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that my eye will follow all your steps； and that my ears will hear
every word which Mirabeau shall speak in the National Assembly。〃
Mirabeau bowed respectfully。 〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃when your exalted
mother condescended to favor one of her subjects with an audience；
she never dismissed him without permitting the favored one
respectfully to kiss her hand。〃
〃It is true；〃 replied Marie Antoinette； with a pleasant smile； 〃and
in this； at least； I can follow the example of my great mother！〃
And； with inimitable grace； the queen extended her hand to him。
Mirabeau； enraptured； beside himself at this display of courtesy and
favor； dropped upon his knee and pressed his lips to the delicate；
white hand of the queen。
〃Madame；〃 cried he； with warmth； 〃this kiss saves the monarchy！〃
＇Mirabeau's own words。See 〃Memoires de Mirabeau；〃 vol iv。； p。
208。＇
〃If you have spoken the truth； sir；〃 said the queen； with a sigh；
rising and dismissing him； with a gentle inclination of her head。
With excited and radiant looks； Mirabeau returned to his nephew； who
was waiting for him at the gate of the park。
〃Oh！〃 said he； with a breath of relief； laying his hand upon the
shoulder of Saillant； 〃what have I not heard and seen！ She is very
great； very noble； and very unhappy； Victor！ But；〃 cried he； with a
loud； earnest voice； 〃I will save herI will save her！〃 ＇Footnote：
〃Marie Antoinette et sa Famille；〃 p 480。＇
Mirabeau was in earnest in this purpose； and not because he had been
bought over； but because he had been woncarried away with the
noble aspect of the queendid he become from this time a zealous
defender of the monarchy； an eloquent advocate in behalf of Marie
Antoinette。 But he was not now able to restrain the dashing waves of
revolution； he could not even save himself from being engulfed in
these raging waves。
Mirabeau knew it well； and made no secret of the peril of his
position。 On the day when； before the division； he spoke in defence
of the monarchy and the royal prerogative； and undertook to decide
the question of peace or waron that day he first announced himself
openly for the king； and raised a storm of excitement and disgust in
the National Assembly。 Still he spoke right bravely in behalf of the
crown； and while doing so； he cried； 〃I know well that it is only a
single step from the capitol to the Tarpeian rock！〃
Step after step！ And these successive steps Mirabeau was soon to
take。 Petion had not in vain characterized Mirabeau as the most
dangerous enemy of the republic。 Marat had not asserted； without
knowing what he said； that Mirabeau must let all his aristocratic
blood flow from his veins； or bleed to death altogether！ Not with
impunity could Mirabeau encounter the rage of parties； and fling
down the gauntlet before them； saying； at the same moment； 〃He would
defend the monarchy against all attacks； from what side soever； and
from what part soever of the kingdom they might come。〃
The leaders of the republican factions knew very well how to
estimate the power of Mirabeau； they knew very well that Mirabeau
was able to fit together the fragments of the crown which he had
helped to break。 And； to prevent his doing this； they knew that he
must be buried beneath these fragments。
Soon after his interview with the queenafter his dissenting speech
in behalf of the prerogative of the kingMirabeau began to fail in
health。 His enemies said that it was only the result of over…
exertion； and a cold which he had brought on by drinking a glass of
cold water during a speech； in the National Assembly。 His friends
whispered about a deadly poison which had been mingled with this
glass of water； in order to rid themselves of this powerful and
dangerous opponent。
Mirabeau believed this； and the increasing torpor of his limbs； the
pains which he felt in his bowels； appeared to him to be the sure
indications of poison given him by his enemies。
The lion； who had been willing to crouch at the foot of the throne
for the purpose of guarding it； was now nothing but a poor； sick
man； whose voice was lost； and whose power was extinguished。 For a
season he sought to contend against the malady which was lurking in
his body； but one day； in the midst of a speech which he was making
in behalf of the queen； he sank in a fainting…fit； and was carried
unconsciously to his dwelling。 After long efforts on the part of his
physician； the celebrated Cabanis； Mirabeau opened his eyes。
Consciousness was restored； but with it a fixed premonition of his
approaching death。
〃I am dying！〃 he said； softly。 〃I am bearing in my heart the funeral
crape of the monarchy。 These raging partisans want to pluck it out；
deride it； and fasten it to their own foreheads。 And this compels
them to break my heart； and this they have done！〃 ＇Footnote：
Mirabeau's own words。See 〃Memoires sur Mirabeau；〃 vol。 iv。；。 p。
296。＇
Yes； they had broken itthis great strong heart； in which the
funeral crape of monarchy lay。 At first the physician and his
friends hoped that it might be possible to overcome his malady； but
Mirabeau was not flattered by any such hope； he felt that the pains
which were racking his body would end only with death。
After one especially painful and distressing night； Mirabeau had his
physician Cabanis and his friend Count de la Marck summoned to his
bed； and extended to them both his hands。 〃My friends；〃 he said to
them with gentle voice and with peaceful face； 〃my friends； I am
going to die to…day。 When one has been brought to that pass； there
is only one thing that remains to be done： to be perfumed；
tastefully dressed； and surrounded with flowers； so as to fall
agreeably into that last sleep from which there is no waking。 So；
call my servants！ I must be shaved； dressed； and nicely arrayed。 The
window must be opened； that the warm air may stream in； and then
flowers must be brought。 I want to die in the sunshine and flowers。〃
＇Footnote： Mirabeau's words。See 〃Memoires sur Mirabeau；〃 vol。 iv。；
p。 298。＇
His friends did not venture to oppose his last wish。 The gladiator
wanted to make his last toilet and be elaborately arrayed in order
to fall in the arena of life as a hero falls； and even in death to
excite the wonder and the applause of the public。
All Paris was in this last scene the public of this gladiator； all
Paris had； in these last days of his battle for life； only one
thought； 〃How is it with Mirabeau？ Will he compel the dreadful enemy
Death to retire from before him； or will he fall as the prey of
Death？〃 This question was written on all faces； repeated in all
houses and in all hearts。 Every one wanted to receive an answer from
that still house； with its closely…drawn curtains； where Mirabeau
lived。 All the streets which led thither were； during the last three
days before his death； filled with a dense mass of men； and no
carriage was permitted to drive through the neighborhood； lest it
should disturb Mirabeau。 The theatres were closed； and； without any
consultation together； the merchants shut their stores as they do on
great days of national fasting or thanksgiving。
On the morning of the fourth day； before life had begun to move in