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the memoirs of marie antoinette-第103部分

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The garden of the Tuileries was full of maddened men; who insulted all who seemed to side with the Court。  〃The Life of Marie Antoinette〃 was cried under the Queen's windows; infamous plates were annexed to the book; the hawkers showed them to the passersby。  On all sides were heard the jubilant outcries of a people in a state of delirium almost as frightful as the explosion of their rage。  The Queen and her children were unable to breathe the open air any longer。  It was determined that the garden of the Tuileries should be closed: as soon as this step was taken the Assembly decreed that the whole length of the Terrace des Feuillans belonged to it; and fixed the boundary between what was called the national ground and the Coblentz ground by a tricoloured ribbon stretched from one end of the terrace to the other。  All good citizens were ordered; by notices affixed to it; not to go down into the garden; under pain of being treated in the same manner as Foulon and Berthier。 A young man who did not observe this written order went down into the garden; furious outcries; threats of la lanterne; and the crowd of people which collected upon the terrace warned him of his imprudence; and the danger which he ran。  He immediately pulled off his shoes; took out his handkerchief; and wiped the dust from their soles。  The people cried out; 〃Bravo!  the good citizen for ever!〃  He was carried off in triumph。  The shutting up of the Tuileries did not enable the Queen and her children to walk in the garden。  The people on the terrace sent forth dreadful shouts; and she was twice compelled to return to her apartments。

In the early part of August many zealous persons offered the King money; he refused considerable sums; being unwilling to injure the fortunes of individuals。  M。 de la Ferte; intendant of the 'menus plaisirs'; brought me a thousand louis; requesting me to lay them at the feet of the Queen。 He thought she could not have too much money at so perilous a time; and that every good Frenchman should hasten to place all his ready money in her hands。  She refused this sum; and others of much greater amount which were offered to her。

     'M。 Auguie; my brother…in…law; receiver…general of the finances;      offered her; through his wife; a portfolio containing one hundred      thousand crowns in paper money。  On this occasion the Queen said the      most affecting things to my sister; expressive of her happiness at      having contributed to the fortunes of such faithful subjects as      herself and her husband; but declined her offer。MADAME CAMPAN。'

However; a few days afterwards; she told me she would accept M。 de la Ferte's twenty…four thousand francs; because they would make up a sum which the King had to expend。  She therefore directed; me to go and receive those twenty…four thousand francs; to add them to the one hundred thousand francs she had placed in my hands; and to change the whole into assignats to increase their amount。  Her orders were executed; and the assignats were delivered to the King。  The Queen informed me that Madame Elisabeth had found a well…meaning man who had engaged to gain over Petion by the bribe of a large sum of money; and that deputy would; by a preconcerted signal; inform the King of the success of the project。  His Majesty soon had an opportunity of seeing Petion; and on the Queen asking him before me if he was satisfied with him; the King replied; 〃Neither more nor less satisfied than usual; he did not make the concerted signal; and I believe I have been cheated。〃  The Queen then condescended to explain the whole of the enigma to me。  〃Petion;〃 said she; 〃was; while talking to the King; to have kept his finger fixed upon his right eye for at least two seconds。〃〃He did not even put his hand up to his chin;〃 said the King; 〃after all; it is but so much money stolen: the thief will not boast of it; and the affair will remain a secret。  Let us talk of something else。〃  He turned to me and said; 〃Your father was an intimate friend of Mandat; who now commands the National Guard; describe him to me; what ought I to expect from him?〃  I answered that he was one of his Majesty's most faithful subjects; but that with a great deal of loyalty he possessed very little sense; and that he was involved in the constitutional vortex。  〃I understand;〃 said the King; 〃he is a man who would defend my palace and my person; because that is enjoined by the constitution which he has sworn to support; but who would fight against the party in favour of sovereign authority; it is well to know this with certainty。〃

On the next day the Princesse de Lamballe sent for me very early in the morning。  I found her on a sofa facing a window that looked upon the Pont Royal。  She then occupied that apartment of the Pavilion of Flora which was on a level with that of the Queen。  She desired me to sit down by her。  Her Highness had a writing…desk upon her knees。  〃You have had many enemies;〃 said she; 〃attempts have been made to deprive you of the Queen's favour; they have been far from successful。  Do you know that even I myself; not being so well acquainted with you as the Queen; was rendered suspicious of you; and that upon the arrival of the Court at the Tuileries I gave you a companion to be a spy upon you; and that I had another belonging to the police placed at your door!  I was assured that you received five or six of the most virulent deputies of the Tiers Etat; but it was that wardrobe woman whose rooms were above you。

〃In short;〃 said the Princess; 〃persons of integrity have nothing to fear from the evil…disposed when they belong to so upright a prince as the King。  As to the Queen; she knows you; and has loved you ever since she came into France。  You shall judge of the King's opinion of you: it was yesterday evening decided in the family circle that; at a time when the Tuileries is likely to be attacked; it was necessary to have the most faithful account of the opinions and conduct of all the individuals composing the Queen's service。  The King takes the same precaution on his part respecting all who are about him。  He said there was with him a person of great integrity; to whom he would commit this inquiry; and that; with regard to the Queen's household; you must be spoken to; that he had long studied your character; and that he esteemed your veracity。〃

The Princess had a list of the names of all who belonged to the Queen's chamber on her desk。  She asked me for information respecting each individual。  I was fortunate in having none but the most favourable information to give。  I had to speak of my avowed enemy in the Queen's chamber; of her who most wished that I should be responsible for my brother's political opinions。  The Princess; as the head of the chamber; could not be ignorant of this circumstance; but as the person in question; who idolised the King and Queen; would not have hesitated to sacrifice her life in order to save theirs; and as possibly her attachment to them; united to considerable narrowness of intellect and a limited education; contributed to her jealousy of me; I spoke of her in the highest terms。

The Princess wrote as I dictated; and occasionally looked at me with astonishment。  When I ha
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