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the queen。 I thanked her for all； for the contentment of my father；
for every cheerful hour which we spent together； and all the
knowledge I have gained； all the studies I have attempted； I owe to
the beautiful； noble Marie Antoinette。 We went to our home； and I
entered the high…school in order to fit myself to be a merchant； a
bookseller。 My father had enjoined upon me riot to choose a
soldier's lot。 The sad experience of his invalid life hung over him
like a dark cloud； and he did not wish that I should ever enter into
the same。 'Be an independent； free man；' said he to me。 'Learn to
depend on your own strength and your own will alone。 Use the powers
of your mind； become a soldier of labor； and so serve your country。
I know； indeed； that if the hour of danger ever comes； you will be a
true； bold soldier for your queen； and fight for her till your last
breath。' I had to promise him on his death…bed that I would so do。
Even then he saw the dark and dangerous days approach； which have
now broken upon the realmeven then he heard the muttering of the
tempest which now so inevitably is approaching； and often when I
went home to his silent chamber I found him reading； with tears in
his eyes； the pamphlets and journals which had come from Paris to us
at Rouen； and which seemed to us like the storm…birds announcing the
tempest。 'The queen is so good； so innocent；' he would sigh； 'and
they make her goodness a crime and her innocence they make guilt！
She is like a lamb； surrounded by tigers； that plays thoughtlessly
with the flowers； and does not know the poison that lurks beneath
them。 Swear to me； Louis； that you will seek； if God gives you the
power； to free the lamb from the bloodthirsty tigers。 Swear to me
that your whole life shall be devoted to her service。' And I did
swear it； Margaret； not merely to my dear father； but to myself as
well。 Every day I have repeated； 'To Queen Marie Antoinette belongs
my life； for every thing that makes life valuable I owe to her。'
〃When my father died； I left Rouen and removed to Paris； there to
pursue my business as a bookseller。 My suspicions told me that the
time would soon come when the friends of the queen must rally around
her； and must perhaps put a mask over their faces； in order to
sustain themselves until the days of real danger。 That time has now
come； Margaret； the queen is in danger！ The tigers have surrounded
the lamb； and it cannot escape。 Enemies everywhere； wherever you
look！enemies even in the palace itself。 The Count de Provence； her
own brother…in…law； has for years persecuted her with his epigrams；
because he cannot forgive it in her that the king pays more
attention to her counsels than he does to those of his brother； who
hates the Austrian。 The Count d'Artois； formerly the only friend of
Marie Antoinette in the royal family； deserted her when the queen
took ground against the view of the king's brothers in favor of the
double representation of the Third Estate； and persuaded her husband
to comply with the wishes of the nation and call together the
States…General。 He has gone over to the camp of her enemies； and
rages against the queen； because she is inclined to favor the wishes
of the people。 And yet this very people is turned against her； does
not believe in the love； but only in the hate of the queen； and all
parties are agreed in keeping the people in this faith。 The Duke
d'Orleans revenges himself upon the innocent and pure queen for the
scorn which she displays to this infamous prince。 The aunts of the
queen revenge themselves for the obscure position to which fate has
consigned them； they having to play the second part at the brilliant
court of Versailles； and be thrown into the shade by Marie
Antoinette。 The whole courtall these jealous； envious ladies
revenge themselves for the favor which the queen has shown to the
Polignacs。 They have undermined her good name； they have fought
against her with the poisoned arrows of denunciation； calumny；
pamphlets； and libels。 Every thing bad that has happened has been
ascribed to her。 She has been held responsible for every evil that
has happened to the nation。
The queen is accountable for the financial troubles that have broken
over us； and since the ministry have declared the state bankrupt；
Parisians call the queen Madame Deficit。 Curses follow her when she
drives out； and even when she enters the theatre。 Even in her own
gardens of St。 Cloud and Trianon men dare to insult the queen as she
passes by。 In all the clubs of Paris they thunder at the queen； and
