登陆注册
5288200000101

第101章 CHAPTER II.(4)

The Queen was far from relying upon M. de La Fayette's loyalty; but she has often told me that she believed on that day, that La Fayette, having affirmed to the King, in the presence of a crowd of witnesses, that he would answer for the army of Paris, would not risk his honour as a commander, and was sure of being able to redeem his pledge. She also thought the Parisian army was devoted to him, and that all he said about his being forced to march upon Versailles was mere pretence.

On the first intimation of the march of the Parisians, the Comte de Saint-Priest prepared Rambouillet for the reception of the King, his family, and suite, and the carriages were even drawn out; but a few cries of "Vive le Roi!" when the women reported his Majesty's favourable answer, occasioned the intention of going away to be given up, and orders were given to the troops to withdraw.

[Compare this account with the particulars given in the "Memoirs" of Ferribres, Weber, Bailly, and Saint-Priest, from the latter of which the following sentence is taken:

"M. d'Estaing knew not what to do with the Body Guards beyond bringing them into the courtyard of the ministers, and shutting the grilles. Thence they proceeded to the terrace of the Chateau, then to Trianon, and lastly to Rambouillet.

"I could not refrain from expressing to M. d'Estaing, when he came to the King, my astonishment at not seeing him make any military disposition. 'Monsieur,' replied he, 'I await the orders of the King' (who did not open his mouth). 'When the King gives no orders,' pursued I, 'a general should decide for himself in a soldierly manner.' This observation remained unanswered."]

The Body Guards were, however, assailed with stones and musketry while they were passing from the Place d'Armes to, their hotel. Alarm revived; again it was thought necessary that the royal family should go away; some carriages still remained ready for travelling; they were called for; they were stopped by a wretched player belonging to the theatre of the town, seconded by the mob: the opportunity for flight had been lost.

The insurrection was directed against the Queen in particular; I shudder even now at the recollection of the poissardes, or rather furies, who wore white aprons, which they screamed out were intended to receive the bowels of Marie Antoinette, and that they would make cockades of them, mixing the most obscene expressions with these horrible threats.

The Queen went to bed at two in the morning, and even slept, tired out with the events of so distressing a day. She had ordered her two women to bed, imagining there was nothing to dread, at least for that night; but the unfortunate Princess was indebted for her life to that feeling of attachment which prevented their obeying her. My sister, who was one of the ladies in question, informed me next day of all that I am about to relate.

On leaving the Queen's bedchamber, these ladies called their femmes de chambre, and all four remained sitting together against her Majesty's bedroom door. About half-past four in the morning they heard horrible yells and discharges of firearms; one ran to the Queen to awaken her and get her out of bed; my sister flew to the place from which the tumult seemed to proceed; she opened the door of the antechamber which leads to the great guard-room, and beheld one of the Body Guard holding his musket across the door, and attacked by a mob, who were striking at him; his face was covered with blood; he turned round and exclaimed: "Save the Queen, madame; they are come to assassinate her!" She hastily shut the door upon the unfortunate victim of duty, fastened it with the great bolt, and took the same precaution on leaving the next room. On reaching the Queen's chamber she cried out to her, "Get up, Madame! Don't stay to dress yourself; fly to the King's apartment!" The terrified Queen threw herself out of bed; they put a petticoat upon her without tying it, and the two ladies conducted her towards the oile-de-boeuf. A door, which led from the Queen's dressing-room to that apartment, had never before been fastened but on her side. What a dreadful moment! It was found to be secured on the other side. They knocked repeatedly with all their strength; a servant of one of the King's valets de chambre came and opened it; the Queen entered the King's chamber, but he was not there.

Alarmed for the Queen's life, he had gone down the staircases and through the corridors under the oeil-de-boeuf, by means of which he was accustomed to go to the Queen's apartments without being under the necessity of crossing that room. He entered her Majesty's room and found no one there but some Body Guards, who had taken refuge in it. The King, unwilling to expose their lives, told them to wait a few minutes, and afterwards sent to desire them to go to the oeil-de-boeuf. Madame de Tourzel, at that time governess of the children of France, had just taken Madame and the Dauphin to the King's apartments. The Queen saw her children again. The reader must imagine this scene of tenderness and despair.

