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white muslin kerchief； which her keeper Bault had given her out of
sympathy。 Her hair was uncovered； and fell in long； natural locks on
both sides of her pale； transparent face。 Her hair needed no powder
now； the long； sleepless nights and the sorrowful days have whitened
it more than any powder could do； and the widow of Louis Capet；
though but thirty…eight years old； had the gray locks of a woman of
seventy。
In this toilet Marie Antoinette appeared before the revolutionary
tribunal； from the 6th to the 13th of October。 Nothing royal was
left about her but her look and her proud bearing。
The people； pressing in dense masses into the spectators' seats； did
not weary of seeing the queen in her humiliation and in her
mourning…robe； and constantly demanded that Marie Antoinette should
rise from the woven rush chair on which she was sitting； that she
should allow herself to be stared at by this throng； brought there
not out of compassion； but curiosity。
Once； as she rose in reply to the demand of the public； she was
heard to whisper； as to herself： 〃Ah； will this people not soon be
satisfied with my sufferings？〃 ＇Footnote： Marie Antoinette's own
words。See Goncourt； 〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette；〃 p。 404。＇ At
another time； her pale； dry lips murmured； 〃I am thirsty！〃 but no
one around her dared to have compassion on this cry of distress；
every one looked perplexed at the others； and no one dared give her
a glass of water。 At last one of the gens d'armes ventured to do it；
and Marie Antoinette thanked him with a look that brought tears into
his eyes； and that perhaps caused him to fall on the morrow under
the guillotine as a traitor。
The gens d'armes who guarded the queen； they alone had the courage
to show her compassion。 One night； when she was conducted from the
session…room to her prison； Marie Antoinette felt herself so
exhausted； so overcome； that she murmured to herself； as she
staggered on； 〃I cannot see； I cannot walk any farther。〃 ＇Footnote：
Goncourt； p。416＇ The guard who was walking by her side gave her his
arm； and； supported by him； Marie Antoinette reeled up the stone
steps that led to her prison。
At last； in the night intervening between the 14th and 15th of
October； at four o'clock in the morning； her sentence was
pronounced〃Death！ execution by the guillotine！〃
Marie Antoinette received it with unshakable calmness； while the
tumult of the excited mob was hushed as by magic； and while many
faces even of the exasperated fish…wives grew pale！
Marie Antoinette remained calm； gravely and coldly she rose from her
seat； and with her own hands opened the balustrade in order to leave
the hall to return to her prison！
Finally； on the morning of the 16th of October； her sufferings were
allowed to end； and she was permitted to take refuge in the grave。
It almost made her joyful； she had suffered so much； that to die was
for her really blessedness。
She employed the still hours of the night before her death in
writing to her sister…in…law； Madame Elizabeth； and her letter was
at the same time her testament。 But the widow of Louis Capet had no
riches； no treasures to convey。 She had nothing more that she could
call her own but her love； her tears； and her farewell greetings。
These she left to all who had loved her。 She sent a special word to
her brothers and sisters； and bade them farewell。
〃I had friends；〃 she says； 〃and the thought that I am to be forever
separated from them； and their sorrow for me； is the most painful
thing in this hour； they shall at least know that I thought of them
to the last moment。〃
After Marie Antoinette had ended this letter； whose writing was here
and there blotted with her tears； she turned her thoughts to the
last remembrances she could leave to her childrena remembrance
which should not be profaned by the hand of the executioner。 This
was her long hair； whose silver locks； the only ornament that
remained to her； was at the same time the sad record of her sorrows。
Marie Antoinette； with her own hands； despoiled herself of this
ornament； and cut off her long back…hair； that it might be a last
gift to her children； her relations； and friends。 Then； after a
period of meditation； she prepared herself for the last great
ceremony of her careerher death。 She felt herself exhausted； worn
out； and recognized her need of some physical support during the
hard way which lay before her。 She asked for nourishment； and ate
with some relish the wing of a fowl that was brought to her。 After
that she made her toiletthe toilet of death！
