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of the king is inviolable。〃
〃That means；〃 said the queen to the police minister Brienne； who
brought the queen every morning tidings of what had occurred at
Paris and Versailles； 〃that means that my death…warrant was signed
yesterday。〃
〃Your majesty goes too far！〃 cried the minister in horror； 〃I think
that this has an entirely different meaning。 The National Assembly
has not pronounced the person of the queen inviolable； because they
want to say that the queen has nothing to do with politics； and
therefore it is unnecessary to pass judgment upon the inviolability
of the queen。〃
〃Ah！〃 sighed the queen； 〃I should have been happy if I had not been
compelled to trouble myself with these dreadful politics。 It
certainly was not in my wish nor in my character。 My enemies have
compelled me to it； it is they who have turned the simple； artless
queen into an intriguer。〃
〃Ah！ madam！〃 said the minister； astonished； 〃you use there too harsh
a word； you speak as if they belonged to your enemies。〃
〃No； I use the right word；〃 cried Marie Antoinette； sadly。 〃My
enemies have made an intriguer of me。 Every woman who goes beyond
her knowledge and the bounds of her duty in meddling with politics
is nothing better than an intriguer。 You see at least that I do not
flatter myself； although it troubles me to have to give myself so
bad a name。 The Queens of France are happy only when they have
nothing to trouble themselves about； and reserve only influence
enough to give pleasure to their friends； and reward their faithful
servants。 Do you know what recently happened to me？〃 continued the
queen； with a sad smile。 〃As I was going into the privy council
chamber to have a consultation with the king； I heard； while passing
OEil de Boeuf； one of the musicians saying so loud that I had to
listen to every word； 'A queen who does her duty stays in her own
room and busies herself with her sewing and knitting。' I said within
myself； 'Poor fellow； you are right； but you don't know my unhappy
condition； I yield only to necessity； and my bad luck urges me
forward。〃 ＇Footnote： The queen's own words。See 〃Memoires de Madame
de Campan；〃 vol ii。； p。 32。＇
〃Ah！ madame；〃 said the minister with a sigh； 〃would that they who
accuse you of mingling in politics out of ambition and love of
powerwould that they could hear your majesty complain of yourself
in these moving words！〃
〃My friend；〃 said Marie Antoinette； with a sad smile； 〃if they heard
it they would say that it was only something learned by heart； with
which I was trying to disarm the righteous anger of my enemies。 It
is in vain to want to excuse or justify myself； for no one will hear
a word。 I must be guilty； I must be criminal； that they who accuse
me may appear to have done right； that they may ascend while they
pull me down。 But let us not speak more of this！ I know my future； I
feel it clear and plain in my mind and in my soul that I am lost；
but I will at least fight courageously and zealously till the last
moment； and； if I must go down； it shall be at least with honor；
true to myself and true to the views and opinions in which I have
been trained。 Now； go on； let me know the new libels and accusations
which have been disseminated about me。〃 The minister drew from his
portfolio a whole package of pamphlets； and spread them upon a
little table before the queen。
〃So much at once！〃 said the queen； sadly； turning over the papers。
〃How much trouble I make to my enemies； and how much they must hate
me that I have such tenacity of life！ Here is a pamphlet entitled
'Good advice to Madame Deficit to leave France as soon as possible。'
'Madame Deficit！' that means me； doesn't it？〃
〃It is a name； your majesty； which the wickedness of the Duke
d'Orleans has imposed upon your majesty； answered the minister； with
a shrug of his shoulders。
The eyes of the queen flashed in anger。 She opened her lips to utter
a choleric word； but she governed herself； and went on turning over
the pamphlets and caricatures。 While doing that； while reading the
words charged with poison of wickedness and hate； the tears coursed
slowly over her cheeks； and once in a while a convulsive gasp forced
itself from her breast。
Brienne pitied the deep sorrow of the queen。 He begged her to
discontinue this sad perusal。 He wanted to gather up again the
contumelious writings； but Marie Antoinette held his hand back。
〃I must know every thing； every thing；〃 said she。 〃Go on bringing me
every thing； and do not be hindered by my tears。 It is of course
natural that I am sensitive to the evil words that are spoken about
