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like my breakfast too。 My chocolateI should like my chocolate
too！〃
The queen compelled herself to smile； carried the child to its
father； and softly set him down on the king's knee。
〃Sire；〃 said she； 〃will the King of France teach his son to take
breakfast； while revolution is thundering without； and breaking
down； with treasonable hands； the doors of the royal palace？ Campan；
come herehelp me arrange my toilet； I want to prepare myself to
give audience to revolution！〃
And withdrawing to a corner of the room； the queen finished her
toilet； for which her women fortunately had in their flight brought
the materials。
While the queen was dressing and the king breakfasting with the
children； the cabinet of the king began to fill。 All Louis's
faithful servants； then the ministers and some of the deputies； had
hurried to the palace to be at the side of the king and queen at the
hour of danger。
Every one of them brought new tidings of horror。 St。 Priest told how
he； entering the Swiss room； at the door leading into the
antechamber of the queen； had seen the body of Varicourt covered
with wounds。 The Duke de Liancourt had seen a dreadful man； of
gigantic size； with heavy beard； the arms of his blouse rolled up
high； and bearing a heavy hatchet…knife in his hand； springing upon
the person of the faithful Swiss； in order to sever his head from
his body。 The Count de Borennes had seen the corpse of the Swiss
officer； Baron de Deshuttes； who guarded the iron gate； and whom the
people murdered as they entered。 The Marquis de Croissy told of the
heroism with which another Swiss； Miomandre of St。 Marie； had
defended the door between the suites of the king and queen； and had
gained time to draw the bolt and barricade the door。 And during all
these reports； and while the cabinet was filling more and more with
pale men and women； the king went composedly on dispatching his
breakfast。
The queen； who had long before completed her toilet； now went up to
him； and with gentle； tremulous voice conjured him to declare what
should be doneto come at last out of this silence； and to speak
and act worthy of a king。
Louis shrugged his shoulders and set the replenished cup which he
was just lifting to his mouth； on the silver waiter。 At once the
queen beckoned to the valet Hue to come up。
〃Sir；〃 said she； commandingly； 〃take these things out。 The king has
finished his breakfast。〃
Louis sighed； and with his eye followed the valet； who was carrying
the breakfast into the garde…robe。
〃Now； sire；〃 whispered Marie Antoinette； 〃show yourself a king。〃
〃My love；〃 replied the king； quietly； 〃it is very hard to show
myself a king when the people do not choose to regard me as one。
Only hear that shouting and yelling； and then tell me what I can do
as a king to bring these mad men to peace and reason？〃
〃Sire； raise your voice as king； tell them that you will avenge the
crimes of this night； take the sword in your hand and defend the
throne of your fathers and the throne of your son； and then you will
see these rebels retire； and you will collect around you men who
will be animated with fresh courage； and who will take new fire from
your example。 Oh； sire； disregard now the pleadings of your noble；
gentle heart； show yourself firm and decided。 Have no leniency for
traitors and rebels！〃
〃Tell me what I shall do；〃 murmured the king； with a sigh。
Marie Antoinette stooped down to his ear。 〃Sire；〃 whispered she；
〃send at once to Vincennes； and the other neighboring places。 Order
the troops to come hither； collect an army； put yourself at its
head； march on Paris； declare war on the rebellious capital； and you
will march as conqueror into your recaptured city。 Oh； only no
yielding； no submission！ Only give the order； sire； say that you
will do so； and I will summon one of my faithful ones to give him
orders to hasten to Vincennes。〃
And while the queen whispered eagerly to the king； her flashing
glance sped across to Toulan； who； in the tumult； had found means to
come in； and now looked straight at the queen。 Now； as her glance
came to him as an unspoken command； he made his way irresistibly
forward through the crowd of courtiers； ministers； and ladies； and
now stood directly behind the queen。
〃Has your majesty orders for me？〃 he asked； softly。 She looked
anxiously at the king； waiting for an answer； an order。 But the king
was dumb； in order not to answer his wife； he drew the dauphin
closer to him and caressed him。
〃Has your majesty commands for me？〃 asked Toulan once more。
