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repressed the tears which would fill her eyes； and turned to the two
maids。
〃Now；〃 said she； with decisive tones； 〃let us return to the waiting…
room and watch the door of the queen's chamber。〃
With a firm step she walked on； and the ladies followed。 Without any
noise they entered the little hall； where in the mornings those
ladies of the court used to gather who had the right to be present
while the queen dressed herself。 Madame de Campan locked the door
through which they had entered； behind her； drew out the key and hid
it in her pocket。
〃No one will enter here with my will；〃 said she。 〃Now we will place
chairs before the door of the sleeping…room； and sit there。 We shall
then have erected a barricade before our queen； a wall which will be
as strong as any other； for there beat three courageous hearts
within it。〃
They sat down upon the chairs； whose high backs leaned against the
door of the queen's room； and； taking one another's hands； began
their hallowed watch。
All was still and desolate around them。 No one of the women could
break the silence with a word or a remark。 With dumb lips； with open
eyes； the three watchers sat and hearkened to the sounds of the
night。 At times； when the roaring without was uncommonly loud and
wild； they pressed one another's hands； and spoke to one another in
looks； but when the sounds died away； they turned their eyes once
more to the windows and listened。
Slowly； dreadfully slowly moved the fingers of the great clock above
on the chimney。 Madame de Campan often fixed her gaze upon it； and
it seemed to her as if time must have ceased to go on； for it
appeared to be an eternity since Varicourt had taken leave of her；
and yet the two longer fingers on the dial had not indicated the
fourth hour after midnight。 But the pendulum still continued its
regular； even swinging； the time went forward； only every moment
made the horror； the fear of unknown danger seem like an eternity！
At last； slowly； with calm stroke； the hour began to strike four
o'clock。 And amid the dreadful sounds outside the palace； the women
could recognize the deep tones of the great clock on the Swiss hall。
Four o'clock！ One solitary； dreadful hour is passed！ Three hours
more； three eternities before daylight comes！
But hark！ what new； fearful noise without？ That is no more the sound
of singing and shouting； and cryingthat is the battle…cry…that is
the rattle and clatter of muskets。 The three women sprang up； moved
as if by one thought； animated by one purpose。 They moved the chairs
back from the door； ready； as soon as danger should approach； to go
into the chamber of the queen and awaken her。 Campan then slipped
across the room to the door of the antechamber； which she had looked
before。 She laid her ear to the key…hole； and listened。 All was
still and quiet in the next room； no one was in the antechamber。
There was no immediate danger near； for Varicourt's voice had not
yet uttered the cry of warning。
But more fearful grew the noise outside。 The crackle of musketry was
more noticeable； and every now and then there seemed to be heavy
strokes as if directed against the palace； sounding as if the people
were attempting to force the iron gate of the front court。
〃I must know what is going on；〃 whispered Campan； and with cool
decision she put the key into the door； turned it； entered the
antechamber； and flew to the window； where there was a view of the
whole court； and a fearful sight met her there。 The crowd had broken
the gate； pressed into the court； and was surging in great masses
toward the palace doors。 Here and there torches threw their glare
over these masses； disclosing men with angry gestures； and women
with streaming hair； swinging their arms savagely； and seeming like
a picture of hell； not to be surpassed in horror even by the
phantasms of Dante。 Women changed to furies and bacchanalians；
roaring and shouting in their murderous desires； men； like blood…
thirsty tigers； preparing to spring upon their prey； and give it the
death…stroke； swinging pikes and guns； which gleamed horribly in the
glare of the torches； arms and fists bearing threatening daggers and
knives！ All this was pressing on upon the palaceall these clinched
fists would soon be engaged in hammering upon the walls which
separated the king and queen from the peoplethe executioner from
his victim！
All at once there rang out a fearful； thundering cry； which made the
windows rattle； and called forth a terrible echo above in the
deserted hall； for through all these shrieks and howls； there
resounded now a piercing cry； such as only the greatest pain or the
most instant need can extort from human lips。
〃That was a death…cry；〃 whispered Madame de Campan； trembling； and
drawing back from the window。 〃They have certainly killed the Swiss
guards； who are keeping the door； they will now pour into the
palace。 O God！ what will become of Varicourt？ I must know what is
going on！〃
She flew through the antechamber and opened the door of the Swiss
hall。 It was empty； but outside of it could be heard a confused；
mixed mass of sounds； cries； and the tramping as of hundreds and
hundreds of men coming on。 Nearer and nearer came the sound； more
distinct every moment。 All at once the door was flung open on the
other side of the Swiss hall； the door which led out； and Varicourt
appeared in it； pushed backward by the raging； howling mass。 He
still sought to resist the oncoming tramp of these savage men； and；
with a movement like lightning； putting his weapon across the door；
he was able for one minute to hold the place against the tidejust
so long as the arms which held the weapon had in them the pulse of
life！ Varicourt looked like a dying man； his uniform was torn and
cut； his face deathly pale； and on one side disfigured by the blood
which was streaming down from a broad wound in his forehead。
〃It is time； it is time！〃 he cried； with a loud tremulous voice；
and； as he saw for an instant the face of Campan at the opposite
door； a flash of joy passed over his face。
〃Save the queen！ They will murder her！〃 ＇Varicourt's last words。
See 〃Memoires de Madame de Campan；〃 vol。 ii。； p。 77。 ＇
Madame de Campan hastily closed the door； drew the great bolt； and
then sprang through the antechamber into the waiting…room； and
bolted its door too。 Then； after she had done thatafter she had
raised this double wall between the sleeping queen and the raging
mobshe sank upon her knees like one who was utterly crushed； and
raised her folded hands to heaven。
〃Have mercy on his soul； O God！ take him graciously to heaven！〃
whispered she； with trembling lips。
〃For whom are you praying？〃 asked the two women； in low voices；
hurrying up to her。 〃Who is dead？〃
〃Mr。 Varicourt；〃 answered Campan； with a sigh。 〃I heard his death…
cry； as I was bolting the door of the antechamber。 But we cannot
stop to weep and lament。 We must save the queen！〃
And she sprang up from her knees； flew through the room； and opened
the door leading to the queen's chamber。
At that moment a fearful crash was heard； then a loud shout of
triumph in the outer antechamber。
〃The queen！