 Chapter 21 of Taking the Best Steel. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Rita Buchos. Taking the Best Steel by Alexandra Dumas. Chapter 21. The Queen and Her Master. Andrea's confession was a long one, for it was not until eleven at night that the Royal Boudoir door opened, and on the sill was seen the Countess of Charny kissing her mistress's hand. She went away with weeping eyes, but the queens were scorching as she paced her room. She gave order that she was to be disturbed on no account unless for news from Paris. At the supposition that Charny had at last perceived that his wife was still young and fair, the queen found that misfortune is nothing to a heart chagrin. But in the midst of her feverish torment came the cruel consolation. According to Andrea's confession, she had been wronged in a mesmeric trance, and Gilbert had humbled her pride forever. Somewhere was the visible token of her defeat, like a trophy of his shameful triumph. The young man had borne away in the wintry night the offspring of the occult love of the gardener's boy for his Sousa Reynne's daughter. She could not but be wonder-stricken at the magical combination of wayward fortune by which a peasant lad had been made to love the fine lady who was to be the favorite of the queen of France. So the grain of dust has been lifted up to glitter like the diamond in the lustre of the skies she mused. Was not this low-born lover the living symbol of what was happening at the time? A man of the people swaying the politics of a great empire, one who personified by privilege of the evil spirit who soared over France the insult to its nobility and the attack on royalty by the plebeians. While shuddering, she wanted to look upon this monster who by a crime had infused his base blood into the aristocratic blue, who had caused a revolution that he should be delivered from the castle. It was his principles which had armed B.A., Gonshan, Marat, and the others. He was a venomous creature and terrible, for he had ruined Andrea as her lover and wrecked the best steel as the hater of kings. She ought to know him to avoid him or the better to fight him, better still to make use of him. At any price she must see him and judge him. Two-thirds of the night were passed in reverie before she sank into troubled slumber. But even here the revolution was her nightmare. She had a dream that she was walking in one of her German forests when a gnome seized her from behind a tree and she knew that it was Gilbert. She shrieked and waking found Lady Terzell unattended by her pillow. The queen is sick, she called out, fetch the doctor. What doctor is in waiting? asked the queen. Dr. Gilbert, the new honorary physician whom the king has appointed. You speak as if you knew him and yet he has only been a week in this country from America and only a day out of the best steel? Your Majesty, I read his writings and I was so curious to see the author, said the lady, that I had him pointed out to me as he was in his rooms. Ah, well, let him begin his duties. Tell him I am ailing and request his presence. Surprised and profoundly affected, though he seemed but a little uneasy, Gilbert appeared before the queen. With her aristocratic intelligence she read that he felt timid respect for the woman, tranquil audacity for the patient, and no emotion whatever for the sovereign. She was vexed too that he could look so well in the black suit worn by the third class of society, and one the revolutionists chose. The less provoking he was in bearing, the more her anger grew. She had fancied the man, an odious character, one of the heroes of impudence whom she had often seen around her. She had represented as a mirror bow, the man she hated next to Cardinal Rohan and General Lafayette, this author of Andrea's woes. He was guilty in her eyes for looking the gentleman. The proud Austrian conceived a wild hatred against one whom she thought had stolen the semblance of the rank he had no business to aspire to. As he had not ceased to look at her while she was dismissing all her ladies, his persistency exasperated her like importunity. Well, sir, she snapped at him like a pistol shot. What are you doing in staring at me instead of telling what ails me? This furious apostrophe, accompanied with visual lightning, would have blasted any courtier into dropping at her feet and suing for mercy though he was a hero, a marshal, or a demigod. But Gilbert made answer quietly. The physician judges by the eyes in the first place, my lady. As your majesty summoned me, I come not from idle curiosity but to obey your orders and fulfill my duty. As far as in my power lays, I study your majesty. Am I sick? Not in the usual meaning of the word, but your majesty is super excited. Why not say I am out of temper, she queried with irony. Allow me to use the medical term since I am a medical man called in. Be it so, whence this super excitement? Your majesty is too intelligent not to know that a man of medicine only judges the material state. He is not a wizard to sound at the first glance the mind of man. Do you mean to imply that at the second or third time you could not merely tell me my bodily ail but a mental one? Possibly, returned Gilbert coldly. She darted at him a withering look while he was simply staring at her with desperate fixedness. Vanquished, she tried to wrench herself away from what was alarming while fascinating. And she upset a stand so that a chocolate cup was smashed on the floor. He saw it fall and the cup shiver but did not budge. The color flew to her brow to which she carried her chilly hand. But she dared not direct her eyes again on the magnetizer. Under what