marie antoinette and her son-第82部分

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Ionian's　most　trusted　counsellor；　the　abettor　of　his　plans。　Toulan
called　him　with　an　animated　face；　and　in　loud　tones　told　him　that　he
had　been　denounced；　and　therefore　arrested；　and　that　he　was　only
allowed　to　go　to　his　house　to　procure　some　clothing。

〃Come　along；　Ricard；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　going　to　put　my　effects
under　seal；　and　you　have　some　papers　and　books　on　my　writing…table。
Come　along；　and　take　possession　of　your　own　things；　so　that　they　may
not　be　sealed　up　as　mine。〃

Ricard　nodded　assent；　and　a　significant　look　told　Toulan　that　his
friend　understood　him；　and　that　his　meaning　was；　that　Ricard　should
take　possession　of　papers　that　might　bring　Toulan　under　suspicion。
Continuing　their　walk；　they　spoke　of　indifferent　matters；　and　at
last　reached　Toulan's　house。　Marguerite　met　them　with　calm　bearing。
She　knew　that　every　cry；　every　expression　of　anxiety　and　trouble；
would　only　imperil　the　condition　of　her　husband；　and　her　love　gave
her　power　to　master　herself。

〃Ah！　are　you　there；　husband？〃　she　said；　with　a　smile；　how　hard　to
her　no　one　knew。　〃You　are　bringing　a　great　deal　of　company。〃

〃Yes；　Marguerite；〃　said　Toulan；　with　a　smile；　〃and　I　am　going　to
keep　on　with　this　pleasant　company　to　prison。〃

〃Oh！〃　she　cried；　laughing；　〃that　is　a　good　joke！　Toulan；　the　best　of
patriots；　in　prison！　Come；　you　ought　not　to　joke　about　serious
matters。〃

〃It　is　no　joke；〃　said　one　of　the　guards；　solemnly。　〃Citizen　Toulan
is　arrested；　and　is　here　only　to　procure　some　articles　of　clothing；
and　have　his　effects　put　under　seal。〃

〃And　to　give　back　to　his　friend　Ricard　the　books　and　papers　that
belong　to　him；〃　said　Toulan。　〃Come；　let　us　go　into　my　study；
friends。〃

〃There　are　my　books　and　papers；〃　cried　Ricard；　as　they　went　into　the
next　room。　He　sprang　forward　to　the　writing…table；　seized　all　the
papers　lying　upon　it；　and　tried　to　thrust　them　into　his　coat…pocket。
But　the　two　soldiers　checked　him；　and　undertook　to　resist　his
movement。　Ricard　protested；　a　loud　exchange　of　words　took　placein
which　Marguerite　had　her　shareinsisting　that　all　the　papers　on　the
table　belonged　to　Ricard；　and　she　should　like　to　see　the　man　who
could　have　the　impudence　to　prevent　his　taking　them。

Louder　and　louder　grew　the　contention；　and　when　Ricard　was
endeavoring　again　to　put　the　papers　into　his　pocket；　the　two
soldiers　rushed　at　him　to　prevent　it。　Marguerite　tried　to　come　to
his　assistance；　and　in　the　effort；　overthrew　a　little　table　which
stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　on　which　was　a　water…bottle　and
some　glasses。　The　table　came　down；　a　rattle　of　broken　glass
followed；　and　amid　the　noise　and　outcries；　the　controversy　and
violence；　no　one　paid　attention　to　Toulan；　no　one　saw　the　little
secret　door　quietly　open；　and　Toulan　glide　from　view。

The　soldiers　did　not　notice　this　movement；　but　Marguerite　and　Ricard
understood　it　well；　and　went　on　all　the　more　eagerly　with　their
cries　and　contentions；　to　give　Toulan　time　to　escape　by　the　secret
passage。

And　they　were　successful。　When　the　two　guards　had；　after　long
searching；　discovered　the　secret　door　through　which　the　escape　had
been　effected；　and　had　rushed　down　the　hidden　stairway；　not　a　trace
of　him　was　to　be　seen。

Toulan　was　free！　Unhindered；　he　hastened　to　the　little　attic；　which
he　had；　some　time　before；　hired　in　the　house　adjacent　to　the　Temple；
put　on　a　suit　of　clothes　which　he　had　prepared　there；　and　remained
concealed　the　whole　day。

