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The king answered confusedly； and as if in a yielding frame of mind。
〃We must first hear what the people want；〃 he said； 〃we must not
approach them threateningly； we must first discuss matters with
them。〃
〃Sire；〃 answered the queen； in amazement； 〃to discuss with the
rebels now is to imply that they are in the right； and you will not；
you cannot do that！〃
〃I will consult with my advisers；〃 said the king； pointing at the
ministers； who； summoned by St。 Priest； were then entering the room。
But what a consultation was that！ Every one made propositions； and
yet no one knew what to do。 No one would take the responsibility of
the matter upon himself； and yet every one felt that the danger
increased every minute。 But what to do？ That was the question which
no one was able to answer； and before which the king was mute。 Not
so the queen； however。
〃Sire！〃 cried she； with glowing cheeks； 〃sire； you have to save the
realm； and to defend it from revolution。 The contest is here； and we
cannot withdraw from it。 Call your guards； put yourself at their
head； and allow me to remain at your side。 We ought not to yield to
revolution； and if we cannot control it； we should suffer it to
enter the palace of the kings of France only over our dead bodies。
Sire； we must either live as kings； or know how to die as kings！〃
But Louis replied to this burst of noble valor in a brave woman's
soul； only with holding back and timidity。 Plans were made and cast
aside。 They went on deliberating till the wild yells of the people
were heard even within the palace。
The queen； pale and yet calm； had withdrawn to the adjoining
apartment。 There she leaned against the door and listened to the
words of the ministers； and to the new reports which were all the
time coming in from the streets。
The crowd had reached Versailles； and was streaming through the
streets of the city in the direction of the palace。 The National
Guard of Versailles had fraternized with the Parisians。 Some
scattered soldiers of the royal guard had been threatened and
insulted； and even dragged from their horses！
The queen heard all； and heard besides the consultation of the king
and his ministersstill coming to no decisive results； doubting and
hesitating； while the fearful crisis was advancing from the street。
Already musket…shots were heard on the great square in front of the
palace； wild cries； and loud； harsh voices。 Marie Antoinette left
her place at the door and hurried to the window； where a view could
be had of the whole square。 She saw the dark dust…cloud which hung
over the road to Paris； she saw the unridden horses； running in
advance of the crowd； their riders； members of the royal guard；
having been killed； she heard the raging discords； which surged up
to the palace like a wave driven by the wind； she saw this black；
dreadful wave sweep along the Paris road； roaring as it went。
What a fearful mass！ Howling； shrieking women； with loosened hair；
and with menacing gestures； extended their naked arms toward the
palace defiantly； their eyes naming； their mouths overflowing with
curses。 Wild men's figures； with torn blouses； the sleeves rolled up
over dusty and dirty arms； and bearing pikes； knives； and guns； here
and there members of the National Guard marching with them arm in
arm； pressed on toward the palace。 Sometimes shrieks and yells；
sometimes coarse peals of laughter； or threatening cries； issued
from the confused crowd。 Nearer and nearer surged the dreadful wave
of destruction to the royal palace。 Now it has reached it。 Maddened
fists pounded upon the iron gates before the inner court； and
threatening voices demanded entrance： hundreds and hundreds of women
shrieked with wild gestures：
〃We want to come in！ We want to speak with the baker！ We will eat
the queen's guts if we cannot get any thing else to eat！〃
And thousands upon thousands of women's voices repeated〃Yes； we
will eat the queen's guts； if we get nothing else to eat！〃
Marie Antoinette withdrew from the window； her bearing was grave and
defiant； a laugh of scorn played over her proudly…drawn…up upper…
lip； her head was erect； her step decisive； dignified。
She went again to the king and his ministers。 〃Sire；〃 said she； 〃the
people are here。 It is now too late to supplicate them； as you
wanted to do。 Nothing remains for you except to defend yourself； and
to save the crown for your son the dauphin； even if it falls from
your own head。〃
〃It remains for us；〃 answered the king； gravely； 〃to bring the
people back to a sense of duty。 They are deceived about us。 They are