call her the destruction of Prance。 The downfall of Marie Antoinette
is resolved upon by her enemies； and the time has come when her
friends must be active for her。 The time has come for me to pay the
vow which I made to my dying father and to myself。 God has blessed
my efforts and crowned my industry and activity with success。 I have
reached an independent position。 The confidence of my fellow…
citizens has made me a councillor。 I have accepted the position； not
out of vanity or ambition； but because it will give me opportunity
to serve the queen。 I wear a mask before my face。 I belong to the
democrats and agitators。 I appear to the world as an enemy of the
queen； in order to be able to do her some secret service as a
friend； for I say to you； and repeat it before God； to the queen
belong my whole life； my whole being； and thought。 I love you；
Margaret！ Every thing which can make my life happy will come from
you； and yet I shall be ready every hour to leave youto see my
happiness go to ruin without a complaint； without a sigh； if I can
be of service to the queen。 You my heart loves； her my soul adores。
Wherever I shall be； Margaret； if the call of the queen comes to me；
I shall follow it； even if I know that death lurks at the door
behind which the queen awaits me。 We stand before a dark and
tempestuous time； and our country is to be torn with fearful strife。
All passions are unfettered； all want to fight for freedom； and
against the chains with which the royal government has held them
bound。 An abyss has opened between the crown and the nation； and the
States…General and the Third Estate will not close it； but only
widen it。 I tell you； Margaret； dark days are approaching； I see
them coming； and I cannot； for your sake； withdraw from them； for I
am the soldier of the queen。 I must keep guard before her door； and；
if I cannot save her； I must die in her service。 Know this；
Margaret； but know； too； that I love you。 Let me repeat； that from
you alone all fortune and happiness can come to me； and then do you
decide。 Will you； after all that I have told you； still accept my
hand； which I offer you in tenderest affection？ Will you be my wife；
knowing that my life belongs not to you alone； but still more to
another？ Will you share with me the dangers of a stormy time； of an
inevitable future with me； and devote yourself with； me to the
service of the queen？ Examine yourself； Margaret； before you answer。
Do not forget your great and noble heart； consider that it is a vast
sacrifice to devote your life to a man who is prepared every hour to
give his life for another womanto leave the one he loves； and to
go to his death in defence of his queen。 Prove your heart； and； if
you find that the sacrifice is too great； turn your face away from
me； and I will quickly go my waywill not complain； will think that
it happens rightly； will love you my whole life long； and thank you
for the pleasant hours which your love has granted to me。〃
He had dropped from the divan upon his knee； and looked up to her
with supplicating and anxious eyes。 But Margaret did not turn her
face away from him。 A heavenly smile played over her features； her
eye beamed with love and emotion。 And as her glance sank deep into
the heart of her lover； he caught the look as if it had been a ray
of sunlight。 She laid her arms upon his shoulders； and pressing his
head to her bosom； she bowed over him and kissed his black； curly
hair。
〃Ah！ I love you； Louis；〃 she whispered。 〃I am ready to devote my
life to you； to share your dangers with you； and in all contests to
stand by your side。 Soldier of the queen； in me you shall always
have a comrade。 With you I will fight for her； with you die for her；
if it must be。 We will have a common love for her； we will serve her
in common； and with fidelity and love thank her for the good which
she has done to you and your father。〃
〃Blessings upon you； Margaret！〃 cried Toulan； as breaking into tears
he rested his head upon the knee of his affianced。 〃Blessings on
you； angel of my love and happiness！〃 Then he sprang up； and；
drawing the young girl within his arms； he impressed a glowing kiss
upon her lips。
〃That is my betrothal kiss； Margaret； now you are mine； in this hour
our souls are united in never…ending love and faithfulness。 Nothing
can separate us after this； for we journey hand in hand upon the
same road； we have the same great and hallowed goal！ Now come； my
love； let us take our place before the altar of God； and testify
with an oath to the love which we cherish toward our queen！〃
He offered her his arm； and； both smiling； both with beamin