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those on the note。 The witness has given what seems to me
irrefutable testimony that he was the writer of that signature； as
well as of the letters to the cardinal。 He was the culpable
instrument of the criminal Lamotte…Valois。 Those of the judges who
are of my opinion will rise。〃
The judges arose as one man。
The countess uttered a loud cry and fell； seized with fearful
spasms； to the ground。
〃I declare the investigation and hearings ended；〃 said the
president； covering his head。 〃Let the accused and the witnesses be
removed； and the spectators' tribune be vacated。 We will adjourn to
the council…room to prepare the sentence； which will be given to…
morrow。〃
BOOK II。
CHAPTER VII。
THE BAD OMEN
The day was drawing to a close。 That endlessly long day； that 31st
of August； 1786； was coming to a conclusion。 All Paris had awaited
it with breathless excitement； with feverish impatience。 No one had
been able to attend to his business。 The stores were closed； the
workshops of the artisans were empty； even in the restaurants and
cafes all was still； the cooks had nothing to do； and let the fire
go out； for it seemed as if all Paris had lost its appetiteas if
nobody had time to eat。
And in truth； on this day； Paris had no hunger for food that could
satisfy the body。 The city was hungry only for news； it longed for
food which would satisfy its curiosity。 And the news which would
appease its craving was to come from the court…room of the prison！
It was to that quarter that Paris looked for the stilling of its
hunger； the satisfying of its desires。
The judges were assembled in the hall of the prison to pronounce the
decisive sentence in the necklace trial； and to announce to all
France； yes； all Europe； whether the Queen of France was innocent in
the eyes of God and His representatives on earth； or whether a shade
of suspicion was thenceforth to rest upon that lofty brow！
At a very early hour of the morning； half…past five； the judges of
the high court of Parliament； forty…nine in number； gathered at the
council…room in order to pronounce sentence。 At the same early hour；
an immense； closely…thronged crowd gathered in the broad square in
front of the prison； and gazed in breathless expectation at the
great gate of the building； hoping every minute that the judges
would come out； and that they should learn the sentence。
But the day wore on； and still the gates remained shut； no news came
from the council…room to enlighten the curiosity of the crowd that
filled the square and the adjacent streets。
Here and there the people began to complain； and loud voices were
heard grumbling at the protracted delay； the long deliberations of
the judges。 Here and there faces were seen full of scornful
defiance； full of laughing malice； working their way through the
crowd； and now and then dropping stinging words； which provoked to
still greater impatience。 All the orators of the clubs and of the
secret societies were there among the crowd； all the secret and open
enemies of the queen had sent their instruments thither to work upon
the people with poisonous words and mocking observations； and to
turn public opinion in advance against the queen； even in case the
judges did not condemn her； that is； if they did not declare the
cardinal innocent of conspiracy against the sovereign； and contempt
of the majesty of the queen。
It was known that in his resume； the attorney…general had alluded to
the punishment of the cardinal。 That was the only news which had
worked its way out of the court…room。 Some favored journalist； or
some friend of the queen； had heard this； it spread like the wind
all over Paris； and in thousands upon thousands of copies the words
of the attorney…general were distributed。
His address purported to run as follows： that 〃Cardinal de Rohan is
indicted on the accusation； and must answer the Parliament and the
attorney…general respecting the following charges： of audaciously
mixing himself up with the affairs of the necklace； and still more
audaciously in supposing that the queen would make an appointment
with him by night； and that for this he would ask the pardon of the
king and the queen in presence of the whole court。 Further； the
cardinal is enjoined to lay down his office as grand almoner within
a certain time； to remove to a certain distance from the royal
residence and not to visit the places where the royal family may be
living； and lastly； to remain in prison till the complete
termination of the trial。〃
The friends and dependants of the cardinal； the enemies and
persecutors of the queen； received this decision of the attorney…
general with vexation and anger； they found fault with the servility
of the man who would suffer the law to bow before the throne； they
made dishonorable remarks and calumnious innuendoes about the queen；
who； with her coquetry and the amount received from the jewels； had
gained over the judges； and who would； perhaps have appointed a
rendezvous with every one of them in order to gain him over to her
side。
〃Even if the judges clear her；〃 cried the sharp voice of Marat from
the heart of the crowd； 〃the people will pass sentence upon her。 The
people are always right； the people cannot be bribedthey are like
God in this； and the people will not disown their verdict before the
beautiful eyes and the seductive smiles of the Austrian woman。 The
people will not be made fools of； they will not believe in the story
of the counterfeited letters and the forged signature。〃
〃No；〃 shouted the crowd； laughing in derision； 〃we will not believe
it。 The queen wrote the letters； her majesty understands how to
write love…letters！〃
〃The queen loves to have a hand in all kinds of nonsense；〃 thundered
the brewer Santerre； in another group。 〃She wanted to see whether a
pretty girl from the street could play the part of the Queen of
France； and at the same time she wanted to avenge herself upon the
cardinal because she knew that he once found fault with her before
her mother the empress； on account of her light and disreputable
behavior； and the bad manners which； as the dauphiness； she would
introduce into this court。 Since then she has with her glances； her
smiles； and her apparent anger； so worked upon the cardinal as to
make him fall over ears in love with the beautiful； pouting queen。
And that was just what she wanted； for now she could avenge herself。
She appointed a rendezvous with the cardinal； and while she secretly
looked on the scene in the thicket； she allowed the pretty
Mademoiselle Oliva to play her part。 And you see that it is not such
a difficult thing to represent a queen； for Mademoiselle Oliva
performed her part so well that the cardinal was deceived； and took
a girl from the streets to be the Queen of France。〃
〃Oh； better times are coming； better times are coming！〃 cried Simon
the cobbler； who was close by； with his coarse laugh。 〃The cardinal
took a girl from the streets for the Queen of France； but wait a
little and we shall see the time when she will have to sweep the
streets with a broom； that the noble people may walk across with dry
feet！〃
In the loud la