marie antoinette and her son-第79部分

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the　sad　and　heart…rending　experiences　which　we　have　endured。　And；
therefore；　for　the　sake　of　this　one　noble　man　let　us　pardon　the　many
from　whom　we　have　received　only　injury；　for　it　says　in　the　Bible
that；　for　the　sake　of　one　righteous　man；　many　sinners　shall　be
forgiven；　and　Toulan　is　a　righteous　man。〃

〃Yes；　he　is　a　righteous　man；　blessings　on　him！〃　whispered　the　queen。
Then　she　took　the　paper　in　her　hand；　and　began　to　read　the　contents
softly；　repeating　every　sentence　to　herself；　and　imprinting　every
one　of　those　hope…bringing　words　upon　her　memory；　and　while　she
read；　her　poor；　crushed　heart　gradually　began　to　beat　with　firmer
confidence；　and　to　embrace　the　possibility　of　realizing　the　plan　of
Toulan　and　finding　freedom　in　flight。

During　this　time　Princess　Elizabeth　had　unwound　the　thread　of　the
ball；　and　brought　to　light　a　little　packet　enveloped　in　paper。

〃Take　it；　my　dear　Antoinette；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　addressed　to　you。〃

Marie　Antoinette　took　it　and　carefully　unfolded　the　paper。　Then　she
uttered　a　low；　carefully…suppressed　cry；　and；　sinking　upon　her
knees；　pressed　it　with　its　contents　to　her　lips。

〃What　is　it；　sister？〃　cried　the　princess；　hurrying　to　her。　〃What
does　Toulan　demand？〃

The　queen　gave　the　paper　to　the　princess。　〃Read；〃　she　said〃read
it；　sister。〃

Elizabeth　read：　〃Your　majesty　wished　to　possess　the　relics　which
King　Louis　left　to　you。　They　consist　of　the　wedding…ring　of　his
majesty；　his　little　seal；　and　the　hair　which　the　king　himself　cut
off。　These　three　things　lay　on　the　chimney…piece　in　the　closed
sitting…room　of　the　king。　The　supervisor　of　the　Temple　took　them
from　Clery's　hand；　to　whom　the　king　gave　them；　and　put　them　under
seal。　I　have　succeeded　in　getting　into　the　sitting…room；　I　have
opened　the　sealed　packet；　taken　out　the　sacred　relics；　put　articles
of　similar　character　in　their　place；　and　sealed　it　up　again。　With
this　letter　are　the　relics　which　belong　to　your　majesty；　and　I　swear
by　all　that　is　sacred　and　dear　to　meI　swear　by　the　head　of　my
queen；　that　they　are　the　true　articles　which　the　blessed　martyr；
King　Louis　XVI。；　conveyed　to　his　wife　in　his　testament。　I　have
stolen　them　for　the　exalted　heir　of　the　crown；　and　I　shall　one　day
glory　in　the　theft　before　the　throne　of　God。〃　＇Footnote：　Goncourt；　〃
Histoire　de　Marie　Antoinette；〃　p。　384。＇

〃See；　Elizabeth；〃　said　the　queen；　unfolding　the　little　things；　each
one　of　which　was　carefully　wrapped　in　paper〃see；　there　is　his
wedding…ring。　There　on　the　inside　are　the　four　letters；　'M。　A。　A。
A。；　19th　April；　1770。'　The　day　of　our　marriage！a　day　of　joy　for
Austria　as　well　as　for　France！　Thenbut　I　will　not　think　of　it。　Let
me　look　further。　Here　is　the　seal！　The　cornelian　engraved　on　two
sides。　Here　on　one　side　the　French　arms；　as　you　turn　the　stone；　the
portrait　of　our　son　the　Dauphin　of　France；　with　his　helmet　on　his
head。　Oh！　my　son；　my　poor　dear　child；　will　your　loved　head　ever　bear
any　other　ornament　than　a　martyr's　crown；　will　God　grant　you　to　wear
the　helmet　of　the　warrior；　and　to　battle　for　your　rights　and　your
throne？　How　pleased　my　husband　was　when　on　his　birthday　I　brought
him　this　seal！　how　tenderly　his　looks　rested　upon　the　portrait　of
his　son；　his　successor！　and　nowoh；　now！　King　Louis　XVI。　cruelly；
shamefully　murdered；　and　he　who　ought　to　be　the　King　of　France；
Louis　XVII。；　is　nothing　but　a　poor；　imprisoned　childa　king　without
a　crown；　without　hope；　without　a　future！〃

