按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
dreadful night which surrounds us； a glimmer of hope was suddenly
appearing； and my eyes are blinded with it。 Oh； sister； do you
really think it possible that we can escape this place of torment？〃
〃Escape we will certainly； my dear sister；〃 answered Elizabeth；
gently； 〃but it lies in God's hands whether it is our bodies or our
souls only that will escape。 If we do not succeed； they will kill
us； and then our freed souls will ascend to God。 Oh； my noble queen
and sister； let us pray that God would give us courage and
steadfastness to hope in Him and to conform to His will。〃
〃Yes； sister； let us pray；〃 said the queen； folding her hands； and
reverentially bending her head。 Then after a pause； in which they
could hear from without the noisy laughter of Simon and his
comrades； the queen raised herself up； and her countenance had
regained its wonted calm and grave expression。
〃And now； Elizabeth； read on further。 Let us hear the continuation
of the plan。〃
Madame Elizabeth took the paper and read on in a whispering voice：
〃As soon as Tison and his wife have fallen asleep； the queen and
Madame Elizabeth will put on their clothes。 Over the men's garments
they will throw the cloaks which Toulan brought yesterday； and these
cloaks will disguise their gait and size。 But care must be taken
that the tri…colored sashes of the commissaries which Lepitre
brought yesterday with the admission…cards of the same authorities；
should peep out from beneath the cloaks so as to be visible to every
one。 Thus arrayed； the two ladies will pass by the sentry； showing
him the card as they go out （meanwhile talking with Lepitre）； leave
the Temple； and go with Lepitre to the Rue de la Conderie； where M。
de Jarjayes will be waiting to conduct the ladies farther。〃
〃But the children；〃 whispered the queen； 〃do the children not
accompany us？ Oh！ they ought not to think that I would leave this
place while my dear children are compelled to remain here。 What is
to be done with the children； Elizabeth？〃
〃We shall soon learn that； sister； allow me to read on。 'At seven
o'clock； as soon as the guard is changed； a man disguised as a
lamplighter； with his tin filler in his hand； will appear at the
gate of the Temple； knock loudly and demand of the guard that his
children； who had this day been taking care of the lantern； should
be allowed to come out。 On this； Toulan will bring the dauphin and
Madame Royale in their changed costume； and while delivering them
over to the supposed lamplighter he will scold him soundly for not
taking care of the lanterns himself； but giving it to the children。
This is the plan whose execution is possible and probable； if every
thing is strictly followed。 Before the affair is discovered； there
will be at least seven hours' advantage and the royal family will be
able； with the passes already secured by M。 Jarjayes； to be a long
way off before their flight will be discovered by Tison。 In a secure
house； whither Toulan will lead them； the royal family will find
simple citizen's clothing。 Without exciting any stir； and
accompanied by Messieurs Jarjayes and Toulan； they will reach
Normandy。 A packet…boat furnished by an English friend lies in
readiness to receive the royal family and take them to their' 〃
〃Good…day； Madame Tison！〃 cried the dauphin loudly； 〃good…day； my
dear Madame Tison！〃
Madame Elizabeth hastily concealed the paper in her bosom； and Marie
Antoinette had scarcely time to hide the ball of thread in her
pocket； when Tison appeared upon the threshold of the door； looked
with her sharp lynx…eyes around； and then fixed them upon the two
ladies。
She saw that Marie Antoinette did not display her accustomed
dignified calmness； and that Elizabeth's pale cheeks were unusually
red。
〃Something is going on；〃 said the spy to herself； 〃and what does it
mean that to…day the commissaries are not in the anteroom； and that
they let these women carry on their chattering entirely unwatched？〃
〃Madame has been reading？〃 asked Tison； subjecting every object upon
the table before which the ladies were sitting； to a careful
scrutiny。 〃Madame has been reading；〃 she repeated； 〃I heard paper
rattling； and I see no book。〃
〃You are under a mistake；〃 replied Madame Elizabeth； 〃we have not
been reading； we have been sewing； but supposing we were reading； is
there any wrong in that？ Have they made any law that forbids that？〃
〃No；〃 answered Tison； 〃noI only wondered how people could rattle
paper and there be none there； but all the samethe ladies of
