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break the silence with a word or a remark。 With dumb lips； with open
eyes； the three watchers sat and hearkened to the sounds of the
night。 At times； when the roaring without was uncommonly loud and
wild； they pressed one another's hands； and spoke to one another in
looks； but when the sounds died away； they turned their eyes once
more to the windows and listened。
Slowly； dreadfully slowly moved the fingers of the great clock above
on the chimney。 Madame de Campan often fixed her gaze upon it； and
it seemed to her as if time must have ceased to go on； for it
appeared to be an eternity since Varicourt had taken leave of her；
and yet the two longer fingers on the dial had not indicated the
fourth hour after midnight。 But the pendulum still continued its
regular； even swinging； the time went forward； only every moment
made the horror； the fear of unknown danger seem like an eternity！
At last； slowly； with calm stroke； the hour began to strike four
o'clock。 And amid the dreadful sounds outside the palace； the women
could recognize the deep tones of the great clock on the Swiss hall。
Four o'clock！ One solitary； dreadful hour is passed！ Three hours
more； three eternities before daylight comes！
But hark！ what new； fearful noise without？ That is no more the sound
of singing and shouting； and cryingthat is the battle…cry…that is
the rattle and clatter of muskets。 The three women sprang up； moved
as if by one thought； animated by one purpose。 They moved the chairs
back from the door； ready； as soon as danger should approach； to go
into the chamber of the queen and awaken her。 Campan then slipped
across the room to the door of the antechamber； which she had looked
before。 She laid her ear to the key…hole； and listened。 All was
still and quiet in the next room； no one was in the antechamber。
There was no immediate danger near； for Varicourt's voice had not
yet uttered the cry of warning。
But more fearful grew the noise outside。 The crackle of musketry was
more noticeable； and every now and then there seemed to be heavy
strokes as if directed against the palace； sounding as if the people
were attempting to force the iron gate of the front court。
〃I must know what is going on；〃 whispered Campan； and with cool
decision she put the key into the door； turned it； entered the
antechamber； and flew to the window； where there was a view of the
whole court； and a fearful sight met her there。 The crowd had broken
the gate； pressed into the court； and was surging in great masses
toward the palace doors。 Here and there torches threw their glare
over these masses； disclosing men with angry gestures； and women
with streaming hair； swinging their arms savagely； and seeming like
a picture of hell； not to be surpassed in horror even by the
phantasms of Dante。 Women changed to furies and bacchanalians；
roaring and shouting in their murderous desires； men； like blood…
thirsty tigers； preparing to spring upon their prey； and give it the
death…stroke； swinging pikes and guns； which gleamed horribly in the
glare of the torches； arms and fists bearing threatening daggers and
knives！ All this was pressing on upon the palaceall these clinched
fists would soon be engaged in hammering upon the walls which
separated the king and queen from the peoplethe executioner from
his victim！
All at once there rang out a fearful； thundering cry； which made the
windows rattle； and called forth a terrible echo above in the
deserted hall； for through all these shrieks and howls； there
resounded now a piercing cry； such as only the greatest pain or the
most instant need can extort from human lips。
〃That was a death…cry；〃 whispered Madame de Campan； trembling； and
drawing back from the window。 〃They have certainly killed the Swiss
guards； who are keeping the door； they will now pour into the
palace。 O God！ what will become of Varicourt？ I must know what is
going on！〃
She flew through the antechamber and opened the door of the Swiss
hall。 It was empty； but outside of it could be heard a confused；
mixed mass of sounds； cries； and the tramping as of hundreds and
hundreds of men coming on。 Nearer and nearer came the sound； more
distinct every moment。 All at once the door was flung open on the
other side of the Swiss hall； the door which led out； and Varicourt
appeared in it； pushed backward by the raging； howling mass。 He
still sought to resist the oncoming tramp of these savage men； and；
with a movement like lightning； putting his weapon across the door；
he was able for one minute to hold the place against the tidejust