excited。 We will try to conciliate them； and to show them our
fatherly interest in them。〃
The queen stared in amazement at the pleasant； smiling face of the
king； then； with a loud cry of pain； which escaped from her breast
like the last gasp of a dying man； she turned around； and went up to
the Prince de Luxemburg； the captain of the guard； who just then
entered the hall。
〃Do you come to tell us that the people have taken the palace？〃
cried the queen； with an angry burst from her very soul。
〃Madame；〃 answered the prince； 〃had that been the case； I should not
have been here alive。 Only over my body will the rabble enter the
palace。〃
〃Ah；〃 muttered Marie Antoinette to herself； 〃there are men in
Versailles yet； there are brave men yet to defend us！〃
〃What news do you bring； captain？〃 asked the king； stepping up。
〃Sire； I am come to receive your commands；〃 answered the prince；
bowing respectfully。 〃This mob of shameless shrews is growing more
maddened； more shameless every moment。 Thousands and thousands of
arms are trying the gates； and guns are fired with steady aim at the
guards。 I beg your majesty to empower me to repel this attack of mad
women！〃
〃What an idea； captain！〃 cried Louis； shrugging his shoulders。
〃Order to attack a company of women！ You are joking； prince！〃
＇Footnote： The king's own words。See Weber； 〃Memoires；〃 vol。 t； p。
433。＇
And the king turned to Count de la Marck； who was entering the room。
〃You come with new news。 What is it； count？〃
〃Sire； the women are most desirous of speaking with your majesty；
and presenting their grievances。〃
〃I will hear them；〃 cried the king； eagerly。 〃Tell the women to
choose six of their number and bring them into my cabinet。 I will go
there myself。〃
〃Sire； you are going to give audience to revolution；〃 cried Marie
Antoinette； seizing the arm of the king； who was on the point of
leaving the room。 〃I conjure you； my husband； do not be overpowered
by your magnanimous heart！ Let not the majesty of the realm be
defiled by the raging hands of these furies！ Remain here。 Oh； sire；
if my prayers； my wishes have any power with you； remain here！ Send
a minister to treat with these women in your name。 But do not
confront their impudence with the dignity of the crown。 Sire； to
give them audience is to give audience to revolution； and from the
hour when it takes place； revolution has gained the victory over the
kingly authority！ Do not go； oh do not go！〃
〃I have given my word；〃 answered Louis； gently。 〃I have sent word to
the women that I would receive them； and they shall not say that the
first time they set foot in the palace of their king； they were
deceived by him。 And see； there comes the count to take me！〃
And the king followed with hasty step Count de la Marck； who just
then appeared at the door。
Six women of wild demeanor； with dusty； dirty clothes； their hair
streaming out from their round white caps； were assembled in the
cabinet of the king； and stared at him with defiant eyes as he
entered。 But his gentle demeanor and pleasant voice appeared to
surprise them； and Louise Chably； the speaker； who had selected the
women； found only timid； modest words； with which to paint to the
king the misfortune； the need； and the pitiable condition of the
people； and with which to entreat his pity and assistance。
〃Ah； my children；〃 answered the king with a sigh； 〃only believe me；
it is not my fault that you are miserable； and I am still more
unhappy than you。 I will give directions to Corbeil and D'Estampes；
the controllers of the grain…stores； to give out all that they can
spare。 If my commands had always been obeyed； it would be better
with us all！ If I could do every thing； could see to it that my
commands were everywhere carried into effect； you would not be
unhappy； and you must confess； at least； that your king loves you as
a father his children； and that nothing lies so closely at his heart
as your welfare。 Go； my children； and tell your friends to prove
worthy of the love of their king； and to return peaceably to Paris。〃
＇Footnote： The king's own words。See。 A。 de Beauchesne； 〃Louis
XVI。。 sa Vie； son Agonie； 〃etc。； vol。 i。； p。 43。＇
〃Long live the king！ Long live our father！〃 cried the touched and
pacified women； as trembling and with tears in their eyes； they left
the royal cabinet； in order to go to the women below； and announce
to them what the king had said。
But the royal words found no response among the excited masses。 〃We
are hungry； we want bread；〃 shouted the women。 〃We are not going to
live on words any more。 The king sh