marie antoinette and her son-第74部分

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anteroom　of　the　she…wolf。'〃

〃Good；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃that　is　worthy　of　you。〃

〃Let　us　go　up　now；〃　said　Simon；　〃the　two　other　sentries　are　up…
stairs　already；　they　will　wonder　that　you　come　so　late；　but　I　do
like　to　chat　with　you。　Come　on；　let's　go　up。　I'll　stay　there　to　see
the　joke。　But　wait　a　moment；　there　is　something　new。　It　has　been
proposed　that　not　so　many　guards　are　needed　to　watch　the　Capets；　and
that　it　has　the　appearance　as　if　the　government　was　afraid　of　these
howling　women　and　this　little　monkey；　whom　the　crazy　royalists　call
King　Louis　XVII。　It　is　very　likely　that　they　will　reduce　the　guard
to　two。〃

〃Very　good；〃　said　Toulan；　approvingly。〃What's　the　use　of　wearying
out　so　many　other　men　and　condemning　them　to　such　idleness？　We
cannot　be　making　jokes　all　the　time；　and　then　again　it　is　not
pleasant　always　looking　on　these　people's　long　faces。〃

〃So　only　two　guards；〃　said　Lepitre；　〃but　that　seems　to　me　rather　too
few；　for　what　if　the　widow　should　succeed　in　winning　them　over　and
getting　them　to　help　her　escape？〃

〃Impossible！〃　cried　Simon；　〃she'll　never　come　around　me；　and　as　long
as　I　have　my　eyes　open；　she　and　her　brood　will　never　get　away。　No
one　can　come　down　the　staircase　without　my　hearing　and　seeing　it；
for　you　know　my　rooms　are　near　the　stairs；　and　the　door　is　always
open　and　I　am　always　there；　and　then　there　is　the　turnkey　Ricard；
who　watches　the　door　that　leads　to　the　court　like　a　cerberus。　Then
there　are　three　sentries　at　the　doors　leading　from　the　inner　court
to　the　outer　one；　and　the　four　sentries　at　the　doors　leading　from
the　outer　court　to　the　street。　No；　no；　my　friends；　if　the　she…wolf
wants　to　escape　she　must　use　magic；　and　make　wings　grow　on　her
shoulders　and　fly　away。〃

〃That　is　good；　I　like　that；〃　said　Toulan；　springing　up　the
staircase。

〃And　that　settles　my　doubts　too；〃　said　Lepitre。　〃I　should　think　two
official　guards　would　suffice；　for　it　is　plain　that　she　cannot
escape。　Simon　is　on　the　look…out；　and　it　is　plain　that　the　she…wolf
cannot　transform　herself　into　an　eagle。〃

〃Well　said；〃　laughed　Simon；　〃here　we　are　before　the　door；　let's　go
in　and　have　our　fun。〃

He　dashed　the　door　open　noisily；　and　went　into　the　room　with　the　two
men。　Two　officials　were　sitting　in　the　middle　of　the　room　at　the
table；　and　were　actively　engaged　playing　cards。　Through　the　open
door　you　could　look　into　the　sitting…room　of　the　Capet　family。　The
queen　was　sitting　on　the　divan　behind　the　round　table；　clothed　in
her　sad　suit　of　mourning；　with　a　black　cap　upon　her　gray　locks。

She　was　busy　in　dictating　an　exercise　to　the　dauphin　from　a　book
which　she　held　in　her　hand。　The　prince；　also　clad　in　black　and　with
a　broad　crape　about　his　arm；　sat　upon　a　chair　by　her　side。　His　whole
attention　was　directed　to　his　work；　and　he　was　visibly　making　an
effort　to　write　as　well　as　possible；　for　a　glowing　red　suffused　hia
cheeks。

On　the　other　side　of　the　queen　sat　Madame　Elizabeth；　near　her　the
Princess　Maria　Theresa；　both　busy　in　preparing　some　clothing　for　the
queen。

No　one　of　the　group　appeared　to　notice　the　loud　opening　of　the　door；
no　one　observed　the　entering　forms；　or　cast　even　a　momentary　glance
at　them。

But　Toulan　was　not　contented　with　this；　he　demanded　nothing　less
than　that　the　she…wolf　should　look　at　him。　He　hurried　through　the
anteroom　with　a　threatening　tread；　advanced　to　the　door　of　the
sitting…room；　and　stopped　upon　the　threshold；　making　such　a　deep　and
ceremonious　bow；　and　swinging　his　arm　so　comically；　that　Simon　was
compelled　to　laugh　aloud。

