按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Ionian's most trusted counsellor； the abettor of his plans。 Toulan
called him with an animated face； and in loud tones told him that he
had been denounced； and therefore arrested； and that he was only
allowed to go to his house to procure some clothing。
〃Come along； Ricard；〃 he said。 〃They are going to put my effects
under seal； and you have some papers and books on my writing…table。
Come along； and take possession of your own things； so that they may
not be sealed up as mine。〃
Ricard nodded assent； and a significant look told Toulan that his
friend understood him； and that his meaning was； that Ricard should
take possession of papers that might bring Toulan under suspicion。
Continuing their walk； they spoke of indifferent matters； and at
last reached Toulan's house。 Marguerite met them with calm bearing。
She knew that every cry； every expression of anxiety and trouble；
would only imperil the condition of her husband； and her love gave
her power to master herself。
〃Ah！ are you there； husband？〃 she said； with a smile； how hard to
her no one knew。 〃You are bringing a great deal of company。〃
〃Yes； Marguerite；〃 said Toulan； with a smile； 〃and I am going to
keep on with this pleasant company to prison。〃
〃Oh！〃 she cried； laughing； 〃that is a good joke！ Toulan； the best of
patriots； in prison！ Come； you ought not to joke about serious
matters。〃
〃It is no joke；〃 said one of the guards； solemnly。 〃Citizen Toulan
is arrested； and is here only to procure some articles of clothing；
and have his effects put under seal。〃
〃And to give back to his friend Ricard the books and papers that
belong to him；〃 said Toulan。 〃Come； let us go into my study；
friends。〃
〃There are my books and papers；〃 cried Ricard； as they went into the
next room。 He sprang forward to the writing…table； seized all the
papers lying upon it； and tried to thrust them into his coat…pocket。
But the two soldiers checked him； and undertook to resist his
movement。 Ricard protested； a loud exchange of words took placein
which Marguerite had her shareinsisting that all the papers on the
table belonged to Ricard； and she should like to see the man who
could have the impudence to prevent his taking them。
Louder and louder grew the contention； and when Ricard was
endeavoring again to put the papers into his pocket； the two
soldiers rushed at him to prevent it。 Marguerite tried to come to
his assistance； and in the effort； overthrew a little table which
stood in the middle of the room； on which was a water…bottle and
some glasses。 The table came down； a rattle of broken glass
followed； and amid the noise and outcries； the controversy and
violence； no one paid attention to Toulan； no one saw the little
secret door quietly open； and Toulan glide from view。
The soldiers did not notice this movement； but Marguerite and Ricard
understood it well； and went on all the more eagerly with their
cries and contentions； to give Toulan time to escape by the secret
passage。
And they were successful。 When the two guards had； after long
searching； discovered the secret door through which the escape had
been effected； and had rushed down the hidden stairway； not a trace
of him was to be seen。
Toulan was free！ Unhindered； he hastened to the little attic； which
he had； some time before； hired in the house adjacent to the Temple；
put on a suit of clothes which he had prepared there； and remained
concealed the whole day。
As Marie Antoinette lay sleepless upon her bed in the night that
followed this vain attempt at flight； and was torturing herself with
anxious doubts whether Fidele had fallen a victim to his devotion；
suddenly the tones of a huntsman's horn broke the silence； Marie
Antoinette raised herself up and listened。 Princess Elizabeth had
done the same； and with suspended breath they both listened to the
long…drawn and plaintive tones which softly floated in to them on
the wings of the night。 A smile of satisfaction flitted over their
pale； sad faces； and a deep sigh escaped from their heavy hearts。
〃Thank God！ he is saved；〃 whispered Marie Antoinette。
〃Is not that the melody that was to tell us that our friend is in
the neighborhood？〃
〃Yes； sister； that is the one！ So long as we hear this signal； we
shall know that Toulan is living still； and that he is near us。〃
And in the following weeks the prisoners of the Temple often had the
sad consolation of hearing the tones of Toulan's horn； but he never
came to them again； he never appeared in the anteroom to keep guard
over the imprisoned queen。 Toulan did not flee！ He had the courage
