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！
so； sir； why do you not close the gates of the park？ It is royal
property； and it probably will be allowed to the king to defend his
private property from the brutality of the rabble。 I will myself；
general； see to it that I be protected from insults； and that； at
any time when it pleases me； I may go into the park and the inner
gardens。 I will ask his majesty the king to allow the gates of the
park and。 the promenade on the quay to be closed。 That will close
every thing； and we shall at least gain the freedom thereby of being
able to take walks at any time； without first sending information to
General Lafayette。〃
〃Madame； I expected that you would answer me so；〃 said Lafayette；
sadly； 〃and I have therefore brought M。 de Bailly with me； that he
might join me in supplicating your majesty to graciously abstain
from taking measures of violence； and not to further stir up the
feelings of the people； already so exasperated。〃
〃And so you are of this opinion； sir？〃 asked Marie Antoinette；
turning to M。 Bailly。 〃You； too； regard it as a compulsory measure；
for the king to claim his own right； and to keep out of his property
those who insult him。〃
〃Your majesty； the king is； unfortunately； not free to make use of
this right； as you call it。〃
〃You will not say； sir； that if it pleases the king not to allow
evil…disposed persons to enter the park of the Tuileries； he has not
the right to close the gates？〃
〃Madame； I must indeed take the privilege of saying so；〃 answered M。
de Bailly； with a gentle obeisance。 〃King Henry IV。 gave the
Parisians the perpetual privilege of having the park of the
Tuileries open to them always； and free to be used in their walks。
The palace of the Tuileries was； as your majesty knows； originally
built by Queen Catherine de Medicis； after the death of her husband；
for the home of her widowhood。 All sorts of stories were then
current about the uncanny things which were said to occur in the
park of the Tuileries。 They told about laboratories in which Queen
Catherine prepared her poisons； of a pavilion in which there was a
martyr's chamber； of subterranean cells for those who had been
buried alive； and all these dreadful stories made such an impression
that no one dared approach this place of horrors after sunset。 But
when Queen Catherine had left Paris； and King Henry IV。 resided in
the Louvre； he had this dreaded Tuileries garden； with all its
horrors； opened to the Parisians； and out of the queen's garden he
made one for the people； in order that the curse which rested upon
it might be changed into a blessing。〃
〃And now you suppose； Mr。 Mayor； that it would change the blessing
into a curse again； if we should want to close the gates that Henry
IV。 opened？〃
〃I do fear it； madame； and therefore venture to ask that the right
to enter the Tuileries gardens may not be taken from the people； nor
their enjoyment interfered with。〃
〃Not the people's enjoyment； only ours； is to be interfered with；〃
cried Marie Antoinette； bitterly。 〃They are doubtless right who call
the people now the real king of France； but they forget that this
new king has usurped the throne only by treachery； rebellion； and
murder； and that the wrath of God and the justice of man 'will one
day hurl him down into the dust at our feet。 In this day I hope； and
until then I will bear in patience and with unshaken courage what
fate may lay upon me。 The wickedness and brutality of men shall at
least not intimidate me； and fear shall not humiliate me to the
state of a prisoner who takes her walks under the protection of M。
de Lafayette； the general of the people； at appointed hours。〃
〃Your majesty；〃 cried Lafayette； turning pale。
〃What is your pleasure？〃 interrupted the queen； with a proud
movement of her head。 〃You were a gentleman； and knew the customs
and。 mode of our court before you went to America。 Has the want of
manners there so disturbed your memory that you do not know that it
is not permitted to speak in the presence of the queen without being
asked or permitted by her to do so？〃
〃General；〃 cried the dauphin； at this instant； with loud； eager
voice； running forward to Lafayette； and extending to him his little
hand〃 general； I should like to salute you。 Mamma told me that I
must be kind to all those who are good to us and love us； and just
as you were coming in with this gentleman； mamma told me that
General Lafayette does not belong to our enemies； but means well to
us。 Let me； therefore； greet you kindly and give you my hand。〃 And
while saying so and smiling kindly at the general； he raised his
great blue eyes to the face of his mother an instant with a
supplicatory expression。
Lafayette took the extended hand of the prince； and a flush of deep
emotion passed over his face that was just before kindling with
anger。 As if touched with reverence and astonishment； he bent his
knee before this child； whose countenance beamed with innocence；
love； and goodness； and pressed to his lips the little hand that
rested in his own。
〃My prince；〃 said be； deeply moved； 〃you have just spoken to me with
the tongue of an angel； and I swear to you； and to your exalted
royal mother； that I will never forget this moment； that I will
remember it so long as I live。 The kiss which I have impressed upon
the hand of my future king is at once the seal of the solemn vow；
and the oath of unchangeable fidelity and devotion which I
consecrate to my king and to the whole royal family； and in which
nothing shall make me waver； nothing； not even the anger and the
want of favor of my exalted queen。 Dauphin of France； you have to…
day gained a soldier for your throne who is prepared to shed his
last drop of blood for you and your house； and on whose fidelity and
devotion you may continually count。〃
With tears in his eyes； his brave； noble face quivering with
emotion； Lafayette looked at the child that with cheeks all aglow
and with a pleasant smile was gazing with great； thoughtful child's
eyes up to the strong man； who placed himself so humbly and
devotedly at his feet。 Behind him stood M。 de Bailly； with bended
head and folded hands； listening with solemn thoughtfulness to the
words of the general； upon whose strong shoulders the fate of the
monarchy rested； and who； at this time； was the mightiest and most
conspicuous man in France； because the National Guard of Paris was
still obedient to him； and followed his commands。
Close by the dauphin stood the queen； in her old； proud attitude；
but upon her face a striking change had taken place。 The expression
of anger and suspicion which it had before displayed had not
completely disappeared。 The cloud which had gathered upon her lofty
forehead was dissipated； and her face shone out bright and clear。
The large； grayish…blue eyes； which before had shot angry darts； now
glowed with mild fire； and around her lips played an instant that
fair； pleasant smile which； in her happier days； had often moved the
favorites of the queen to verses of praise； and which her enemies
had so often made a reproach to her。
When the general ceased there was silencethat eloquent； solemn
silence which accompanies thos