master did you study, she inquired, using a scornful tone more painful than insolence. I cannot answer without wounding your majesty. The queen felt that he gave her an advantage and she leaped in at the opening like a lioness on a prey. Wound me, she almost screamed. I vow that you mistake. Dr. Gilbert, you have not studied the French language in as good sources as medicine I fear. Members of my class are not wounded by inferiors, only tired. Excuse me, madam, he returned. I forgot I was called into a patient. You are about to stifle with excitement and I shall call your women to put you to bed. She walked up and down the room infuriated at being treated like a great child and turning said, You are Dr. Gilbert? Strange, I have a girlish memory of one of your name. A boy who looked unkempt, tattered and torn like a little Jean-Jacques Rousseau when a vagabond who was delving the ground with the spade held in his dirty crooked hands. It was I replied the other calmly. It was in 1772 that the little gardener's boy, to whom you kindly allude, was earning his bread by working in the royal gardens of Tréanon. That is seventeen years ago and much has happened in that time. It needed no longer to make the wild boy a learned man. Revolutionary eras are the forcing beds of mind. Clear as your glance is, your majesty does not see that the youth is a man of thirty. It is wrong to be astonished that little Gilbert, simple and uncouth, should have become a learned philosopher in the breath of two revolutions. Simple, perhaps we will recur to that on another occasion, said the queen vindictively. But let us have to do with the learned philosopher, the improved and perfect man whom I have under my eyes. Gilbert did not notice the sneer, though he knew it was a fresh insult. You are appointed medical attendant to the king, she continued. It is clear that I have the welfare of my husband too near my heart to entrust his health to a stranger. I offered myself madame, responded Gilbert, and his majesty accepted me without any doubts on my capacity and zeal. I am mainly a political physician, vouched for by minister Necker. But if the king has need of my knowledge of the scalpel and drugs, I can be as good a healer as human science allows one of our race to be. But the king most wants, besides the good advisor and physician, a good friend. You, a friend of the king, exclaimed the lady, with a new outbreak of scorn. By virtue of your quackery and charms, have we gone back to the Dark Ages and are you going to rule France with elixirs and jugglery like a Faust? I have no pretensions that way. Oh, why have you given that branch? You might in the same way as you sent Andrea to sleep put the monsters under a spell who howl and spit fire on our threshold. This time Gilbert could not help blushing at the allusion to mesmerizing Andrea, which was of inexpressible delight to her who baited him as she believed she had left a wound. For you can send people to sleep, she pursued. You no doubt have studied magnetism with those villains who make slumber a treacherous weapon and read our secrets in our sleep. Indeed, madame, I have studied magnetism under the wise cagliostro. That teacher of moral theft who taught his disciples how to rifle bodies and souls by his infamous practice. Gilbert understood all by this and she shuddered with joy to the core at seeing him lose color. Wretch, she rejoiced, I have stung him to the quick and the blood flows. But the deepest emotions did not long hold the mesmerizer in their spell. Approaching the queen, who was rash enough to look up in her triumph and let her eyes be caught, he said, you are wrong to judge fellow creatures so harshly. You denounced cagliostro as a quack when you had a proof of his real science. When you were the archduchess of Austria and first came to France, when I saw you at Taverni, did not that wonder worker whom you decry show to your majesty in a clear cup of water such a picture of your fate that you swooned away? Gilbert had not seen the forecast, but he knew from his master, no doubt, what Marie Antoinette had been shown. He struck so hard that she turned dreadfully pale. Yes, she said, in a hoarse voice, he showed me a hideous machine of bloodshed. But I do not yet know that such a thing exists. I know not that, but he cannot be denied the rank of sage who held such might over his fellow beings. His fellows sneered the queen. Nay, his power was so great that crowned heads sank beneath his level went on Gilbert. Shame! I tell you that cagliostro was a cowardly charlatan and his mesmeric sleep a crime. In one case it resulted in a deed for which human justice represented by me shall seize the author and punish him. Madame, be indulgent for those who have sinned. Oh, you confess then! She thought by the gentleness of his tone that he was imploring her mercy. Some forgot herself and looked at him to scorch him with her indignation. But her glance crossed his only to melt like a steel blade on which the electric fluid falls, and she felt her hatred change to fright while she recalled a step to a lewd coming wrath. Ah, Madame, do you understand what the power is I had from the master whom you defamed? Believe that if I were not the most respectful of your subjects I could convince you by a terrible experiment. I might constrain you to write down with your own hands lines that would convince you when you read them at your release from the charm. But mark how solid is the patience and the generosity of the man whom you have been insulting and whom you placed in the best steel. You regret it was broken open because he was released by the people, and you will hate me