As　Marie　Antoinette　lay　sleepless　upon　her　bed　in　the　night　that
followed　this　vain　attempt　at　flight；　and　was　torturing　herself　with
anxious　doubts　whether　Fidele　had　fallen　a　victim　to　his　devotion；
suddenly　the　tones　of　a　huntsman's　horn　broke　the　silence；　Marie
Antoinette　raised　herself　up　and　listened。　Princess　Elizabeth　had
done　the　same；　and　with　suspended　breath　they　both　listened　to　the
long…drawn　and　plaintive　tones　which　softly　floated　in　to　them　on
the　wings　of　the　night。　A　smile　of　satisfaction　flitted　over　their
pale；　sad　faces；　and　a　deep　sigh　escaped　from　their　heavy　hearts。

〃Thank　God！　he　is　saved；〃　whispered　Marie　Antoinette。

〃Is　not　that　the　melody　that　was　to　tell　us　that　our　friend　is　in
the　neighborhood？〃

〃Yes；　sister；　that　is　the　one！　So　long　as　we　hear　this　signal；　we
shall　know　that　Toulan　is　living　still；　and　that　he　is　near　us。〃

And　in　the　following　weeks　the　prisoners　of　the　Temple　often　had　the
sad　consolation　of　hearing　the　tones　of　Toulan's　horn；　but　he　never
came　to　them　again；　he　never　appeared　in　the　anteroom　to　keep　guard
over　the　imprisoned　queen。　Toulan　did　not　flee！　He　had　the　courage
to　remain　in　Paris；　he　was　constantly　hoping　that　an　occasion　might
arise　to　help　the　queen　escape；　he　was　constantly　putting　himself　in
connection　with　friends　for　this　object；　and　making　plans　for　the
flight　of　the　royal　captives。

But　exactly　what　Toulan　hoped　for　stood　as　a　threatening　phantom
before　the　eyes　of　the　Conventionthe　flight　of　the　prisoners　in
the　Temple。　They　feared　the　queen　even　behind　those　thick　walls；
behind　the　four　iron　doors　that　closed　upon　her　prison！　They　feared
still　more　this　poor　child　of　seven　years；　this　little　king　without
crown　and　without　throne；　the　son　of　him　who　had　been　executed。　The
Committee　of　Safety　knew　that　people　were　talking　about　the　little
king　in　the　Temple；　and　that　touching　anecdotes　about　him　were　in
circulation。　A　bold；　reckless　fellow　had　appeared　who　called　himself
a　prophet；　and　had　loudly　announced　upon　the　streets　and　squares；
that　the　lilies　would　bloom　again；　and　that　the　sons　of　Brutus　would
fall　beneath　the　hand　of　the　little　king　whose　throne　was　in　the
Temple。　They　had；　it　is　true；　arrested　the　prophet　and　dragged　him
to　the　guillotine；　but　his　prophecies　had　found　an　echo　here　and
there；　and　an　interest　in　the　little　prince　had　been　awakened　in　the
people。　The　noble　and　enthusiastic　men　known　as　the　Girondists　were
deeply　solicitous　about　the　young　royal　martyr；　and　the　application
of　this　expression　to　the　little　dauphin；　made　in　the　earnest　and
impassioned　speeches　before　the　Convention；　melted　all　hearers　to
tears　and　called　out　a　deep　sympathy。

The　Convention　saw　the　danger；　and　at　once　resolved　to　be　free　from
it。　On　the　1st　of　July　1793；　that　body　issued　a　decree　with　the
following　purport：　〃The　Committee　of　Public　Safety　ordains　that　the
son　of　Capet　be　separated　from　his　mother；　and　be　delivered　to　an
instructor；　whom　the　general　director　of　the　communes　shall
appoint。〃

The　queen　had　no　suspicion　of　this。　Now　that　Toulan　was　no　longer
there；　no　news　came　to　her　of　what　transpired　beyond　the　prison；　and
Fidele's　horn…signals　were　the　only　sounds　of　the　outer　world　that
reached　her　ear。

