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！
music a little； and look at the pretty theatre girls。〃
And in fact the opera had now begun； the director of the orchestra
had taken advantage of the return of quiet to give a sign to the
singers on the stage to begin at once； and with fortunate presence
of mind his command was obeyed。
The public； wearied it may be with the shouting and noise； remained
silent； and seemed to give its attention exclusively to the stage；
the development of the plot； and the noble music。
Marie Antoinette breathed freely again； her pale cheeks began to
have color once more； her eyes were again bright； and she seemed
transported beyond the sore battles and dreadful discords of her
life； she listened respectfully to the sweet melodies； and the grand
harmonies of the teacher of her youth； the great Gluck。 Leaning back
in her armchair； she allowed the music to flow into her soul； and
the recollection of past days awoke afresh in her mind。 She dreamed
of the days of her childhood： she saw herself again in Schonbrunn；
she saw her teacher Gluck enter the blue music…room； in which she
with her sisters used to wait for him； she saw the glowing
countenance of her mother； the great Maria Theresa； entering her
room； in order to give Gluck a proof of her high regard； and to
announce to him herself that Marie Antoinette had betrothed herself
to the Dauphin of France； and that she would soon bid her teacher
farewell； in order to enter upon her new and brilliant career。
A low hum in the theatre awakened the queen from her reveries； she
raised herself up and leaned forward； to see what was going on。 Her
glance； which was directed to the stage； fell upon the singer
Clairval； who was just then beginning to give； with his wonderfully
full and flexible voice； the great aria in which the friend comes to
console the grief…burdened； weeping Queen Alceste； and to dry her
tears by assuring her of the love of her faithful adherents。
Clairval had advanced in the aria to that celebrated passage which
had given to Marie Antoinette a half year before her last great
triumph。 It ran：
〃Reine infortunee； ah！ que ton coeur Ne soit plus navre de douleur！
Il vous reste encore des amis！〃
But scarcely had Clairval begun the first strophe when the
thundering voice of Santerre called； 〃None of that； we will not hear
the air！〃
〃No； we will not hear the air！〃 shouted hundreds and hundreds of
voices。
〃Poor Gluck；〃 whispered Marie Antoinette； with tears in her eyes；
〃because they hate me； they will not even hear your music！〃
〃Sing it； sing it！〃 shouted hundreds and hundreds of voices from all
parts of the house。
〃No； do not sing it！〃 roared the others； 〃we will not hear the air。〃
And suddenly； above the cries of the contestants； rose a loud；
yelling voice：
〃I forbid the singer Clairval ever again singing this air。 I forbid
it in the name of the people！〃
It was Marat who spoke these words。 Standing on the arm…chair of the
Princess de Lamballe； and raising his long arms； and directing them
threateningly toward the stage； he turned his face； aglow with hate
and evil； toward the queen。
Marie Antoinette； who had turned her head in alarm in the direction
whence the voice proceeded； met with her searching looks the eyes of
Marat； which were fixed upon her with an expression equally stern
and contemptuous。 She shrank back； and； as if in deadly pain； put
her hand to her heart。
〃0 God！〃 she whispered to herself； 〃that is no man； that is an
infernal demon； who has risen there to take the place of my dear；
sweet Lamballe。 Ah； the good spirit is gone； and the demon takes its
placethe demon which will destroy us all！〃
〃Long live Marat！〃 roared Santerre； and his comrades。 〃Long live
Marat； the great friend of the people； the true patriot！〃
Marat bowed on all sides； stepped down from the easy…chair； and
seated himself comfortably in it。
Clairval had stopped in the air； pale； confused； and terrified； he
had withdrawn； and the director whispered to the orchestra and the
singers to begin the next number。
The opera went on； and the public again appeared to give itself
during some scenes to the enjoyment of the music。 But soon this
short quiet was to be disturbed again。 One of the singers； Madame
Dugazont； a zealous royalist； wanted to give the queen a little
triumph； and show her that； although Clairval had been silenced； the
love and veneration of Dugazont were still alive and ready to
display themselves。
Singing as the attendant of Alceste； Dugazont had these words to
give in her part： 〃Ah！ comme faime la reine； comme faime ma
maitresse！〃
She advanced close to the footlights； and turning her looks toward
the royal box； and bowing low； sang the words： 〃Comme faime la
reine； comme j'aime ma maitresse！〃
And now； as if this had been the battle…cry of a new contest； a
fearful din； a raging torrent of sound began through the whole
house。 At first it was a mixed and confused mass of cries； roars；
hisses； and applause。 Now and then single voices could be heard
above the horrid chaos of sounds。 〃We want no queen！〃 shouted some。
〃We want no mistress！〃 roared others； and mingled with those was the
contrary cry； 〃Long live the queen！ Long live our mistress！〃
〃Hi！〃 said Marat； full of delight； twisting his bony form up into
all kinds of knots〃 hi！ this is the way they shout in hell。 Satan
himself would like this！〃
More and more horrible； more and more wild became the cries of the
rival partisans。 Already embittered and exasperated faces were
confronting each other； and here and there clinched fists were seen；
threatening to bring a shouting neighbor to silence by the use of
violence。
The queen； trembling in every limb； had let her head fall
powerlessly on her breast； in order that no one might see the tears
which ran from her eyes over her death…like cheeks。
〃0 God；〃 whispered she； 〃we are lost； hopelessly lost； for not
merely our enemies injure us； and bring us into danger； but our
friends still more。 Why must that woman turn to me and direct her
words to me？ She wanted to give me a triumph； and yet she has
brought me a new humiliation。〃 Suddenly she shrank back and raised
her head。 She had caught the first tones of that sharp； mocking
voice； which had already pierced her heart； the voice of that evil
demon who now occupied the place of the good Princess Lamballe。
The voice cried： 〃The people of Paris are right。 We want no queen！
And more than all other things； no mistress！ Only slaves acknowledge
masters over them。 If the Dugazont ventures to sing again； 'I love
my queen； I love my mistress；' she will be punished as slaves are
punishedthat is； she will be flogged！〃
〃Bravo； Marat； bravo！〃 roared Santerre； with his savage rabble。
〃Bravo； Marat； bravo！〃 cried his friends in the boxes； 〃she shall be
flogged！〃
Marat bowed on all sides； and turned his eyes； gleaming with scorn
and hatred； toward the royal box； and menaced it with his clinched
fists。
〃But not alone shall the singer be flogged；〃 cried he； with a voice
louder and sharper than before〃no； not alone shall the singer be
flogged； but greater punishment have they deserved who urge on to
such de