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queen； the mother of all poor and suffering ones。〃
〃And yet there was a dissonant note which mingled with all these
jubilee tones；〃 said the queen； thoughtfully。 〃While all were
shouting； there came one voice which sounded to my ear like the song
of the bird of misfortune。 Believe me； Besenval； every thing is not
as it ought to be。 There is something in the air which fills me with
anxiety and fear。 I cannot drive it away； I feel that the sword of
Damocles is hanging over my head； and that my hands are too weak to
remove it。〃
〃A woe to the traitors who have dared to raise the sword of Damocles
over the head of the queen！〃 cried the baron； furiously。
〃Woe to them； but woe to me too！〃 replied the queen； with gentle
sadness。 〃I have this morning had a stormy interview with Madame
Adelaide。 It appears that my enemies have concocted a new way of
attacking me； and Madame Adelaide was the herald to announce the
beginning of the tournament。〃
〃Did she venture to bring any accusations against your majesty？〃
asked Besenval。 The queen replying in the affirmative with a nod； he
went on。 〃But what can they say？ Whence do they draw the poisoned
arrows to wound the noblest and truest of hearts？〃
〃They draw them from their jealousy； from their hatred against the
house of Austria； from the rage with which they look upon the manner
in which the king has bestowed his love。 'What can they say？' They
make out of little things monstrous crimes。 They let a pebble grow
into a great rock； with which they strive to smite me down。 Oh； my
friend； I have suffered a great deal to…day； and； in order to tell
you this； I chose you as my companion。 I dare not complain before
the king；〃 Marie Antoinette went on； while two tears rolled slowly
down her cheeks； 〃for I will not be the means of opening a breach in
the family； and the king would cause them to feel his wrath who have
drawn tears from the eyes of his wife。 But you are my friend；
Besenval； and I confide in your friendship and in your honor。 Now；
tell me； you who know the world； and who are my senior in experience
of life； tell me whether I do wrong to live as I do。 Are the king's
aunts right in charging it upon me as a crime； that I take part in
the simple joys of life； that I take delight in my youth and am
happy？ Is the Count de Provence right in charging me； as with a
crime； that I am the chief counsellor of the king； and that I
venture to give him my views regarding political matters？ Am I
really condemned to stand at an unapproachable distance from the
people and the court； like a beautiful statue？ Is it denied to me to
have feeling； to love and to hate； like everybody else？ Is the Queen
of France nothing but the sacrificial lamb which the dumb idol
etiquette carries in its leaden arms； and crushes by slowly pressing
it to itself？ Tell me； Besenval； speak to me like an honorable and
upright man； and remember that God is above us and hears our words！〃
〃May God be my witness；〃 said Besenval； solemnly。 〃Nothing lies
nearer my heart than that your majesty hear me。 For my life； my
happiness； and my misery； all lie wrapped up in the heart of your
majesty。 No； I answerno； the aunts of the king； the old
princesses； look with the basilisk eye of envy from a false point。
They have lived at the court of their father； they have seen Vice
put on the trappings of Virtue； they have seen Shamelessness array
itself in the garments of Innocence； and they no longer retain their
faith in Virtue or Innocence。 The purity of the queen appears to
them to be a studied coquetry； her unconstrained cheerfulness to be
culpable frivolity。 No； the Count de Provence is not right in
bringing the charge against the king that it is wrong in him to love
his wife with the intensity and self surrender with which a citizen
loves the wife whom he has himself selected。 He is not right in
alleging it as an accusation against you； that you are the
counsellor of the king； and that you seek to control political
action。 Your whole offence lies in the fact that your political
views are different from his； and that； through the influence which
you have gained over the heart of the king； his aunts are driven
into the background。 Your majesty is an Austrian； a friend of the
Duke de Choiseul。 That is your whole offence。 Now you would not be
less blameworthy in the eyes of these enemies were you to live in
exact conformity with the etiquette books of the Queen of France；
covered with the dust of a hundred years。 Your majesty would
therefore do yourself and the whole court an injury were you to
allow your youth； your beauty； and your innocence； to be subjected
to these old laws。 It were folly to condemn yourself to ennui and
solitude。 Does not the Queen of France enjoy a right which the
meanest of her subjects possesses； of collecting her own chosen
friends around her and taking her pleasure with them。 We live； I
know； in an age of reckless acts； but may there not be some
recklessness in dealing with the follies of etiquette？ They bring it
as a charge against your majesty that you adjure the great court
circles； and the stiff set with which the royal family of France
used to martyr itself。 They say that by giving up ceremony you are
undermining the respect which the people ought to cherish toward
royalty。 But would it not be laughable to think that the obedience
of the people depends upon the number of the hours which a royal
family may spend in the society of tedious and wearisome courtiers？
No； my queen； do not listen to the hiss of the hostile serpents
which surround you。 Go； courageously； your own waythe way of
innocence； guilelessness； and love。〃
〃I thank youoh； I thank you！〃 cried Marie Antoinette。 〃You have
lifted heavy doubts from my heart and strengthened my courage。 I
thank you！〃
And； with beaming eyes and a sweet smile； she extended both her
hands to the baron。
He pressed them tightly within his own； and； sinking upon his knee；
drew the royal hands with a glow to his lips。
〃Oh； my queen； my mistress！〃 he cried； passionately； 〃behold at your
feet your most faithful servant； your most devoted slave。 Receive
from me the oath of my eternal devotion and love。 You have honored
me with your confidence； you have called me your friend。 But my soul
and my heart glow for another name。 Speak the word； Marie
Antoinette； the word〃
The queen drew back； and the paleness of death spread over her
cheeks。 She had at the outset listened with amazement； then with
horror and indignation； to the insolent words of the baron； and
gradually her gentle features assumed a fierce and disdainful
expression。
〃My lord；〃 she said； with the noble dignity of a queen； 〃I told you
before that God is above us； and hears our words。 You have spoken；
wantonly； and God has heard you。 To Him I leave the punishment of
your wantonness。 Stand up； my lord！ the king shall know nothing of
an insult which would have brought you into ignominy with him
forever。 But if you ever； by a glance or a gesture； recall this both
wanton and ridiculous scene； the king shall hear all from me！〃
And while the queen pointed； with a proud and dignified gesture； to
the place