　queen。

They　then　took　the　royal　family　into　the　little　low　box　scarcely　ten
feet　long；　in　which　the　reporters　of　the　〃Logograph〃　used　to　write
their　accounts　of　the　doings　of　the　Assembly。　Into　this　narrow　space
were　a　king；　a　queen；　with　her　sister　and　her　children；　their
ministers　and　faithful　servants；　crowded；　to　listen　to　the
discussions　concerning　the　deposition　of　the　king。

From　without　there　came　into　the　hall　the　wild　cry　of　the　populace
that　the　Swiss　guards　had　been　killed；　and　shouts　accompanied　the
heads　as　they　were　carried　about　on　the　points　of　pikes。　The　crack
of　muskets　was　heard；　and　the　roar　of　cannon。　The　last　faithful
regiments　were　contending　against　the　army　of　the　revolutionists；
while　within　the　hall　the　election　by　the　French　people　of　a　General
Convention　was　discussed。

This　scene　lasted　the　whole　day；　the　whole　day　the　queen　sat　in　the
glowing　heat；　her　son　asleep　in　her　lap；　motionless；　and　like　a
marble　statue。　She　appeared　to　be　alive　only　when　once　in　a　while　a
sigh　or　a　faint　moan　escaped　her。　A　glass　of　water　mixed　with
currant…juice　was　the　only　nourishment　she　took　through　the　day。

At　about　five　in　the　afternoon；　while　the　Assembly　was　still
deliberating　about　the　disposal　of　the　king；　Louis　turned　composedly
around　to　the　valet　who　was　standing　back　of　him。

〃I　am　hungry；〃　he　said；　〃bring　me　something　to　eat！〃　Hue　hastened　to
bring；　from　a　restaurant　near　by；　a　piece　of　roast　chicken；　some
fruit　and　stewed　plums；　a　small　table　was　procured；　and　carried　into
the　reporters'　box　of　the　〃Logograph。〃

The　countenance　of　the　king　lightened　up　a　little；　as　he　sat　down　at
the　table　and　ate　his　dinner　with　a　good　appetite。　He　did　not　hear
the　suppressed　sobs　that　issued　from　a　dark　corner　of　the　box。　To
this　corner　the　unhappy　woman　had　withdrawn；　who　yesterday　was　Queen
of　France；　and　whose　pale　cheeks　reddened　with　shame　at　this　hour　to
see　the　king　eating　with　his　old　relish！

The　tears　started　afresh　from　her　eyes；　and；　in　order　to　dry　them；
she　asked　for　a　handkerchief；　for　her　own　was　already　wet　with　her
tears；　and　with　the　sweat　which　she　had　wiped　from　the　forehead　of
her　sleeping　boy。　But　no　one　of　her　friends　could　reach　her　a
handkerchief　that　was　not　red　with　the　blood　of　those　who　had　been
wounded　in　the　defence　of　the　queen！

It　was　only　at　two　o'clock　in　the　night　that　the　living　martyrdom　of
this　session　ended；　and　the　royal　family　were　conducted　to　the　cells
of　the　former　Convent　des　Feuillants；　which　was　above　the　rooms　of
the　Assembly；　and　which　had　hastily　been　put　in　readiness　for　the
night　quarters　of　the　royal　family。　Hither　armed　men；　using　their
gun…barrels　as　candlesticks　for　the　tapers　which　they　carried；
marched；　conducting　a　king　and　a　queen　to　their　improvised　sleeping…
rooms。　A　dense　crowd　of　people；　bearing　weapons；　surrounded　them；
and　often　closed　the　way；　so　that　it　needed　the　energetic　command　of
the　officer　in　charge　to　make　a　free　passage　for　them。　The　populace
drew　back；　but　bellowed　and　sang　into　the　ears　of　the　queen　as　she
passed　by：