〃Madame；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃I　have　the　inexpressible　honor　of　greeting
your　grace。〃

〃He　is　a　brick；　a　perfect　brick；〃　roared　Simon。

Lepitre　had　gone　to　the　window；　and　turned　his　back　upon　the　room；
he　was　perhaps　too　deficient　in　spirit　to　join　in　the　joke。　Nobody
paid　any　attention　to　him；　nobody　saw　him　take　a　little　packet　from
his　coat…pocket；　and　slide　it　slowly　and　carefully　behind　the　wooden
box　that　stood　beneath　the　window。

〃Madame；〃　cried　Toulan；　in　a　still　louder　voice；　〃I　fear　your　grace
has　not　heard　my　salutation。〃

The　queen　slowly　raised　her　eyes；　and　turned　them　to　the　man　who　was
still　standing　upon　the　threshold。　〃I　heard　it；〃　she　said；　coldly；
〃go　on　writing；　my　son。〃　And　she　went　on　in　the　sentence　that　she
had　just　then　begun　to　dictate。

〃I　am　so　happy　at　being　heard　by　Madame　Veto　that　I　shall　have　to
celebrate　it　by　a　little　bonfire！〃said　Toulan；　taking　a　cigar　from
his　breast…pocket。　〃You　see；　my　friends；　that　I　am　a　very　good
courtier；　though　I　have　the　honor　to　be　a　sans…culottes。　In　the
presence　of　handsome　ladies　I　only　smoke　cigars！　Hallo！　bring　me　a
little　fire。〃

One　of　the　officials　silently　passed　him　his　long　pipe。　Toulan
lighted　his　cigar；　placed　himself　at　the　threshold；　and　blew　great
clouds　of　smoke　into　the　chamber。

The　ladies　still　continued　to　sit　quietly　without　paying　any
attention　to　Toulan。　The　queen　dictated；　and　the　dauphin　wrote。　The
queen　only　interrupted　herself　in　this　occupation；　when　she　had　to
cough　and　wipe　her　eyes；　which　the　smoke　filled　with　tears。

Toulan　had　followed　every　one　of　her　movements　with　an　amused　look。
〃Madame　does　not　appear　to　take　any　pleasure　in　my　bonfire！〃　he
said。　〃Will　madame　not　smoke？〃

The　queen　made　no　reply；　but　quietly　went　on　with　her　dictation。

〃Madame；〃　cried　Toulan；　laughing　loudly；　〃I　should　like　to　smoke　a
pipe　of　peace　with　you；　as　our　brown　brethren　in　happy；　free　America
domadame；　I　beg　you　to　do　me　the　honor　to　smoke　a　pipe　of　peace
with　me。〃

A　flash　lightened　in　the　eyes　which　the　queen　now　directed　to
Toulan。　〃You　are　a　shameless　fellow！〃　she　said。

〃Hear　that；〃　said　Simon；　〃that　is　what　I　call　abusing　you。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　it　delights　me；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃for　you　will
confess　that　it　would　be　jolly　if　she　should　smoke　now；　and　I　tell
you；　she　will　smoke。〃

He　advanced　some　paces　into　the　room；　and　made　his　deep　bow　again。

〃He　understands　manners　as　well　as　if　he　had　been　a　rascally
courtier　himself；〃　said　Simon；　laughing。　〃It　is　a　splendid　joke。〃

The　two　princesses　had　arisen　at　the　entrance　of　Toulan；　and　laid
their　sewing…work　aside。　A　ball　of　white　cotton　had　fallen　to　the
ground　from　the　lap　of　one　of　them；　and　rolled　through　the　room
toward　Toulan。

He　picked　it　up；　and　bowed　to　the　princesses。　〃May　I　view　this
little　globe；〃　he　said；　〃as　a　reminder　of　the　favor　of　the　loveliest
ladies　of　France？　Oh；　yes；　I　see　in　your　roguish　smile　that　I　may；
and　I　thank　you；〃　said　Toulan；　pressing　the　round　ball　to　his　lips；
and　then　putting　it　into　his　breast…pocket。

〃He　plays　as　well　as　the　fellows　do　in　the　theatre；〃　said　Simon；
laughing。

〃Go　into　our　sleeping…room；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　turning　to　the
princesses。　〃It　is　enough　for　me　to　have　to　bear　these　indignities
go；　my　son；　accompany　your　aunt。〃

