登陆注册
5288200000116

第116章 CHAPTER V.(2)

I had but a few articles to place in the box when the Queen was compelled to desist from packing it, being obliged to go down to cards, which began at seven precisely. She therefore desired me to leave all the diamonds upon the sofa, persuaded that, as she took the key of her closet herself, and there was a sentinel under the window, no danger was to be apprehended for that night, and she reckoned upon returning very early next day to finish the work.

The same woman who had given information of the sending away of the dressing-case was also deputed by the Queen to take care of her more private rooms. No other servant was permitted to enter them; she renewed the flowers, swept the carpets, etc. The Queen received back the key, when the woman had finished putting them in order, from her own hands; but, desirous of doing her duty well, and sometimes having the key in her possession for a few minutes only, she had probably on that account ordered one without the Queen's knowledge. It is impossible not to believe this, since the despatch of the diamonds was the subject of a second accusation which the Queen heard of after the return from Varennes. She made a formal declaration that her Majesty, with the assistance of Madame Campan, had packed up all her jewelry some time before the departure; that she was certain of it, as she had found the diamonds, and the cotton which served to wrap them, scattered upon the sofa in the Queen's closet in the 'entresol'; and most assuredly she could only have seen these preparations in the interval between seven in the evening and seven in the morning. The Queen having met me next day at the time appointed, the box was handed over to Leonard, her Majesty's hairdresser,--[This unfortunate man, after having emigrated for some time, returned to France, and perished upon the scaffold. -NOTE BY Tar EDIT016]-- who left the country with the Duc de Choiseul. The box remained a long time at Brussels, and at length got into the hands of Madame la Duchesse d'Angouleme, being delivered to her by the Emperor on her arrival at Vienna.

In order not to leave out any of the Queen's diamonds, I requested the first tirewoman to give me the body of the full dress, and all the assortment which served for the stomacher of the full dress on days of state, articles which always remained at the wardrobe.

The superintendent and the dame d'honneur being absent, the first tirewoman required me to sign a receipt, the terms of which she dictated, and which acquitted her of all responsibility for these diamonds.

She had the prudence to burn this document on the 10th of August, 1792.

--[The date of the sack of the Tuileries and slaughter of the Swiss Guard]-- The Queen having determined, upon the arrest at Varennes, not to have her diamonds brought back to France, was often anxious about them during the year which elapsed between that period and the 10th of August, and dreaded above all things that such a secret should be discovered.

In consequence of a decree of the Assembly, which deprived the King of the custody of the Crown diamonds, the Queen had at this time already given up those which she generally used.

She preferred the twelve brilliants called Hazarins, from the name of the Cardinal who had enriched the treasury with them, a few rose-cut diamonds, and the Sanci. She determined to deliver, with her own hands, the box containing them to the commissioner nominated by the National Assembly to place them with the Crown diamonds. After giving them to him, she offered him a row of pearls of great beauty, saying to him that it had been brought into France by Anne of Austria; that it was invaluable, on account of its rarity; that, having been appropriated by that Princess to the use of the Queens and Dauphinesses, Louis XV. had placed it in her hands on her arrival in France; but that she considered it national property. "That is an open question, Madame," said the commissary. "Monsieur," replied the Queen, "it is one for me to decide, and is now settled."

My father-in-law, who was dying of the grief he felt for the misfortunes of his master and mistress, strongly interested and occupied the thoughts of the Queen. He had been saved from the fury of the populace in the courtyard of the Tuileries.

On the day on which the King was compelled by an insurrection to give up a journey to St. Cloud, her Majesty looked upon this trusty servant as inevitably lost, if, on going away, she should leave him in the apartment he occupied in the Tuileries. Prompted by her apprehensions, she ordered M. Vicq-d'Azyr, her physician, to recommend him the waters of Mont d'Or in Auvergne, and to persuade him to set off at the latter end of May.

At the moment of my going away the Queen assured me that the grand project would be executed between the 15th and the 20th of June; that as it was not my month to be on duty, Madame Thibaut would take the journey; but that she had many directions to give me before I went. She then desired me to write to my aunt, Madame Cardon, who was by that time in possession of the clothes which I had ordered, that as soon as she should receive a letter from M. Augur, the date of which should be accompanied with a B, an L, or an M, she was to proceed with her property to Brussels, Luxembourg, or Montmedy. She desired me to explain the meaning of these three letters clearly to my sister, and to leave them with her in writing, in order that at the moment of my going away she might be able to take my place in writing to Arras.

同类推荐
  • 形势解

    形势解

    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。
  • 平回纪略

    平回纪略

    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。
  • Majorie Daw

    Majorie Daw

    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。
  • 荣枯鉴

    荣枯鉴

    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。
  • 秋池

    秋池

    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。
热门推荐
  • 太极真人九转还丹经要诀

    太极真人九转还丹经要诀

    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。
  • 读懂童年:曲韵儿童心理课

    读懂童年:曲韵儿童心理课

    本书从儿童的行为、情绪、交际、身体和生理等因素入手,讲解儿童表面问题所暗含的心理原因,从而帮助父母解决问题,使孩子更好地成长。
  • 空灵之殇

    空灵之殇

    莫灵抬眼望了一眼,怒气瞬间蔓延到脸上。窗外,站着一个男孩。穿着一件黑色的风衣,几乎融进了夜色里。月光洒在他银色的长发上,如同一道明媚柔和的光路。他目光直直地望着躺在床上的莫灵。莫灵看了看宿舍其他安睡如常的姐妹,然后轻身下了床,走出了宿舍……
  • 随人乱

