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murder stalked around the palace of the Kings of France。
How soon were these thoughts to become fact！ Sleep； Marie
Antoinette； sleep！ One last hour of peace and security！
One last hour！ Before the morning dawns Hate will awaken thee； and
Murder's terrible voice will resound through the halls of the Kings
of France！
CHAPTER XIII。
THE NIGHT OF HORROR。
Marie Antoinette slept！ The fearful excitement of the past day and
of the stormy evening； crowded with its events； had exhausted the
powers of the queen； and she had fallen into that deep； dreamless
sleep which sympathetic and gracious Nature sometimes sends to those
whom Fate pursues with suffering and peril。
Marie Antoinette slept！ In the interior of the palace a deep calm
reigned； and Lafayette had withdrawn from the court in order to
sleep too。 But below； upon this court； Revolution kept her vigils；
and glared with looks of hatred and vengeance to the dark walls
behind which the queen was sleeping。
The crown of France had for centuries sinned so much； and proved
false so much； that the love of the people had at last been
transformed into hate。 The crown had so long sown the wind； that it
could not wonder if it had to reap the whirlwind。 The crimes and
innovations which Louis XIV。 and Louis XV。 had sown upon the soil of
France； had created an abyss between the crown and the people； out
of which revolution must arise to avenge those crimes and sins of
the past upon the present。 The sins of the fathers had to be visited
upon the children to the third and fourth generation。
Marie Antoinette did not know it； she did not see the abyss which
had opened between the crown and the people； the courtiers and
flatterers had covered it with flowers； and with the sounds of
festivity the cries of a distressed people had been drowned。
Now the flowers were torn away； the festive sounds had ceased； and
Marie Antoinette saw the abyss between the crown and the people； she
heard the curses； the raging cries of these exasperated men； who had
been changed from weak； obedient subjects into threatening；
domineering rebels。 She looked with steady eye down into the abyss；
and saw the monster rise from the depths to destroy herself and her
whole house； but she would not draw back； she would not yield。 She
would rather be dragged down and destroyed than meekly and miserably
to make her way to the camp of her enemies； to take refuge with
them。
Better to die with the crown on her head than to live robbed of her
crown in lowliness and in a； subject condition。 Thus thought Marie
Antoinette； as at the close of that dreadful day she went to rest；
this was her prayer as she sank upon her couch：
〃Give me power； O God； to die as a queen； if I can no longer live as
a queen！ And strengthen my husband； that he may not only be a good
man； but a king too！〃
With this prayer on her trembling lips； she had fallen asleep。 But
when Campan stole on tiptoe to the queen's bed to watch her mistress
while she slept； Marie Antoinette opened her eyes again； and spoke
in her friendly way to her devoted servant。
〃Go to bed； Campan；〃 said she； 〃and the second maid must lie down
too。 You all need rest after this evil day； and sleep is so
refreshing。 Go； Campan； good…night！〃
Madame de Campan had to obey； and stepped out into the antechamber；
where were the two other maids。
〃The queen is asleep；〃 she said； 〃and she has commanded us to go to
rest too。 Shall we do so？〃
The two women answered only with a shake of the head and a shrug of
the shoulders。
〃I know very well that we are agreed；〃 said Madame de Campan；
reaching her hand to them。 〃For us there must be no sleep to…night；
for we must watch the queen。 Come； my friends； let us go into the
antechamber。 We shall find Mr。 Varicourt； who will tell us what is
going on outside。〃
On tiptoe the three women stole out into the second ante…chamber；
which was lighted only with a couple of glimmering wax tapers； and
in its desolate disorder； with the confusion of chairs； divans； and
tables； brought back sad recollections of the wild women who had on
the day before pressed into this apartment in their desire to speak
with the queen。 Somebody had told them that this was the antechamber
of the queen； and they had withdrawn in order to go to the
antechamber of the king。 But they now knew the way that led to the
apartments of the queen； they knew now that if one turned to the
left side of the palace； he would come at once into the apartments
occupied by the royal family； and that the queen occupied the