to remain in Paris； he was constantly hoping that an occasion might
arise to help the queen escape； he was constantly putting himself in
connection with friends for this object； and making plans for the
flight of the royal captives。
But exactly what Toulan hoped for stood as a threatening phantom
before the eyes of the Conventionthe flight of the prisoners in
the Temple。 They feared the queen even behind those thick walls；
behind the four iron doors that closed upon her prison！ They feared
still more this poor child of seven years； this little king without
crown and without throne； the son of him who had been executed。 The
Committee of Safety knew that people were talking about the little
king in the Temple； and that touching anecdotes about him were in
circulation。 A bold； reckless fellow had appeared who called himself
a prophet； and had loudly announced upon the streets and squares；
that the lilies would bloom again； and that the sons of Brutus would
fall beneath the hand of the little king whose throne was in the
Temple。 They had； it is true； arrested the prophet and dragged him
to the guillotine； but his prophecies had found an echo here and
there； and an interest in the little prince had been awakened in the
people。 The noble and enthusiastic men known as the Girondists were
deeply solicitous about the young royal martyr； and the application
of this expression to the little dauphin； made in the earnest and
impassioned speeches before the Convention； melted all hearers to
tears and called out a deep sympathy。
The Convention saw the danger； and at once resolved to be free from
it。 On the 1st of July 1793； that body issued a decree with the
following purport： 〃The Committee of Public Safety ordains that the
son of Capet be separated from his mother； and be delivered to an
instructor； whom the general director of the communes shall
appoint。〃
The queen had no suspicion of this。 Now that Toulan was no longer
there； no news came to her of what transpired beyond the prison； and
Fidele's horn…signals were the only sounds of the outer world that
reached her ear。
The evening of the 3d of July had come。 The little prince had gone
to bed； and had already sunk into a deep sleep。 His bed had no
curtains； but Marie Antoinette had with careful hands fastened a
shawl to the wall； and spread it out over the bed in such a manner
that the glare of the light did not fall upon the closed eyes of the
child and disturb him in his peaceful slumbers。 It was ten o'clock
in the evening； and the ladies had that day waited unwontedly long
before going to bed。 The queen and Princess Elizabeth were busied in
mending the clothing of the family； and Princess Theresa； sitting
between the two； had been reading to them some chapters out of the
Historical Dictionary。 At the wish of the queen； she had now taken a
religious book； Passion Week； and was reading some hymns and prayers
out of it。
Suddenly； the quick steps of several men were heard in the corridor。
The bolts flew back； the doors were opened； and six officials came
in。
〃We are come；〃 cried one of them； with a brutal voice； 〃to announce
to you the order of the committee； that the son of Capet be
separated from his mother and his family。〃
At these words the queen rose； pale with horror 〃They are going to
take my child from me！〃 she cried。 〃No； no； that is not possible。
Gentlemen； the authorities cannot think of separating me from my
son。 He is still so young and weak； he needs my care。〃
〃The committee has come to this determination；〃 answered the
official； 〃the Convention has confirmed it； and we shall carry it
into execution directly。〃
〃I cannot allow it；〃 cried Marie Antoinette in desperation。 〃In the
name of Heaven； I conjure you not to be so cruel！〃
Elizabeth and Theresa mingled their tears with those of the mother。
All three had placed themselves before the bed of the dauphin； they
clung to it； they folded their hands； they sobbed； the most touching
cries； the most humble prayers trembled on their lips； but the
guards were not at all moved。
〃What is all this whining for？〃 they said。 〃No one is going to kill
your child； give him to us of your own free will； or we shall have
to take him by force。〃
They strode up to the bed。 Marie Antoinette placed herself with
extended arms before it； and held the curtain firmly； it however
detached itself from the wall and fell upon the face of the dauphin。
He awoke； saw what was going on； and threw himself with loud shrieks
into the arms of the queen。 〃Mamma； dear Mamma； do not leave me！〃
She pressed him trembling to