It is not true that the assassins penetrated to the Queen's chamber and pierced the bed with their swords. The fugitive Body Guards were the only persons who entered it; and if the crowd had reached so far they would all have been massacred. Besides, when the rebels had forced the doors of the antechamber, the footmen and officers on duty, knowing that the Queen was no longer in her apartments, told them so with that air of truth which always carries conviction. The ferocious horde instantly rushed towards the oeil-de-boeuf, hoping, no doubt, to intercept her on her way.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 最新经理人自身价值与培训全书

    最新经理人自身价值与培训全书

    《最新经理人自身价值与培训全书》涉及到许多使你终身受益的知识,其中包括经理人心理训练和道德建设,构建合理的知识体系,找准创业致富的方向,机智灵活的管理,塑造经营理念,提高决策水平与竞争意识,练就公关高手,实战营销的锦囊妙计,艺术地领导优秀团队等。打开本书,你还会发现一些有趣的主题,如经理人如何与老板建立融洽的良性互动,智慧女性如何成为才智过人的女经理。
  • 千金有毒:Boss的落跑新娘

    千金有毒:Boss的落跑新娘

    “签了它!”他目光幽深语气清冷,一纸契约宣告他的占有。“敢碰我的女人,杀无赦!”他狠辣果决,一怒为红颜。“叶晚晴,你不过是仗着我宠你……滚!”他宠她上天,弃她入地狱。她浅浅一笑,华丽转身,“唐少,但愿不再见。”他步步紧逼,咬牙切齿,“女人,我说过,除非我厌弃,你终生都是我的……”
  • 清东陵拾遗(清东陵研究丛书)

    清东陵拾遗(清东陵研究丛书)

    孝陵位于清东陵中心,是清世祖爱新觉罗·福临也就是顺治皇帝与他两位皇后的陵寝。本书将为你揭示清东陵。
  • 死灵与道成寺钟

    死灵与道成寺钟

    “为这点事就死去吗?”“为这点事就活着吗?”快停下,快停下,不要再问答了!只要有爱不就好了吗?“落脚地呢?”重兵卫问道。让吉冈带路就是个失误,他说自己识路,却常绕远路,最后偏离大路,让他们无处落脚。重兵卫第一次让吉冈带路,迷路是吉冈的错。第二次还让吉冈带路,那就只能怪重兵卫自己了。
  • 漫步云深处(全+番外已出版)

    漫步云深处(全+番外已出版)

    他不明白,她明知自己讨厌她,为何还愿意嫁过来?她明明不是温顺的小女人,为何还能在他面前忍气吞声?她在打什么主意?无论如何,他对她都只有痛恨与厌烦;在父亲面前扮演好完美老公的角色,在外人面前藏起婚戒,装作与她漠不相识,而与初恋女友爱火狂燃。在私下里,他嘲讽她、折磨她,得意地说:“你要的一切,我都可以给你,除了爱情。”她却冷静地回答:“沈奕棠,我们离婚吧!”(本文由红袖添香网独家首发,不经授权,谢绝转载)
  • 妖孽夫君:毒妻要逆天

    妖孽夫君:毒妻要逆天

    黑暗杀手一朝穿越成大陆废柴,从此废柴翻身!说她不能修炼玄力?天才体质亮出来!说她貌丑无盐?倾城容貌亮出来!姨娘欺压?那她反压回去!庶姐心狠手辣要她命?那她就反还其身!从此一路收宝贝,气死心胸狭窄各路小人!不过……谁能告诉她,这妖孽从哪冒出来的?小东西,看你往哪里跑!”男人低沉性感的声音从背后响起,妖孽的桃花眼一眯!她跑,他追!势必要把这个落跑的小东西给追到手里头!情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 腹黑殿下请走开

    腹黑殿下请走开

    作为一个见不得光的私生女,苏夏很有私生女的自觉。以一纸“关系断绝书”为交换,苏夏被苏家卖给楚家。继母笑里藏刀,继兄火爆狂躁,她自觉地收敛利爪,管你阴谋阳谋,我自恭敬顺从。被坑到恶意满满的班级,青梅泛酸,竹马添乱,全校公敌的苏夏再怎么自觉也没办法继续低调下去了。质疑她作弊的站出来,高清晰全方位监控摄像打肿你的脸;毁课本锁仓库都是小儿科,放鞋钉下黑手也小菜一碟,敢偷母亲的遗物,你们做好死的觉悟了吗?还有那位腹黑技能满点的王子殿下,别以为你帮了她几个“小”忙,她就会以身相许,肚子黑得发亮的家伙,请你走开,她才不要理你呢!
  • 寺沙门玄奘上表记

    寺沙门玄奘上表记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 报告总裁,甜妻要造反!

    报告总裁,甜妻要造反!

    (重生,1v1,he)奚氏的千金含冤而死,两个月后,人们在她的坟前发现了她的前夫楚家少爷的尸体。重生归来,奚惜小要做的第一件事就是要和楚斯墨离婚。第一次提出离婚,离婚协议被他撕个稀巴烂。第二次提出离婚,翌日各大媒体都是她被他从酒店抱出来的头条。第三次提出离婚……不是已经离了婚,她这档案上怎么还写着已婚呢?!奚惜小没想到,重生两次竟都栽到了同一个男人手中,直到某天,姓楚的男人在她耳边低低道:“你以为只有你一个人爱了两次……”
  • 网游之天下无双

    网游之天下无双

    手提地狱魔剑,身穿幽魂神光铠,头戴噬魂紫金盔,脚踏浮云踏浪靴。盘踞在极寒死亡之地,一代修罗王横空出世。菜鸟们,颤抖吧!