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France； the Rohans； the Guemenes； the Count de Vergennes； and all
the most powerful enemies of the queen； who had taken advantage of
this occasion in order to avenge themselves on the Austrian； who had
dared to choose her friends and select her society； not in
accordance with lineage； but as her own pleasure dictated。
The president of the court did not consider this murmur of applause
marked enough to be reprimanded； and let it be continued。
〃And did the Countess Lamotte…Valois procure for you this audience？〃
he then asked。
Prince Rohan was silent a moment； his face grew pale； his features
assumed for the first time a troubled expression； and the painful
struggles which disturbed his soul could be seen working within him。
〃May it please this noble court；〃 he replied； after a pause； with
feeling； trembling voice； 〃I feel at this moment that； beneath the
robe of the priest； the heart of the man beats yet。 It is； however；
for every man a wrong； an unpardonable wrong； to disclose the
confidence of a lady； and to reveal to the open light of day the
favors which have been granted by her。 But I must take this crime
upon myself； because I have to defend the honor of a priest； even of
a dignitary in the Church； and also because I do not dare to suffer
my purple to be soiled with even the suspicion of a lie； or an act
of falsehood。 It may beand I fear it even myselfit may be； that
in this matter； I myself was the deceived one； but I dare not bring
suspicion upon my tiara that I was the deceiver； and； therefore； I
have to meet the stern necessity of disclosing the secret of a lady
and a queen。〃
〃Besides this；〃 said the president； solemnly〃besides this； your
eminence may graciously consider； in presence of the authority given
you by God； all the tender thoughts of the cardinal must be silent。
The duty of a dignitary of the Church commands you to go before all
other men in setting them a noble example； and one worthy of
imitation。 It is your sacred duty； in accordance with the demands of
truth； to give the most detailed information regarding every thing
that concerns this affair； and your eminence will have the goodness
to remember that we are the secular priests of God； before whom
every accused person must confess the whole truth with a perfect
conscience。〃
〃I thank you； Mr。 President；〃 said the cardinal； with so gentle and
tremulous a voice； that you might hear after it a faint sob from
some deeply…veiled ladies who sat on the spectators' seats； and so
that even the eyes of President de l'Aigro filled with tears〃 I
thank you； Mr。 President；〃 repeated the cardinal； breathing more
freely。 〃You take a heavy burden from my heart； and your wisdom
instructs me as to my own duty。〃
The president blushed with pleasure at the high praises of the
cardinal。
〃And now；〃 he said； 〃I take the liberty of repeating my question；
did the Countess Lamotte…Valois succeed in procuring for your
eminence a secret audience with the queen？〃
〃She did；〃 replied the cardinal； 〃she did procure an interview for
me。〃
And compelling himself to a quiet manner； he went on with his story：
The Countess de Valois came to him after two days with a joyful
countenance； and brought to him the request to accompany the
Countess Valois two days after to Versailles； where； in the garden；
in a place indicated by the countess； the meeting of the queen and
the cardinal should take place。 The cardinal was to put on the
simple； unpretending dress of a citizen of Paris； a blue cloth coat；
a round hat； and high leather boots。 The cardinal； full of
inexpressible delight at this； could； notwithstanding； scarcely
believe that the queen would show him this intoxicating mark of her
favor； upon which the Countess Valois； laughing； showed him a letter
of the queen； directed to her； on gold…bordered paper； and signed
like the note which he had received before〃 Marie Antoinette of
France。〃 In this note the queen requested her dear friend to go
carefully to work to warn the cardinal to speak softly during the
interview； because there were ears lurking in the neighborhood； and
not to come out from the thicket till the queen should give a sign。
After reading this letter； the cardinal had no more doubts； but
surrendered himself completely to his joy； his impatience； and
longed for the appointed hour to arrive。 At last this hour came；
and； in company with the countess； the cardinal； arrayed in the
appointed dress； repaired in a simple hired carriage to Versailles。
The countess led him to the terrace of the palace； where she
directed the cardinal to hide behind a clump of laurel…trees； and
then left him； in order to inform the queen； who walked every
evening in the park； in company with the Count and Countess
d'Artois； of the presence of the cardinal； and to conduct her to
him。 The latter now remained alone； and； with loud…beating heart；
listened to every sound； and； moving gently around； looked down the
long alley which ran between the two fountains； in order to catch
sight of the approach of the queen。 It was a delightful evening； the
full moon shone in golden clearness from the deep…blue sky； and
illuminated all the objects in the neighborhood with a light like
that of day。 It now disclosed a tall； noble figure； clad in a dark…
red robe； and with large blue pins in her hair； hurrying to the
terrace； and followed by the Countess Valois。
To the present moment the cardinal had slightly doubted as to his
unmeasurable good fortunenow he doubted no more。 It was the queen；
Marie Antoinette； who was approaching。 She wore the same dress； the
same coiffure which she had worn the last Sunday； when after the
mass he had gone to Versailles to drive。
Yes； it was the queen； who was hurrying across the terrace； and
approaching the thicket behind which the cardinal was standing。
〃Come；〃 whispered she； softly； and the cardinal quickly emerged from
the shade； sank upon his knee before the queen； and eagerly pressed
the fair hand which she extended to him to his lips。 〃Your
eminence；〃 whispered the queen to him； 〃I can unfortunately spend
only a moment here。 I cherish nothing against you； and shall soon
show you marks of my highest favor。 Meantime； accept this token of
my grace。〃 And Marie Antoinette took a rose from her bosom and gave
it to the cardinal。 〃Accept； also； this remembrancer；〃 whispered the
queen； again placing a little case in his hand。 〃It is my portrait。
Look often at it； and never doubt me； I〃
At this moment the Countess Valois； who had been waiting at some
distance； hastily came up。
〃Some one is coming；〃 whispered she； 〃for God's sake； your majesty；
fly！〃
Voices were audible in the distance； and soon they approached。 The
queen grasped the hand of the Countess Lamotte。
〃Come； my friend；〃 said she。 〃Farewell； cardinal； au revoir！〃
Full of joy at the high good fortune which had fallen to him； and at
the same time saddened at the abrupt departure of the queen； the
cardinal turned back to Paris。 On the next day the Countess Valois
brought a billet from the queen； in which she deeply regretted that
their interview yesterday had been so brief； and promising a spee