the memoirs of marie antoinette-第39章
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m into this little apartment； to which M。 Campan was to conduct him。 When men write of recent times they should be scrupulously exact； and not indulge in exaggerations or inventions。
The Baron de Besenval appears mightily surprised at the Queen's sudden coolness； and refers it to the fickleness of her disposition。 I can explain the reason for the change by repeating what her Majesty said to me at the time； and I will not alter one of her expressions。 Speaking of the strange presumption of men； and the reserve with which women ought always to treat them； the Queen added that age did not deprive them of the hope of pleasing； if they retained any agreeable qualities； that she had treated the Baron de Besenval as a brave Swiss； agreeable； polished； and witty； whose gray hairs had induced her to look upon him as a man whom she might see without harm； but that she had been much deceived。 Her Majesty； after having enjoined me to the strictest secrecy； told me that； finding herself alone with the Baron； he began to address her with so much gallantry that she was thrown into the utmost astonishment； and that he was mad enough to fall upon his knees； and make her a declaration in form。 The Queen added that she said to him： 〃Rise； monsieur； the King shall be ignorant of an offence which would disgrace you for ever；〃 that the Baron grew pale and stammered apologies； that she left her closet without saying another word； and that since that time she hardly ever spoke to him。 〃It is delightful to have friends；〃 said the Queen； 〃but in a situation like mine it is sometimes difficult for the friends of our friends to suit us。〃
In the beginning of the year 1778 Mademoiselle d'Eon obtained permission to return to France； on condition that she should appear there in female dress。 The Comte de Vergennes entreated my father； M。 Genet； chief clerk of Foreign Affairs； who had long known the Chevalier d'Eon； to receive that strange personage at his house； to guide and restrain； if possible； her ardent disposition。 The Queen； on learning her arrival at Versailles； sent a footman to desire my father to bring her into her presence； my father thought it his duty first to inform the Minister of her Majesty's wish。 The Comte de Vergennes expressed himself pleased with my father's prudence； and desired that he would accompany him to the Queen。 The Minister had a few minutes' audience； her Majesty came out of her closet with him； and condescended to express to my father the regret she felt at having troubled him to no purpose； and added； smiling； that a few words from M。 de Vergennes had for ever cured her of her curiosity。 The discovery in London of the true sex of this pretended woman makes it probable that the few words uttered by the Minister contained a solution of the enigma。
The Chevalier d'Eon had been useful in Russia as a spy of Louis XV。 while very young he had found means to introduce himself at the Court of the Empress Elizabeth； and served that sovereign in the capacity of reader。 Resuming afterwards his military dress； he served with honour and was wounded。 Appointed chief secretary of legation； and afterwards minister plenipotentiary at London； he unpardonably insulted Comte de Guerchy； the ambassador。 The official order for the Chevalier's return to France was actually delivered to the King's Council； but Louis XV。 delayed the departure of the courier who was to be its bearer； and sent off another courier privately； who gave the Chevalier d'Eon a letter in his own writing； in which he said； 〃I know that you have served me as effectually in the dress of a woman as in that which you now wear。 Resume it instantly； withdraw into the city； I warn you that the King yesterday signed an order for your return to France； you are not safe in your hotel； and you would here find too powerful enemies。〃 I heard the Chevalier d'Eon repeat the contents of this letter； in which Louis XV。 thus separated himself from the King of France； several times at my father's。 The Chevalier； or rather the Chevalaere d'Eon had preserved all the King's letters。 Messieurs de Maurepas and de Vergennes wished to get them out of his hands； as they were afraid he would print them。 This eccentric being had long solicited permission to return to France； but it was necessary to find a way of sparing the family he had offended the insult they would see in his return； he was therefore made to resume the costume of that sex to which in France everything is pardoned。 The desire to see his native land once more determined him to submit to the condition； but he revenged himself by combining the long train of his gown and the three deep ruffles on his sleeves with the attitude and conversation of a grenadier； which made him very disagreeable company。
＇The account given by Madame Campan of the Chevalier d'Eon is now known to be incorrect in many particulars。 Enough details for most readers will be found in the Duc de Broglie's 〃Secret of the King；〃 vol。 ii。； chaps。 vi。 and g。； and at p。 89； vol。 ii。 of that work； where the Duke refers to the letter of most dubious authenticity spoken of by Madame Campan。 The following details will be sufficient for these memoirs： The Chevalier Charles d'Eon de Beaumont （who was born in 1728） was an ex…captain of dragoons； employed in both the open and secret diplomacy of Louis XV。 When at the embassy in London he quarrelled with the ambassador； his superior； the Comte de Guerchy （Marquis do Nangis）； and used his possession of papers concerning the secret diplomacy to shield himself。 It was when hiding in London； in 1765； on account of this business； that he seems first to have assumed woman's dress； which he retained apparently chiefly from love of notoriety。 In 1775 a formal agreement with the French Court； made by the instrumentality of Beaumarchais； of all people in the world； permitted him to return to France； retaining the dress of a woman。 He went back to France； but again came to England； and died there； at his residence in Millman Street； near the Foundling Hospital； May 22； 1710。 He had been a brave and distinguished officer； but his form and a certain coldness of temperament always remarked in him assisted him in his assumption of another sex。 There appears to be no truth in the story of his proceedings at the Russian Court； and his appearing in female attire was a surprise to those who must have known of any earlier affair of the sort。＇
At last； the event so long desired by the Queen； and by all those who wished her well； took place； her Majesty became enceinte。 The King was in ecstasies。 Never was there a more united or happier couple。 The disposition of Louis XVI。 entirely altered； and became prepossessing and conciliatory； and the Queen was amply compensated for the uneasiness which the King's indifference during the early part of their union had caused her。
The summer of 1778 was extremely hot。 July and August passed； but the air was not cooled by a single storm。 The Queen spent whole days in close rooms； and could not sleep until she had breathed the fresh night air； walking with the Princesses and her brothers upon the terrace under her apartments。 These promenades at first gave rise to no remark； but it occurred to some of the party to enjoy the music of wind instruments during these fine summer nights。 The musicians belonging to the chapel were ordered to perform pieces suited to instruments of that description； upon steps constructed in the middle of the garden。 The Queen； seated on one of the terrace benches； enjoyed the effect of this music； surrounded by all the royal family with the exception of the King； who joined them but； twice； disliking to change his hour of going to bed。
Nothing could be more innocent than these parties； yet Paris； France； nay； all Europe； were soon canvassing them in a manner most disadvantageous to the reputation of Marie Antoinette。 It is true that all the inhabitants of Versailles enjoyed these serenades； and that there was a crowd near the spot from eleven at night until two or three in the morning。 The windows of the ground
