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are hungry； we want bread；〃 shouted the women。 〃We are not going to
live on words any more。 The king shall give us bread； and then we
shall see it proved that he loves us like a father； then we will go
back to Paris。 If the baker believes that he can satisfy us with
words and fine speeches； he is mistaken。〃
〃If he has no bread； he shall give us his wife to eat！〃 roared a man
with a pike in his hand and a red cap on his head。 〃The baker's wife
has eaten up all our bread； and it is no more than fair that we
should eat her up now。〃
〃Give us the heart of the queen；〃 was now the cry； 〃give us the
heart of the queen！〃
Marie Antoinette heard the words； but she appeared not to be
alarmed。 With dignity and composure； she cast a look at the
ministers and gentlemen； who； pale and speechless； had gathered
around the royal couple。
〃I know that this crowd has come from Paris to demand my head！ I
learned of my mother not to fear death； and I shall meet it with
courage and steadfastness。〃 ＇Footnote： The words of the queen。See
〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette；〃 p。 194。＇
And firmly and fearlessly Marie Antoinette remained all this
dreadful evening； which was now beginning to overshadow Versailles。
Outside of the palace raged the uproar； revolutionary songs were
sung； veiled forms； the leaders of the revolution； stole around； and
fired the people with new rage against the baker and the baker's
wife。 Torches were lighted to see by； and the blood…red glare shone
into the faces there； and tended to exasperate them still more。 What
dances were executed by the women； with torches in their hands！ and
the men roared in accompaniment； ridiculing the king and threatening
the queen with death。
At times the torches threw their flickering glare into the windows
of the palace； where were the ministers and servants of the king； in
silent horror。 Among all those counsellor of the king； there was at
this time but one Man； Marie Antoinette！ She alone preserved her
steadfastness and discretion； she spoke to every one friendly；
inspiriting words。 She roused up the timid； at times she even
attempted to bring the king to some decisive action； and yet she did
not complain when she found herself unable to do so。
Once her face lighted up in hope and joy。 That was when a company of
deputies； headed by Toulan； entered the hall； to offer their
services to the royal couple； and to ask permission to be allowed to
remain around the king and queen。
But scarcely had this request been granted； when both the
secretaries of the president of the National Assembly entered；
warning the members； in the name of the president； to return at once
to the hall and to take part in the night session which was to be
held。
〃They call our last friends away from us；〃 murmured the queen； 〃for
they want us to be entirely defenceless！〃
All at once the cries on the square below were more violent and
loud； musket…shots were heard； at the intervals between rose the
thousand…voiced clamor； and at one time the thunder of a cannon。
There was a rush of horses； and clash of arms； more musket…shots；
and then the cry of the wounded。
The king had withdrawn to hold a last consultation with his
ministers and a few faithful friends。 At this fearful noise； this
sound of weapons； this shout of victory； his first thought was of
the queen。 He rose quickly and entered the hall。
No one was there； the red glare of the torches was thrown from below
into the deserted room； and showed upon the wall wondrous shadows of
contorted human figures； with clinched fists and with raised and
threatening arms。
The king walked hastily through the fearfully illuminated hall；
called for the queen with a loud voice； burst into the cabinet； then
into her sleeping…room； but no Marie Antoinette was to be foundno
one gave reply to the anxious call of the king。
More dreadful grew the wild shrieks and howls； the curses and
maledictions which came in from without。
The king sprang up the little staircase which led to the rooms of
the children； and dashed through the antechamber； where the door was
open that led to the dauphin's sleeping…room。
And here Louis stood still； and looked with a breath of relief at
the group which met his tearful eyes。 The dauphin was lying in his
bed fast asleep； with a smile on his face。 Marie Antoinette stood
erect before the bed in an attitude of proud composure。
〃Marie；〃 said the king； deeply moved〃Marie； I was looking for
you。〃
The queen slowly turned her head toward him and pointed at the
sleeping prince。
