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throng。 The friends of the queen went in order to give her a long…
looked…for triumph； her enemiesand these the poor queen had in
overwhelming numbersto fling their hate； their malice； their
scorn； into the face of Marie Antoinette。
And enemies of the queen had taken places for themselves in every
part of the great house。 They even sat in the boxes of the first
rank； on those velvet…cushioned chairs which had formerly been
occupied exclusively by the enthusiastic admirers of the court； the
ladies and gentlemen of the aristocracy。 But now the aristocracy did
not dare to sit there。 The most of them； friends of the queen； had
fled； giving way before her enemies and persecutors； and in the
boxes where they once sat； now were the chief members of the
National Assembly； together with the leading orators of the clubs；
and the societies of Jacobins。
To the box above； where the people had once been accustomed to see
Princess Lamballe； the eyes of the public were directed again and
again。 Marie Antoinette had been compelled to send away this last of
her friends to London； to have a conference with Pitt。 Instead of
the fair locks of the princess； was now to be seen the head of a
man； who； resting both arms on the velvet lining of the box； was
gazing down with malicious looks into the surging masses of the
parterre。 This man was Marat； once the veterinary of the Count
d'Artois； now the greatest and most formidable orator of the wild
Jacobins。
He too had come to see the hated she…wolf； as he had lately called
the queen in his 〃Ami du Peuple；〃 and； to prepare for her a public
insult； sat drunk with vanity in the splendid box of the Princess
Lamballe； his friends and confidants were in the theatre； among them
Santerre the brewer； and Simon the cobbler； often looking up at
Marat； waiting for the promised motion which should be his signal
for the great demonstration。
At length the time arrived for the opera to begin； and； although the
queen had not come； the director of the orchestra did not venture to
detain the audience even for a few minutes。 He went to his place；
took his baton； and gave the sign。 The overture began； and all was
silent； in parquette and parterre； as well as in the boxes。 Every
one seemed to be listening only to the music； equally full of
sweetness and majestyonly to have ears for the noble rhythm with
which Gluck begins his 〃Alceste。〃
Suddenly there arose a dull； suppressed sound in parquette；
parterre； and boxes； and all heads which had before been directed
toward the stage； were now turned backward toward the great royal
box。 No one paid any more attention to the music； no one noticed
that the overture was ended and that the curtain was raised。
Amid the blast of trumpets； the noise of violins and clarionets； the
public had heard the light noise of the opening doors； had noticed
the entrance of the officers； and this sound had made the Parisians
forget even their much…loved music。
There now appeared in the open box…door a woman's form。 The queen；
followed by Mademoiselle de Bugois； advanced slowly through the
great box to the very front。 All eyes were directed to her； all
looks searched her pale； noble face。
Marie Antoinette felt this； and a smile flitted over her face like
the evening glow of a summer's day。 With this smile and a deep blush
Marie Antoinette bowed and saluted the public。
A loud； unbounded cry of applause resounded through the vast room。
In the parquette and in the boxes hundreds of spectators arose and
hailed the queen with a loud； pealing 〃Vive la reine！〃 and clapped
their hands like pleased children； and looked up to the queen with
joyful； beaming countenances。
〃Oh； my faith has not deceived！〃 whispered Marie Antoinette into the
ear of her companion。 〃The good Parisians love me still； they； like
me； remember past times； and the old loyalty is awaking in them。〃
And again she bowed her thanks right and left； and again the house
broke out into loud applause。 A single； angry glance of Marat's
little eyes； peering out from beneath the bushy brows； met the
queen。
〃Only wait；〃 said Marat； rising from his seat and directing his
glances at the parterre。 There stood the giant Santerre； and not far
from him Simon the cobbler； in the midst of a crowd of savage…
looking； defiant fellows； who all looked at their leaders； while
they； Santerre and Simon； directed their eyes up to the box of
Marat。
The glance of the chief met that of his two friends。 A scornful；
savage expression swept over Marat's ash…colored； dirty face； and he
nodded lightly to his allies。 Santerre and Simon returned the nod；
and they； turning to their companions； gave the signal by raising
the right hand。
Suddenly the applause was overborne by loud whistling and shouting；
derisive laughter； and wild curses。
〃The civil war has begun！〃 cried Marat； rubbing his hands together
with delight。
The royalists continued to applaud and to shout； 〃Vive la reine！〃
Their opponents tried to silence them by their hisses and whistling。
Marat's face glowed with demoniacal pleasure。 He turned to the boxes
of the second tier； and nodded smilingly to the men who sat there。
At once they began to cry； 〃The chorus； the chorus； let them sing；
'Chantons； celebrons notre reine！'〃
〃Very well；〃 said Marat。 〃I am a good royalist； for I have trained
the people to the cry。〃
〃Sing； sing！〃 shouted the men to the performers on the stage〃sing
the chorus； 'Chantons； celebrons notre reine！'〃
And in the boxes； parquette； everywhere was the cry； 〃Sing the
chorus； 'Chantons； celebrons notre reine！'〃
〃No；〃 roared Santerre； 〃no； they shall not sing that！〃
〃No；〃 cried Simon； 〃we will not hear the monkey…song！〃
And hundreds of men in the parterre and the upper rows of boxes
echoed the cry； 〃No； we will not hear the monkey…song！〃
〃The thing works well！〃 said Marat。 〃I hold my people by a thread；
and make them gesticulate and spring up and down； like the concealed
man in a Punch and Judy show。〃
The noise went on； the royalists would not cease their applause and
their calls for the chorus； 〃Chantons； celebrons notre reine！〃 The
enemies of the queen did not cease hissing and shouting； 〃We do not
want to hear any thing about the queen； we will not hear the monkey…
song！〃
〃Oh； would I had never come here！〃 whispered the queen； with tearful
eyes； as she sank back in her armchair； and hid her face in her
handkerchief。
Perhaps because the real royalists saw the agitation of the queen；
and out of compassion for her were willing to give up the
controversyperhaps Marat had given a sign to the false royalists
that they had had enough of shouting and confusionat all events
the cry 〃Vive la reine〃 and the call for the chorus died away
suddenly； the applause ceased； and as the enemies of the queen had
now no opposition to encounter； nothing was left to them but to be
silent too。
〃The first little skirmish is over！〃 said Marat； resting his bristly
head on the back of his velvet arm…chair。 〃Now we will listen to the
music a little； and look at the pretty theatre girls。〃
And in fact the opera had now begun； the director of the orchestra
had t