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straightening themselves up and taking their places at the sides of
the door。
The princess now appeared upon the threshold； behind her； her maids
of honor and master of ceremonies； the grand…chamberlain； the pages；
and both masters of grooms； standing in the great antechambers。
At the appearance of the maids of honor； Marie Antoinette had taken
her position in the middle of the chamber； and could not repress a
faint smile； as with erect head she noticed the confusion instant
upon the princess's imposing entrance。
Madame Adelaide advanced some steps； for the queen did not change
her position nor hasten toward her as she had perhaps expected； her
irritated look increased still more； and she did not take a seat。
〃I come perhaps at an inconvenient season for your majesty；〃 said
she； with a tart smile。 〃The queen perhaps was just upon the point
of going to Trianon； whither as I hear； the king has already
proceeded？〃
〃Has your highness heard that？〃 asked the queen； smiling。 〃I wonder
what sharp ears Madame Adelaide always has to catch such a trifling
rumor； while my younger ones have never caught the least hint of the
important approach of the princess； and so I am equally surprised
and delighted at the unexpected appearance of my gracious and loving
aunt。〃
Every one of these words； which were spoken so cheerily and with
such a pleasant smile； seemed to pierce the princess like the prick
of a needle； and caused her to press her lips together in just such
a way as if she wanted to check an outcry of pain or suppress some
hidden rage。 Marie Antoinette； while speaking of the sharp ears
which madame always had； had hinted at the advanced age no less than
at the curiosity of the princess； and had brought her young and
unburdened ears into very advantageous contrast with them。
〃Would your majesty grant me the favor of an interview？〃 asked
Madame Adelaide； who did not possess the power of entering on a
contest with her exalted niece； with sharp yet graceful words。
〃I am prepared with all pleasure；〃 answered the queen； cheerfully；
〃and it depends entirely upon madame whether the audience shall be
private or public。〃
〃I beg for a half hour of entire privacy；〃 said Madame Adelaide；
with choler。
〃A private audience； ladies！〃 called the queen to her maids of
honor； as motioning with her hand she dismissed them。 Then she
directed her great brilliant eyes to the door of the antechamber。
〃My lord grooms； in half an hour I should like to have my carriage
ready for Trianon。〃
The maids of honor withdrew into the great antechamber； and closed
the doors behind them。
The queen and Madame Adelaide were alone。
〃Let us sit； if it pleases you；〃 said Marie Antoinette； motioning
the princess to an arm…chair； while she took her own place upon a
simple ottoman。 〃You have something to say to me； and I am entirely
ready to hear you。〃
〃Would to God； madame； that you would not only hear my words；〃 said
Madame Adelaide； with a sigh； 〃but that you would take them to heart
as well！〃
〃If they deserve it； I certainly shall；〃 said the queen； smiling。
〃They certainly do deserve it；〃 said the princess； 〃for what I aim
at in my words concerns the peace； the security； the honor of our
family。 Madame； allow me first to disburden myself of something that
has been committed to me。 My noble and pious sister； Madame Louise；
has given me this letter for your majesty； and in her name I ask our
royal niece to read the same at once and in my presence。〃
She drew from the great reticule； which was attached to her arm by
its silken cords； a sealed letter； and handed it to the queen。
But Marie Antoinette did not raise her hand to receive it； but shook
her head as if in refusal； and yet with so eager a motion that her
elaborate coiffure fairly trembled。
〃I beg your pardon； madame；〃 said she； earnestly； 〃but I cannot
receive this letter from the prioress of the Carmelite convent at
St。 Denis； for you well know that when Madame Louise sent me some
years ago； through your highness； a letter which I read； that I
never again will receive and read letters from the prioress。 Have
the goodness； then； to take this back to the sender。〃
〃You know； madame； that this is an affront directed against a
princess of France！〃 was the emphatic reply。
〃I know； madame； that that letter which I then received from Madame
Louise was an affront directed by the princess against the Queen of
France； and I shall protect the majesty of my station from a similar
affront。 Unquestionably this letter is similar in tone to that one。
That one contained charges which went so far as to involve open
condemnation； and contained proffers of counsel which meant little
less than calumny。 ＇Footnote： Gondrecourt； 〃Histoire de Marie
Antoinette；〃 p。 59。＇ And what would this be likely to contain
different； which your highness takes the trouble to bring to me？〃
〃Well；〃 cried Madame Adelaide； angrily； 〃its purport may be similar
to that of the former letter； for； unfortunately； the causes are the
same； and we may not wonder if the effects are also the same。〃
〃Ah！ one can easily see that your highness knows the contents of the
letter；〃 said Marie Antoinette； smiling； 〃and you will therefore
certainly pardon me for not reading it。 It was unquestionably
written in the presence of your highness； in the pious cell of the
prioress。 She gave over for a while her prayers for the repose of
the departed king； in order to busy herself a little with worldly
things； and to listen to the calumnies which Madame Adelaide； or the
Count de Provence； or the Cardinal de Kohan； or some other of the
enemies of my person； have sought to hurl against the Queen of
France。〃
〃Calumnies！〃 replied Madame Adelaide； with an angry flash in her
eyes。 〃Would to God； madame； that it were calumnies with which we
have to do； and that all these things which trouble and disturb us
were only malicious calumnies； and not sober facts！〃
〃And will your highness not have the goodness to communicate these
facts to me？〃 said the queen； undisturbed； but smiling； and so only
increasing the anger of the princess。
〃These facts are of so varied kinds that it would be a difficult
thing to choose out any separate ones among them；〃 cried she； with
fiery tone。 〃Every day； every hour of the life of your majesty；
brings new facts to light。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Marie Antoinette； 〃I had no idea that your highness had
such tender care for me。〃
〃And I had no idea； madame； that your frivolity went so far as
continually to wound the laws； the customs； and the hallowed order
of things。 You do ityou do it； scorning every thing established
with the random wantonness of a child that plays with fire； and does
not know that the waves will flare up and consume it。 Madame； I have
come here to warn you once more； and for the last time。〃
〃God be thanked； for the last time！〃 cried the queen； with a
charming glance of her eyes。
〃I conjure you； queen； for your own sake； for your husband's； for
your children's； change your course； take a new direction； leave the
path of danger on which you are hastening to irretrievable
destruction。〃
The countenanc