〃No；　no；　Antoinette；〃　whispered　Elizabeth；　who　had　kneeled　before
the　queen　and　had　tenderly　put　her　arms　around　her〃　no；
Antoinette；　do　not　say　that　your　son　has　no　hope　and　no　future。
Build　upon　God；　hope　that　the　undertaking　which　we　are　to…morrow　to
execute　will　lead　to　a　fortunate　result；　that　we　shall　flee　from
here；　that　we　shall　be　free；　that　we　shall　be　able　to　reach　England。
Oh；　yes；　let　us　hope　that　Toulan's　fine　and　bold　plan　will　succeed；
and　then　it　may　one　day　be　that　the　son　of　my　dear　brother；　grown　to
be　a　young　man；　may　put　the　helmet　on　his　head；　gird　himself　with
the　sword；　reconquer　the　throne　of　his　fathers；　and　take　possession
of　it　as　King　Louis　XVII。　Therefore　let　us　hope；　sister。〃

〃Yes；　therefore　let　us　hope〃　whispered　the　queen；　drying　her　tears。
〃And　here　at　last；〃　she　continued；　opening　the　remaining　paper；
〃here　is　the　third　relic；　the　hair　of　the　king！　the　only　thing
which　is　left　us　of　the　martyr　king；　the　unfortunate　husband　of　an
unfortunate　wife；　the　pitiable　king　of　a　most　pitiable　people！　Oh；
my　king！　they　have　laid　your　poor　head　that　bore　this　white　hair
they　have　laid　it　upon　the　scaffold；　and　the　axe；　the　dreadful　axe
〃

The　queen　uttered　a　loud　shriek　of　horror；　sprang　up；　and　raised
both　her　hands　in　conjuration　to　Heaven；　while　a　curse　just　trembled
on　her　lips。　But　Princess　Elizabeth　threw　herself　into　her　arms；　and
pressed　on　the　cold；　quivering　lips　of　the　queen　a　long；　fervent
kiss。

〃For　God's　sake；　sister；〃　she　whispered；　〃speak　softly。　If　Tison
heard　your　cry；　we　are　lost。　Hush！　it　seems　to　me　I　hear　steps；　hide
the　things。　Let　us　hurry　into　bed。　Oh；　for　God's　sake；　quick！〃

She　huddled　the　papers　together；　and　put　them　hastily　into　her
bosom；　while　Marie　Antoinette；　gathering　up　the　relics；　dashed　into
her　bed。

〃She　is　coming；〃　whispered　Elizabeth；　as　she　slipped　into　her　bed。
〃We　must　pretend　to　be　asleep。〃

And　in　fact　Princess　Elizabeth　was　right。　The　glass…door；　which　led
from　the　sleeping…room　of　the　children　to　the　little　corridor；　and
from　there　to　the　chamber　of　Mistress　Tison；　was　slowly　and
cautiously　opened；　and　she　came　with　a　lamp　in　her　hand　into　the
children's　room。　She　stood　near　the　door；　listening　and　spying
around。　In　the　beds　of　the　children　she　could　hear　the　long…drawn；
calm　breathing；　which　indicated　peaceful　slumbers；　and　in　the　open；
adjoining　apartment；　in　which　the　two　ladies　slept；　nothing　was
stirring。

〃But　I　did　hear　a　sound　plainly；〃　muttered　Tison。　〃I　was　awaked　by　a
loud　cry；　and　when　I　sat　up　in　bed　I　heard　people　talking。〃

She　stole　to　the　beds　of　the　children；　and　let　the　light　fall　upon
their　faces。　〃They　are　sleeping　soundly　enough；〃　she　muttered；　〃they
have　not　cried　or　spoken；　but　we　will　see　how　it　is　in　the　other
room。〃　Slowly；　with　the　lamp　in　her　hand；　she　crept　into　the
neighboring　apartment。　The　two　ladies　lay　motionless　upon　their
beds；　closing　their　eyes　quickly　when　Mistress　Tison　crossed　the
threshold；　and　praying　to　God　for　courage　and　steadfastness。

Tison　went　first　to　the　bed　of　Princess　Elizabeth　and　let　the　lamp
fall　full　upon　her　face。　The　glare　seemed　to　awaken　her。　〃What　is
it？〃　she　cried；　〃what　has　happened？　sister；　what　has　happened？　where
are　you；　Marie　Antoinette？〃

