按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rapidity； the king ordered that the Duke de Liancourt should be
summoned to the adjacent apartment； when he would receive him。
As the king went out in the greatest excitement； he saw the duke；
whose devotion to the person of the king was well known； standing
before him with pale； distorted countenance and trembling limbs。
〃What has happened； my friend？〃 asked the king； in breathless haste。
〃Sire；〃 answered the Duke de Liancourt； with suppressed voice； 〃in
the discharge of my office； which permits the closest approach to
your majesty； I have undertaken to bring you tidings which are now
so confirmed； and which are so important and dreadful； that it would
be a folly to try to keep what has happened longer from your
knowledge。〃
〃You speak of the occurrences in the capital？〃 asked the king；
slightly drawing back。
〃I have been told that your majesty has not yet been informed；〃
continued the duke； 〃and yet in the course of yesterday the most
dreadful events occurred in Paris。 The head of the army had not
ventured to send your majesty and the cabinet any report。 It was
known yesterday in Versailles at nightfall that the people； with；
arms in their hands； had stormed and destroyed the Bastile。 I have
just received a courier from Paris； and these tidings are confirmed
with the most horrible particularity。 Sire； I held it my duty as a
faithful servant of the crown to break the silence which has
hitherto hindered your majesty from seeing clearly and acting
accordingly。 In Paris； not only has the Bastile been stormed by the
people； but truly dreadful crimes and murders have taken place。 The
bloody heads of Delaunay and Flesselles were carried on pikes
through the city by wild crowds of people。 A part of the
fortifications of the Bastile have been levelled。 Several of the
invalides； who were guarding the fort； have been found suspended
from the lantern…posts。 A want of fidelity has begun to appear in
the other regiments。 The armed people now arrayed in the streets of
Paris are estimated at two hundred thousand men。 They fear this very
night a rising of the whole population of the city。〃
The king had listened standing； as in a sad dream。 His face had
become pale； but his bearing was unchanged。
〃There is then a revolt！〃 said Louis XVI。； after a pause； as if
suddenly awakening from deep thought。
〃No； sire；〃 answered the duke； earnestly； 〃it is a revolution。〃
〃The queen was right；〃 said the monarch； softly； to himself； 〃and
now rivers of blood would be necessary to hide the ruin that has
grown so great。 But my resolution is taken； the blood of the French
shall not be poured out。〃
〃Sire；〃 cried Liancourt； with a solemn gesture； 〃the safety of
France and of the royal family lies in this expression of your
majesty。 I ought to be and I must be plain…spoken this hour。 The
greatest danger lies in your majesty's following the faithless
counsels of your ministers。 How I bless this hour which is granted
me to stand face to face with your majesty； and dare to address
myself to your own judgment and to your heart！ Sire； the spirit of
the infatuated capital will make rapid and monstrous steps forward。
I conjure you make your appearance in the National Assembly to…day；
and utter there the word of peace。 Your appearance will work
wonders； it will disarm the parties and make this body of men the
truest allies of the crown。〃
The king looked at him with a long； penetrating glance。 The youthful
fire in which the noble duke had spoken appeared to move the king。
He extended his hand and pressed the duke's in his own。 Then he said
softly： 〃You are yourself one of the most influential members of
this National Assembly； my lord duke。 Can you give me your personal
word that my appearance there will be viewed as indicating the
interest of the crown in the welfare of France？〃
At this moment the first glow of the morning entered the apartment；
and overpowered the pale candle…light which till then had
illuminated the room。
〃The Assembly longs every day and every hour for the conciliatory
words of your majesty；〃 cried Liancourt。 〃The doubts and disquiet
into which the National Assembly is falling more and more every day
are not to be dispelled in any other way than by the appearance of
your majesty's gracious face。 I beseech you to appear to…day at the
National Assembly。 The service of to…day； which begins in a few
hours； may take the most unfortunate turn； if you； sire； do not take
this saving step。〃
Just then the door opened； and Monsieur； together with Count
d'Artois； entered。 Both brothers of the king appeared to be in the
greatest excitement。 From their appearance and gestures it could be
inferred that the news brought by the Duke de Liancourt had reached
the palace of Versailles。
Liancourt at once approached the Count d'Artois； and said to him in
decisive tones：
〃Prince； your head is threatened by the people。 I have with my own
eyes seen the poster which announces this fearful proscription。〃
The prince uttered a cry of terror at these words； and stood in the
middle of the room like one transfixed。
〃It is good； if the people think so；〃 he said then； recovering
himself。 〃I am； like the people； for open war。 They want my head；
and I want their heads。 Why do we not fire？ A fixed policy； no
quarter to the so…called freedom ideas…cannon well served！ These
alone can save us！〃
〃His majesty the king has come to a different conclusion！〃 said the
Duke de Liancourt； bowing low before the king； who stood calmly by
with folded arms。
〃I beg my brothers； the Count de Provence and the Count d'Artois； to
accompany me this morning to the Assembly of States…General；〃 said
the king； in a firm tone。
〃I wish to go thither in order to announce to the Assembly my
resolution to withdraw my troops。 At the same time I shall announce
to them my decided wish that they may complete the work of their
counsels in peace； for I have no higher aim than through them to
learn the will of the nation。〃
Count d'Artois retreated a step in amazement。 Upon his mobile face
appeared the sharp； satirical expression which was peculiar to the
character of the prince。 It was different with Provence； who； at the
king's words； quickly approached him to press his hand in token of
cordial agreement and help。
At this moment the door of the chamber was opened； and the queen；
accompanied by several persons； her most intimate companions；
entered in visible excitement。
〃Does your majesty know what has happened？〃 she asked； with pale
face and tearful eyes； as she violently grasped the king's hand。
〃It will be all well yet；〃 said the king； with gentle dignity； 〃it
will prove a help to us that we have nothing as yet to accuse
ourselves with。 I am resolved to go to…day to the National Assembly；
and to show it a sign of my personal confidence； in announcing the
withdrawal of my troops from Paris and Versailles。〃
The queen looked at her husband with the greatest amazement； then；
like one in a trance； she dropped his hand and stood supporting her
fair head upon her hand； with a thoughtful； pained expression。
〃By doing so your majesty will make the revolution an irre