and continue to doubt when I relax the bond with which I hold you. Ceasing to govern her with glances and magnetic passes he allowed her to regain some self-control like the bird in the vacuum to whom a little air is restored. Send me to sleep, force me to speak or write while sleep bound cried the queen, white with terror. Have you dared? Do you know that your threat is high treason, a crime punishable with death? Do not cry out too soon. If I thus charmed you and forced you to betray your inmost secrets it would be with a witness by. He would repeat your revelations so as to leave you no doubt. A witness but thinks sir that a witness to such a deed would be an accomplice. A husband is not the accomplice to an experiment he favors on his wife. The king screamed Marie Antoinette with dread revealing rather the wife than the medium reluctant to make a scene for the spiritualist. Fie Dr. Gilbert. The king your natural defender your sustainer replied Gilbert quietly. He would relate when you were awakened how respectful I was while proud improving my science on the most venerated of sovereigns. He left her to meditate on the depth of his words. I see she said at length you must be a mortal enemy or a proven friend. Impossible friendship cannot dwell beside fear or distrust. Between subject and monarch friendship cannot live but on the confidence the subject inspires. I have made the vow not to use my weapons but to repulse the wrongs done me. All for defense nothing for offense. Alas moaned the queen I see that you set a trap after frightening the woman you seek to rule the queen. No lady I am not a paltry speculator. You are the first woman in whom I have found all feminine passions with all the dominant faculties of man. You can be a woman and a friend. I admire you and would serve you. I will do it without receiving ought from you merely to study you. I will do more to show you how I serve you. If I am in the way send me forth. Send you hence said she was gladness. But no doubt you will reflect that my power can be exercised from afar. It is true but do not fear I shall not employ it. The queen was musing unable to reply to this strange man when steps were heard in the corridor. The king she exclaimed. Then point out the door by which I may depart without being seen by him. Stay she said. He bowed and remained impassable while she sought to read on his brow to what point triumph rose in him more plain than anger or disquiet. At least he might have shown his delight, she thought. End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22. Of taking the best steel. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Rita Butros. Taking the best steel by Alexander Dumas. Chapter 22. The Private Council Louis entered briskly but heavily as was his want. His manner was busy and curious, strongly contrasting with the queen's cold rigidity. His high colour had not left him. An early riser and proud of the hardiness he had imbibed with the morning breeze, he breathed noisily and set his foot vigorously on the floor. The doctor, what has become of the doctor, he inquired. Good morning sire, how do you feel this morning? Are you tired? I have slept six hours, my allowance, I feel very well, and my head is clear. But you are a little pale, I heard you had sent for the new doctor. Here is Dr. Gilbert, said the queen, standing aside from a window recess where the doctor had been screened by the curtains. But were you unwell that you sent for him, continued the monarch, lush, you must have some secret since you consult him instead of the regular doctors of the household. But have a care, Dr. Gilbert is one of my confidential friends, and if you tell him anything he will repeat it to me. The queen had become purple from being merely red. Nay, sire, said Gilbert, smiling. What, has the queen corrupted my friends? Marie-Antoinette laughed, one of those dry, half-suppressed laughs, signifying that the conversation had gone far enough, or it fatigues. Gilbert understood, but the king did not. Come, doctor, since this amuses the queen, let me hear the joke. I was asking the doctor why you called him so early. I own that his presence at Versailles much puzzles me, said the queen. I was wanting the doctor to talk politics with him, said Louis, his brow darkening. Oh, very well, said she, taking a seat as if to listen. But we are not going to talk pleasant stuff, so we must go away to spare you an additional pang. Do you call business matters pangs, majestically said the queen, I would like you to stay, Dr. Gilbert, surely you will not disobey me. But I want the doctor's opinion, and he cannot give it according to his conscience if you are biased. What risk does he run of displeasing me by speaking according to his conscience, she demanded. That is easy to understand, madame. You have your own line of policy, which is not always ours, so... You would clearly imply that the Gilbert policy runs counter to mine? It should be so, from the ideas your majesty knows me to entertain, said Gilbert. But your majesty should know that I will speak the truth before you as plainly as to his majesty. That is again, said Marie Antoinette. Truth is not always good to speak, observed the monarch. When useful, suggested Gilbert, and the intention good, added the queen. We do not doubt that, said King Louis. But if you are wise, madame, you will leave the doctor of free use of his language, which I stand in need of. Sire, since the queen provokes the truth, and I know her mind is too noble and powerful to dread it, I prefer to speak before both my sovereigns. I ask it. I have faith in your majesty's wisdom, said Gilbert, bowing to the