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them for a moment alone。 Even the sleeping…room of the queen was not
closed to the espionage of the guards； the door to the drawing…room
close by had always to be open； and in this drawing…room was the
officer of the guard。 Even in the night； while the queen lay in her
bed； this door remained open； and the officer； sitting in an arm…
chair directly opposite to the door； kept his eyes directed to the
bed in which the queen sought to sleep； and wrestled with the pains
and fear which she was too proud to show to her persecutors。 The
queen had stooped to make but one request； she had asked that at
least in the morning； when she arose and dressed； she might close
the doors of her sleeping…room； and they had been magnanimous enough
to comply with her wish。＇Footnote： 〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette；〃
par Edmondet Jules de Goneourt； p。 861。＇
But Queen Marie Antoinette had met all these humiliations； these
disenchantments； and trials； full of hope of a change in her
fortune。 Her proud soul was still unbroken； her belief in the
victory of monarchy under the favor of God animated her heart with a
last ray of hope； and sustained her amid all her misfortune。 She
still would contend with her enemies for the love of this people； of
whom she hoped that； led astray by Jacobins and agitators； they
would at last confess their error； respect the voice of their king
and queen； and return to love and regretfulness。 And Marie
Antoinette would sustain herself in view of the great day when the
people's love should be given back； she would seek to bring that day
back； and reconcile the people to the throne。 On this account she
would show the people that she cherished no fear of them； that she
would intrust herself with perfect confidence to them； and greet
them with her smiles and all the favor of former days。 She would
make one more attempt to regain her old popularity； and reawaken in
their cold hearts the love which the people had once displayed to
her by their loud acclamations。 She found power in herself to let
her tears flow； not visibly； but within her heart； to disguise with
her smile the pain of her soul； and so she resolved to wear a
cheerful and pleasant face； and appear again publicly in the
theatre； as well as in open carriage…drives through the city。
They were then giving in the great opera…house Gluck's 〃Alceste；〃
the favorite opera of the queenthe opera in which a few years
before she had received so splendid a triumph； in which the public
loudly encored； 〃Chantons； celebrons notre reine！〃 which the choir
had sung upon the stage； and； standing with faces turned toward the
royal box； had mingled their voices with those of the singers； and
repeated in a general chorus； 〃Chantons； celebrons notre reine！〃
〃I will try whether the public remembers that evening；〃 said Marie
Antoinette； with a faint smile； to Mademoiselle de Bugois； the only
lady who had been permitted to remain with her； 〃I will go this
evening to the opera； the public shall at least see that I intrust
myself with confidence to it； and that I have not changed； however
much may have been changed around。〃
Mademoiselle de Bugois looked with deep sadness at the pale face of
the queen； that would show the public that she had not altered； and
upon which； once so fair and bright； grief had recorded its
ineradicable characters； and almost extinguished its old beauty。
Deeply moved； the waiting…lady turned away in order not to let the
tears be seen which； against her will； streamed from her eyes。
But Marie Antoinette had seen them nevertheless。 With a sad smile
she laid her hand upon the shoulder of the lady…in…waiting。 〃Ah！〃
said she； mildly； 〃do not conceal your tears。 You are much happier
than I； for you can shed tears； mine have been flowing almost two
years in silence； and I have had to swallow them！ ＇Footnote： Marie
Antoinette's own words。See Goncourt； p。 264。＇
〃But I will not weep this evening；〃 she continued； 〃I will meet
these Parisians at least in composure。 Yes； I will do more； I will
try to smile to them。 They hate me now； but perhaps they will
remember then that once they truly loved me。 There is a trace of
magnanimity in the people； and my confidence will perhaps touch it。
Be quick； and make my toilet。 I will be fair to…day。 I will adorn
myself for the Parisians。 They will not be my enemies alone who will
be at the theatre； some of my friends will be there； and they at
least will be glad to see me。 Quick； mademoiselle； let us begin my
toilet。〃
And with a liveliness and a zeal which； in her threatened situation；
