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painted on fans and rings； and it was the fashion； among the most
elegant ladies of the Faubourg St。 Germain； and among the market…
women as well； to decorate themselves with the likeness of the
dauphin。 How his brow beamed； how his eye brightened； when；
accompanied by his escort； of which he was proud； he entered his
garden！ When the retinue was not large； the prince took his place in
the ranks。 One day； when all the National Guards on duty were very
desirous of accompanying him； several of them were compelled to
stand outside of the garden。 〃Pardon me； gentlemen；〃 said the
dauphin； 〃it is a great pity that my garden is so small that it
deprives me of the pleasure of receiving you all。〃 Then he hastened
to give flowers to every one who was near the fence； and received
their thanks with great pleasure。
The enthusiasm for the dauphin was so great； that the boys of Paris
envied their elders the honor of being in his service； and longed to
become soldiers； that they might be in his retinue。 There was； in
fact； a regiment of boys formed； which took the name of the
Dauphin's Regiment。 The citizens of Paris were anxious to enroll the
names of their sons in the lists of this regiment； and to pay the
expenses of an equipment。 And when this miniature regiment was
formed； with the king's permission； it marched to the Tuileries； in
order to parade before the dauphin。
The prince was delighted with the little regiment； and invited its
officers to visit his garden； that they might see his flowers； his
finest treasures。 〃Would you do us the pleasure to be the colonel of
our regiment？〃 one of the officers asked the dauphin。
〃Oh！ certainly；〃 he answered。
〃Then you must give up getting flowers and bouquets for your mamma！〃
said one of the boys。
〃Oh！〃 answered the dauphin； with a smile； 〃that will not hinder my
taking care of my flowers。 Many of these gentlemen have little
gardens； too； as they have told me。 Very well； they can follow the
example of their colonel； and love the queen； and then mamma will
receive whole regiments of flowers every day。〃
The majority of this regiment consisted； at the outset； of children
of the highest ranks of society； and it was therefore natural that
they； practiced in the most finished courtesy； should pay some
deference to their young colonel。
But they were expressly forbidden showing any thing of this feeling
toward their comrade。 〃For；〃 said the king； 〃I want him to have
companions who will stimulate his ambition； but I do not want him to
have flatterers； who shall lead him to live to himself alone。〃 Soon
the number of little soldiers increased； for every family longed for
the honor of having its sons in the regiment of the royal dauphin。
The people used always to throng in great masses when this regiment
went through its exercises in the Place de la Carrousel。 It was a
miniature representation of the French guards； with their three…
cornered hats and white jackets； and nothing could be more charming
than this regiment of blooming boys in their tasteful uniforms； and
their little chief； the dauphin； looking at his regiment with
beaming eyes and smiling lips。
The enthusiasm of the little soldiers of the Royal Dauphin Regiment
for their colonel was so great； that they longed to give him a proof
of their love。 One day the officers of the regiment came into the
Tuileries and begged the king's permission to make a present to the
dauphin； in the name of the whole regiment。 The king gladly acceded
to their request； and he himself conducted the little officers
into the reception…room； where was the dauphin； standing at the side
of his mother。
The little colonel hastened to greet them。 〃Welcome； my comrades；
welcome！〃 cried he； extending his hand to them。 〃My mamma queen
tells me that you have brought me something which will give me
pleasure。 But it gives me pleasure to see you； and nothing more is
needed。〃
〃But； colonel； you will not refuse our present？〃
〃Oh； certainly not； for my papa king says that a colonel is not
forbidden taking a gift from his regiment。 What is it？〃
〃Colonel； we bring you a set of dominoes；〃 said a little officer；
named Palloy； who was the speaker of the delegation〃 a set of
dominoes entirely made out of the ruins of the Bastile。〃
And taking the wrapper from the white marble box； bound with gold；
he extended it to the dauphin； and repeated with a solemn face the
following lines：
〃Those gloomy walls that once awoke our fear Are changed into the
toy we offer here： And when with joyful race the gift you view；