Marie Antoinette turned to him； her eyes suffused with tears； and
let Toulan see her face darkened with grief and despair。
〃No；〃 she whispered； 〃I have only to obey； I have no commands to
give！〃
〃Lafayette；〃 was now heard in the corridor〃General Lafayette is
coming！〃
The queen advanced with hasty steps toward the entering general。
〃Sir；〃 she cried； 〃is this the peace and security that you promised
us； and for which you pledged your word？ Hear that shouting without；
see us as if beleaguered here； and then tell me how it agrees with
the assurances which you made to me！〃
〃Madame； I have been myself deceived；〃 answered Lafayette。 〃The most
sacred promises were made to me； all my requests and propositions
were yielded to。 I succeeded in pacifying the crowd； and I really
believed and hoped that they would continue quiet； that
〃Sir；〃 interrupted the queen； impatiently； 〃Whom do you mean by
'they？' Of whom are you speaking in such tones of respect？〃
〃Madame； I am speaking of the people； with whom I came to an
understanding； and who promised me to keep the peace； and to respect
the slumbers of your majesty。〃
〃You are not speaking of the people； but of the rebels； the
agitators；〃 cried Marie Antoinette； with flashing eyes。 〃You speak
of high traitors； who break violently into the palace of the king；
of murderers； who have destroyed two of our faithful subjects。 Sir；
it is of such crime that you speak with respect； it is with such a
rabble that you have dealt； instead of ordering your soldiers to cut
them down。〃
〃Madame；〃 said Lafayette； turning pale； 〃had I attempted to do that；
your majesty would not have found refuge in this chamber。 For the
anger of the mob is like the lightning and thunder of the tempest；
it heeds neither door nor bolt； and if it has once broken loose；
nothing can restrain or stop it。〃
〃Oh；〃 cried the queen； with a mocking laugh； 〃it is plain that Mr。
Lafayette has been pursuing his studies in America； at the
university of revolutions。 He speaks of the people with a deference
as if it were another majesty to bow to。〃
〃And in that Lafayette is right；〃 said the king； rising and
approaching them。 〃Hear the yell； madame！ it sounds like the roaring
of lions； and you know； Marie； that the lion is called the king of
beasts。 Tell us； general； what does the lion want； and what does his
roaring mean？〃
〃Sire； the enemies of the royal family； the agitators and rebels；
who have within these last hours come from Paris； have urged on the
people afresh； and kindled them with senseless calumnies。 They have
persuaded the people that your majesty has summoned hither the
regiments from all the neighboring stations； that you are collecting
an army to put yourself at its head and march against Paris。〃
Louis cast a significant look at his wife； which was answered with a
proud toss of her head。
〃I have sought in vain；〃 continued Lafayette； 〃to make the poor；
misguided men conscious of the impossibility of such a plan。〃
〃Yet； sir；〃 broke in Marie Antoinette； fiercely； 〃the execution of
this plan would save the crown from dishonor and humiliation！〃
〃Only； madame； that it is exactly the execution of it which is
impossible；〃 answered Lafayette； gently bowing。
〃If you could give wings to the soldiers of the various garrisons
away from here； the plan might be good； and the army might save the
country！ But as； unfortunately； this cannot be； we must think of
other means of help； for your majesty hears the danger knocking now
at the door； and we must do with pacificatory measures what we
cannot do with force。〃
〃How will you use pacificatory measures； sir？〃 asked Marie
Antoinette； angrily。
Lafayette cast upon her a sad； pained look； and turned to the king。
〃Sire；〃 said he； with loud； solemn voice； 〃sire； the people are
frightfully carried away。 Stimulating speeches have driven them to
despair and to madness。 It is only with difficulty that we have
succeeded in keeping the mob out of the palace； and closing the door
again。 'Paris shall be laid in ashes！' is the horrible cry which
drives all these hearts to rage； and to which they give
unconditional belief！〃
〃I will show myself to the people；〃 said Louis。 〃I will tell them
that they have been deceived。 I will give them my royal word that I
have no hostile designs whatever against Paris。〃
General Lafayette sighed； and dropped his head heavily upon his
breast。
〃Do you counsel me not to do this？〃 asked the king； timidly。
〃Sire；〃 answered the general； with a shrug； 〃the people are now in
such an excited； unreasonable state； that words will no longer be
sufficient