〃Madame　Veto　avait　promis　D'fegorger　tout　Paris。〃

These　horrible　faces；　these　threatening；　abusive　voices；　frightened
the　dauphin；　who　clung　tremblingly　to　his　mother。　Marie　Antoinette
stooped　down　to　him　and　whispered　a　few　words　in　his　ear。　At　once
the　countenance　of　the　boy　brightened；　and　he　sprang　quickly　and
joyfully　up　the　staircase；　but　at　the　top　he　stood　still；　and　waited
for　his　sister；　who　was　so　heavy　with　sleep　that　she　had　to　be　led
slowly　up。　〃Listen；　Theresa；〃　said　the　prince；　joyously；　〃mamma　has
promised　me　that　I　shall　sleep　in　her　room　with　her；　because　I　was
so　good　before　the　bad　people。　〃　＇Footnote：　Goncourt。〃Histoirede
Marie　Antoinette；〃　p。　234。＇　And　he　jumped　about　delightedly　into　the
rooms　which　had　been　opened；　and　in　which　a　supper　had　been　even
prepared。　But　suddenly；　his　countenance　darkened；　and　his　eyes
wandered　around　with　an　anxious　look。

〃Where　is　Moufflet？〃　he　asked。　〃He　came　with　me；　and　he　was　with　me
when　we　left　the　box。　Moufflet；　Moufflet；　where　are　you；　Moufflet？〃
and　asking　this　question　loudly；　the　dauphin　hurried　through　the
four　rooms　everywhere　seeking　after　the　little　dog；　the　inheritance
from　his　brother；　the　former　Dauphin　of　France。

But　Moufflet　did　not　come；　and　all　search　was　in　vain；　no　Moufflet
was　to　be　found。　He　had　probably　been　lost　in　the　crowd；　or　been
trodden　under　foot。

When　at　last　silence　and　peace　came；　and　the　royal　family　were
resting　on　their　hard　beds；　sighs　and　suppressed　sobs　were　heard
from　where　the　dauphin　lay。　It　was　the　little　fellow　weeping　for　his
lost　dog。　The　heir　of　the　kings　of　France　had　to…day　lost　his　last
possessionhis　little；　faithful　dog。

Marie　Antoinette　stooped　down　and　kissed　his　wet　eyes。

〃Do　not　cry；　my　boy；　Moufflet　will　come　back　again　tomorrow。〃

〃To…morrow！　certainly；　mamma？〃

〃Certainly。〃

The　boy　dried　his　tears；　and　went　to　sleep　with　a　smile　upon　his
lips。

But　Marie　Antoinette　did　not　sleep；　sitting　erect　in　her　bed；　she
listened　to　the　cries　and　fiendish　shoutings　which　came　up　from　the
terrace　of　the　Feuillants；　as　the　people　heaped　their　abuses　upon
her；　and　demanded　her　head。

On　the　next　day　new　sufferings！　The　royal　family　had　to　go　again
into　the　little　box　which　they　had　occupied　the　day　before；　they　had
to　listen　to　the　deliberation　of　the　National　Assembly　about　the
future　residence　of　the　royal　family；　which　had　made　itself　unworthy
to　inhabit　the　Tuileries；　while　even　the　Luxemburg　palace　was　no
suitable　residence　for　Monsieur　and　Madame　Veto。

The　queen　had　in　the　mean　time　regained　her　self…possession　and
calmness；　she　could　even　summon　a　smile　to　her　lips　with　which　to
greet　her　children　and　the　faithful　friends　who　thronged　around　her
in　order　to　be　near　her　in　these　painful　hours。　She　was　pleased　with
the　attentions　of　the　wife　of　the　English　ambassador；　Lady
Sutherland；　who　sent　linen　and　clothes　of　her　own　son　for　the
dauphin。　The　queen　also　received　from　Madame　Tourzel　her　watch　with
many　thanks；　since　she　had　been　robbed　of　her　own　and　her　purse　on
the　way　to　the　Convent　des　Feuillants。

On　receiving　news　of　this　theft；　the　five　gentlemen　present　hastened
to　lay　all　the　gold　and　notes　that　they　carried　about　them　on　the
table　before　they　withdrew。　But　Marie　Antoinette　had　noticed　this。
〃Gentlemen；〃　she　said；　with　thanks　and　deep　feeling；　〃gentlemen；
keep　your　money；　you　will　want　it　more　than　we；　for　you　will；　I
trust；　live　longer。〃　＇Footnote：　The　queen's　own　words。See
〃Beauehesne；〃　vol。　i。；　p。　806。＇