had something touching in it； Marie Antoinette arrayed herself for
the public； for the good Parisians。
The news that the queen was to appear that evening at the theatre
had quickly run through all Paris； the officer on duty told it at
his relief to some of the guards； they to those whom they met； and
it spread like wildfire。 It was therefore very natural that； long
before the curtain was raised； the great opera…house was completely
filled； parquette； boxes； and parterre； with a passionately…excited
throng。 The friends of the queen went in order to give her a long…
looked…for triumph； her enemiesand these the poor queen had in
overwhelming numbersto fling their hate； their malice； their
scorn； into the face of Marie Antoinette。
And enemies of the queen had taken places for themselves in every
part of the great house。 They even sat in the boxes of the first
rank； on those velvet…cushioned chairs which had formerly been
occupied exclusively by the enthusiastic admirers of the court； the
ladies and gentlemen of the aristocracy。 But now the aristocracy did
not dare to sit there。 The most of them； friends of the queen； had
fled； giving way before her enemies and persecutors； and in the
boxes where they once sat； now were the chief members of the
National Assembly； together with the leading orators of the clubs；
and the societies of Jacobins。
To the box above； where the people had once been accustomed to see
Princess Lamballe； the eyes of the public were directed again and
again。 Marie Antoinette had been compelled to send away this last of
her friends to London； to have a conference with Pitt。 Instead of
the fair locks of the princess； was now to be seen the head of a
man； who； resting both arms on the velvet lining of the box； was
gazing down with malicious looks into the surging masses of the
parterre。 This man was Marat； once the veterinary of the Count
d'Artois； now the greatest and most formidable orator of the wild
Jacobins。
He too had come to see the hated she…wolf； as he had lately called
the queen in his 〃Ami du Peuple；〃 and； to prepare for her a public
insult； sat drunk with vanity in the splendid box of the Princess
Lamballe； his friends and confidants were in the theatre； among them
Santerre the brewer； and Simon the cobbler； often looking up at
Marat； waiting for the promised motion which should be his signal
for the great demonstration。
At length the time arrived for the opera to begin； and； although the
queen had not come； the director of the orchestra did not venture to
detain the audience even for a few minutes。 He went to his place；
took his baton； and gave the sign。 The overture began； and all was
silent； in parquette and parterre； as well as in the boxes。 Every
one seemed to be listening only to the music； equally full of
sweetness and majestyonly to have ears for the noble rhythm with
which Gluck begins his 〃Alceste。〃
Suddenly there arose a dull； suppressed sound in parquette；
parterre； and boxes； and all heads which had before been directed
toward the stage； were now turned backward toward the great royal
box。 No one paid any more attention to the music； no one noticed
that the overture was ended and that the curtain was raised。
Amid the blast of trumpets； the noise of violins and clarionets； the
public had heard the light noise of the opening doors； had noticed
the entrance of the officers； and this sound had made the Parisians
forget even their much…loved music。
There now appeared in the open box…door a woman's form。 The queen；
followed by Mademoiselle de Bugois； advanced slowly through the
great box to the very front。 All eyes were directed to her； all
looks searched her pale； noble face。
Marie Antoinette felt this； and a smile flitted over her face like
the evening glow of a summer's day。 With this smile and a deep blush
Marie Antoinette bowed and saluted the public。
A loud； unbounded cry of applause resounded through the vast room。
In the parquette and in the boxes hundreds of spectators arose and
hailed the queen with a loud； pealing 〃Vive la reine！〃 and clapped
their hands like pleased children； and looked up to the queen with
joyful； beaming countenances。
〃Oh； my faith has not deceived！〃 whispered Marie Antoinette into the
ear of her companion。 〃The good Parisians love me still； they； like
me； remember past times； and the old loyalty is awaking in them。〃
And again she bowed her thanks right and left； and again the house
broke out into loud applause。 A single； angry glance of Marat's
little eyes； peering out from beneath the bushy brows； met the
queen。
〃Only wait；〃 said Mara