marie antoinette and her son-第39章

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honor　of　a　man　so　much　talked　of　in　Prance；　and　of　whom　such　strange
things　were　said。　But　at　this　instant　the　king　appeared；　accompanied
by　the　queen；　followed　by　the　princes　and　princesses　of　the　royal
family。

At　the　entrance　of　the　king；　the　whole　assembly　broke　into　a　loud；
enthusiastic　shout　of　applause　and　of　joy。　The　Third　Estate　as　well；
at　a　signal　from　Count　Mirabeau；　had　quickly　risen；　but　continued　to
stand　without　bending　the　knee；　as　had　been；　at　the　last　time　when
all　the　estate　were　assembled；　the　invariable　rule。　Only　one　of　the
representatives　of　the　Third　Estate；　a　young　man　with　energetic；
proud　face；　and　dark；　glowing　eyes；　bent　his　knee　when　he　saw　the
queen　entering　behind　the　king。　But　the　powerful　hand　of　his
neighbor　was　laid　upon　his　shoulder　and　drew　him　quickly　up。

〃Mr。　Deputy；〃　whispered　this　neighbor　to　him；　〃it　becomes　the
representatives　of　the　nation　to　stand　erect　before　the　crown。〃

〃It　is　true；　Count　Mirabeau；〃　answered　Toulan。　〃I　did　not　bend　my
knee　to　the　crown；　but　to　the　queen　as；　a　beautiful　woman。〃

Mirabeau　made　no　reply；　but　turned　his　flaming　eyes　to　the　king。

Louis　XVI。　appeared　that　day　arrayed　in　the　great　royal　ermine；　and
wore　upon　his　head　a　plumed　hat；　whose　band　glistened　with　great
diamonds；　while　the　largest　in　the　royal　possession；　the　so…called
Titt；　formed　the　centre；　and　threw　its　rays　far　and　wide。　The　king
appeared　at　the　outset　to　be　deeply　moved　at　the　reception　which　had
been　given　him。　A　smile；　indicating　that　his　feelings　were　touched；
played　upon　his　face。　But　afterward；　when　all　was　still；　and　the
king　saw　the　grave；　manly；　marked　faces　of　the　commoners　opposite
him；　his　manner　became　confused；　and　for　an　instant　he　seemed　to
tremble。

The　queen；　however；　looked　around　her　with　a　calm　and　self…possessed
survey。　Her　fine　eyes　swept　slowly　and　searchingly　over　the　rows　of
grave　men　who　sat　opposite　the　royal　couple；　and　dwelt　a　moment　on
Toulan；　as　if　she　recalled　in　him　the　young　man　who；　two　years
before；　had　brought　the　message　of　Cardinal　Rohan's　acquittal。　A
painful　smile　shot　for　an　instant　over　her　fine　features。　Yes；　she
had　recognized　him；　the　young　man　who；　at　Madame　de　Campan's　room；
had　sworn　a　vow　of　eternal　fidelity　to　her。　And　now　he　sat　opposite
her；　on　the　benches　of　the　commoners；　among　her　enemies；　who　gazed
at　her　with　angry　looks。　That　was　his　way　of　fulfilling　the　vow
which　he　had　made　of　his　own　free　will！

But　Marie　Antoinette　wondered　at　nothing　now；　she　had　witnessed　the
falling　away　of　so　many　friends；　she　had　been　forsaken　by　so　many
who　were　closely　associated　with　her；　and　who　were　indebted　to　her；
that　it　caused　her　no　surprise　that　the　young　man　who　hardly　knew
her；　who　had　admired　her　in　a　fit　of　youthful　rapture；　had　done　like
all　the　rest　in　joining　the　number　of　her　enemies。

Marie　Antoinette　sadly　let　her　eyes　fall。　She　could　look　at　nothing
more；　she　had　in　this　solemn　moment　received　a　new　wound；　seen　a　new
deserter！

Toulan　read　her　thoughts　in　her　sad　mien；　on　her　throbbing　forehead；
but　his　own　countenance　remained　cheerful　and　bright。

〃She　will　live　to　see　the　day　when　she　will　confess　that　I　am　her
friend；　am　true　to　her；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃And　on　that　day　I
shall　be　repaid　for　the　dagger…thrusts　which　I　have　just　received
from　her　eyes。　Courage；　Toulan；　courage！　Hold　up　your　head　and　be
strong。　The　contest　has　begun；　you　must　fight　it　through　or　die！〃

But　the　queen　did　not　raise　her　head　again。　She　looked　unspeakably
sad　in　her　simple；　unadorned　attirein　her　modest；　gentle　bearing
and　it　was　most　touching　to　see　the　pale；　fair　features　which　sought
in　vain　to　disclose　nothing　of　the　painful　emotions　of　her　soul。

The　king　now　arose　from　his　throne　and　removed　his　plumed　hat。　At
once　Marie　Antoinette　rose　from　her　armchair；　in　order　to　listen
standing　to　the　address　of　the　king。

〃Madame；〃　said　the　king；　bowing　to　her　lightly；　〃madame；　be　seated；
I　beg　of　you。〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　Marie　Antoinette；　calmly；　〃allow　me　to　stand；　for
it　does　not　become　a　subject　to　sit　while　the　king　is　standing。〃