The　evening　of　the　3d　of　July　had　come。　The　little　prince　had　gone
to　bed；　and　had　already　sunk　into　a　deep　sleep。　His　bed　had　no
curtains；　but　Marie　Antoinette　had　with　careful　hands　fastened　a
shawl　to　the　wall；　and　spread　it　out　over　the　bed　in　such　a　manner
that　the　glare　of　the　light　did　not　fall　upon　the　closed　eyes　of　the
child　and　disturb　him　in　his　peaceful　slumbers。　It　was　ten　o'clock
in　the　evening；　and　the　ladies　had　that　day　waited　unwontedly　long
before　going　to　bed。　The　queen　and　Princess　Elizabeth　were　busied　in
mending　the　clothing　of　the　family；　and　Princess　Theresa；　sitting
between　the　two；　had　been　reading　to　them　some　chapters　out　of　the
Historical　Dictionary。　At　the　wish　of　the　queen；　she　had　now　taken　a
religious　book；　Passion　Week；　and　was　reading　some　hymns　and　prayers
out　of　it。

Suddenly；　the　quick　steps　of　several　men　were　heard　in　the　corridor。
The　bolts　flew　back；　the　doors　were　opened；　and　six　officials　came
in。

〃We　are　come；〃　cried　one　of　them；　with　a　brutal　voice；　〃to　announce
to　you　the　order　of　the　committee；　that　the　son　of　Capet　be
separated　from　his　mother　and　his　family。〃

At　these　words　the　queen　rose；　pale　with　horror　〃They　are　going　to
take　my　child　from　me！〃　she　cried。　〃No；　no；　that　is　not　possible。
Gentlemen；　the　authorities　cannot　think　of　separating　me　from　my
son。　He　is　still　so　young　and　weak；　he　needs　my　care。〃

〃The　committee　has　come　to　this　determination；〃　answered　the
official；　〃the　Convention　has　confirmed　it；　and　we　shall　carry　it
into　execution　directly。〃

〃I　cannot　allow　it；〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette　in　desperation。　〃In　the
name　of　Heaven；　I　conjure　you　not　to　be　so　cruel！〃

Elizabeth　and　Theresa　mingled　their　tears　with　those　of　the　mother。
All　three　had　placed　themselves　before　the　bed　of　the　dauphin；　they
clung　to　it；　they　folded　their　hands；　they　sobbed；　the　most　touching
cries；　the　most　humble　prayers　trembled　on　their　lips；　but　the
guards　were　not　at　all　moved。

〃What　is　all　this　whining　for？〃　they　said。　〃No　one　is　going　to　kill
your　child；　give　him　to　us　of　your　own　free　will；　or　we　shall　have
to　take　him　by　force。〃

They　strode　up　to　the　bed。　Marie　Antoinette　placed　herself　with
extended　arms　before　it；　and　held　the　curtain　firmly；　it　however
detached　itself　from　the　wall　and　fell　upon　the　face　of　the　dauphin。
He　awoke；　saw　what　was　going　on；　and　threw　himself　with　loud　shrieks
into　the　arms　of　the　queen。　〃Mamma；　dear　Mamma；　do　not　leave　me！〃
She　pressed　him　trembling　to　her　bosom；　quieted　him；　and　defended
him　against　the　cruel　hands　that　were　reached　out　for　him。

In　vain；　all　in　vain！　The　men　of　the　republic　have　no　compassion　on
the　grief　of　a　mother！　〃By　free　will　or　by　force　he　must　go　with
us。〃

〃Then　promise　me　at　least　that　he　shall　remain　in　the　tower　of　the
Temple；　that　I　may　see　him　every　day。〃

〃We　have　nothing　to　promise　you；　we　have　no　account　at　all　to　give
you。　Parbleu；　how　can　you　take　on　and　howl　so；　merely　because　your
child　is　taken　from　you？　Our　children　have　to　do　more　than　that。
They　have　every　day　to　have　their　heads　split　open　with　the　balls　of
the　enemies　that　you　have　set　upon　them。〃

〃My　son　is　still　too　young　to　be　able　to　serve　his　country；〃　said
the　queen；　gently；　〃but　I　hope　that　if　God　permits　it；　he　will　some
day　be　proud　to　devote　his　life　to　Him。〃

Meanwhile　the　two　princesses；　urged　on　by　the　officials；　had　clothed
the　gasping；　sobbing　boy。　The　queen　now　saw　that　no　more　hope
remained。　She　sank　upon　a　chair；　and　sum