Death　had　no　longer　any　terrors　for　the　queen；　for　she　had　too　often
looked　him　in　the　eye　of　late　to　be　afraid。　She　had　with　joy　often
seen　him　take　away　her　faithful　servants　and　friends。　Death　would
have　been　lighter　to　bear　than　the　railings　and　abuse　which　she　had
to　experience　upon　her　walks　from　the　Logograph's　reporters'　seat　to
the　rooms　in　the　Convent　des　Feuillants。　On　one　of　these　walks　she
saw　in　the　garden　some　respectably　dressed　people　standing　and
looking　without　hurling　insults　at　her。Full　of　gratitude；　the
queen　smiled　and　bowed　to　them。　On　this；　one　of　the　men　shouted：
〃You　needn't　take　the　trouble　to　shake　your　head　so　gracefully；　for
you　won't　have　it　much　longer！〃

〃I　would　the　man　were　right！〃　said　Marie　Antoinette　softly；　going　on
to　the　hall　of　the　Assembly　to　hear　the　representatives　of　the
nation　discuss　the　question　whether　the　Swiss　guards；　who　had
undertaken　to　defend　the　royal　family　with　weapons　in　their　hands；
should　not　be　condemned　to　death　as　traitors　to　the　French　nation。

At　length；　after　five　days　of　continued　sufferings；　the　Assembly
became　weary　of　insulting　and　humiliating　longer　those　who　had　been
robbed　of　their　power　and　dignity；　and　it　was　announced　to　the　royal
family　that　they　would　hereafter　reside　in　the　Temple；　and　be
perpetual　prisoners　of　the　nation。

On　the　morning　of　the　18th　of　August　two　great　carriages；　each　drawn
by　only　two　horses；　stood　in　the　court　des　Feuillants　ready　to　carry
the　royal　family　to　the　Temple。　In　the　first　of　these　sat　the　king；
the　queen；　their　two　children；　Madame　Elizabeth；　Princess　Lamballe；
Madame　Tourzel　and　her　daughter；　and　besides　these；　Potion　the　mayor
of　Paris；　the　attorney…general；　and　a　municipal　officer。　In　the
second　carriage　were　the　servants　of　the　king　and　two　officials。　A
detachment　of　the　National　Guards　escorted　the　carriages；　on　both
sides　of　which　dense　masses　of　men　stood；　incessantly　pouring　out
their　abuse　and　insults。

In　the　Place　Vendome　the　procession　stopped；　and　with　scornful
laughter　they　showed　the　king　the　scattered　fragments；　upon　the
pavements；　of　the　equestrian　statue　of　Louis　XIV。；　which　had　stood
there；　and　which　had　been　thrown　from　its　pedestal　by　the　anger　of
the　people。　〃So　shall　it　be　with　all　tyrants！〃　shouted　and　roared
the　mob；　raising　their　fists　threateningly。

〃How　bad　they　are！〃　said　the　dauphin；　looking　with　widely…opened
eyes　at　the　king；　between　whose　knees　he　was　standing。

〃No；〃　answered　Louis；　gently；　〃they　are　not　bad；　they　are　only
misled。〃

At　seven　in　the　evening　they　reached　the　gloomy　building　which　was
now　to　be　the　home　of　the　King　and　Queen　of　France。　〃Long　live　the
nation！〃　roared　the　mob；　which　filled　the　inner　court　as　Marie
Antoinette　and　her　husband　dismounted　from　the　carriage。　〃Long　live
the　nation！down　with　the　tyrants！〃　The　queen　paid　no　attention　to
the　cries；　she　looked　down　at　her　black　shoe；　which　was　torn；　and
out　of　whose　tip　her　white　silk　stocking　peeped。　〃See；〃　she　said；　to
Princess　Lamballe；　who　was　walking　by