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cried the queen； with an angry burst from her very soul。
〃Madame；〃 answered the prince； 〃had that been the case； I should not
have been here alive。 Only over my body will the rabble enter the
palace。〃
〃Ah；〃 muttered Marie Antoinette to herself； 〃there are men in
Versailles yet； there are brave men yet to defend us！〃
〃What news do you bring； captain？〃 asked the king； stepping up。
〃Sire； I am come to receive your commands；〃 answered the prince；
bowing respectfully。 〃This mob of shameless shrews is growing more
maddened； more shameless every moment。 Thousands and thousands of
arms are trying the gates； and guns are fired with steady aim at the
guards。 I beg your majesty to empower me to repel this attack of mad
women！〃
〃What an idea； captain！〃 cried Louis； shrugging his shoulders。
〃Order to attack a company of women！ You are joking； prince！〃
＇Footnote： The king's own words。See Weber； 〃Memoires；〃 vol。 t； p。
433。＇
And the king turned to Count de la Marck； who was entering the room。
〃You come with new news。 What is it； count？〃
〃Sire； the women are most desirous of speaking with your majesty；
and presenting their grievances。〃
〃I will hear them；〃 cried the king； eagerly。 〃Tell the women to
choose six of their number and bring them into my cabinet。 I will go
there myself。〃
〃Sire； you are going to give audience to revolution；〃 cried Marie
Antoinette； seizing the arm of the king； who was on the point of
leaving the room。 〃I conjure you； my husband； do not be overpowered
by your magnanimous heart！ Let not the majesty of the realm be
defiled by the raging hands of these furies！ Remain here。 Oh； sire；
if my prayers； my wishes have any power with you； remain here！ Send
a minister to treat with these women in your name。 But do not
confront their impudence with the dignity of the crown。 Sire； to
give them audience is to give audience to revolution； and from the
hour when it takes place； revolution has gained the victory over the
kingly authority！ Do not go； oh do not go！〃
〃I have given my word；〃 answered Louis； gently。 〃I have sent word to
the women that I would receive them； and they shall not say that the
first time they set foot in the palace of their king； they were
deceived by him。 And see； there comes the count to take me！〃
And the king followed with hasty step Count de la Marck； who just
then appeared at the door。
Six women of wild demeanor； with dusty； dirty clothes； their hair
streaming out from their round white caps； were assembled in the
cabinet of the king； and stared at him with defiant eyes as he
entered。 But his gentle demeanor and pleasant voice appeared to
surprise them； and Louise Chably； the speaker； who had selected the
women； found only timid； modest words； with which to paint to the
king the misfortune； the need； and the pitiable condition of the
people； and with which to entreat his pity and assistance。
〃Ah； my children；〃 answered the king with a sigh； 〃only believe me；
it is not my fault that you are miserable； and I am still more
unhappy than you。 I will give directions to Corbeil and D'Estampes；
the controllers of the grain…stores； to give out all that they can
spare。 If my commands had always been obeyed； it would be better
with us all！ If I could do every thing； could see to it that my
commands were everywhere carried into effect； you would not be
unhappy； and you must confess； at least； that your king loves you as
a father his children； and that nothing lies so closely at his heart
as your welfare。 Go； my children； and tell your friends to prove
worthy of the love of their king； and to return peaceably to Paris。〃
＇Footnote： The king's own words。See。 A。 de Beauchesne； 〃Louis
XVI。。 sa Vie； son Agonie； 〃etc。； vol。 i。； p。 43。＇
〃Long live the king！ Long live our father！〃 cried the touched and
pacified women； as trembling and with tears in their eyes； they left
the royal cabinet； in order to go to the women below； and announce
to them what the king had said。
But the royal words found no response among the excited masses。 〃We
are hungry； we want bread；〃 shouted the women。 〃We are not going to
live on words any more。 The king shall give us bread； and then we
shall see it proved that he loves us like a father； then we will go
back to Paris。 If the baker believes that he can satisfy us with
words and fine speeches； he is mistaken。〃
〃If he has no bread； he shall give us his wife to eat！〃 roared a man
with a pike in his hand and a red cap on his head。 〃The baker's wife
has eaten up all our bread； and it is no more than fair that we
should eat her up now。〃
〃Give us the heart of the queen；〃 was now the cry； 〃give us the
heart of the queen！〃
Marie Antoinette heard the words； but she appeared not to be
alarmed。 With dignity and composure； she cast a look at the
ministers and gentlemen； who； pale and speechless； had gathered
around the royal couple。
〃I know that this crowd has come from Paris to demand my head！ I
learned of my mother not to fear death； and I shall meet it with
courage and steadfastness。〃 ＇Footnote： The words of the queen。See
〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette；〃 p。 194。＇
And firmly and fearlessly Marie Antoinette remained all this
dreadful evening； which was now beginning to overshadow Versailles。
Outside of the palace raged the uproar； revolutionary songs were
sung； veiled forms； the leaders of the revolution； stole around； and
fired the people with new rage against the baker and the baker's
wife。 Torches were lighted to see by； and the blood…red glare shone
into the faces there； and tended to exasperate them still more。 What
dances were executed by the women； with torches in their hands！ and
the men roared in accompaniment； ridiculing the king and threatening
the queen with death。
At times the torches threw their flickering glare into the windows
of the palace； where were the ministers and servants of the king； in
silent horror。 Among all those counsellor of the king； there was at
this time but one Man； Marie Antoinette！ She alone preserved her
steadfastness and discretion； she spoke to every one friendly；
inspiriting words。 She roused up the timid； at times she even
attempted to bring the king to some decisive action； and yet she did
not complain when she found herself unable to do so。
Once her face lighted up in hope and joy。 That was when a company of
deputies； headed by Toulan； entered the hall； to offer their
services to the royal couple； and to ask permission to be allowed to
remain around the king and queen。
But scarcely had this request been granted； when both the
secretaries of the president of the National Assembly entered；
warning the members； in the name of the president； to return at once
to the hall and to take part in the night session which was to be
held。
〃They call our last friends away from us；〃 murmured the queen； 〃for
they want us to be entirely defenceless！〃
All at once the cries on the square below were more violent and
loud； musket…shots were heard； at the intervals between rose the
thousand…voiced clamor； and at one time the thunder of a cannon。
There was a rush of horses； and clash of arms； more musket…shots；
and then the cry of t