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you。〃
〃No； madame；〃 he cried； quickly； 〃no； I would much rather you would
not tell the queen； for who knows whether the news is good； or
whether it would not trouble the noble heart of the queen； and then
my name； if she should learn it； would only be disagreeable to her
rather that she should never hear it than that it should be
connected with unpleasant associations to her。〃
〃Then you do not know what the sentence is？〃 replied Campan；
astonished。 〃Have you come to bring me the sentence； and yet do not
know yourself what it is？〃
〃I do not know what it is； madame。 The councillor； the father of my
sweetheart； has sent it by me in writing； and I have not allowed
myself to take time to read it。 Perhaps； too； I was too cowardly for
it； for if I had seen that it contained any thing that would trouble
the queen； I should not have had courage to come here and deliver
the paper to you。 So I did not read it； and thought only of this；
that I might perhaps save the queen a quarter of an hour's disquiet
and anxious expectation。 Here； madame； is the paper which contains
the sentence。 Take it to her majesty； and may the God of justice
grant that it contain nothing which may trouble the queen！〃
He stood up； and handed Madame de Campan a paper。 〃And now； madame；〃
he continued； 〃allow me to retire； that I may return to Paris； for
my sweetheart is expecting me； and； besides； they are expecting some
disturbance in the city。 I must go； therefore； to protect my house。〃
〃Go； my young friend；〃 said Madame de Campan； warmly pressing his
hand。 〃Receive my heartiest thanks for your devotion； and be sure
the queen shall hear of it。 farewell； farewell！〃
〃No；〃 cried Marie Antoinette； emerging from behind the screen with a
laugh； 〃no； do not go； sir！ Remain to receive your queen's thanks
for the disinterested zeal which you have displayed for me this
day。〃
〃The queen！〃 whispered Toulan； turning pale； 〃the queen！〃
And falling upon his knee he looked at the queen with such an
expression of rapture and admiration that Marie Antoinette was
touched。
〃I have much to thank you for； Mr。 Toulan；〃 she said。 〃Not merely
that you are the bearer of important newsI thank you besides for
convincing me that the Queen of France has faithful and devoted
friends； and to know this is so cheering to me that even if you
bring me bad news； my sorrow will be softened by this knowledge。 I
thank you again； Mr。 Toulan！〃
Toulan perceived that the queen was dismissing him； he stood up and
retreated to the door； his eyes fixed on the queen； and then； after
opening the door； he sank； as it were； overcome by the storm of his
emotions； a second time upon his knee； and folding his hands； raised
his great； beaming eyes to heaven。
〃God in heaven；〃 he said loudly and solemnly； 〃I thank Thee for the
joy of this hour。 From this moment I devote myself to the service of
my queen。 She shall henceforth be the divinity whom I serve； and to
whom I will； if I can avail any thing； freely offer my blood and
life。 This I swear； and God and the queen have heard my oath！〃
And without casting another glance at the queen； without saluting
her； Toulan rose and softly left the room； tightly closing the door
after him。
〃Singular；〃 murmured the queen； 〃really singular。 When he took the
oath a shudder passed through my soul； and something seemed to say
to me that I should some time be very unhappy； and that this young
man should then be near me。〃
〃Your majesty is excited to…day； and so every thing seems to have a
sad meaning；〃 said Madame de Campan； softly。
〃But the sentence； the sentence！〃 cried the queen。 〃Give me the
paper； I will read it myself。〃
Madame de Campan hesitated。 〃Would your majesty not prefer to
receive it in the presence of the king； and have it read by his
majesty？〃
〃No； no； Campan。 If it is favorable； I shall have pleasure in
carrying the good news to the king。 If it is unfavorable； then I can
collect myself before I see him。〃
〃But it is so dark here now that it will be impossible to read
writing。〃
〃You are right； let us go into my sitting…room；〃 said the queen。
〃The candles must be lighted there already。 Come； Campan； since I am
indebted to you for this early message； you shall be the first to
learn it。 Come； Campan； go with me！〃
With a quick step the queen returned to her apartments； and entered
her sitting…room； followed by Madame de Campan； whose countenance
was filled with sad forebodings。 The queen was right； the candles
had already been lighted in her apartments； and diffused a light