lady. The question turns on the king's glory and happiness. Then you are right to have faith in me. Commence, sir. Well, I advise the king to go to Paris. A spark dropping into the eight thousand pounds of gunpowder in the city hall cellars would not have caused the explosion of this sentence in the queen's bosom. There, said the king, who had been startled by her cry, I told you so, doctor. The king proceeded the indignant woman. In a city revolted, among scythes and pitchforks, born by the villains who massacred the Swiss, and murdered Count Lonay and Provost Flacel, the king crossing the city hall square and slipping in the blood of his defenders, you are insane to speak thus, sir. Gilbert lowered his eyes, as in respect, but said not a word. The king writhed in his chair, as though on a red-hot grid. Madame, said the doctor at last, I have seen Pallie, and you have not even been out of the palace to see Versailles. Do you know what Pallie is about? Storming some other Bastille, jeered the queen. Assuredly not, but Pallie knows there is another fortress between it and the king. The city is collecting the deputies of its forty-eight wards and sending them here. Let them come, said the queen with fierce joy, they will be hotly received. Take care, Madame, for they come not alone, but escorted by twenty thousand national guards. What is that? Do not speak lightly of an institution which will be a power one day, it will bind and unbind. My lord, you have ten thousand men who are equal to these twenty thousand, said the queen. Call them up to give these black guards their chastisement, and the example which all this revolutionary spawn has need of. I would sweep them all away in a week if I were listened to. How deceived you are by others, said Gilbert, shaking his head sadly. Alas, think of civil war excited by a queen. Only one did so, and she went down to the grave with the epithet of the foreigner. Excited by me, what do you mean? Did I fire on the Bastille without provocation? Pray, instead of urging violence, hearken to reason, interpose the king. Continue, he said to Gilbert. Spare the king a battle with doubtful issue, these hates which grow harder at a distance, these boastings which become courage on occasion. You may, by gentleness, soften the contact of this army with the palace. Let the king meet them. These twenty thousand are coming perhaps to conquer the king. Let him conquer them, and turn them into his own bodyguard, for they are the people. The king nodded approval. But do you not know what will be said, she cried, that the king applauded what was done, the slaying of his faithful switzers, the massacre of his officers, the putting his handsome city to fire and blood? You will make him dethrone himself, and thank these gentlemen. A disdainful smile passed over her lips. No, madame, there is your mistake. This conduct would mean there is some justice in the people's grievances. I come to pardon where they overstepped the dealing of wild justice. I am the king and the chief, the head of the French Revolution, as Henry IV was head of the League and the Nation. Your generals are my officers, your national guards my soldiers, your magistrates my own. Instead of urging me on, follow me if you can. The length of my stride will prove that I lead in the footsteps of Charlemagne. He is right, the king said, ruefully. O sire, for mercy's sake, do not listen to this man, your enemy. Her majesty tells you what she thinks of my suggestion, said Gilbert. I think, sir, that you are the only person who has ever ventured to tell me the truth, commented Louis XVI. The truth is that what you have told, exclaimed the queen, heaven have mercy. Yes, madame, said Gilbert, and believe me that it is the lamp by which the throne and royalty will be prevented rolling into the abyss. He bowed very humbly as he spoke to the queen, who appeared profoundly touched this time, by his humility or the reasoning. The king rose with a decisive air, as though determined on realization. But from his habit of doing nothing without consulting with his consort, he asked, do you approve? It must be, was her rejoinder. I am not asking for your abnegation, but support in my belief. In that case, I am convinced that the realm will become the meanest and most deplorable of all in Christendom. You exaggerate, deplorable I grant, but mean? Your ancestors left you a dreary inheritance, said Marie Antoinette sorrowfully. Which I grieve you should share, added Louis. Allow me to say, sire, that the future may not be so lamentable, interposed Gilbert, who pitied the dethroned rulers. A despotic monarchy has ceased, but a constitutional one commences. Am I the man who found that in France, asked the king? Why not, exclaimed the queen, catching some hope from Gilbert's suggestion? Madame, I see clearly, from the day when I walk among men like themselves, I lose all the factitious strength necessary to govern France as the Louis before me did. The French want a master, and one who will wield the sword. I feel no power to strike. Not to strike those who would rob your children of their estate, cried the queen, and who wished to break the lilies on your crown. What am I to answer? If I answer no, I raise in you one of those storms which embitter my life. You know how to hate, so much the better for you. You can be unjust. I do not reproach you, for it is an excellent trait in the lordly. Madame, we must resign ourselves. It takes strength to push ahead this car with scythe-bladed wheels, and we lack strength. That is bad, for it will run over our children, sighed Marie Antoinette. I know it, but we shall not be pushing it. We can draw it