so long as the arms which held the weapon had in them the pulse of
life！ Varicourt looked like a dying man； his uniform was torn and
cut； his face deathly pale； and on one side disfigured by the blood
which was streaming down from a broad wound in his forehead。
〃It is time； it is time！〃 he cried； with a loud tremulous voice；
and； as he saw for an instant the face of Campan at the opposite
door； a flash of joy passed over his face。
〃Save the queen！ They will murder her！〃 ＇Varicourt's last words。
See 〃Memoires de Madame de Campan；〃 vol。 ii。； p。 77。 ＇
Madame de Campan hastily closed the door； drew the great bolt； and
then sprang through the antechamber into the waiting…room； and
bolted its door too。 Then； after she had done thatafter she had
raised this double wall between the sleeping queen and the raging
mobshe sank upon her knees like one who was utterly crushed； and
raised her folded hands to heaven。
〃Have mercy on his soul； O God！ take him graciously to heaven！〃
whispered she； with trembling lips。
〃For whom are you praying？〃 asked the two women； in low voices；
hurrying up to her。 〃Who is dead？〃
〃Mr。 Varicourt；〃 answered Campan； with a sigh。 〃I heard his death…
cry； as I was bolting the door of the antechamber。 But we cannot
stop to weep and lament。 We must save the queen！〃
And she sprang up from her knees； flew through the room； and opened
the door leading to the queen's chamber。
At that moment a fearful crash was heard； then a loud shout of
triumph in the outer antechamber。
〃The queen！ We want the heart of the queen！〃
〃They have broken down the door of the antechamberthey are in the
waiting…room！〃 whispered Campan。 〃There is no time to be lost。 Come；
friends； come！〃
And she hastened to the bed of the queen； who was still lying in
that heavy； unrefreshing sleep which usually follows exhaustion and
intense excitement。
〃Your majesty； your majesty； wake！〃
〃What is it； Campan？〃 asked Marie Antoinette； opening her eyes； and
hastily sitting up in bed。 〃Why do you waken me？ What has happened？〃
The fearful sounds without； the crashing of the door of the little
waiting…room； gave answer。 The rough； hard voices of the exasperated
women； separated now from the queen by only one thin door； quickly
told all that had happened。
Marie Antoinette sprang from her bed。 〃Dress me quick； quick！〃
〃Impossible！ There is no time。 Only hear how the gunstocks beat
against the door！ They will break it down； and then your majesty is
lost！ The clothes on without stopping to fasten them！ Now fly； your
majesty； fly！ Through the side…door…through the OEil de Boeuf！〃
Madame de Campan went in advance； the two women supported the queen
and carried her loose clothes； and then they flew on through the
still and deserted corridors to the sleeping…room of the king。
It was emptyno one there！
〃O God！ Campan； where is the king？ I must go to him。 My place is by
his side！ Where is the king？〃
〃Here I am； Marie； here！〃 cried the king； who just then entered and
saw the eager； anxious face of his wife。 〃I hurried to save our most
costly possessions！〃
He laid the dauphin； only half awake； and lying on his breast； in
the arms which Marie Antoinette extended to him； and then led her
little daughter to her； who had been brought in by Madame Tourzel。
〃Now；〃 said the king； calmly； 〃now that I have collected my dearest
treasures； I will go and see what is going on。〃
But Marie Antoinette held him back。 〃There is destruction；
treachery； and murder outside。 Crime may break in here and overwhelm
us； but we ought not to go out and seek it。〃
〃Well；〃 said the king； 〃we will remain here and await what comes。〃
And turning to his valet； who was then entering； Louis continued：
〃Bring me my chocolate； I want to take advantage of the time to
breakfast； for I am hungry！〃
〃Sire； now？ shall we breakfast now？〃 asked the queen； amazed。
〃Why not？〃 answered Louis calmly。 〃If the body is strengthened； we
look at every thing more composedly and confidently。 You must take
breakfast too； Marie； for who knows whether we shall find time for
some hours after this？〃
〃I！ oh； I need no breakfast；〃 cried Marie Antoinette； and as she saw
Louis eagerly taking a cup of chocolate from the hands of a valet；
and was going to enjoy it； she turned away to repress the tears of
anger and pain which in spite of herself pressed into her eyes。
〃Mamma queen；〃 cried the dauphin； who was yet in her arms； 〃I should
like my breakfast too。 My chocolateI should like my chocolate
too！〃
The queen compelled herself to smile； carried the child to its
father； and softly