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fashion。 As they saw the figure on the shore； they expanded their
wings and sailed quicker on； to pick up the crumbs which the white
hands of the queen used to throw to them。
But these hands have to…day no gifts for the solitary； forgotten
swans。 All the dear； pleasant customs of the past are forgotten；
they have all ceased。
Yet the swans have not forgotten her； they sail unquietly hither and
thither along the shore of the pond； they toss up their slender
necks； and then plunge their red beaks down into the dark water
seeking for the grateful bits which were not there。 But when they
saw that they were disappointed； they poured forth their peculiarly
mournful song and slowly sailed away down the lakelet into the
obscurity of the distance； letting their complaining notes be heard
from time to time。
〃They are singing the swan's song of my happiness；〃 whispered the
queen； looking with tearful eyes at the beautiful creatures。 〃They
too turn away from me； and now I am alone； all alone。〃
She had spoken this loudly； and her quivering voice wakened the echo
which had been artistically contrived there； to repeat cheery words
and merry laughter。
〃Alone！〃 sounded back from the walls of the Marlborough Tower at the
end of the fish…pond。 〃Alone！〃 whispered the water stirred with the
swans。 〃Alone！〃 was the rustling cry of the bushes。 〃Alone！〃 was
heard in the heart of the queen； and she sank down upon the grass；
covered her face with her hands； and wept aloud。 All at once there
was a cry in the distance； 〃The queen； where is the queen？ 〃
Marie Antoinette sprang up and dried her eyes。 No one should see
that she had wept。 Tears belong only to solitude； but she has no
longer even solitude。 The voice comes nearer and nearer； and Marie
Antoinette follows the sound。 She knows that she is going to meet a
new misfortune。 People have not come to Trianon to bring her tidings
of joy； they have come to tell her that destruction awaits her in
Versailles； and the queen is to give audience to it。
A man came with hurried step from the thicket down the winding
footpath。 Marie Antoinette looked at him with eager； sharp eye。 Who
is he； this herald of misfortune？ No one of the court servants； no
one of the gentry。
He wears the simple garments of a citizen； a man of the people； of
that Third Estate which has prepared for the poor queen so much
trouble and sorrow。
He had perhaps read her question in her face； for； as he now sank
breathless at her feet； his lips murmured： 〃Forgive me； your
majesty； forgive me that I disturb you。 I am Toulan； your most
devoted servant； and it is Madame de Campan who sends me。〃
〃Toulan； yes； I recognize you now；〃 said the queen； hastily。 〃It was
you； was it not； who brought me the sad news of the acquittal of
Rohan？〃
〃It appears； your majesty； that a cruel misfortune has always chosen
me to be the bearer of evil tidings to my exalted queen。 And to…day
I come only with such。〃
〃What is it？〃 cried the queen； eagerly。 〃Has any thing happened to
my husband？ Are my children threatened？ Speak quickly； say no or
yes。 Let me know the whole truth at once。 Is the king dead？ Are my
children in danger？〃
〃No； your majesty。〃
〃No；〃 cried the queen； breathing a breath of relief。 〃I thank you；
air。 You see that you accused Fate falsely； for you have brought me
good tidings。 And yet again I thank you； for； I remember； I have
much to thank you for。 It was you who raised your voice in the
National Assembly； and voted for the inviolability of the queen。 It
was not your fault； and believe me not mine either； that your voice
was alone； that no one joined you。 The king has been declared
inviolable； but not the queen； and now I am to be attacked； am I
not？ Tell me what is it？ Why does my faithful Campan send you to
me？〃
〃Your majesty； to conjure you to come to Versailles。〃
〃What has happened there？〃
〃Nothing as yet； your majesty； butI was early this morning in
Paris； and what I saw there determined me to come hither at once； to
bring the news and warn your majesty。〃
〃What is it？ Why do you hesitate？ Speak out freely。〃
〃Your majesty； all Paris is in motion； all Paris is marching upon
Versailles！〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 asked Marie Antoinette； passionately。
〃What does Paris want？ Does it mean to threaten the National
Assembly？ Explain yourself； for you see I do not understand you。〃
〃Your majesty； the people of Paris hunger。 The bakers have made no
bread； for they assert that there is no more meal。 The enemies of
the realm have taken advantage of the excitement to stir up the
masses and even the women。 The people are hungry； the people are
coming to Versailles to ask the king for bread。 Ten thousand women
are on the road to Versailles； accompanied by armed bodies of men。〃
〃Let us hasten； sir； I must go to my children；〃 said the queen； and
with quick steps she went forward。 Not a glance back； not a word of
farewell to the loved plantation of Trianon； and yet it is the last
time that Marie Antoinette is to look upon it。 She will never return
hither； she turns her back forever upon Trianon。
With flying steps she hurries on； Toulan does not venture to address
her； and she has perhaps entirely forgotten his presence。 She does
not know that a faithful one is near her； she only knows that her
children are in Versailles； and that she must go to them to protect
them； and to the king too； to die with him； if it must be。
When they were not far from the great mall of the park at
Versailles； the Count de St。 Priest came running； and his frightened
looks and pale face confirmed the news that Mr。 Toulan had brought。
〃Your majesty；〃 cried the count； breathless； 〃I took the liberty of
looking for your majesty at Trianon。 Bad news has arrived。〃
〃I know it；〃 answered the queen； calmly。 〃Ten thousand women are
marching upon Versailles； Mr。 Toulan has informed me； and you see I
am coming to receive the women。〃
All at once she stood still and turned to Toulan； who was walking
behind her like the faithful servant of his mistress。
〃Sir；〃 said she； 〃I thank you； and I know that I may reckon upon
you。 I am sure that to…day as always you have thought upon our
welfare； and that you will remain mindful of the oath of fidelity
which you once gave me。 Farewell！ Do you go to the National
Assembly。 I will go to the palace； and may we each do our duty。〃 She
saluted Toulan with a gentle inclination of her head and with
beaming looks of gratitude in her beautiful eyes； and then hurried
on up the grand mall to the palace。
In Versailles all was confusion and consternation。 Every one had
lost his senses。 Every one asked； and no one answered； for the only
one who could answer； the king； was not there。 He had not yet
returned from the hunt in Meudon。
But the queen was there； and with a grand calmness and matchless
grasp of mind she undertook the duties of the king。 First； she sent
the chief equerry； the Marquis de Cubieres； to meet the king and
cause him to hasten home at once。 She intrusted Count St。 Priest；
minister of the interior； with a division of the guards in the inner
court of the palace。 She inspired the timid wom