back sire. Oh, beware, said Gilbert deeply, it will crush you then. Let him speak what the newspapers have been saying for a week past. At any rate, he wraps up the bitterness of his free speech, said the king. In short, I shall go to Pali. Who knows, but you will find it the gulf I fear, said the queen, in a hollow irritated voice. The assassin may be there with his bullet, who will know, among a thousand threatening fists, which holds the dagger. Fear nothing of that sort, they love me, said Louis. You make me pity you for saying that. They love you who slay and mangle, and cut the throats of your representatives. The governor of the Bastille was your image. They killed that brave and faithful servitor, as they would kill you in his stead. The more easy as they know you, and that you would turn the other cheek to the smiter. If you are killed, what about my children, concluded the queen. Madame, struck in Gilbert, deeming at time he intervened. The king is so respected, that I fear that his entry will be like that of juggernaut, under whose wheels the fanatics will throw themselves to be crushed. This march into Pali will be a triumphal progress. I am rather of the doctor's opinion, said the monarch. Say you are eager to enjoy this triumph, said the queen. The king is right, and his eagerness proves the accuracy of his judgment on men and events. The sooner his majesty is, the greater will be his triumph. By delay the gain may be lost. This promptness will change the king's position, and make the act in some way his order. Lose time sire, and their demand will be an order. Not today, master Gilbert, said the queen, tomorrow. Grant me till then, and I swear not to oppose the movement. But who knows what will happen meanwhile, expatulated the king in despair. Mali, you seem doomed to ruin me. The assembly will send me some addresses, which will rob me of all the merit in taking the first step. Gilbert nodded. Better so, said the queen, with sullen fury. Refuse and preserve your regal dignity. Go not to Pali, but wage war from here. And if we must die here, let us fall like rulers, like masters, like Christians, who cling to their god as to their crown. The king saw from her excitement that he must give way. But what do you expect between wiles, he inquired, a reinforcement from Germany, or news from town? It was a coat of mail which the king refused to wear, but her misapprehension of the monarch, who knew he was not of the times when kings were armor, cost a precious time. Without other safeguard than Gilbert's breast, as the latter rode in the coach beside the monarch, the visit to Paris was made. In the queen's drive, in the Champs-Elysées, Mayor Bailey offered him the city keys, saying, Sire, I bring your majesty the keys of the good city. They are the same offered to Henry IV. He won his people, but the people have now won their king. On the return, all having passed smoothly, crossing Louis XV's place, a shot was fired from across the river, and Gilbert felt a stroke. The bullet had hit one of his steel vest buttons and glanced off into the crowd, and killed an unfortunate woman. The king heard her scream and heard the shot. Burning powder in my honor, he said. Yes, Sire, was Gilbert's easy reply. It was never known what hand fired this regicidal shot, which justified the queen's fear that her husband would be assassinated. While all was festivity at Paris, gloom settled down on Versailles at Eventide. With darkness came its retinue of fears and sinister visions, when suddenly uproar was heard at the end of the town. The queen shuddered and ran to a window which she opened with her own hand. A hussar came up to the palace. It was a lieutenant sent by Charny, who had gone on towards Paris to get the news. He reported that the king was safe and sound and that he would arrive shortly. Taking her two children by the hand, Marie Antoinette went down and out upon the grand staircase where were grouped the servants and their courtiers. Her piercing eye perceived a woman in white leaning on the stone balustrade and eagerly looking into the shadows. It was Countess Andrea enrapt in expectation of her husband so that she did not see her royal mistress or disdain to notice her. Whether she bore the queen ranker or merely yearned to see her husband, it was a double stab for the beloved of Charny. But she had determined on the righteous course. She trod her jealousy underfoot. She immolated her secret joys and wrath to the sanctity of the conjugal oath. No doubt from heaven was sent this salutary love to raise her husband and children above all else. Her pride too lifted her above earthly desires and she could be selfish without deserving blame. As the coach came up she descended the steps and when its door was opened and Louis stepped out she did not notice how the grooms and footmen hastened to tear off the rosettes and streamers of the new popular colors with which B.A. and Petu and others of the throng had decorated the vehicle and horses. With an outcry of love and delight the queen embraced the king. She sobbed as though she had fully expected never again to see him. In her impulse of an overburdened heart she did not remark the hand grasp the Charnys exchanged in the darkness. As the royal children kissed their father the elder boy spied the cockade reddened by the torchlight on his father's hat and exclaimed with his childish astonishment Oh papa, what is on your white cockade? Blood? It was the national red. Spying it herself the queen plucked it off with profound disgust as the king stooped as if to kiss his daughter but really to hide his shame. The mad woman did not think that she was