〃Here；　here　I　am；　Elizabeth；〃　cried　the　queen；　rising　suddenly　up　in
bed；　as　if　awakened。　〃Why　do　you　call　me；　and　who　is　here？〃

〃It　is　I；〃　muttered　Tison；　angrily。　〃That　is　the　way　if　one　has　a
bad　conscience！　One　is　startled　then　with　the　slightest　sound。〃

〃We　have　no　bad　conscience；〃　said　Elizabeth；　gently；　〃but　you　know
that　if　we　are　awakened　from　sleep　we　cry　out　easily；　and　we　might
be　thinking　that　some　one　was　waking　us　to　bring　us　happy　tidings。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　cried　Tison；　with　a　scornful　laugh；　〃Happy　news　for
you！　that　means　unhappy　and　sad　news　for　France　and　for　the　French
people。　No；　thank　God！　I　did　not　waken　you　to　bring　you　any　good
news。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　queen；　gently；　〃tell　us　why　you　have　wakened　us　and
what　you　have　to　communicate　to　us。〃

〃I　have　nothing　at　all　to　communicate　to　you；〃　growled　Tison；　〃and
you　know　best　whether　I　wake　you　or　you　were　already　awake；　talking
and　crying　aloud。　Hist！　it　is　not　at　all　necessary　that　you　answer；
I　know　well　enough　that　you　are　capable　of　lying。　I　tell　you　my　ears
are　open　and　my　eyes　too。　I　let　nothing　escape　me；　you　have　talked
and　you　have　cried　aloud；　and　if　it　occurs　again　I　shall　report　it
to　the　supervisor　and　have　a　watch　put　here　in　the　night　again；　that
the　rest　of　us　may　have　a　little　quiet　in　the　night…time；　and　not
have　to　sleep　like　the　hares；　with　our　eyes　open。〃

〃But；〃　said　the　princess　gently；　〃but　dear　woman〃

〃Hush！〃　interrupted　Tison；　commandingly；　〃I　am　not　your　'dear
woman；'　I　am　the　wife　of　Citizen　Tison；　and　I　want　none　of　your
confidence；　for　confidence　from　such　persons　as　you　are；　might
easily　bring　me　to　the　scaffold。〃

She　now　passed　through　the　whole　room　with　her　slow；　stealthy　tread；
let　the　light　fall　upon　every　article　of　furniture　and　the　floor；
examined　all　the　objects　that　lay　upon　the　table；　and　then；　after
one　last　threatening　look　at　the　beds　of　the　two　ladies；　went　slowly
out。　She　stopped　again　at　the　cribs　of　the　children；　and　looked　at
them　with　a　touch　of　gentleness。　〃How　quietly　they　sleep！〃　the
whispered。　〃They　lie　there　exactly　as　they　lay　before。　One　would
think　they　were　smiling　in　their　sleepI　suppose　they　are　playing
with　angels。　I　should　like　to　know　how　angels　come　into　this　old；
horrid　Temple；　and　what　Simon's　wife　would　say　if　she　knew　they　came
in　here　at　night　without　her　permission。　See；　see；〃　she　continued；
〃the　boy　is　laughing　again；　and　spreading　out　his　hands；　as　if　he
wanted　to　catch　the　angels。　Ah！　I　should　like　to　know　if　my　dear
little　Solange　is　sleeping　as　soundly　as　these　children；　and　whether
she　smiles　in　her　sleep　and　plays　with　angels；　I　should　like　to　know
if　she　dreams　of　her　parents；　my　dear　little　Solange；　and　whether
she　sometimes　sees　her　poor　mother；　who　loves　her　so　and　yearns
toward　her　so　tenderly　that〃　＇Footnote：　This　Mistress　Tison；　the
cruel　keeper　of　the　queen；　soon　after　this　fell　into　lunacy；　owing
both　to　her　longings　after　her　daughter　and　her　compunctions　of
conscience　for　her　treatment　of　the　queen。　The　first　token　of　her
insanity　was　her　falling　upon　her　knees　before　Marie　Antoinette；　and
begging　pardon　for　all　the　pain　she　had　occasioned；　and　amid　floods
of　tears　accusing　herself　as　the　one　who　would　be　answerable　for　the
death　of　the　queen。　She　then　fell　into　such　dreadful　spasms；　that
four　men　were　scarcely　able　to　hold　her。　They　carried　her　into　the
Hotel　Dieu；　where　she　died　after　two　days　of　the　most　dreadful
sufferings　and　bitter　reproaches　of　herself。See　Goncou