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with an oath to the love which we cherish toward our queen！〃
He offered her his arm； and； both smiling； both with beaming faces；
left the room； and joined the wedding guests who had long been
waiting for them with growing impatience。 They entered the carriages
and drove to the church。 With joyful faces the bridal pair pledged
their mutual fidelity before the altar； and their hands pressed one
another； and their eyes met with a secret understanding of all that
was meant at that wedding。 They both knew that at that moment they
were pledging their fidelity to the queen； and that； while seeming
to give themselves away to each other； they were really giving
themselves to their sovereign。
At the conclusion of the ceremony； they left the church of St。 Louis
to repair to the wedding dinner； which Councillor Bugeaud had
ordered to be prepared in one of the most brilliant restaurants of
Versailles。
〃Will you not tell me now； my dear son；〃 he said to Toulan〃will
you not tell me now why you wish so strongly to celebrate the
wedding in Versailles； and not in Paris； and why in the church of
St。 Louis？〃
〃I will tell you； father；〃 answered Toulan； pressing the arm of his
bride closer to his heart。 〃I wanted here； where the country erects
its altar； where in a few days the nation will meet face to face
these poor earthly majesties； here； where in a few days the States…
General will convene； to defend the right of the people against the
prerogative of the sovereign； here alone to give to my life its new
consecration。 Versailles will from this time be doubly dear to me。 I
shall owe to it my life's happiness as a man； my freedom as a
citizen。 They have done me the honor in Rouen to elect me to a place
in the Third Estate； and as； in a few days； the Assembly of the
Nation will meet here in Versailles； I wanted my whole future
happiness to be connected with the place。 And I wanted to be married
in St。 Louis's church； because I love the good King Louis。 He is the
true and sincere friend of the nation； and he would like to make his
people happy； if the queen； the Austrian； would allow it。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 sighed the councillor； who； in spite of his relation
to Madame de Campan； belonged to the opponents of the queen〃 yes；
indeed； if the Austrian woman allowed it。 But she is not willing
that France should be happy。 Woe to the queen； all our misery comes
from her！
CHAPTER IX。
THE OPENING OF THE STATES…GENERAL。
On the morning of the 5th of May； 1789； the solemn opening of the
States…General of France was to occur at Versailles。 This early date
was appointed for the convocation of the estates； in order to be
able to protract as much as possible the ceremonial proceedings。 But
at the same time this occasion was to be improved in preparing a
sensible humiliation for the members of the Third Estate。
In the avenue of the Versailles palace a large and fine hall was
fixed upon as the most appropriate place for receiving the twelve
hundred representatives of France； and a numerous company of
spectators besides； and； being chosen； was appropriately fitted up。
Louis XVI。 himself； who was very fond of sketching and drawing
architectural plans； had busied himself in the most zealous way with
the arrangements and decorations of the hall。
It had long been a matter of special interest to the king to fit up
the room which was to receive the representatives of the nation； in
a manner which would be worthy of so significant an occasion。 He had
himself selected the hangings and the curtains which were to protect
the audience from the too glaring light of the day。
When the members of the Third Estate arrived； they saw with the
greatest astonishment that they were not to enter the hall by the
same entrance which was appropriated to the representatives of the
nobility and the clergy； who were chosen at the same time with
themselves。 While for the last two the entrance was appointed
through the main door of the hall； the commoners were allowed to
enter by a rear door； opening into a dark and narrow corridor；
where； crowded together； they were compelled to wait till the doors
were opened。
Almost two hours elapsed before they were allowed to pass out of
this dark place of confinement into the great hall； at a signal from
the Marquis de Brize； the master of ceremonies。
A splendid scene now greeted their eyes。 The Salle de Menus； which
had been fitted up for the reception of the nobility； displayed
within two rows of Ionic pillars； which gave to the hall an unwonted
