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young man will have no suspicion of my presence； especially as it is
dark。 Now let him come in。 I am most eager to hear the news。〃
The queen quickly stepped behind the high screen； and Madame Campan
opened the door of the antechamber。
〃Come in； Mr。 Toulan；〃 she cried； and at once there appeared at the
open door the tall； powerful figure of the young man。 His cheeks
were heated with the quick ride； his eyes glowed； and his breathing
was rapid and hard。 Madame Campan extended her hand to him and
greeted him with a friendly smile。 〃So you have kept your word； Mr。
Toulan；〃 she said。 〃You bring me the news of the court's decision？〃
〃Yes； madame； I do；〃 he answered softly； and with a touch of
sadness。 〃I am only sorry that you have had to wait so long； but it
is not my fault。 It was striking eight from the tower of St。 Jacques
when I received the news。〃
〃Eight；〃 asked Madame de Campan； looking at the clock； 〃it is now
scarcely nine。 You do not mean to say that you have ridden the
eighteen miles from Paris to Versailles in an hour？〃
〃I have done it； and I assure you that is nothing wonderful。 I had
four fresh horses stationed along the road； and they were good ones。
I fancied myself sometimes a bird flying through the air； and it
seems to me now as if I had flown。 I beg your pardon if I sit down
in your presence； for my feet tremble a little。〃
〃Do sit down； my dear young friend；〃 cried Campan； and she hastened
herself to place an easy…chair for the young man。
〃Only an instant；〃 he said； sinking into it。 〃But believe me it is
not the quick ride that makes my feet tremble； but joy and
excitement。 I shall perhaps have the pleasure to have done the queen
a little service； for you told me that it would be very important
for her majesty to learn the verdict as quickly as possible； and no
one has got here before me； has there？〃
〃No； my friend； the queen will learn the news first through your
means； and I shall say to her majesty that I have learned it through
you。〃
〃No； madame；〃 he cried； quickly； 〃no； I would much rather you would
not tell the queen； for who knows whether the news is good； or
whether it would not trouble the noble heart of the queen； and then
my name； if she should learn it； would only be disagreeable to her
rather that she should never hear it than that it should be
connected with unpleasant associations to her。〃
〃Then you do not know what the sentence is？〃 replied Campan；
astonished。 〃Have you come to bring me the sentence； and yet do not
know yourself what it is？〃
〃I do not know what it is； madame。 The councillor； the father of my
sweetheart； has sent it by me in writing； and I have not allowed
myself to take time to read it。 Perhaps； too； I was too cowardly for
it； for if I had seen that it contained any thing that would trouble
the queen； I should not have had courage to come here and deliver
the paper to you。 So I did not read it； and thought only of this；
that I might perhaps save the queen a quarter of an hour's disquiet
and anxious expectation。 Here； madame； is the paper which contains
the sentence。 Take it to her majesty； and may the God of justice
grant that it contain nothing which may trouble the queen！〃
He stood up； and handed Madame de Campan a paper。 〃And now； madame；〃
he continued； 〃allow me to retire； that I may return to Paris； for
my sweetheart is expecting me； and； besides； they are expecting some
disturbance in the city。 I must go； therefore； to protect my house。〃
〃Go； my young friend；〃 said Madame de Campan； warmly pressing his
hand。 〃Receive my heartiest thanks for your devotion； and be sure
the queen shall hear of it。 farewell； farewell！〃
〃No；〃 cried Marie Antoinette； emerging from behind the screen with a
laugh； 〃no； do not go； sir！ Remain to receive your queen's thanks
for the disinterested zeal which you have displayed for me this
day。〃
〃The queen！〃 whispered Toulan； turning pale； 〃the queen！〃
And falling upon his knee he looked at the queen with such an
expression of rapture and admiration that Marie Antoinette was
touched。
〃I have much to thank you for； Mr。 Toulan；〃 she said。 〃Not merely
that you are the bearer of important newsI thank you besides for
convincing me that the Queen of France has faithful and devoted
friends； and to know this is so cheering to me that even if you
bring me bad news； my sorrow will be softened by this knowledge。 I
thank you again； Mr。 Toulan！〃
Toulan perceived that the queen was dismissing him； he stood up and
retreated to the door； his eyes fixed on the queen； and then； after
opening the door； he sank； as it were； overcome by the storm of his
emotions； a second time upon his knee； and folding his hands； raised
his great； beaming eyes to heaven。
〃God in heaven；〃 he said loudly and solemnly； 〃I thank Thee for the
joy of this hour。 From this moment I devote myself to the service of
my queen。 She shall henceforth be the divinity whom I serve； and to
whom I will； if I can avail any thing； freely offer my blood and
life。 This I swear； and God and the queen have heard my oath！〃
And without casting another glance at the queen； without saluting
her； Toulan rose and softly left the room； tightly closing the door
after him。
〃Singular；〃 murmured the queen； 〃really singular。 When he took the
oath a shudder passed through my soul； and something seemed to say
to me that I should some time be very unhappy； and that this young
man should then be near me。〃
〃Your majesty is excited to…day； and so every thing seems to have a
sad meaning；〃 said Madame de Campan； softly。
〃But the sentence； the sentence！〃 cried the queen。 〃Give me the
paper； I will read it myself。〃
Madame de Campan hesitated。 〃Would your majesty not prefer to
receive it in the presence of the king； and have it read by his
majesty？〃
〃No； no； Campan。 If it is favorable； I shall have pleasure in
carrying the good news to the king。 If it is unfavorable； then I can
collect myself before I see him。〃
〃But it is so dark here now that it will be impossible to read
writing。〃
〃You are right； let us go into my sitting…room；〃 said the queen。
〃The candles must be lighted there already。 Come； Campan； since I am
indebted to you for this early message； you shall be the first to
learn it。 Come； Campan； go with me！〃
With a quick step the queen returned to her apartments； and entered
her sitting…room； followed by Madame de Campan； whose countenance
was filled with sad forebodings。 The queen was right； the candles
had already been lighted in her apartments； and diffused a light
like that of day throughout her large sitting…room。 In the little
porcelain cabinet； however； there was a milder light； as Marie
Antoinette liked to have it when she was alone and sans ceremonial。
The candles on the main chandelier were not lighted； and on the
table of Sevres china and rosewood which stood before the divan were
two silver candlesticks； each with two wax candles。 These four were
the only lights in the apartment。
〃Now； Campan；〃 said the queen； sinking into the armchair which stood
before the table； near the divan； 〃now give me the paper。 But no；
you would better read it to mebut exa