    随人乱

    ‘’哎?这不是那个硬闯三界的那个孩子吗?‘’‘’啊?还真是,她现在还这么悠闲,全世界的人都在抓她。‘’在远处的孩子瞟了那堆起哄哄的人,嘴角一钩,笑了‘’罢了,随人乱吧,我就是我,不一样的烟火。‘’
  • 纳尼亚传奇大全集

    纳尼亚传奇大全集

    《纳尼亚传奇大全集》完整收录了刘易斯最负盛名的作品——纳尼亚传奇。纳尼亚传奇是世界儿童文学的经典之作,讲述的是英国的八个孩子在无意中先后闯入一个神奇的世界——纳尼亚,在那里,有会说话的各种神奇的动物,还有树神、河神、小矮人等等,他们彼此成为了好朋友,在伟大的狮王阿斯兰的帮助下,战胜了邪恶,为纳尼亚带来幸福安宁。《纳尼亚传奇》集神话、童话和传奇为一体,想象奇特、寓意深刻、情节曲折生动,现在已经是英语世界家喻户晓的经典作品。它已被翻译成41种语言,全球销量超过一亿册,多次被改编成广播、电视、舞台剧及电影。
  • 拽丫头:校草校霸都爱我

    拽丫头:校草校霸都爱我

    “拽丫头”系列姊妹篇,续写拽丫头与校霸的爱情故事。拽丫头第一天到学校,先和一个大帅哥吵架,后来脸盆砸到他的头……这个帅哥竟然是学校第一大风云人物:慕容雪。他竟然当众说喜欢拽丫头,还要带着拽丫头去开房……正所谓不是冤家不聚首!
  • 会走路的植物(趣味生物卷)

    会走路的植物(趣味生物卷)

    看过成龙主演的电影《我是谁》吗?成龙饰演的杰克因剧烈的碰撞而丧失了所有记忆,对自己的名字、来历都一无所知,他逢人只会问“我是谁”。其实,我们何尝不曾有过这样的困惑:我是谁?我是怎样来到这个世界上的?世界上为什么会有一个“我”?生物科学将为我们解答这些困惑。
  • 佳期如梦

    佳期如梦

    欢迎亲们光临小月家!~~~~~~~~我的文字很安静,就像热闹森林里静静流淌的一条小溪,安静的处世,安静的述说……第一部长篇《黑夜中的眼睛》已完稿,网址:http://wkkk.net/a/638961/字数虽不多,但用心所写。不管我的小说结局如何,整体依然是向上的、美好的。愿亲们支持,喜欢!!当然,小月亦会很开心支持你们!!!-------------------------------《佳期如梦》简介:人的一生,最美好的青春年华,从16岁到40岁……本文以回忆穿插的方式讲述肖如梦的如梦人生,以一段与简浩远的青春校园懵懂恋情为情感主线,陆续展开她短暂一生的情感经历。遇见、相识、离开,又遇见,又离开……到底谁是谁最终一生的依靠和归依?有些人,平平淡淡到你一辈子都说不出“我爱你”,你却一直把他放在心里;而有些人,一见面便可以热烈缠绵厮守拥吻,一口一句“我爱你”却那么轻易就放了手……生命并不是你想像的那么长,一生的回忆也是那么短。既然遇见了你,叫我怎样去爱你?离开你时,又该怎样去爱自己?……一场清梦,一时繁华。人生如梦,爱你如梦……这虽然是一部悲情小说,但里面的故事却时有欢喜时有忧,并非整篇文文都是悲伤的。必竟青春是美好的,人生是美好的……
  • 错嫁权臣:商女不服输

    错嫁权臣:商女不服输

    商贾巨富殷家三小姐殷若,美貌如花,名动边城。虽是女子,却为家族接班人。她的人生早已注定,一辈子与金银财宝打交道。不想一纸圣旨下来,她要嫁给当朝王爷??还是侧妃?殷小姐怒了,安能摧眉折腰事权贵,使我不得开心颜?这婚啊,谁要就拿去!为退婚,她出奇计,巧潜伏,送军备,立名目,一心想拿住当朝王爷的痛脚,逼他送自己一封休书。梁未,当今尧王,战无不胜,可他只打算南征北战,建功立业,戎马一生。某人要退婚?细数心弦,无处不是殷若的影子。梁未怒了,已乱我心还想走?我不给,你休想!小剧场:<算账篇>“殷小姐,你帮我算算,本王的清誉值多少钱?”梁未正襟危坐。殷若啪啪一通算盘打出一个数字,眸底闪动狡黠。“这么点?”梁未面沉如水,却好整以暇:“那休书算了吧,本王不卖。”<包子篇>小包子摇头晃脑,卖力苦读状。殷若寄予厚望:“儿子,你认字是为了什么?“母亲母亲,方便我以后学算盘。”小包子欢快回答。一旁的梁未冷哼:“小子,你认字是为了什么?”小包子眉头一扬:“和父亲一样当大将军。”众人倒,真不愧是三小姐和王爷的儿子,小小年纪就如此鸡贼!
  • 封道榜

    封道榜

    六道七术天下争,三人锋芒毕露现,无尽梦魇化自在,寻道途中不曾绝!