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the queen in his behalf。 Some days later she told the cardinal that
she had fulfilled her promise； she had painted his sadness in such
moving words that the queen appeared to be very much affected； and
had told the countess that she would pardon all； if the cardinal
would send her in writing an apology for the mortifications which he
had inflicted upon herself and her mother Maria Theresa。 The
cardinal； of course； joyfully consented to this。 He sent to the
countess a document in which he humbly begged pardon for asking the
Empress Maria Theresa； years before； when Marie Antoinette was yet
Dauphiness of France； and he； the cardinal； was French ambassador in
Vienna； to chide her daughter on account of her light and haughty
behavior； and to charge herself with seeing it bettered。 This was
the only offence against the queen of which he felt himself guilty；
and for this he humbly implored forgiveness。 He had； at the same
time； begged the queen for an audience； that he might pay his
respects to her； and on bended knee ask her pardon。 Some days after；
the Countess Lamotte…Valois had handed him a paper； written with the
queen's hand； as an answer to his letter。
The president here interrupted the cardinal： 〃Are you still in
possession of this document； your eminence？〃
The cardinal bowed。 〃I have always； since I had the fortune to
receive them； carried with me the dear； and to me invaluable；
letters of the queen。 On the day when I was arrested in Versailles；
they lay in my breast coat…pocket。 It was my fortune； and the
misfortune of those who； after I had been carried to the Bastile；
burst into my palace； sealed my papers； and at once burned what
displeased them。 In this way these letters escaped the auto…da…fe。
Here is the first letter of the queen。〃
He drew a pocket…book from his robe； took from it a small folded
paper； and laid it upon the table before the president。
The president opened it and read： 〃I have received your brief； and
am delighted to find you no longer culpable； in the mean while； I am
sorry not to be able to give you the audience which you ask。 As
soon； however； as circumstances allow me； I shall inform you； till
then； silence。 Marie Antoinette of France。〃 ＇Footnote： Goncourt。
〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette；〃 p。 143。＇
A murmur of astonishment arose among the judges after this reading；
and all looks were directed with deep sympathy to the cardinal； who；
with a quiet； modest bearing； stood over against them。 The glances
of the president of the high court； directed themselves； after he
had read the letter and laid it upon the green table； to the great
dignitary of the Church； and then he seemed to notice for the first
time that the cardinal； a prince and grand almoner of the King of
Prance； was standing like a common criminal。
〃Give the lord cardinal an arm…chair；〃 he ordered； with a loud
voice； and one of the guards ran to bring one of the broad；
comfortable chairs of the judges； which was just then unoccupied；
and carried it to the cardinal。
Prince Rohan thanked the judges with a slight inclination of his
proud head； and sank into the arm…chair。 The accused and the judges
now sat on the same seats； and one would almost have suspected that
the cardinal； in his magnificent costume； with his noble； lofty
bearing； his peaceful； passionless face； and sitting in his arm…
chair； alone and separated from all others； was himself the judge of
those who； in their dark garments and troubled and oppressed
spirits； and restless mien； were sitting opposite him。
〃Will your eminence have the goodness to proceed？〃 humbly asked the
president of the court； after a pause。 The cardinal nodded as the
sign of assent； and continued his narrative。
This letter of the queen naturally filled him with great delight；
particularly as he had a personal interview with her majesty in
prospect； and he had implored the Countess Valois all the more to
procure this meeting； because； in spite of the forgiveness which the
queen had given to the cardinal； she continued on all occasions；
where he had the happiness to be in her presence； to treat him with
extreme disdain。 On one Sunday； when he was reading mass before
their majesties； he took the liberty to enter the audience…room and
to address the queen。 Marie Antoinette bestowed upon him only an
annihilating look of anger and scorn； and turned her back upon him；
saying； at the same time； with a loud voice； to the Duchess of
Polignac： 〃What a shameless act！ These people believe they may do
any thing if they wear the purple。 They believe they may rank with