insulting the nation which would repay her at an early day. Throw the thing away she cried casting it down the steps so that all the escort tramped over it. This strange transition extinguished her phase of marital love. She looked round for Charny without appearing to do so. He had fallen back into the ranks like a soldier. I thank you my lord, she said to him at last you have kept your promise to restore the king to me unhurt. Who is that? inquired the sovereign. Oh Charny, but where a skilled bear whom I do not see? Come to supper said the queen to change the subject. Go to the countess my lord Charny and bring her. We shall have a family supper party tonight. She was the queen again but still she was vexed that the count who had been sad should cheer up at the prospect of his wife being in the company. End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Of Taking the Best Steal This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Rita Butros. Taking the Best Steal by Alexandra Dumas Chapter 23 Why the Queen Waited A little calm succeeded at Versailles the political and mental tempests which we have chronicled. The king breathed again and consoled himself with his regaunt popularity for what his bourbon pride had suffered in trucking to the Paris mob. The nobility prepared to flee or to resist. The people watched and waited. Assured that she was the butt of all the slings and arrows of hatred, the queen made herself as inconspicuous as possible. She knew that for her party she was the center of all hopes. Since the king went to Paris she had not seen Dr. Gilbert but the chance was offered her when they met in the vestibule of the royal apartments. Going to the king she challenged as he bowed deeply. As physician or counselor she continued with a smile betraying some irony. As doctor it is my day on duty he replied. She beckoned him to follow her into a little side room. You see, sir, she began that you were wrong the other day when you assured me that the king ran no risk of murder. A woman was killed by a shot aimed at him and striking you without injury. Who told me so? Gentlemen of the escort who saw your button fly. I do not believe it was a crime or if so want to be imputed to the people returned Gilbert hesitatingly. Who are we to attribute it to then? she demanded fixing her eyes upon him. I have been studying the masses some time he responded when in fury the mobs tear and slay like a tiger but in cold blood they seek no go-betweens they want to make the blood fly with their own claws and fangs. As witness Foulon and his son-in-law Berthier Savigny accused of complicity and a great grain fraud and ripped two pieces by the crowd and Flacelle slain by a pistol but the accounts of their atrocious executions may be untrue. We crowned heads are sowing gert by flatterers. Madame, you do not believe any more than I that Flacelle was killed by the mob. Others of higher degree were more interested in his death. As for the king those who love their country are useful to it and these stand between him and the assassin eagerly. Alas! said she there was a time when a good Frenchman would have expressed his sentiments in better terms than those it was not possible then to love his country without loving his rulers. Gilbert blushed and bowed feeling the thrill at his heart which the queen could impart in her periods of winning intimacy. I beg to boast that I love the monarchy better than many. Are we not at an era when it is not enough to say so but actions should speak? Madame I was your enemy yesterday when you had me imprisoned and now I am your servant but once the change it is not in your nature doctor to change your feelings, opinion and beliefs so readily. You are a man with a deep rooted memory you know how to lengthen out your vengeance tell me the aim of your change Madame you reproach me with loving my country too dearly you love it so as to stoop to serve me the foreigner? No I am a French woman I love my country you smile but it is my country I have adopted it German by birth I am French through the heart but I love France through the king and the respect do the God which consecrated me to it but I understand you it is not the same thing you love France purely and simply for France's sake Madame I cannot be outspoken without disrespect replied the doctor Oh she said dreadful is this epoch when men pretending to be honourable isolate two principles that should never be parted and have always marched forward together France and her king is there not a tragedy in which a queen abandoned by all is asked what remains and she answers I well like Medea I am here and we shall see the outcome she passed out in vexation leaving Gilbert in stupor by her fiery breath she had blown aside a corner of the veil beyond which simmered the hell broth of the anti-revolution let us look to ourselves thought Gilbert the queen is nursing a scheme plainly nothing can be done with this man muttered the sovereign regaining her rooms he is a strong one but he lacks devotion poor princess to whom servility is thought to be devotion Marie Antoinette felt the weight upon her most when alone as woman and queen she had nothing to lean upon or help her support the crushing burden doubt or wavering was on either hand uneasy about their fortune the sycophants fled her relatives and friends brooded on exile the proudest of all Andrea gradually drew aside from her body and soul the noblest and dearest man of all Charney was wounded by her fickleness and was a prey to doubt she who was instinct and sagacity themselves was fretted by the crisis this pure unalloyed heart has not changed but it is changing she reasoned a