adjacent rooms； directly behind the hall of the Swiss Guard。
Madame de Campan thought of this； as she cast her glance over this
antechamber which adjoined the Swiss hall； and this thought filled
her with horror。
Varicourt had not yet come in； nothing disturbed the silence around
her； except the dreadful shouting and singing outside of the palace。
〃Let us go back into the waiting…room；〃 whispered her companions；
〃it is too gloomy here。 Only hear how they shout and laugh！ O God；
it is a fearful night！〃
〃Yes； a fearful night；〃 sighed Madame de Campan； 〃and the day that
follows it may be yet more fearful。 But we must not lose our
courage。 All depends upon our having decision； upon our defying
danger； and defending our mistress。 And see； there comes Mr。
Varicourt；〃 she continued； earnestly； as the door quickly opened；
and an officer of the Swiss guard came in with great haste。
〃Tell us； my friend； what news do you bring us？〃
〃Bad news；〃 sighed Varicourt。 〃The crowd is increasing every moment。
New columns have arrived from Paris； and not only the common people；
but the speakers and agitators are here。 Everywhere are groups
listening to the dreadful speeches which urge on to regicide and
revolution。 It is a dreadful； horrible night。 Treachery； hatred；
wickedness around the palace； and cowardice and desertion pass out
from the palace to them； and open the doors。 Many of the royal
soldiers have made common cause with the people； and walk arm in arm
with them around the square。〃
〃And what do these dreadful men want？〃 asked Campan。 〃Why do they
encamp around the palace？ What is their object？〃
Mr。 Varicourt sadly bowed his head； and a loud sigh came from his
courageous breast。 〃They want what they shall never have while I am
alive；〃 he then said； with a decided look。 〃I have sworn fidelity to
the king and queen； and I shall keep it to death。 My duty calls me；
for the hour of changing guards is near； and my post is below at the
great staircase which leads up here。 We shall meet at daylight； if I
am then alive。 But till then we shall do our duty。 I shall guard the
grand staircase； do you guard the sleeping…room of the queen。〃
〃Yes； we will do our duty；〃 answered Madame de Campan； extending her
hand to him。 〃We will watch over those to whom we have devoted
ourselves； and to whom we have vowed fidelity。 No one shall pass
into the chamber of the queen while we are alive； shall there？〃
〃Never；〃 replied both of the women； with courageous decision。
〃And no one shall ascend the great staircase so long as I live；〃
said Varicourt。 〃Adieu now； ladies； and listen carefully to every
sound。 If a voice calls to you； 'It is time；' wake the queen and
save her； for danger will then be right upon her。 Hark； it is
striking three； that is the hour of changing guard。 Farewell！〃
He went quickly to the door； but there he stood still； and turned
once more around。 His glance encountered that of his friend； and
Madame de Campan understood its silent language well； for she
hastened to him。
〃You have something to say to me？〃
〃Yes；〃 he whispered softly； 〃I have a presentiment that I shall not
survive the horrors of this night。 I have one whom I love； who； as
you know； is betrothed to me。 If I fall in the service of the king；
I ask you to see my Cecilia； and tell her that I died with her name
upon my lips！ Tell her not to weep for me； but at the same time not
to forget me。 Farewell。〃
He hurriedly opened the door and hastened away。 Madame de Campan
repressed the tears which would fill her eyes； and turned to the two
maids。
〃Now；〃 said she； with decisive tones； 〃let us return to the waiting…
room and watch the door of the queen's chamber。〃
With a firm step she walked on； and the ladies followed。 Without any
noise they entered the little hall； where in the mornings those
ladies of the court used to gather who had the right to be present
while the queen dressed herself。 Madame de Campan locked the door
through which they had entered； behind her； drew out the key and hid
it in her pocket。
〃No one will enter here with my will；〃 said she。 〃Now we will place
chairs before the door of the sleeping…room； and sit there。 We shall
then have erected a barricade before our queen； a wall which will be
as strong as any other； for there beat three courageous hearts
within it。〃
They sat down upon the chairs； whose high backs leaned against the
door of the queen's room； and； taking one another's hands； began
their hallowed watch。
All was still and desolate around them。 No one of the women could
break the silence with a word or a remark。 With dumb l