like that of day throughout her large sitting…room。 In the little
porcelain cabinet； however； there was a milder light； as Marie
Antoinette liked to have it when she was alone and sans ceremonial。
The candles on the main chandelier were not lighted； and on the
table of Sevres china and rosewood which stood before the divan were
two silver candlesticks； each with two wax candles。 These four were
the only lights in the apartment。
〃Now； Campan；〃 said the queen； sinking into the armchair which stood
before the table； near the divan； 〃now give me the paper。 But no；
you would better read it to mebut exactly as it stands。 You
promise me that？〃
〃Your majesty has commanded； and I must obey；〃 said Campan； bowing。
〃Read； read；〃 urged Marie Antoinette。 〃Let me know the sentence。〃
Madame de Campan unfolded the paper； and went nearer to the light in
order to see better。 Marie Antoinette leaned forward； folded both
hands in her lap； and looked at Campan with an expression of eager
expectation。
〃Read； read！〃 she repeated； with trembling lips。 Madame de Campan
bowed and read：
〃First。The writing； the basis of the trial； the note and
signatures； are declared to be forged in imitation of the queen's
hand。
〃Second。Count Lamotte is sentenced in contumacion to the galleys
for life。
〃Third。The woman Lamotte to be whipped； marked on both shoulders
with the letter O； and to be confined for life。
〃Fourth。Retaux de Vilette to be banished for life from France。
〃Fifth。Mademoiselle Oliva is discharged。
〃Sixth。The lord cardinal〃
〃Well；〃 cried the queen； passionately； 〃why do you stammer； why do
you tremble？ He has been discharged； I know it already； for we are
already at the names of the acquitted。 Read on； Campan。〃
And Madame de Campan read on：
〃The lord cardinal is acquitted from every charge； and is allowed to
publish this acquittal。〃
〃Acquitted！〃 cried the queen； springing from her seat； 〃acquitted！
Oh； Campan； what I feared is true。 The Queen of France has become
the victim of cabals and intrigues。 The Queen of France in her
honor； dignity； and virtue； is injured and wounded by one of her own
subjects； and there is no punishment for him； he is free。 Pity me；
Campan！ But no； on the contrary； I pity you； I pity France！ If I can
have no impartial judges in a matter which darkens my character；
what can you； what can all others hope for； when you are tried in a
matter which touches your happiness and honor？ ＇Footnote： The very
words of the queen See 〃Memoires de Madame de Campan；〃 vol。 ii。； o。
23。＇ I am sad； sad in my inmost soul； and it seems to me as if this
instant were to overshadow my whole life； as if the shades of night
had fallen upon me； andwhat is that？ Did you blow out the light；
Campan？〃
〃Your majesty sees that I am standing entirely away from the
lights。〃
〃But only see；〃 cried the queen； 〃one of the candles is put out！〃
〃It is true；〃 said Madame de Campan； looking at the light； over
which a bluish cloud was yet hovering。 〃The light is put out； but if
your majesty allows me； I〃
She was silent； and her bearing assumed the appearance of amazement
and horror。
The candle which had been burning in the other arm of the
candlestick went out like the one before。
The queen said not a word。 She gazed with pale lips and wide…opened
eyes at both the lights； the last spark of which had just
disappeared。
〃Will your majesty allow me to light the candles again？〃 asked
Madame de Campan； extending her hand to the candlestick。
But the queen held her hand fast。 〃Let them be；〃 she whispered； 〃I
want to see whether both the other lights〃
Suddenly she was convulsed； and； rising slowly from her arm…chair；
pointed with silent amazement at the second candlestick。
One of the two other lights had gone out。
Only one was now burning； and dark shadows filled the cabinet。 The
one light faintly illumined only the centre； and shone with its
glare upon the pale； horrified face of the queen。
〃Campan；〃 she whispered； raising her arm； and pointing at the single
light which remained burning； 〃if this fourth light goes out like
the other three； it is a bad omen for me； and forebodes the approach
of misfortune。〃
At this instant the light flared up and illumined the room more
distinctly； then its flame began to die away。 One flare more and
this light went out； and a deep darkness reigned in the cabinet。
The queen uttered a loud； piercing cry； and sank in a swoon。
CHAPTER VIII。
BEFORE THE MARRIAGE。
The wedding guests were assembled。 Madame Bugeaud had just put the
veil upon the head of her daughter Margaret； and i