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great days of national fasting or thanksgiving。
On the morning of the fourth day； before life had begun to move in
the streets of Paris； and before the houses were opened； a cry was
heard in the great highways of the city； ringing up into all the
houses； and entering all the agitated hearts that heard it：
〃Flowers； bring flowers！ Mirabeau wants flowers！ Bring roses and
violets for Mirabeau！ Mirabeau wants to die amid flowers！〃
This cry awoke slumbering Paris the 2d of April； 1791； and； as it
resounded through the streets； windows and doors opened； and
hundreds； thousands of men hastened from all directions toward
Mirabeau's house； carrying nosegays； bouquets； whole baskets of
flowers。 One seemed to be transferred from cool； frosty spring
weather to the warm； fragrant days of summer； all the greenhouses；
all the chambers poured out their floral treasures to prepare one
last summer day for the dying tribune of the people。 His whole house
was filled with flowers and with fragrance。 The hall； the staircase；
the antechamber； and the drawing…room were overflowing with flowers；
and there in the middle of the drawing…room lay Mirabeau upon a
lounge； carefully dressed； shaved and powdered； as if for a royal
festival。 The most beautiful of the flowers； the fairest exotics
surrounded his couch； and bent their variegated petals down to the
pale； death…stricken gladiator； who still had power to summon a
smile to his lips； and with one last look of affection to bid
farewell to his weeping friendsfarewell to the flowers and the
sunlight！
On his lofty brow； on his smiling lips； there was written； after
Death had claimed him； after the gladiator had fallen； 〃The dying
one greets you！〃
The day of his death was the day of his last triumph； and the
flowers that all Paris sent to him； were to Mirabeau the parting
word of love and admiration！
Four times daily the king had sent to inquire after Mirabeau's
welfare； and when at noon； on the 2d of April； Count de la Marck
brought the tidings of his death； the king turned pale。 〃Disaster is
hovering over us；〃 he said； sadly； 〃Death too arrays himself on the
side of our enemies！〃
Marie Antoinette was also very deeply moved by the tidings。 〃He
wanted to save us； and therefore must die！ The burden was too heavy；
the pillar has broken under the weight； the temple will plunge down
and bury us beneath its ruins； if we do not hasten to save
ourselves！ Mirabeau's bequest was his counsel to speedy and secret
flight！ We must follow his advice； we must remove from Paris。 May
the spirit of Mirabeau enlighten the heart of the king； that he may
be willing to do what is necessary；that he may be willing to leave
Paris！〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
REVOLUTION IN THE THEATRE。
All Paris was again in commotion； fear； and uproar。 The furies of
the revolution； the market…women； went howling again through the
streets on the 20th of June； 1791； uttering their horrid curses upon
the king and the Austrian woman； and hurling their savage words and
dirty songs against Madame Veto； against la chienne d'Autriche。
Around the Tuileries stood in immense masses the corps of the
National Guard； with grave and threatening mien； and with difficulty
holding back the people； who were filling the whole broad square in
front of the palace； and who could only with great effort be
prevented from breaking through those strong cordons of guards who
held both ends of the street leading to the Tuileries； and kept at
least the middle of the way free and open。
It was a way for the king； the queen； and the royal family； who were
to reenter Paris that day。 Lafayette had； at the order of the
National Assembly； gone with some regiments of the guard to
Varennes； to conduct the king back to the capital。 Thousands upon
thousands had hurried out after him in order to observe this return
of the representatives of monarchy； and to take part in this funeral
procession！
For it was a funeral of the monarchy which was celebrated that day；
and this great； heavy carriage； surrounded by soldiers； and the
ribald； mocking populacethis great carriage； which now drove along
the streets leading to the Tuileries； amid the thunder of cannon；
and the peals of bells from towers； was the funeral car of monarchy。
The king； the queen； the royal children； the sister of the king；
Madame Tourzel； and the two deputies whom the National Assembly had
sent to Varennes to accompany the royal family； Petion and Barnave；
were in this carriage。
They had tried to follow the advice of the dying Mirabean； and to
