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There was a rush of horses； and clash of arms； more musket…shots；
and then the cry of the wounded。
The king had withdrawn to hold a last consultation with his
ministers and a few faithful friends。 At this fearful noise； this
sound of weapons； this shout of victory； his first thought was of
the queen。 He rose quickly and entered the hall。
No one was there； the red glare of the torches was thrown from below
into the deserted room； and showed upon the wall wondrous shadows of
contorted human figures； with clinched fists and with raised and
threatening arms。
The king walked hastily through the fearfully illuminated hall；
called for the queen with a loud voice； burst into the cabinet； then
into her sleeping…room； but no Marie Antoinette was to be foundno
one gave reply to the anxious call of the king。
More dreadful grew the wild shrieks and howls； the curses and
maledictions which came in from without。
The king sprang up the little staircase which led to the rooms of
the children； and dashed through the antechamber； where the door was
open that led to the dauphin's sleeping…room。
And here Louis stood still； and looked with a breath of relief at
the group which met his tearful eyes。 The dauphin was lying in his
bed fast asleep； with a smile on his face。 Marie Antoinette stood
erect before the bed in an attitude of proud composure。
〃Marie；〃 said the king； deeply moved〃Marie； I was looking for
you。〃
The queen slowly turned her head toward him and pointed at the
sleeping prince。
〃Sire；〃 answered she calmly； 〃I was at my post。〃 ＇Footnote： This
conversation； as well as this whole scene； is historical。See
Beauchesne's 〃Louis XVII。；〃 vol。 i。＇
Louis； overcome by the sublimity of a mother's love； hastened to his
wife and locked her in his arms。
〃Remain with me； Marie；〃 he said。 〃Do not leave me。 Breathe your
courage and your decision into me。〃
The queen sighed and sadly shook her head。 She had not a word of
reproach； she did not say that she no longer believed in the courage
and decision of the king； but she had no longer any hope。
But the doors of the room now opened。 Through one came the maids of
the queen and the governess of the dauphin； through the other； some
gentlemen of the court； to call the king back into the audience…
hall。
After the first panic； every one had come back to consciousness
again； and all vied in devoting themselves to the king and the
queen。 The gentlemen brought word that something new had occurred；
and that this was the cause of the dreadful tumult below upon the
square。 The National Guard of Paris had arrived； they had
fraternized with the National Guard of Versailles； and with the
people； they had been received by the women with shouts of applause；
and by the men with a volley of musket…shots in salutation。 General
Lafayette had entered the palace to offer his services to the king；
and he now asked for an audience。
〃Come； madame；〃 said Louis quickly； cheered up； 〃let us receive the
general。 You see that things are not so bad with us as you think。 We
have faithful servants yet to hasten to our assistance。〃
The queen made no reply。 Quietly she followed the king into the
hall； in which Lafayette； surrounded by the ministers and gentlemen；
was standing。 On the entrance of the royal couple； the general
advanced to meet them with a reverential salutation。
〃Sire；〃 said Lafayette； with cheerful confidence〃 sire； I have
come to protect your majesties and the National Assembly against all
those who shall venture to threaten you。〃
〃Are you assured of the fidelity and trustworthiness of your
troops？〃 asked the queen； whose flaming eyes rested upon Lafayette's
countenance as if she wanted to read his utmost thoughts。
But these eyes did not confuse the cheerful calmness of the general。
〃I know； madame； that I can rely upon the fidelity of my soldiers；〃
answered he； confidently。 〃They are devoted to me to the death； and
as I shall command them； they will watch over the security of the
king and queen； and keep all injury from them。〃
The queen detected the touch of scorn in these loud…sounding words；
but she pretended to believe them。 At last she really did believe
them； for Lafayette repeated emphatically that from this time
nothing more was to be feared for the royal family； and that all
danger was past。 The guard should be chosen this night from his own
troops； the Paris National Guard should restore peace again in
Versailles； and keep an eye upon the crowds which had encamped upon
the great square before the palace。
Lafayette promised well for his army； for the howling； shrieking
women； for the cursing； raging men。
And the king was satisfied with these assurances of General
Lafayette； and so； too； was Marie Antoinette at last。
Louis ordered the garde du corps to march to Rambouillet； and
reserved only the necessary sentinels in the palace。 In the
immediate neighborhood the soldiers of Lafayette were stationed。 The
general once more made the rounds； and then； as if every thing was
in a position of the greatest security； he went into the palace to
spend the night there； and in peaceful slumbers to refresh himself
for the labors of the day。
The king； too； had retired to his apartments； and the valets who had
assisted his majesty to undress had not left the sleeping…room； when
the loud； uniform breathing which issued from the silken curtains of
the bed told them that the king had already fallen asleep。 The
queen； too； had gone to rest； and while laying her wearied and heavy
head upon the cushions； she tenderly besought both her maids to lie
down too。 All was quiet now in the dark palace of Versailles。 The
king and the queen slept。
But through the dark； deserted halls which that day had witnessed so
much pain and anxiety； resounded now the clang of the raging；
howling voices which came up from the square； and hurled their
curses against the queen。
In the palace of Versailles they were asleep； but without； before
the palace； Uproar and Hate kept guard； and with wild thoughts of
murder stalked around the palace of the Kings of France。
How soon were these thoughts to become fact！ Sleep； Marie
Antoinette； sleep！ One last hour of peace and security！
One last hour！ Before the morning dawns Hate will awaken thee； and
Murder's terrible voice will resound through the halls of the Kings
of France！
CHAPTER XIII。
THE NIGHT OF HORROR。
Marie Antoinette slept！ The fearful excitement of the past day and
of the stormy evening； crowded with its events； had exhausted the
powers of the queen； and she had fallen into that deep； dreamless
sleep which sympathetic and gracious Nature sometimes sends to those
whom Fate pursues with suffering and peril。
Marie Antoinette slept！ In the interior of the palace a deep calm
reigned； and Lafayette had withdrawn from the court in order to
sleep too。 But below； upon this court； Revolution kept her vigils；
and glared with looks of hatred and vengeance to the dark walls
behind which the queen was sleeping。
The crown of France had for centuries sinned so much； and proved
false so much； that the love of the people had at last bee