course have a right to read； and we must be satisfied with that。〃
And she went out； looking right and left like a hound on the scent；
and searching every corner of the room。
〃I must see what kind of officials we have here to…day；〃 said Tison
to herself； slipping through the little side…door and through the
corridor； 〃I shouldn't wonder if it were Toulan and Lepitre again；
for every time when they tworight！〃 she ejaculated； looking
through the outer door； 〃right！ it is they； Toulan and Lepitre。 I
must see what Simon's wife has to say to that。〃
She slipped down the broad staircase； and passed through the open
door into the porter's lodge。 Madame Simon； one of the most savage
of the knitters； had shortly returned from the guillotine； and was
sitting upon her rush chair； busily counting on a long cotton
stocking which she held in her hand。
〃How many heads to…day？〃 asked Tison。
Madame Simon slowly shook her head； decorated with a white knit cap。
〃It is hardly worth the pains；〃 she said dismally；〃the machine
works badly； and the judges are neglectful。 Only five cars to…day；
and on every one only seven persons。〃 〃What！〃 cried Tison； 〃only
thirty…five heads to…day in all？〃
〃Yes； only thirty…five heads；〃 repeated Madame Simon； shaking her
head； 〃I have just been counting on my stocking； and I find only
thirty…five seam…stitches； for every seam…stitch means a head。 For
such a little affair we have had to sit six hours in the wet and
cold on the platform。 The machine works too slowly； I say
altogether too slowly。 The judges are easy； and there is no more
pleasure to be derived from the executions。〃
〃They must be stirred up；〃 said Tison with a fiendish look； 〃your
husband must speak with his friend； citizen Marat； and tell him that
his best friends the knitters； and most of all； Simon's wife； are
dissatisfied； and if it goes on so； the women will rise and hurry
all the men to the guillotine。 That will stir them up； for they do
respect the knitters； and if they fear the devil； they fear yet more
his proud grandmother； and every one of us market…women and knitters
is the devil's grandmother。〃
〃Yes； they do respect us and they shall；〃 said Madame Simon； setting
her glistening needles in motion again； and working slowly on the
stocking； 〃I will myself speak with citizen Marat； and believe me； I
will fire him up； and then we shall have better play； and see more
cars driven up to the guillotine。 We must keep our eyes well open；
arid denounce all suspicious characters。〃
〃I have my eyes always open；〃 cried Tison； with a coarse laugh； 〃and
I suspect traitors before they have committed any thing。 There； for
example； are the two officials； Toulan and Lepitre； do you have
confidence in them？〃
〃I have no confidence in them whatever； and I have never had any
confidence in them；〃 answered Madame Simon； with dignity； and
setting her needles in more rapid motion。 〃In these times you must
trust nobody； and least of all those who are so very earnest to keep
guard over the Austrian woman； for a true republican despises the
aristocracy altogether too much to find it agreeable to be with such
scum； and shows it as much as he can； but Toulan is always wanting
to be there。 Wait a moment； and I will tell you how many times
Toulan and Lepitre have kept guard the present month。〃
She drew a little memorandum…book from her reticule； which hung by
black bands from her brown hairy arm； and turned over the leaves。
〃There； here it is；〃 she said。
〃To…day is the 20th of February； and the two men have already kept
guard eight times the present month。 That is three times as many as
they need to do。 Every one of the officials who were appointed to
keep guard in the Temple is obliged to serve only once a week； and
both of these traitors are now here for the eighth time。 And my
husband is so stupid and so blinded that he believes this prattler
Toulan when he tells him he comes here merely to be with citizen
Simon； but they cannot come round me with their talk； they cannot
throw dust in my eyes。 I shall keep them open； wide open； let me
tell you。〃
〃They are not sitting inside in the antechamber to…day；〃 whispered
Tison； 〃but outside on the landing； and they have closed the door of
the anteroom； so that the Austrian has been entirely alone and
unobserved these hours。〃
〃Alone！〃 cried the knitter； and her polished needles struck so
violently against each other that you could hear them click。 〃My
husband cannot be to blame for that； Toulan must have talked him
into it； and he must have a reason for it； he must have a reason；
and if it is only from his having pity upon her； that is enoug