Think what the people's mighty love can do。〃 ＇Footnote： 〃De ces aff
reux cachota； la terreur des Francais； Vous voyez les debris
transformes en hoohets； Puissent…ils； en servant aux jeux de votre
enfance； Du peuple vous prouver 1'amour et la puissance。〃
Beauchesne； 〃Louis XVD。 Sa Vie； sou Agonie；〃 etc。； vol。 iv。； p。
396。＇
Poor little dauphin！ Even when they wanted to do him homage； they
were threatening him； and the present which affection offered to the
royal child was at the same time a bequest of Revolution； which even
then lifted her warning finger； and pointed at the past； when the
hate of the people destroyed those 〃gloomy walls；〃 which had been
erected by kingly power。
In his innocence and childish simplicity； the dauphin saw nothing of
the sting which； unknown even to the givers； lurked within this
gift。 He enjoyed like a child the beautiful present； and listened
with eagerness while the manner of playing the game was described to
him。 All the stones were taken from the mantel of black marble in
the reception…room of Delaunay； the governor of the Bastile； who had
been murdered by the people。 On the back of each of these stones was
a letter set in gold； and when the whole were arranged in regular
order； they formed the sentence： 〃Vive le Roi； vive la Reine； et M。
le Dauphin。〃 The marble of the box was taken from the altar…slab in
the chapel。 In the middle was a golden relief； representing a face。
〃That is my papa king；〃 cried the dauphin； joyfully； looking at the
representation。
〃Yes；〃 replied Palloy； the speaker of the little company； 〃every one
of us bears him in his heart。 And like the king； you will live for
the happiness of all； and like him you will be the idol of Prance。
We； who shall one day be French soldiers and citizens； bring to you；
who will then be our commander…in…chief and king； our homage as the
future supporters of the throne which is destined for you； and which
the wisdom of your father has placed under the unshakable power of
law。 The gift which we offer you is but small； but each one of us
adds his heart to it。〃 ＇Footnote： The very words of the little
officer。＇
〃And I give all of you my heart in return for it；〃 cried the
dauphin； with a joyful eagerness； 〃and I shall take great pains to
be good； and to learn well； that I may be allowed to amuse myself
with playing dominoes。〃
And the little fellow fixed his large； blue eyes upon the queen with
a tender look； took her hand and pressed it to his lips。
〃My dear mamma queen；〃 he said； caressingly； 〃if I am real good； and
study hard； we can both play dominoes together； can't we？〃
A sad smile played around the lips of the queen； and no one saw the
distrustful； timid look which she cast at the box； which to her was
merely the memorial of a dreadful day。
〃Yes； my child；〃 she replied； mildly； 〃we will play dominoes often
together； for you certainly will be good and industrious。〃
She controlled herself sufficiently to thank the boys with friendly
words for the present which they had made to the dauphin； and then
the deputation； accompanied by the king and the little prince；
withdrew。 But as soon as they had gone； the smile died away upon her
lips； and with an expression of horror she pointed to the box。
〃Take it awayoh； take it away！〃 she cried； to Madame de Tourzel。
〃It is a dreadful reminder of the past； a terrible prophecy of the
future。 The stones of the Bastile； which the people destroyed； lie
in this box！ And the box itself； does it not look like a
sarcophagus？ And this sarcophagus bears the face of the king！ Oh；
the sorrow and woe to us unfortunate ones； who can not even receive
gifts of love without seeing them obscured by recollections of hate；
and who have no joys that have not bitter drops of grief mingled
with them！ The revolution sends us storm…birds； and we are to regard
them as doves bringing us olive…branches。 Believe me； I see into the
future； and I discern the deluge which will drown us all！〃
BOOK IV。
CHAPTER XIX。
JUNE 20 AND AUGUST 10； 1792。
Marie Antoinette was right。 The revolution was sending its storm…
birds to the Tuileries。 They beat with their strong pinions against
the windows of the palace； they pulled up and broke with their claws
the flowers and plants of the garden； so that the royal family no
longer ventured to enter it。 But they had not yet entered the palace
itself； and within its apartments； watched by the National Guard；
the queen was at least safe from the insults of the populace。
No； not even there longer； for the storm…birds of the revolution
beat against the windows； and these window