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〃I will do it； uncle；〃 said the marquis； 〃but I do not believe in
any such treachery on the part of the queen or her husband。 They
both know that without Mirabeau they are certainly lost； and that
he； perhaps； is able to save them。 I fear something entirely
different。〃
〃And what do you fear？〃
〃I fear your enemies in the National Assembly；〃 said M。 de Saillant；
and with a pained expression。 〃I fear these enraged republicans； who
have begun to mistrust you since you have begun to speak in favor of
royalty and mon archy； and since you have even ventured to defend
the queen personally against the savage and mean attacks which Marat
hurls against Marie Antoinette in his journal； the Ami du Peuplt。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Mirabeau； with a smile； 〃they have mistrusted me；
these enraged republicans； since then； and they tell me that Petion；
this republican of steel and iron； turned to Danton at the close of
my speech； and said： 'This Mirabeau is dangerous to liberty； for
there is too much of the blood of the count flowing through the
veins of the tribune of the people。 Danton answered him with a
smile： 'In that case we must draw off the count's blood from the
tribune of the people； that he may either be cured of his
reactionary disease or die of it！'〃
〃And when they told Marat； uncle； that you had spoken angrily and
depreciatingly of his attacks upon the queen； he raised his fist
threateningly； and cried： 'Mirabeau is a traitor； who wants to sell
our new； young liberty to the monarchy。 But he will meet the fate of
Judas； who sold the Saviour。 He will one day atone for it with his
head； for if we tap him for his treachery； we shall do for him what
Judas did for himself。 This Mirabeau Judas must take care of
himself。〃
〃And do you suppose that this disputatious little load of a Marat
will hang me？〃 asked Mirabeau； with a scornful smile。
〃I think that you must watch him；〃 answered M。 de Saillant。 〃Last
evening； in the neighborhood of our villa； I met two disguised men；
who； I would swear； were Perion and Marat； and on our way here； as I
looked around； I feel certain that I saw these same disguised
figures following us！〃
〃What if it be？〃 answered Mirabeau； raising himself up； and looking
around him with a proud glance。 〃The lion does not fear the annoying
insect that buzzes about him； he shakes it off with his mane or
destroys it with a single stroke of his paw。 And Mirabeau fears just
as little such insects as Petion and Marat； they would much better
keep out of his way。 I will tread them under foot； that is all！ And
now； farewell； my dear nephew； farewell； and wait for me here！〃
He nodded familiarly to his nephew； passed over the threshold； and
entered the park； from whose entrance the popular indignation had
long since removed the obnoxious words； De par la Reine； the garden
belonging now to the king only because the nation willed it so。
Mirabeau hastened with an anxious mind and a light step along the
walk； and again it seemed to him as if dark spirits were whispering
to him； 〃Turn back； Mirabeau； turn back！ for with every step forward
you are only going deeper into your grave。〃 He stopped； and with his
hand…kerchief wiped away the drops of cold sweat which gathered upon
his forehead。
〃It is folly；〃 he said； 〃perfect folly。 Truly I am as tremulous as a
girl going to her first rendezvous。 Shame on you； Mirabeau； be a
man！〃
He shook his head as if he wanted to dispel these evil forebodings；
and hastened forward to meet Count de la Marck； who appeared at the
bending of the allee。
〃The queen is already here； and is waiting for you； Mirabeau；〃 said
the marquis； with a slight reproach in his voice。
Mirabeau shrugged his shoulders instead of replying； and went on
more rapidly。 There soon opened in front of them a small grass…plat；
surrounded by bushes； and on the bench opposite； the lady in the
white； neat dress； with a straw hat on her arm； her hair veiled with
black lacethat lady was Marie Antoinette。
Mirabeau stopped in his walk； and fixed a long； searching look upon
her。 When he turned again to his friend； his face was pale； and bore
plain traces of emotion。
〃My friend；〃 whispered he to La Marck； 〃I know not why； but I have a
strange feeling！ I have not wept since the day on which my father
drove me with a curse from the house of my ancestors； but； seeing
yonder woman； I could weep； and an unspeakable sympathy fills my
soul。〃
The queen had seen him； too； and had grown pale； and turned
tremblingly to the king； who stood beside her； half concealed by the
foliage。
〃There is the dreadful man！〃 said Marie Antoinette； with a shudder。
〃My God！ a thrill of horror creeps through all my veins； and if I
only look at this monster； I have a feeling as though I should
sicken with loathing！〃 ＇Footnote： The queen's own words。 See 〃Madame
du Campan；〃 vol。 II。＇
〃Courage； my dear Marie； courage；〃 whispered the king。 〃Remember
that the welfare of our future； and of our children； perhaps；
depends upon this interview。 See； he is approaching。 Receive him
kindly； Marie。 I will draw back； for you alone shall have the honor
of this day； and monarchy has in you its fairest representative。〃
〃But remain so near me； sire； that you can hear me if I call for
help；〃 whispered Marie Antoinette。
The king smiled。 〃Fear nothing； Marie；〃 he said；〃 and believe that
the danger for Mirabeau is greater than for you。 The name of
criminal will be fastened not to us； but to Mirabeau； if it shall be
known that he has come to visit us here。 I will withdraw； for there
is Mirabeau。〃
And the king withdrew into the thicket； while Mirabeau stopped near
the queen； and saluted her with a profound bow。
Marie Antoinette rose from her marble seat。 At this moment she was
not the queen giving an audience； but the anxious lady； advancing to
meet danger； and desirous to mitigate it by politeness and smiles。
〃Come nearer； count；〃 said Marie Antoinette； still standing。 But as
he approached； the queen sank slowly upon the seat； and raised her
eyes to Mirabeau； with an almost timid look； who now did not seem to
her a monster； for his mien was disturbed； and his eyes； which had
always been represented as so fearful； had a gentle； respectful
expression。
〃Count；〃 said the queen； and her voice trembled a little 〃count； if
I found myself face to face with an ordinary enemy； a man who was
aiming at the destruction of monarchy； without seeing of what use it
is for the people； I should be taking at this moment a very useless
step。 But when one talks with a Mirabeau； one is beyond the ordinary
conditions of prudence； and hope of his assistance is blended with
wonder at the act。〃 ＇Footnote： The queen's own words。See 〃Marie
Antoinette et sa Famille〃 Par M。 de Lescure； p。 484。＇
〃Madame；〃 cried Mirabeau； deeply moved； 〃I have not come here as
your enemy； but as your devoted servant； who is ready cheerfully to
give his life if he can be of any service to the monarchy。〃
〃You believe； then； that it is a question of life； or； if you
prefer； of death； which stands between the French people and the
monarchy？〃 asked the queen； sadly。
〃Yes； I am convinced of