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〃Truly； one might learn of you how a sans…culottes ought to bear
himself。〃
〃Well； you can calm yourselves about these； brothers；〃 said one of
the officials； 〃we have no tyrant…cardswe have the new cards of
the republic。 See there！ instead of the king； there is a sans…
culottes； instead of the queen； we have a 'knitter；' ＇Footnote： The
market…women and hucksters had the privilege of claiming the first
seats on the spectators' platform； near the guillotine。 They sat
there during the executions； knitting busily on long stockings；
while looking at the bloody drama before them。 Every time that a
head was cut off and dropped into the basket beneath the knife； the
women made a mark in their knitting…work； and thus converted their
stockings into a kind of calendar； which recorded the number of
persons executed。 From this circumstance the market…women received
the name of 〃knitters。〃＇ and for the jack； we have a Swiss soldier；
for they were the menials of the old monarchy。〃 ＇Footnote：
Historical。…See 〃Memoires de la Marquise de Crequi；〃 vol。 III。＇
〃That is good； well； we will play then；〃 cried Toulan； with an air
of good…humor。
They all took their places at the table； while the queen took up the
sewing on which the princesses had been engaged before。
After some time； when the thread with which she was sewing was
exhausted； Marie Antoinette raised her eyes and turned them to the
men； who had laid their pipes aside； and were zealously engaged upon
their cards。 The mien of the queen was no longer so calm and rigidly
composed as it had been before； and when she spoke； there was a
slight quivering discernible in her voice。
〃Citizen Toulan；〃 she said； 〃I beg you to give me the ball of thread
again。 I have no more； and this dress is in a wretched condition； I
must mend it。〃
Toulan turned toward her with a gesture of impatience。
〃You disturb me； madame； and put me out in the game。 What are you
saying？〃
〃I asked you； Citizen Toulan； to give me the thread again； because；
without it； I cannot work。〃
〃Oh！ the ball which little Miss Capet gave me a short time ago。 And
so you won't let me keep a remembrance of the pretty girl？〃
〃I must mend this dress；〃 said the queen； gently。
〃Well； if you must； you must；〃 growled Toulan； rising。
〃Wait a moment； brothers； till I carry her the ball。〃
〃What do you want to get up for？〃 asked Simon。
〃You can throw it from here。〃
〃Or give it a roll like a ball；〃 added Lepitre。
〃That is a good idea；〃 cried Toulan； 〃I'll have a little game of
nine…pins。 I am quite at home there； and can do it well。 Now look
sharp！ I will contrive to roll the ball between the four feet of the
table； and strike the foot of the queen。〃
〃There is no queen；〃 cried Lepitre； passionately。
〃I am speaking of the game； Citizen Lepitre； do me the pleasure of
not making yourself an ass。 Now look； and see me roll it as I said！〃
〃Well； go ahead； we should like to see you do it；〃 cried Simon。
〃Yes； we would like to see you do it；〃 chimed in the officials；
laying down their cards。
Toulan now drew out of his breast…pocket a black ball of silk； and
counted 〃One； two； three！〃 He then gave it a skilful roll across the
floor。 With attention and laughing looks； they all watched it take
its course across the waxed floor； as it moved just where Toulan had
said it would。
〃Bravo； bravo！〃 shouted the men； as the ball struck the foot of the
queen； who stooped down slowly and picked it up。
〃Toulan is a jolly good fellow；〃 cried Simon； striking the table
with his fists in an ecstasy of delight。 〃But I declare it seems to
me that the ball is a good deal larger now than it was before。〃
〃It may be；〃 answered Toulan； emphatically。 〃Every thing grows and
enlarges itself； that a true and genuine sans…culottes carries next
to his heart。〃
〃Well said；〃 replied Lepitre。 〃But listen to me； I want to make a
proposition to you。 I must say that it is hard workplaying cards
without smoking。〃
〃I find it so； too；〃 sighed Toulan。
〃I rather think we all do；〃 chimed in the others。
〃But we must keep our word； or else the she…wolf will think that we
republicans are no better than the aristocrats were！〃
〃Yes； we must keep our word；〃 said Lepitre； 〃and that is why I
wanted to make the proposition that we go out and establish
ourselves in the entry。 We can put the table close to the door； and
then we are certainly safethat no one can step in。 What do you
say； brother Simon？〃
〃I say that it is a very good plan； and that we will carry it into
execution directly。 Come； friends； let us take up the table； and
carry it out。 If the dogs are on the watch outside； the badger does
not creep out of his house。 Come； it is much pleasanter out there；
and we are not ambitious of the honor of looking at Widow Capet all
the time。 We are perfectly satisfied； if we do not see her。 I hope
there will be an end of this tedious service； and that she will soon
go to the place whither Louis Capet has already gone。〃
〃Or；〃 cried Toulan； laughing； 〃she must change herself into an
eagle； and fly out of the window。 Come； brothers； I long for my
pipe。 Let us carry the table out into the entry。〃
Simon opened the door that led out upon the landing； the officials
took up the table； and Toulan and Lepitre the wooden stools。 One
quick look they cast into the room of the queen； whose eyes were
turned to them。 A sudden movement of Lepitre's hand pointed to the
bench beneath the window： a movement of Toulan's lips said 〃To…
morrow；〃 then they both turned away； went with their stools out upon
the landing； and closed the door。
The queen held her breath and listened。 She heard them moving the
chairs outside； and pushing the table up against the door； and
detected Simon's harsh voice； saying； 〃Now that we have put a
gigantic wooden lock on the door； let us smoke and play。〃
The queen sprang up。 〃God bless my faithful one；〃 whispered she；
〃yes； God bless him！〃
She went hastily into the anteroom； pressed her hand in behind the
bench beneath the window； took out the package which Lepitre had
placed there； and with a timid； anxious look； stepped back into her
room。 Here she unfolded the bundle。 It consisted of a boy's soiled
dress； an old peruke； and an old felt hat。
The queen looked at it with the utmost attention； then； after
casting one long； searching look through the room； she hastened to
the divan； pushed back the already loosened cover of the seat；
concealed the things beneath it； and then carefully smoothed down
the upholstery again。
She now hurried to the door of the sleeping…room； and was going to
open it hastily。 But she bethought herself in time。 Her face showed
too much emotion； her voice might betray her。 Madame Tison was
certainly lurking behind the glass door； and might notice her
excitement。 Marie Antoinette again put on her ordinary sad look；
opened the door slowly and gravely； and quietly entered the
sleeping…room。 Her great eyes； whose brightness had long since been
extinguished by her tears； slowly passed around the chamber； rested
for a moment on the glass door； descried behind it the spying face
of Tison； and turned to the two pr