按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sat before the open door of the adjacent room； and looked sternly
and coldly in。 For an instant an expression of anger flitted over
the face of the queen； and her lips quivered as though she wanted to
speak a hasty word。 But she suppressed it； and withdrew behind the
great screen； in order to be disrobed by her two waiting…maids and
be arrayed in her night…dress。
Then she dismissed the maids； and coming out from behind the screen；
she said； loudly enough to be heard by the officer： 〃I am weary； I
will sleep。〃
At once he arose； and turning to the two guards； who stood at the
door of the anteroom； said：
〃The queen is retiring； and the watch in the black corridor can
withdraw。 The National Assembly has given command to lighten the
service of the National Guard； by withdrawing as much of the force
as possible。 As long as the queen is lying in bed； two eyes are
enough to watch her； and they shall watch her well！〃
The soldiers left the anteroom； and the officer returned to the
entrance of the sleeping…room。 He did not； however； sit down in the
easy…chair before the door； but walked directly into the chamber of
the queen。
Marie Antoinette trembled and reached out her hand for the bell
which stood by her on the table。
〃Be still； for God's sake； be still！〃 whispered the officer。 〃Make
no noise； your majesty。 Look at my face。〃 And； kneeling before the
queen； he raised his head and looked at her with an expression
almost of supplication。 〃I am Toulan；〃 he whispered； 〃the faithful
servant of my queen。 Will your majesty have the goodness to recall
me？ Here is a letter from my patroness； Madame de Campan； who speaks
well for me。 Will your majesty read it？〃
The queen ran over the paper quickly and turned with a gentle smile
to the officer； who was still kneeling before her； and who； in all
her humiliation and misfortune； still paid her the homage due to
majesty。
〃Stand up； sir；〃 she said； mildly。 〃The throne lies in dust； and my
crown is so sadly broken； that it is no longer worth the trouble to
kneel before it。〃
〃Madame； I see two crowns upon your noble head；〃 whispered Toulan
〃the crown of the queen； and the crown of misfortune。 To these two
crowns I dedicate my service and my fidelity； and for them I am
prepared to die。 It is true； I can do but little for your majesty；
but that little shall be faithfully done。 Thanks to my bitter hatred
of royalty； and my rampant Jacobinism； I have carried matters so
far； that I have been put upon the list of officers to keep watch；
and； therefore； once every week I shall keep guard before your
majesty's sleeping…room。〃
〃And will you do me the favor to so put your chair that I shall not
see youthat during the night I may not always have the feeling of
being watched？〃 asked the queen； in supplicant tones。
〃No； your majesty；〃 said Toulan； moved。 〃I will remain in my chair；
but your majesty will prefer； perhaps； to turn the night into day；
and remain up； as during my nights you will not be disturbed。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 asked Marie Antoinette； joyfully。
〃I mean； that； as during the day your majesty can never speak with
the king without witnesses； we must call the night to our
assistance； if you wish to speak confidentially to his majesty。 Your
majesty has heard； that during the night the watch is withdrawn from
the corridor； and your majesty is free to leave your room and go to
the chamber of the king。〃
A flash of joy passed over the countenance of the queen。 〃I thank
you； sirI thank you to…day as a wife； perhaps the day may come
when I can thank you as a queen； I accept your magnanimous kindness。
Yes； I will turn the night into day； and； thanks to you； I shall be
able to spend several hours undisturbed with my husband and my
children。 And do you say that you shall be here quite often？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； I shall be here once every week at your
majesty's order。〃
〃Oh！ I have lost the habit of ordering；〃 said Marie Antoinette； with
a pained look。 〃You see that the Queen of France is powerless； but
she is not wholly unfortunate； for she has friends still。 You belong
to these friends； sir； and that we may both retain the memory of
this day； I will always call you my faithful one。〃
No； the queen is not wholly unfortunate； she has friends who are
ready； with her； to suffer； with her； if it must be； to die。 The
Polignacs are gone； but Princess Lamballe； whom the queen had sent
to London； to negotiate with Pitt； has returned； in spite of the
warnings and pleadings of the queen。 Marie Antoinette； when she
learned that the princess was on the point of leaving England； had
written to her： 〃Do not come back at a moment so critical。 You would
have to weep too much for us。 I feel deeply； believe me； how good
you are； and what a true friend you are。 But； with all my love； I
enjoin you not to come here。 Believe me； my tender friendship for
you will cease only with death。〃
The warning of her royal friend had； meanwhile； not restrained
Princess Lamballe from doing what friendship commanded。 She had
returned to France； and Marie Antoinette had； at least； the comfort
of having a tender friend at her side。
No； the queen was not wholly unfortunate。 Besides this friend； she
had her children； tooher sweet； blooming little daughter； and the
dauphin； the pride and joy of her heart。
The dauphin had no suspicion of the woes and misfortunes which were
threatening them。 Like flowers that grow luxuriantly and blossom
upon graves； so grew and blossomed this beautiful boy in the
Tuileries； which was nothing more than the grave of the old kingly
glory。 But the dauphin was like sunshine in this dark； sad palace；
and Marie Antoinette's countenance lightened when her eye fell upon
her son； looking up to her with his tender； beaming face。 From the
fresh； merry smile of her darling； she herself learned to smile
again； and be happy。
Gradually； after the first rage of the people was appeased； the
chains with which she was bound were relaxed。 The royal family was
at least permitted to leave the close； hot rooms； and go down into
the gardens； although still watched and accompanied by the National
Guard。 They were permitted to close the doors of their rooms again；
although armed sentries still stood before them。
There were even some weeks and months in this year 1791； when it
appeared as if the exasperated spirits would be pacified； and the
throne be reestablished with a portion of its old dignity。 The king
had； in a certain manner； received forgiveness from the National
Assembly； while accepting the constitution and swearingas indeed
he could but swear； all power having been taken from him； and he
being a mere lay…figurethat would control all his actions； and
govern according to the expressed will of the National Assembly。
But the king； in order to make peace with his people； had even made
this sacrifice； and accepted the constitution。 The people seemed
grateful to him for this； and appeared to be willing to return to
more friendly relations。 The queen was no longer insulted with
contemptuous cries when she appeared in the garden of the Tuileries；
or in the Bois de Boulogne； and it ev