〃Sire；〃 answered she calmly； 〃I was at my post。〃 ＇Footnote： This
conversation； as well as this whole scene； is historical。See
Beauchesne's 〃Louis XVII。；〃 vol。 i。＇
Louis； overcome by the sublimity of a mother's love； hastened to his
wife and locked her in his arms。
〃Remain with me； Marie；〃 he said。 〃Do not leave me。 Breathe your
courage and your decision into me。〃
The queen sighed and sadly shook her head。 She had not a word of
reproach； she did not say that she no longer believed in the courage
and decision of the king； but she had no longer any hope。
But the doors of the room now opened。 Through one came the maids of
the queen and the governess of the dauphin； through the other； some
gentlemen of the court； to call the king back into the audience…
hall。
After the first panic； every one had come back to consciousness
again； and all vied in devoting themselves to the king and the
queen。 The gentlemen brought word that something new had occurred；
and that this was the cause of the dreadful tumult below upon the
square。 The National Guard of Paris had arrived； they had
fraternized with the National Guard of Versailles； and with the
people； they had been received by the women with shouts of applause；
and by the men with a volley of musket…shots in salutation。 General
Lafayette had entered the palace to offer his services to the king；
and he now asked for an audience。
〃Come； madame；〃 said Louis quickly； cheered up； 〃let us receive the
general。 You see that things are not so bad with us as you think。 We
have faithful servants yet to hasten to our assistance。〃
The queen made no reply。 Quietly she followed the king into the
hall； in which Lafayette； surrounded by the ministers and gentlemen；
was standing。 On the entrance of the royal couple； the general
advanced to meet them with a reverential salutation。
〃Sire；〃 said Lafayette； with cheerful confidence〃 sire； I have
come to protect your majesties and the National Assembly against all
those who shall venture to threaten you。〃
〃Are you assured of the fidelity and trustworthiness of your
troops？〃 asked the queen； whose flaming eyes rested upon Lafayette's
countenance as if she wanted to read his utmost thoughts。
But these eyes did not confuse the cheerful calmness of the general。
〃I know； madame； that I can rely upon the fidelity of my soldiers；〃
answered he； confidently。 〃They are devoted to me to the death； and
as I shall command them； they will watch over the security of the
king and queen； and keep all injury from them。〃
The queen detected the touch of scorn in these loud…sounding words；
but she pretended to believe them。 At last she really did believe
them； for Lafayette repeated emphatically that from this time
nothing more was to be feared for the royal family； and that all
danger was past。 The guard should be chosen this night from his own
troops； the Paris National Guard should restore peace again in
Versailles； and keep an eye upon the crowds which had encamped upon
the great square before the palace。
Lafayette promised well for his army； for the howling； shrieking
women； for the cursing； raging men。
And the king was satisfied with these assurances of General
Lafayette； and so； too； was Marie Antoinette at last。
Louis ordered the garde du corps to march to Rambouillet； and
reserved only the necessary sentinels in the palace。 In the
immediate neighborhood the soldiers of Lafayette were stationed。 The
general once more made the rounds； and then； as if every thing was
in a position of the greatest security； he went into the palace to
spend the night there； and in peaceful slumbers to refresh himself
for the labors of the day。
The king； too； had retired to his apartments； and the valets who had
assisted his majesty to undress had not left the sleeping…room； when
the loud； uniform breathing which issued from the silken curtains of
the bed told them that the king had already fallen asleep。 The
queen； too； had gone to rest； and while laying her wearied and heavy
head upon the cushions； she tenderly besought both her maids to lie
down too。 All was quiet now in the dark palace of Versailles。 The
king and the queen slept。
But through the dark； deserted halls which that day had witnessed so
much pain and anxiety； resounded now the clang of the raging；
howling voices which came up from the square； and hurled their
curses against the queen。
In the palace of Versailles they were asleep； but without； before
the palace； Uproar and Hate kept guard； and with wild thoughts of
murder stalked around the palace of the Kings of France。
How soon were these thoughts to becom