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days are all pastthe sunshine of Trianon； and the fragrance of its
flowers。〃
〃And will your majesty not go there to…day？〃 asked the duchess。 〃It
is such beautiful weather； the sun shines so splendidly； and we
shall have such a glorious sunset。〃
〃A glorious sunset！〃 repeated Marie Antoinette； with a bitter smile。
〃A queen is at least allowed to see the sun go down； etiquette has
not forbidden a queen to see the sun set and night approach。 But the
poor creature is not allowed to see the sun rise； and rejoice in the
beauty of the dawn。 I have once； since I was a queen； seen the sun
rise； and all the world cried 'Murder；' and counted it a crime； and
all France laughed at the epigrams and jests with which my friends
punished me for the crime that the queen of France； with her court；
had seen the sun rise。 And now you want to allow me to see it set；
but I will not； I will not look at this sad spectacle of coming
night。 In me it is night； and I feel the storms which are drawing
nigh。 Go； Julia； leave me alone； for you can see that there is
nothing to be done with me to…day。 I cannot laugh； I cannot be
merry。 Go； for my sadness might infect you； and that would make me
doubly sad。〃
The duchess did not reply； she only made a deep reverence； and went
with light； inaudible step over the carpet to the door。 The queen's
face had been turned away； but as the light sound of the door struck
her ear； she turned quickly around and saw that she was alone。
〃She has left meshe has really gone；〃 sighed the queen； bitterly。
〃Oh！ she is like all the rest； she never loved me。 But who does love
me？〃 asked she； in despair。 〃Who is there in the world that loves
me； and forgets that I am the queen？ My God！ my heart cries for
love； yearns for friendship； and has never found them。 And they make
this yearning of mine a crime； they accuse me that I have a heart。 0
my God！ have pity upon me。 Veil at least my eyes； that I may not see
the faithlessness of my friends。 Sustain at least my faith in the
friendship of my Julia。 Let me not have the bitterness of feeling
that I am alone； inconsolably alone。〃
She pressed her hands before her face； and sank upon a chair； and
sat long there； motionless； and wholly given over to her sad； bitter
feelings。
After a long time she let her hands fall from her face； and looked
around with a pained； confused look。 The sun had gone down； it began
to grow dark； and Marie Antoinette shuddered within herself。
〃By this time the sentence has been pronounced；〃 she muttered；
softly。 〃By this time it is known whether the Queen of France can be
slandered and insulted with impunity。 Oh！ if I only could be sure。
Did not Campan sayI will go to Campan。〃 And the queen rose
quickly； went with a decisive step out of her cabinet； then through
the toilet…room close by； and opened the door which led to the
chamber of her first lady…in…waiting； Madame de Campan。
Madame de Campan stood at the window； and gazed with such a look of
intense expectation out into the twilight； that she did not notice
the entrance of the queen till the latter called her loudly by name。
〃The queen！〃 cried she； drawing back terrified from the window。 〃The
queen！ andhere； in my room！〃
Marie Antoinette made a movement of impatience。 〃You want to say
that it is not becoming for a queen to enter the room of her trusted
waiting…maid； that it is against etiquette。 I know that indeed； but
these are days； my good Campan； when etiquette has no power over us；
and when； behind the royal purple； the poor human heart； in all its
need； comes into the foreground。 This is such a day for me； and as I
know you are true； I have come to you。 Did you not tell me； Campan；
that you should receive the news as soon as the sentence was
pronounced？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； I do hope to； and that is the reason why I am
standing at the window looking for my messenger。〃
〃How curious！〃 said the queen； thoughtfully。 〃They call me Queen of
France； and yet I have no one who hastens to give me news of this
important affair； while my waiting…maid has devoted friends； who do
for her what no one does for the queen。〃
〃I beg your majesty's pardon；〃 answered Madame de Campan； smiling。
〃What they do to…day for me； they do only because I am the waiting…
maid of the queen。 I was yesterday at Councillor Bugeaud's； in order
to pay my respects to the family after a long interval； for his wife
is a cousin of mine。〃
〃That means；〃 said the queen； with a slight smile； 〃that you went
there； not to visit your cousin； the councillor's wife； but to visit