At the request of the queen； the wife of the turnkey gave her one of
her own chemises； and Marie Antoinette put it on。 Then she arrayed
herself in the same garments which she had worn at her trial； with
this single changethat over the black woollen dress； which she had
often mended with her own hand； she now wore a cloak of white pique；
Around her neck she tied a simple kerchief of white muslin； and as
she would not be allowed to ascend the scaffold with uncovered head；
she put on a plain linen cap； such as was in general use among the
people。 Black stockings covered her feet； and over these were shoes
of black woollen stuff。
Her toilet was at last ended； she was done with all earthly things！
Ready to meet her death； she lay down on her bed and slept。
She was still sleeping when it was announced to her that a priest
was there； ready to meet her； if she wanted to confess。 But Marie
Antoinette had already unveiled her heart before God： she wanted
none of those priests of reason whom the republic had appointed
after it had banished or guillotined the priests of the Church。
〃As I am not mistress of my own will；〃 she had written to her sister
Elizabeth； 〃I shall have to submit if a priest is brought to me； but
I solemnly declare that I will not speak a word to him； and that I
shall treat him as a person with whom I wish to have no relations。〃
And Marie Antoinette kept her word； she did not refuse to allow
Geroid to enter； but when he asked her if she wished to receive the
consolations of religion from him； she declined。
Then； in order to warm her feet； which were cold； she walked up and
down her little room。 As it struck seven the door opened。 It was
Samson； the public executioner； who entered！
A slight thrill passed through the form of the queen。
〃You have come very early； sir； could you not delay a little？〃 When
Samson denied her request； Marie Antoinette put on her calm； cold
manner。 She drank； without resistance； a cup of chocolate which was
brought to her； she remained possessed； and wore her wonted air of
dignity as they bound her hands behind her with thick cords。
At eleven o'clock she left her room； passed through the corridor；
and ascended the car； which was waiting for her before the prison
door。 No one accompanied her； no one bade her a last farewell； not a
look of pity or compassion was bestowed upon her by her keepers。
Alone； between the rows of gens d'armes that were placed along the
sides of the corridor； the queen advanced； Samson walking behind
her； carrying the end of the rope with which the queen's hands were
bound； and behind him his two assistants and the priest。 This is the
retinue of the queen； the daughter of an emperor； on the way to her
execution！
It may be； that at this hour thousands are on their knees； offering
their fervent prayers to God in behalf of Marie Antoinette； whom； in
their hearts； they continued to call 〃the queen；〃 it may be that
thousands are pouring out tears of compassion for her who now mounts
the wretched car； and sits down on the board which is bound by ropes
to the sides of the vehicle。 But those who are praying and weeping
have withdrawn to the solitude of their own apartments； and only God
can see their tears and hear their cries。 The eyes which witnessed
the queen in this last drive were not allowed to shed a tear； the
words which followed her on her last way could express no
compassion。
All Paris knew the hour of the execution； and the people were ready
to witness it。 On the streets； at the windows； on the roofs； immense
masses had congregated； and the whole Place de la Revolution （now
the Place de la Concorde） was filled with a dark； surging crowd。
And now the drums of the guards stationed before the Conciergerie
began to beat。 The great white horse； （which drew the car in which
the queen sat； side by side with the priest； and facing backward；）
was driven forward by a man who was upon his back。 Behind Marie
Antoinette were Samson and his assistants。
The queen was pale； all the blood had left her cheeks and lips； but
her eyes were red！ Poor queen； she bore even then the marks of much
weeping！ But she could shed no tears then！ Not a single one obscured
her eye as her look ranged； gravely and calmly； over the mass； up
the houses to the very roofs； then slowly down； and then away over
the boundless sea of human faces。
Her face was as cold and grave as her eyes； her lips were firmly
compressed； not a quiver betrayed whether she was suffering； and
whether she shrank from the thousand and ten thousand scornful and
curious looks which were fixed upon her。 And y