A　murmur　ran　through　the　rows　of　men；　and　loud；　scornful　laughter
from　one　side。　Marie　Antoinette　shrank　back　as　if　an　adder　had
wounded　her；　and　with　a　flash　of　wrath　her　eyes　darted　in　the
direction　whence　the　laugh　had　come。　It　was　from　Philip　d'Orleans。
He　did　not　take　the　trouble　to　smooth　down　his　features；　he　looked
with　searching；　defiant　gaze　over　to　the　queen；　proclaiming　to　her
in　this　glance　that　he　was　her　death…foe；　that　he　was　bent　on
revenge　for　the　scorn　which　she　had　poured　out　on　the　spendthrift…
revenge　for　the　joke　which　she　had　once　made　at　his　expense　before
the　whole　court。　It　was　at　the　time　when　the　Duke　d'Orleans；
spendthrift　and　miser　at　the　same　time；　had　rented　the　lower　rooms
of　his　palace　to　be　used　as　stores。　On　his　next　appearance　at
Versailles；　Marie　Antoinette　said：　〃Since　you　have　become　a
shopkeeper；　we　shall　probably　see　you　at　Versailles　only　on　Sundays
and　holidays；　when　your　stores　are　closed！〃　Philip　d'Orleans　thought
of　this　at　this　moment；　as　he　stared　at　the　queen　with　his　laughing
face；　while　his　looks　were　threatening　vengeance　and　requital。

The　king　now　began　the　speech　with　which　he　proposed　to　open　the
assembly　of　his　estates。　The　queen　listened　with　deep　emotion；　a
feeling　of　unspeakable　sorrow　filled　her　soul；　and　despite　all　her
efforts　her　eyes　filled　with　tears；　which　leisurely　coursed　down　her
cheeks。　When；　at　the　close　of　his　address；　the　king　said　that　he　was
the　truest　and　most　faithful　friend　of　the　people；　and　that　France
had　his　whole　love；　the　queen　looked　up　with　a　gentle；　beseeching
expression；　and　her　eyes　seemed　as　if　they　wanted　to　say　to　the
deputies；　〃I；　too；　am　a　friend　of　the　people！　I；　too；　love　France！〃

The　king　ended　his　address；　it　was　followed　by　a　prolonged　and
lively　clapping　of　hands；　and　sitting　down　upon　the　chair　of　the
throne；　he　covered　his　head　with　the　jewelled　chapeau。

At　the　same　moment　all　the　noblemen　who　were　in　the　hall　put　on
their　own　hats。　At　once　Count　Mirabeau；　the　representative　of　the
Third　Estate；　put　on　his　hat；　other　deputies　followed　his　example；
but　Toulan；　whom　Mirabeau　had　before　hindered　from　kneelingToulan
now　wanted　to　prevent　the　proud　democrats　covering　themselves　in
presence　of　the　queen。

〃Hats　off！〃　he　cried；　with　aloud　voice；　and　here　and　there　in　the
hall　the　same　cry　was　repeated。

But　from　other　sides　there　arose　a　different　cry；　〃Hats　on！　Be
covered！〃

Scarcely　had　the　ear　of　the　king　caught　the　discordant　cry　which
rang　up　and　down　the　hall；　when　he　snatched　his　hat　from　his　head；
and　at　once　the　whole　assembly　followed　his　example。

Toulan　had　gained　his　point；　the　assembly　remained　uncovered　in
presence　of　the　queen。

At　last；　after　four　long；　painful　hours；　the　ceremony　was　ended；　the
queen　followed　the　example　of　the　king；　rising；　greeting　the
deputies　with　a　gentle　inclination　of　her　head；　and　leaving　the　hall
at　the　side　of　the　king。

Some　of　the　deputies　cried；　〃Long　live　the　king！〃　but　their　words
died　away　without　finding　any　echo。　Not　a　single　voice　was　raised　in
honor　of　the　queen！　But　outside；　on　the　square；　there　were　confused
shouts；　the　crowd　of　people　pressed　hard　up　to　the　door；　and　called
for　the　queen。　They　had　seen　the　deputies　as　they　entered　the　hall；
they　had　seen　the　king　as　he　had　attended　divine　service　at　the
church　of　St。　Louis。　Now　the　people　were　curious　to　see　the　queen！

A　joyful　look　passed　over　the　face　of　the　queen　as　she　heard　those
cries。　For　a　long　time　she　had　not　heard　such　acclaims。　Since　the
unfortunate　1786；　since　the　necklace　trial；　they　had　become　more
rare；　at　last；　they　had　ceased　altogether；　and　at　times　the　queen；
when　she　appeared　in　public；　was　hailed　with　loud　hisses　and　angry
murmurs。

〃The　queen！　The　queen！〃　sounded　louder　and　louder　in　the　great
square。　Marie　Antoinette　obeyed　the　cry；　entered　the　great　hall；　had
the　doors　opened　which　led　to　the　balcony；　went　out　and　showed
herself　to　the　people；　and　greeted　them　with　friendly　smiles。

But；　instead　of　the　shouts　of　applause　which　she　had　expected