dreadful conviction for the woman who loved with passion and insupportable for one who loved with pride as the queen did Charney being a man all that George understood was that the queen was unfairly jealous of his wife nothing pains a heart incapable of false play so much as to be suspected of it nothing so points attention on the person unjustly accused of inspiring an attachment than jealousy the suspected one reflects it looks from the jealous heart to the one believed to be its rival indeed how suppose that a noble and elevated creature should be vexed over a trifle what has a lovely woman to be worried about what the powerful lady Charney knew that Andrea had been the bosom friend of the queen and wondered why their love had cooled and the confidant stood away he had to look to her and the idol lost so much of the eye adulation as Andrea gained by her unfairness and anger Marie Antoinette told Charney that he must feel less a lover for her he sought for the cause and naturally wither the queen was frowning he pitied Andrea who is married him by royal command and was but nominally his wife Marie Antoinette's burst of affection in receiving her husband on his return from Paris had opened the eyes of the count he began to steal himself against her and she while ill treating him resumed showering favor on Andrea the latter submitted without astonishment but also with no gratitude long since she reckoned herself as belonging to her royal mistress and she let the queen do what she liked the result was a curious situation such as women act and comprehend best Andrea felt all her husband underwent and she pitied him and showed her pity from her love being of the angelic kind and not fed on hope this compassion led to a gentle approach she tried to comfort George without letting him see that she needed the same consolation this was done with that delicacy called womanly because the softer sex best practice it Marie Antoinette trying to reign by dividing saw she was on the wrong road and was forcing together the souls which she wanted hence in the silence of night and the lonesomeness she felt such wrestling with giant despair as must give the spirit a high idea of its power since it can struggle with so vast a might she would have succumbed had it not been for the diversion of politics in her pride she ascribed her decay to the depreciation she had let herself as a woman suffer lately in her passive mind to think was to act she said to work without losing a moment but unfortunately the work was for her perdition seeing that the Parisians had turned into soldiers and appeared to intend war she resolved to show them what war really is for two months the king had been striving to retain some shred of royalty with the peerage and to neutralize the democratic spirit effacing it in France in this strife the monarch had lost all his power and part of his popularity the queen had gained the nickname of Lady Vito she had been known as the Austrian then as Lady deficit on account of the hole in the treasury attributed to her generosity to her favorites now Lady Vito she was to bear lastly the title of the widow capet after the conflict in which the queen had endeavored to engage her friends by showing them that they were endangered with her she remarked that only 60,000 passports had been applied for by the higher classes fleeing to foreign parts this had struck the queen she purposed her own escape so as to leave the true royalists in France to wage war her plan was not bad and it must have succeeded had it not been for the evil genius who was plotting behind the queen strange destiny this woman who inspired great devotion nowhere could attach discretion it was known all over town that she intended to take to wing before she had settled herself and from that time it was impracticable meanwhile the Flanders regiment famous for its royalist fervor arrived at Versailles asked for by the town council as the guarding of the palace exceeded their powers at command it made a solemn entrance into the court town and received an ovation from the courtiers, other soldiers and a band of young nobles who had set up a company of their own with a special uniform to which were joined the Knights of St. Louis officers on the retired list and adventurers only one black spot marred the sky Lige had revolted against the Austrian emperor and this made it difficult for him to succor the daughter whom he had wedded to his brother on the French throne after the Flanders regiment had been welcomed the lifeguards officers voted to give them a dinner it was fixed for the first of October as the king had no politics to trouble him since the new government took all business on themselves he passed the day in hunting the queen was applied to for the dinner to take place in the palace she let the guards officers have the theater which was boarded over to make more room and a whole adjoining she shut herself up alone save for her children and Andrea sad and thoughtful where the toasts and the clink of glasses should not disturb her at the palace gates a crowd peeped in and sniffed the air puffing the fumes of roasts and wines from the large dinner table it was imprudent to let the hungry inhale the vapor of good cheer and the morose hears songs and cheers of hope and joy the feast went on without any interruption however at the second course the colonel of the Flanders regiment proposed the regular toasts of the royal family which were hailed so loudly that the queen may have heard the echoes in her refuge an officer stood up he was a man of wit and courage who foresaw the issue of this banquet and was sincerely attached to the royal