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！
cap on your son。〃
The queen motioned to Madame Tourzel； who put the red cap on the
dauphin； and decked his neck and arms with the ribbons。 The child
did not understand whether it was a joke or a way of insulting him；
and looked on with a smile of astonishment。
Santerre leaned over the table and looked complacently at the
singular group。 The proud and yet gentle face of the queen was so
near him； that when he saw the sweat…drops rolling down from beneath
the woollen cap over the dauphin's forehead； even he felt a touch of
pity； and； straightening himself up； perhaps to escape the eye of
the queen； he called out； roughly： 〃Take that cap off from that
child； don't you see how he sweats？〃
The queen thanked him with a mute glance； and took the cap herself
from the head of the poor child。
At this point a horde of howling women pressed up to the table； and
threatened the queen with their fists； and hurled wild curses at
her。
〃Only see how proudly and scornfully this Austrian looks at us！〃
cried a young woman； who stood in the front rank。〃 She would like to
blast us with her eyes； for she hates us。〃
Marie Antoinette turned kindly to them： 〃Why should I hate you？〃 she
asked； in gentle tones。 〃It is you that hate meyou。 Have I ever
done you any harm？〃
〃Not to me；〃 answered the young woman； 〃not to me； but to the
nation。〃
〃Poor child！〃 answered the queen； gently； 〃they have told you so；
and you have believed it。 What advantage would it bring to me to
harm the nation？ You call me the Austrian； but I am the wife of the
King of France； the mother of the dauphin。 I am French with all my
feelings of wife and mother。 I shall never see again the land in
which I was born； and only in France can I be happy or unhappy。 And
when you loved me； I was happy there。〃 ＇Footnote： The queen's own
words。See Beauchesne； vol。 i。； p。 106。＇
She said this with quivering voice and moving tones； the tears
filling her eyes； and while she was speaking the noise was hushed；
and even these savage creatures were transformed into gentle；
sympathetic women。
Tears came to the eyes of the young woman who before had spoken so
savagely to the queen。 〃Forgive me；〃 she said； weeping； 〃I did not
know you； now I see that you are not bad。〃
〃No； she is not bad；〃 cried Santerre； striking with both fists upon
the table； 〃but bad people have misled her；〃 and a second time he
struck the table with his resounding blows。 Marie Antoinette
trembled a little； and hastily lifting the dauphin from the table；
she put him by her side。
〃Ah！ madame；〃 cried Santerre； smiling； 〃don't be afraid； they will
do you no harm； but just think how you have been misled； and how
dangerous it is to deceive the people。 I tell you that in the name
of the people。 For the rest； you needn't fear。〃
〃I am not afraid；〃 said Marie Antoinette； calmly； 〃no one need ever
be afraid who is among brave people；〃 and with a graceful gesture
she extended her hands to the National Guards who stood by the
table。
A general shout of applause followed the words of the queen； the
National Guards covered her hands with kisses； and even the women
were touched。
〃How courageous the Austrian is！〃 cried one。 〃How handsome the
prince is！〃 cried another； and all pressed up to get a nearer view
of the dauphin； and a smile or a look from him。
The great eyes of Santerre remained fixed upon the queen； and
resting both arms upon the table he leaned over to her until his
mouth was close by her ear。
〃Madame；〃 he whispered； 〃you have very unskilful friends； I know
people who would serve you better； who〃
But as if ashamed of this touch of sympathy； he stopped； sprang back
from the table； and with a thundering voice； commanded all present
to march out and leave the palace。
They obeyed his command； filed out in military order past the table；
behind which stood the queen with her children and her faithful
friends。
A rare procession； a rare army； consisting of men armed with pikes；
hatchets； and spades； of women brandishing knives and scissors in
their hands； and all directing their countenances； before hyena…like
and scornful； but now subdued and sympathetic； to the queen； who
with calm eye and gentle look responded to the salutations of the
retreating crowd with a friendly nod。
In the mean while the long…delayed help had reached the king： the
National Guards had overcome the raging multitude； and gained
possession of the great reception…room where Louis was。 The mayor of
Paris； Petion； had come at last； and； hailed loudly by the crowd
which occupied the whole space in the rear of the National Guards；
he approached the king。
〃Sire；〃 said he； 〃I have just learned what is going on here。〃
〃I am surprised at that；〃 answered the king； with a reproachful
look； 〃the mayor of Paris ought to have learned before this about
this tumult； which has now been lasting three hours。〃
〃But is now at an end； sire； since I have come；〃 cried Petion；
proudly。 〃You have now nothing more to fear； sire。〃
〃To fear？〃 replied Louis with a proud shrug。 〃A man who has a good
conscience does not fear。 Feel；〃 he said； taking the hand of the
grenadier who stood at his side； 〃lay your hand upon my heart； and
tell this man whether it beats faster。〃 ＇Footnote： The king's words。
The grenadier's name whose hand the king took； was Lalanne。 Later；
in the second year of 〃the one and indivisible republic；〃 he was
condemned to die by the guillotine； because； as stated in the
sentence； he showed himself on the 30th of June； 1798； as a common
servant of tyranny； and boasted to other citizens that Capet took
his hand； laid it upon his heart； and said： 〃Feel； my friend；
whether it beats quicker。〃See Hue； 〃Dernieres Annees de Louis
Seize；〃 p。 180。＇
Petion now turned to the people and commanded them to withdraw。
〃Fellow…citizens；〃 said he； 〃you began this day wisely and worthily；
you have proved that you are free。 End the day as you began it。
Separate peaceably； do as I do； return to your houses； and go to
bed！〃 The multitude； flattered by Petion's praises； began to
withdraw； and the National Guards escorted the king into the great
council…chamber； where a deputation of the National Assembly had met
to pay their respects to the king。
〃Where is the queen； where are the children？〃 cried the king； as；
exhausted； he sank into a chair。
His gentlemen hastened out to bring them； and soon the queen and the
children came in。 With extended arms Marie Antoinette hastened to
her husband； and they remained a long time locked in their embrace。
〃Papa king；〃 cried the dauphin； 〃give me a kiss； too！ I have
deserved it； for I was brave and did not cry when the people put the
red cap on my head。〃
The king stooped down to the child and kissed his golden hair； and
then pressed his little daughter； who was nestling up to him； to his
heart。
The deputies stood with curious looks around the group； to whom it
was not granted； even after such a fearful day and such imminent
peril； to embrace each other； and thank God for their preservation；
without witnesses。
〃Confess； madame；〃 said one of the deputies to Marie Antoinette； in
a confidential tone；