me； and to the bad opinion that is cherished toward me by a people
that I love； and to win whose love I am prepared to make every
sacrifice。〃 ＇Footnote： The queen's own words。See Malleville；
〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette；〃 p。 197＇
At this moment the door of the cabinet was dashed open without
ceremony； and the Duchess de Polignac entered。
〃Forgiveness！ your majesty； forgiveness that I have ventured to
disturb you； but〃
〃What is it？〃 cried the queen； springing up。 〃You come to announce
misfortune to me； duchess。 It concerns the dauphin； does it not？ His
illness has increased？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； cramps have set in； and the physicians fear the
worst。〃
〃O God！ O God！〃 cried the queen； raising both her hands to heaven；
〃is every misfortune to beat down upon me？ I shall lose my son； my
dear child！ Here I sit weeping pitiful tears about the malice of my
enemies； and all this while my child is wrestling in the pains of
death！ Farewell； sir； I must go to my child。〃
And the queen； forgetting every thing else； thinking only of her
childthe sick； dying dauphinhurried forward； dashing through the
room with such quick step that the duchess could scarcely follow
her。
〃Is he dead？〃 cried Marie Antoinette to the servant standing in the
antechamber of the dauphin。 She did not await the reply； but burst
forward； hastily opened the door of the sick…room； and entered。
There upon the bed； beneath the gold…fringed canopy； lay the pale；
motionless boy； with open； staring eyes； with parched lips； and
wandering mindand it was her child； it was the Dauphin of France。
Around his bed stood the physicians； the quickly…summoned priests；
and the servants； looking with sorrowful eyes at the poor； deathly…
pale creature that was now no more than a withered flower； a son of
dust that must return to dust； then they looked sadly at the pale；
trembling wife who crouched before the bed； and who now was nothing
more than a sorrow…stricken mother； who must bow before the hand of
Fate； and feel that she had no more power over life and death than
the meanest of her subjects。
She bent over the bed； she put her arms tenderly around the little
shrunken form of the poor child that had long been sick； and that
was now confronting death。 She covered the pale face of her son with
kisses； and watered it with her tears。
And these kisses； these tears of his mother； awakened the child out
of his stupor； and called him back to life。 The Dauphin Louis roused
up once more； raised his great eyes； and； when he saw the
countenance of his mother above him bathed in tears； he smiled and
sought to raise his head and move his hand to greet her。 But Death
had already laid his iron bands upon him； and held him back upon the
couch of his last sufferings。
〃Are you in pain； my child？〃 whispered Marie Antoinette； kissing him
affectionately。 〃Are you suffering？〃
The boy looked at her tenderly。 〃I do not suffer；〃 he whispered so
softly that it sounded like the last breath of a departing spirit。
〃I only suffer if I see you weep； mamma。〃 ＇Footnote： The very words
of the dying dauphin。See Weber； 〃Memoires；〃 vol。 L； p。 209。＇
Marie Antoinette quickly dried her tears； and； kneeling near the
bed； found power in her motherly love to summon a smile to her lips；
in order that the dauphin； whose eyes remained fixed upon her； might
not see that she was suffering。
A deep silence prevailed now in the apartment； nothing was heard but
the gently…whispered prayers of the spectators； and the slow；
labored breathing of the dying child。
Once the door was lightly opened； and a man's figure stole lightly
in； advanced on tiptoe to the bed； and sank on his knees close by
Marie Antoinette。 It was the king； who had just been summoned from
the council…room to see his son die。
And now with a loud voice the priest began the prayers for the
dying； and all present softly repeated them。 Only the queen could
not； her eyes were fastened upon her son； who now saw her no more；
for his eyes were fixed in the last death…struggle。
Still one last gasp； one last breath； then came a cry from Marie
Antoinette's lips； and her head sank upon the hand of her son； which
rested in her own； and which was now stiff。 A few tears coursed
slowly over the cheeks of the king； and his hands； folded in prayer；
trembled。
The priest raised his arms； and with a loud； solemn voice cried：
〃The Lord gave； the Lord hath taken away； blessed be the name of the
Lord。 Amen。〃
〃Amen； amen；〃 whispered all present。
〃Amen；〃 said the king； closing with gentle pressure the open eyes of
hi