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piece to Orestes and Pylades。〃
〃But which；〃 asked the Duchess de Guemene； looking up from her
embroidery； 〃which would be the companion of Orestes； pursued of
Furies； surrounded by serpents？〃
〃That is the queen；〃 answered the Count de Vaudreuil； who was
sitting at the piano and practising a new piece of music。 〃The queen
is the womanly Orestes： the Furies are the three royal aunts； and
the serpentspardon me； ladiesare； with the exception of
yourselves； most all the ladies of Paris。〃
〃You are malicious； count；〃 cried Madame de Morsan； 〃and were we by
any chance not here； you would reckon us among the serpents。〃
〃If I should do so；〃 said Count Vaudreuil； laughing； 〃I should only
wish to take the apple from you； in order to be driven out of
paradise with you。 But still！ the queen is coming。〃
Yes； just then the queen entered the apartment。 Her cheeks were
glowing red by reason of her run； her bosom heaved violently with
her hurried； agitated breathing。 Her hat had fallen upon one side；
and the dark blond hair was thrown about in wild confusion。
It was not the queen who entered the saloon； it was only Marie
Antoinette； the simple； young woman； greeting her friends with
brilliant glances and lively nods。 It had been made a rule with her；
that when she entered； no one should rise； nor leave the embroidery；
or piano…playing； or any other occupation。
The women remained at their work； Lords Besenval and Adhemar went on
playing their game of backgammon； and only the Count de Vaudreuil
rose from his place at the approach of the queen。
〃What have you been playing； count？〃 asked Marie Antoinette。 〃I beg
your pardon； if I leave your question unanswered；〃 replied the
count； with a gentle inclination of the head。 〃Your majesty has such
a fine ear； that you must doubtless recognize the composer in the
music。 It is an entirely new composition； and I have taken the
license of arranging it for four hands。 If your majesty would
perhaps be inclined…〃
〃Come；〃 interrupted the queen； 〃let us try it at once。〃
Quickly； and with feverish impatience； she drew her black netted
gloves from her delicate white hands； and at once took her place
next to the count； on the seat already prepared for her。
〃Will not the music be too difficult for me to play？〃 asked she；
timidly。
〃Nothing is too difficult for the Queen of France。〃
〃But there is a great deal that is too difficult for the dilettante；
Marie Antoinette；〃 sighed the queen。 〃Meanwhile； we will begin and
try it。〃
And with great facility and lightness of touch； the queen began to
play the base of the piece which had been arranged by the Count de
Vaudreuil for four hands。 But the longer she played； the more the
laughter and the unrestrained gayety disappeared from the features
of the queen。 Her noble countenance assumed an expression of deep
earnestness； her eye kindled with feeling； and the cheeks which
before had become purple…red with the exercise of playing； now paled
with deep inward emotion。
All at once； in the very midst of the grand and impassioned strains；
Marie Antoinette stopped； and； under the strength of her feeling；
rose from her seat。
〃Only Gluck can have written this！〃 cried she。 〃This is the music；
the divine music of my exalted master； my great teacher； Chevalier
Gluck。〃
〃You are right； your majesty is a great musician；〃 cried Lord
Vaudreuil； in amazement； 〃the ideal pupil of the genial maestro。
Yes； this music is Gluck's。 It is the overture to his new opera of
'Alcestes；' which he sent me from Venice to submit to your majesty。
These tones shall speak for the master； and entreat for him the
protection of the queen。〃
〃You have not addressed the queen； but my own heart；〃 said Marie
Antoinette； with gentle； deeply moved voice。 〃It was a greeting from
my home； a greeting from my teacher； who is at the same time the
greatest composer of Europe。 Oh； I am proud of calling myself his
pupil。 But Gluck needs no protection； it is much more we who need
the protection which he affords us in giving us the works of his
genius。 I thank you； count；〃 continued Marie Antoinette； turning to
Vaudreuil with a pleasant smile。
〃This is a great pleasure which you have prepared for me。 But
knowing； as I now do； that this is Gluck's music； I do not dare to
play another note； for； to injure a note of his writing； seems to me
like treason against the crown。 I will practise this piece； and then
some day we will play it to the whole court。 And now； my honored
guests； if it pleases you； we go to meet the king。 Gentlemen； let
each one choose his lady； for we do not want to go in state
procession； but by different paths。〃
All the gentlemen present rushed toward the queen； each desirous to
have the honor of waiting upon her。 Marie Antoinette thanked them
all with a pleasant smile； and took the arm of the eldest gentleman
there； the Baron de Besenval。
〃Come； baron；〃 said she； 〃I know a new path； which none of these
gentry have learned； and I am sure that we shall be the first to
reach the place where the king is。〃
Resting on the arm of the baron； she left the saloon； and passed out
of the door opposite； upon the little terrace leading to the well…
shaded park。
〃We will go through the English garden。 I have had them open a path
through the thicket； which will lead us directly to our goal； while
the others will all have to go through the Italian garden； and so
make a circuit。 But look； my lord； somebody is coming therewho is
it？〃
And the queen pointed to the tall； slim figure of a man who was just
then striding along the terrace。
〃Madame；〃 answered the baron； 〃it is the Duke de Fronac。〃
〃Alas！〃 murmured Marie Antoinette； 〃he is coming to lay new burdens
upon us； and to put us in the way of meeting more disagreeable
things。〃
〃Would it be your wish that I should dismiss him？ Do you give me
power to tell him that you extend no audience to him here？〃
〃Oh！ do not do so；〃 sighed Marie Antoinette。 〃He； too； is one of my
enemies； and we must proceed much more tenderly with our dear
enemies than with our friends。〃
Just then the Duke de Fronac ascended the last terrace； and
approached the queen with repeated bows； which she reciprocated with
an earnest look and a gentle inclination of the head。
〃Well； duke； is it I with whom the chief manager of the royal
theatres wishes to speak？〃
〃Madame；〃 answered the duke； 〃I am come to beg an audience of your
majesty。〃
〃You have it； and it is； as you see； a very imposing audience； for
we stand in the throne room of God； and the canopy of Heaven arches
over us。 Now say； duke； what brings you to me？〃
〃Your majesty； I am come to file an accusation！〃
〃And of course against me？〃 asked the queen； with a haughty smile。
The duke pretended not to hear the question； and went on： 〃I am come
to bring a charge and to claim my rights。 His majesty has had the
grace to appoint me manager…in…chief of all the royal theatres； and
to give me their supreme control。〃
〃Well； what has that to do with me？〃 asked the queen in her coldest
way。 〃 You have then your duties assigned you； to he rightfully
fulfilled； and to keep your theatres in o