the councillor himself。 Now confess； my good Campan； you wanted to
do a little bribery。〃
〃Well； I confess to your majesty； I wanted to see if it was really
true that Councillor Bugeaud has gone over to the enemy。 Your
majesty knows that Madame de Marsan has visited all the councillors；
and adjured them by God and the Holy Church； not to condemn the
cardinal； but to declare him innocent。〃
〃That is； they will free the cardinal that I may be condemned；〃 said
the queen； angrily。 〃For to free him is the same as to accuse me and
have my honor tarnished。〃
〃That was what I was saying to my cousin； Councillor Bugeaud； and
happily I found supporters in his own family。 Oh； I assure your
majesty that in this family there are those who are devoted； heart
and soul； to your majesty。〃
〃Who are these persons？〃 asked the queen。 〃Name them to me； that in
my sad hours I may remember them。〃
〃There is； in the first place； the daughter of the councillor； the
pretty Margaret； who is so enthusiastic for your majesty that she
saves a part of her meagre pocket…money that she may ride over to
Versailles at every great festival to see your majesty； and then
particularly there is the lover of this little person； a young man
named Toulan； a gifted； fine young fellow； who almost worships your
majestyhe is the one who promised me to bring news at once after
the sentence is pronounced； and it is more owing to his eloquence
than to mine that Councillor Bugeaud saw the necessity of giving his
vote against the cardinal and putting himself on the right side。〃
At this instant the door which led into the antechamber was hastily
flung open； and a lackey entered。
〃The gentleman whom you expected has just arrived；〃 he announced。
〃It is Mr。 Toulan；〃 whispered Madame de Campan to the queen； 〃he
brings the sentence。 Tell the gentleman；〃 she then said aloud to the
lackey； 〃to wait a moment in the antechamber； I will receive him
directly。
〃Go； I beg your majesty；〃 she continued as the lackey withdrew； 〃I
beg your majesty to graciously allow me to receive the young man
here。〃
〃That is to say； my dear Campan；〃 said the queen； smiling； 〃to
vacate the premises and leave the apartment。 But I am not at all
inclined to； I prefer to remain here。 I want to see this young man
of whom you say that he is such a faithful friend； and then I should
like to know the news as soon as possible that he brings。 See here；
the chimney…screen is much taller than I； and if I go behind； the
young man will have no suspicion of my presence； especially as it is
dark。 Now let him come in。 I am most eager to hear the news。〃
The queen quickly stepped behind the high screen； and Madame Campan
opened the door of the antechamber。
〃Come in； Mr。 Toulan；〃 she cried； and at once there appeared at the
open door the tall； powerful figure of the young man。 His cheeks
were heated with the quick ride； his eyes glowed； and his breathing
was rapid and hard。 Madame Campan extended her hand to him and
greeted him with a friendly smile。 〃So you have kept your word； Mr。
Toulan；〃 she said。 〃You bring me the news of the court's decision？〃
〃Yes； madame； I do；〃 he answered softly； and with a touch of
sadness。 〃I am only sorry that you have had to wait so long； but it
is not my fault。 It was striking eight from the tower of St。 Jacques
when I received the news。〃
〃Eight；〃 asked Madame de Campan； looking at the clock； 〃it is now
scarcely nine。 You do not mean to say that you have ridden the
eighteen miles from Paris to Versailles in an hour？〃
〃I have done it； and I assure you that is nothing wonderful。 I had
four fresh horses stationed along the road； and they were good ones。
I fancied myself sometimes a bird flying through the air； and it
seems to me now as if I had flown。 I beg your pardon if I sit down
in your presence； for my feet tremble a little。〃
〃Do sit down； my dear young friend；〃 cried Campan； and she hastened
herself to place an easy…chair for the young man。
〃Only an instant；〃 he said； sinking into it。 〃But believe me it is
not the quick ride that makes my feet tremble； but joy and
excitement。 I shall perhaps have the pleasure to have done the queen
a little service； for you told me that it would be very important
for her majesty to learn the verdict as quickly as possible； and no
one has got here before me； has there？〃
〃No； my friend； the queen will learn the news first through your
means； and I shall say to her majesty that I have learned it through
you。〃
〃No； madame；〃 he cried； quickly； 〃no； I would much rather you would
not tell the queen； for who knows whether the news is