save themselves from the revolution。 That was the offence of this
king and this queen； who were now brought back in triumph to the
Tuileries； the palace of kings； and from that time a royal prison。
Tri…colored banners waved from all roofs and from all windows；
placards were displayed everywhere； bearing in immense letters the
words： 〃Whoever applauds the king shall be scourged； whover insults
him shall be hanged！〃
They had wished to escape； these unhappy ones； who are now brought
back from Varennes； where they were identified and detained。 Now
they were returning； no longer the masters； but the prisoners of the
French nation！ The National Assembly had passed a decree； whose
first article was： 〃The king is temporarily set aside from the
functions of royalty；〃 and whose second and third articles were；
〃that so soon as the king and his family shall be brought back to
the Tuileries； a provisional watch shall be set over him； as well as
over the queen and the dauphin； which； under the command of the
general…in…chief of the National Guard of Paris； shall be
responsible for their safety and for their detention。〃
The king and the queen returned to Paris as prisoners； and Lafayette
was their jailer。 The master of France； the many…headed King of the
French nation； was the National Assembly。
Sad； dreadful days of humiliation； of resignation； of perils and
anxieties； now followed for the royal family； the prisoners of the
Tuileries； who were watched day and night by spying eyes； and whose
doors must remain open day and night； in order that officers on
guard might look without hindrance into the apartments in which the
prisoners of the French nation lived。
During the first week after the sad return； the spirit of the queen
seemed to be broken； her energies to be impaired forever。 She had no
more hope； no more fear； she threw out no new plans for escaping；
she neither worked nor wrote。 She only sat still and sad for hours；
and before her eyes passed the dreadful pictures of the time just
gone by； presenting themselves with dreadful vividness； and in the
recollection anguishing her spirit。 She recalled the excitement and
anxiety of the day which preceded the flight。 She saw herself； as
with trembling hands she put on the garments of one of her waiting…
maids； and then disguised the dauphin in girl's clothes； she heard
the boy asking anew； with his pleasant smile： 〃Are we going to play
theatre； mamma queen？〃 Then she saw herself on the street alone；
waiting without any protection or company for the carriage which was
to take her up； after taking up at another place the king and the
two children。 She recalled the drive in the dark night； the heat in
the close； heavy carriage； the dreadful alarm when suddenly； after a
twelve hours' drive； the carriage broke； and all dismounted to climb
the hill to the village which lay before them； and where they had to
wait till the carriage could be repaired。 Then the journey on； the
delay in Varennea； the cry； 〃They are recognized。〃 Then the
confusion； the march； the anguish of the hours following； and
finally that last hour of hope when； in the poor chamber of the
shopkeeper Sauce； his wife standing near the bed on which the little
prince slept； she conjured his wife to save the king and find him a
hiding…place。 Then she heard again before her ears the woman's hard
voice answering her：
〃Madame； it cannot be； I love my husband； too； and I also have
children； but my husband were lost if I saved yours。〃 Then she heard
afresh the cries； the march； saw the arrival of the Paris regiments
and the deputies whom the National Assembly sent to conduct the
royal refugees back to Paris。 Then she recalled the drive back；
crowded into the carriage with the deputies； and the ribald populace
roaring around。 As she thought of all these things； a shudder ran
through the form of the unhappy queen； and tears streamed
unrestrainedly from her eyes。
But gradually she gained her composure and spirit； and even the
daily humiliation and trials which she encountered awakened in her
the fire and defiance of her earlier days。
The king and the queen were； after their return from Varennes； the
prisoners of their own people； and the Tuileries formed the prison
in which with never…sleeping cruelty the people watched their royal
captives。
The chiefs of the battalions constituting the National Guard took
turns in sentry duty over the royal couple。 They had received the
rigid order to constantly watch the royal family； and not to leave
them for a moment alone。 Even the sleeping…room of the queen was not
closed to the espionage