The　dauphin　stood　up；　pressed　a　kiss　upon　the　hand　of　his　mother；
and　followed　the　two　princesses；　who　had　gone　into　the　adjoining
apartment。

〃Dear　aunt；〃　whispered　the　dauphin；　〃is　this　bad　man　the　good　friend
who〃

〃Hush！〃　whispered　Madame　Elizabeth；　〃hush！　Madame　Tison　is
listening。〃

And；　in　fact；　at　the　glass…door；　which　led　from　the　sleeping…room　to
the　little　corridor；　stood　Madame　Tison；　looking　with　sharp；
searching　glances　into　the　chamber。

After　the　princesses　had　left　the　room；　Toulan　approached　still
closer　to　the　queen；　and　taking　a　cigar　from　his　breast…pocket；　he
handed　it　to　the　queen。　〃Take　it；　madame；〃　he　said；　〃and　do　me　the
honor　of　smoking　a　duet　with　me！〃

〃I　do　not　smoke；　sir；〃　replied　the　queen；　coolly　and　calmly。　〃I　beg
you　to　go　into　the　anteroom。　The　Convention　has　not；　so　far　as　I
understand；　ordered　the　officers　of　the　guard　to　tarry　in　my
sitting…room。〃

〃The　Convention　has　not　ordered　it；　nor　has　it　forbidden　it。　So　I
remain！〃

He　took　a　chair；　seated　himself　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and
rolled　out　great　clouds　of　smoke；　which　filled　Simon　with
unspeakable　delight　when　they　compelled　Marie　Antoinette　to　cough
violently。

〃Madame　Capet；　you　would　not　be　so　sensitive　to　smoke　if　you　would
only　join　me。　I　beg　you；　therefore；　to　take　this　cigar。〃

The　queen　repeated　calmly；　〃I　do　not　smoke。〃

〃You　mistake；　madame；　you　do　smoke。〃

〃See　the　jolly　fellow；〃　exclaimed　Simon；　〃that　is　splendid。〃

〃I　will　show　you　at　once　that　you　do　smoke；〃　continued　Toulan。
〃Madame；　if　you　will　do　me　the　honor　to　join　me　in　smoking　a　cigar；
I　will　give　you　my　word　as　a　republican　and　a　sans…culottes；　that
neither　I　nor　my　brothers　will　ever　smoke　here　again。〃

〃I　do　not　believe　you；〃　said　the　queen；　shaking　her　head。

〃Not　believe　me？　Would　you　believe　it　if　the　citizen　Simon　were　to
repeat　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　queen；　fixing　her　great；　sad　eyes　upon　Simon；　〃if
the　citizen　Simon　should　confirm　it；　I　would　believe　it；　for　he　is　a
trustworthy　man；　who　I　believe；　never　breaks　his　word。〃

〃Oh！　only　see　how　well　the　Austrian　understands　our　noble　brother
Simon；〃　cried　Lepitre。

〃Yes；　truly；　it　seems　so；〃　said　Simon；　who　had　been　flattered　by
this　praise　to　consent　to　what　he　had　no　inclination　for。　〃Well；　I
give　my　word　to　Widow　Capet；　as　a　republican　and　a　sans…culottes；
that　there　shall　be　no　smoking　in　the　anteroom　after　this　time；　if
she　will　do　my　friend　Toulan　the　favor　of　smoking　a　pipe　of　peace
with　him。〃

〃I　believe　your　word；〃　said　the　queen；　with　a　gentle　inclination　of
her　head；　and　then　turning　to　Toulan；　she　continued；　〃sir〃

〃There　are　no　'sirs'　here；　only　'citizens；'〃　interrupted　the
cobbler。

〃Citizen　Toulan；〃　said　the　queen；　changing　her　expression；　〃give　me
the　cigar；　I　see　that　I　was　wrong；　I　do　smoke！〃

Simon　cried　aloud　with　laughter　and　delight；　and　could　scarcely
control　himself；　when；　kneeling　before　the　queen；　as　the　players　do
in　the　grand　plays　at　the　theatre；　he　handed　her　a　cigar。

But　he　did　not　see　the　supplicatory　look　which　Toulan　fixed　upon　the
queen；　he　did　not　see　the　tears　which　started　into　his　eyes；　nor
hear　her　say；　during　his　inordinate　peals　of　laughter；　〃I　thank　you；
my　faithful　one！〃

〃Is　it　enough　if　I　take　the　cigar　in　my　mouth；　or　must　I　burn　it？〃
asked　the　queen。

〃Certainly；　she　must　burn　it；〃　cried　Si