air of dignity and solemnity。 The hall was lighted mainly from
above； through a skylight； which was covered with a screen of white
sarcenet。 A gentle light diffused itself throughout the room； making
one object as discernible as another。 In the background the throne
could be seen on a richly ornamented estrade and beneath a gilded
canopy； an easy…chair for the queen； tabourets for the princesses；
and chairs for the other members of the royal family。 Below the
estrade stood the bench devoted to the ministers and the secretaries
of state。 At the right of the throne； seats had been placed for the
clergy； on the left for the nobility； while in front were the six
hundred chairs devoted to the Third Estate。
The Marquis de Brize； with two assistant masters of ceremonies； now
began to assign the commoners to their seats； in accordance with the
situation of the districts which they represented。
As the Duke d'Orleans appeared in the midst of the other deputies of
Crespy； there arose from the amphitheatre； where the spectators sat；
a gentle sound of applause； which increased in volume； and was
repeated by some of the commoners； when it was noticed that the duke
made a clergyman； who had gone behind him in the delegation from
this district； go in front of him； and did not desist till the
round…bellied priest had really taken his place before him。 In the
mean time the bench of the ministers had begun to fill。 They
appeared as a body； clothed in rich uniforms； heavy with gold。 Only
one single man among them appeared in simple citizen's clothing； and
bearing himself as naturally as if he were engaged in business of
the state； or in ordinary parlor conversation； and by no means as if
taking part in an extraordinary solemnity。 As soon as he was seen；
there arose on all sides； as much in the assembly as on the tribune；
a movement as of joy which culminated in a general clapping of
hands。
The man who received this salutation was the newly…appointed
minister of finance； Necker； to whom the nation was looking for a
reestablishment of its prosperity and of its credit。
Necker manifested only by a thoughtful smile； which mounted to his
earnest； thought…furrowed face； that he was conscious to whom the
garland of supreme popularity was extended at this moment。
Next； the deputation of Provence appeared； in the midst of which
towered Count Mirabeau； with his proud； erect bearing； advancing to
take the place appointed for him。 His appearance was the sign for a
few hands to commence clapping in a distant part of the hall； in
honor of a man so much talked of in Prance； and of whom such strange
things were said。 But at this instant the king appeared； accompanied
by the queen； followed by the princes and princesses of the royal
family。
At the entrance of the king； the whole assembly broke into a loud；
enthusiastic shout of applause and of joy。 The Third Estate as well；
at a signal from Count Mirabeau； had quickly risen； but continued to
stand without bending the knee； as had been； at the last time when
all the estate were assembled； the invariable rule。 Only one of the
representatives of the Third Estate； a young man with energetic；
proud face； and dark； glowing eyes； bent his knee when he saw the
queen entering behind the king。 But the powerful hand of his
neighbor was laid upon his shoulder and drew him quickly up。
〃Mr。 Deputy；〃 whispered this neighbor to him； 〃it becomes the
representatives of the nation to stand erect before the crown。〃
〃It is true； Count Mirabeau；〃 answered Toulan。 〃I did not bend my
knee to the crown； but to the queen as； a beautiful woman。〃
Mirabeau made no reply； but turned his flaming eyes to the king。
Louis XVI。 appeared that day arrayed in the great royal ermine； and
wore upon his head a plumed hat； whose band glistened with great
diamonds； while the largest in the royal possession； the so…called
Titt； formed the centre； and threw its rays far and wide。 The king
appeared at the outset to be deeply moved at the reception which had
been given him。 A smile； indicating that his feelings were touched；
played upon his face。 But afterward； when all was still； and the
king saw the grave； manly； marked faces of the commoners opposite
him； his manner became confused； and for an instant he seemed to
tremble。
The queen； however； looked around her with a calm and self…possessed
survey。 Her fine eyes swept slowly and searchingly over the rows of
grave men who sat opposite the royal couple； and dwelt a moment on
Toulan； as if she recalled in him the young man who； two years
before； had brought the message of Cardinal Rohan's acquittal。 A
painful smile