kings； and even address them。〃
These proud and cutting words had naturally deeply wounded the
cardinal； and； for the first time； the doubt was suggested to him
whether； in the end； all the communications of the Countess Valois；
even the letter of the queen； might not prove to be false； for it
appeared to him impossible that the queen could be secretly；
favorably inclined to a man whom she openly scorned。 In his anger he
said so to the Countess Lamotte； and told her that he should hold
all that she had brought him from the queen to be false； unless；
within a very short time； she could procure what he had so long and
so urgently besought； namely； an audience with the queen。 He desired
this audience as a proof that Marie Antoinette was really changed；
and； at the same time； as a proof that the Countess Lamotte…Valois
had told him the truth。 The countess laughed at his distrust； and
promised to try all the arts of address with the queen； in order to
gain for the cardinal the desired audience。 The latter； who thought
he recognized in the beautiful and expressive countenance of the
lady innocence and honorableness； now regretted his hasty words； and
said to Madame Lamotte； that in case the queen would really grant
him a private audience； he would give her （the countess） fifty
thousand francs as a sign of his gratitude。
A murmur of applause and of astonishment rose at these words from
the spectators； comprising some of the greatest noble families of
France； the Rohans； the Guemenes； the Count de Vergennes； and all
the most powerful enemies of the queen； who had taken advantage of
this occasion in order to avenge themselves on the Austrian； who had
dared to choose her friends and select her society； not in
accordance with lineage； but as her own pleasure dictated。
The president of the court did not consider this murmur of applause
marked enough to be reprimanded； and let it be continued。
〃And did the Countess Lamotte…Valois procure for you this audience？〃
he then asked。
Prince Rohan was silent a moment； his face grew pale； his features
assumed for the first time a troubled expression； and the painful
struggles which disturbed his soul could be seen working within him。
〃May it please this noble court；〃 he replied； after a pause； with
feeling； trembling voice； 〃I feel at this moment that； beneath the
robe of the priest； the heart of the man beats yet。 It is； however；
for every man a wrong； an unpardonable wrong； to disclose the
confidence of a lady； and to reveal to the open light of day the
favors which have been granted by her。 But I must take this crime
upon myself； because I have to defend the honor of a priest； even of
a dignitary in the Church； and also because I do not dare to suffer
my purple to be soiled with even the suspicion of a lie； or an act
of falsehood。 It may beand I fear it even myselfit may be； that
in this matter； I myself was the deceived one； but I dare not bring
suspicion upon my tiara that I was the deceiver； and； therefore； I
have to meet the stern necessity of disclosing the secret of a lady
and a queen。〃
〃Besides this；〃 said the president； solemnly〃besides this； your
eminence may graciously consider； in presence of the authority given
you by God； all the tender thoughts of the cardinal must be silent。
The duty of a dignitary of the Church commands you to go before all
other men in setting them a noble example； and one worthy of
imitation。 It is your sacred duty； in accordance with the demands of
truth； to give the most detailed information regarding every thing
that concerns this affair； and your eminence will have the goodness
to remember that we are the secular priests of God； before whom
every accused person must confess the whole truth with a perfect
conscience。〃
〃I thank you； Mr。 President；〃 said the cardinal； with so gentle and
tremulous a voice； that you might hear after it a faint sob from
some deeply…veiled ladies who sat on the spectators' seats； and so
that even the eyes of President de l'Aigro filled with tears〃 I
thank you； Mr。 President；〃 repeated the cardinal； breathing more
freely。 〃You take a heavy burden from my heart； and your wisdom
instructs me as to my own duty。〃
The president blushed with pleasure at the high praises of the
cardinal。
〃And now；〃 he said； 〃I take the liberty of repeating my question；
did the Countess Lamotte…Valois succeed in procuring for your
eminence a secret audience with the queen？〃
〃She did；〃 replied the cardinal； 〃she did procure an interview for
me。〃
And compelling himself to a quiet manner； he went on with his story：
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