family or else he was a plotter who tried to challenge the anti-popular opinion he proposed the health of the nation it was hooded down and the feast took its plain meaning the torrent resumed its downhill rush to forget the country might pass but to insult it was too much it would take revenge from that moment discipline was at an end the privates hobnobbed with their superiors and it was really a brotherly meeting what a pity that the unfortunate king and sorrowful queen could not witness such a gathering officious servants ran with exaggerated accounts of the festivities to Marie Antoinette and urged that she should go with the young heir to the throne by her side in the monarch's absence Madame, I entreat you to keep away pleaded Count Charney I have come away from the scene they are too excited to make it seemly for your majesty she was in one of her sulky whimsical moods and it suited her to tease Charney by going counter to his advice she looked at him with disdain and was going to answer him tartly when he respectfully said at least see what the king says about it the king had just returned from hunting Marie Antoinette ran to meet him and dragging him with her in the moods and dusty as he was she led him away without a glance at Charney and crying come my lord to see a sight worthy of a king of France's regard with her left hand she led her son the courtiers flowed before and after the trio she reached the theater doors just as the glasses were being emptied for the 20th time to shouts of long live the queen the applause burst like a mine exploding when the king and queen and prince royal were seen on the floor the drunken soldiers and heated officers wave their hats on their swords and shouted the band began to play from the opera of Richard Carr de Lyon Blondel's song of oh Richard, oh my king which so transparently alluded to the king in a kind of bondage that all voices took up the song the enthusiastic queen did not see that the soldiers were intoxicated the surprised king had too much good sense not to see more clearly but he was weak and flattered by this reception so that he let the general frenzy overcome him Charney, who had drunk nothing but water during the part of the banquet which he attended stood pale at this participation of the royal family in what would now be a historical event by their presence but his apprehension was still greater when he saw his brother Valence the Hussar lieutenant approached the queen and speak to her when encouraged by a smile it was consent for she unpinned from her cap the caucas she was wearing and presented it to her imprudent knight in a royal rosette but thought of Austria the black insignia of the foreign foe this was not rashness but treason to the country so mad was the concourse that they to whom Valence, Charney presented the black cockade tore off their white ones and they who were wearing the tricolors trampled them under foot the exultation became so high that the august guests had pains to return to their rooms without trampling on those who prostrated themselves in their passageway all this might have been overlooked as the freak of an orgy but after the royal family departed the guests turned the banquet hall into a town taken by assault the soldiers whooped and as the bugles blew the charge against what enemy the absent nation they climbed the balconies where the ladies held over helping hands the first soldier to reach the boxes was a grenadier whom a nobleman decorated with the ribbon he was wearing in his buttonhole the order of Limburg that is of no value but all the sham battle was fought under the Austrian colors while the national one was shouted down only a few dull protests were heard drowned under the trumpet the glass, the harrass and the music of the band the tumult came menacingly to the crowd at the doors astonished at first they were soon indignant as it was known that the tricolor had been spurned and the black streamer flaunted in its stead an officer of the national guard had been badly beaten in the scuffle to uphold the honor of the latter but it was not known that the queen's favorite had taken all the blame of the outrages on himself the queen had returned to her rooms dazed by the scene a swarm of flatterers and agilators assailed her see the true spirit of your troops they said when the fury of the mob is bragged of think how it would melt away in the blast of this wild ardor of the military for monarchical ideas she was still under the illusion that this fire would spread over the kingdom from the palace at her will when next day receiving the national guard to whom she had promised to distribute their new flags she made this address I am happy to make this presentation the nation and the army ought to love the king as we love them both I was delighted with the rejoicing yesterday at these words emphasized by her glittering glance and sweetest voice the crowd grumbled while the soldiers applauded noisily she upheld us at one party while the other muttered we are betrayed am I not brave she asked of sharney who looked on with sorrow and listened with terror to the point of folly he replied with a deeply clouded face End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Taking the best steel This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Rita Boutros Taking the best steel by Alexander Dumas Chapter 24 The Army of Women The queen was reposing after the day of felicitation she had her Janissaries around her her cohort of young bravos and having reckoned up her foes she was wishful for the onslaught had she not the defeat of the 14th of July the loss of the best steel to avenge she treated Andrea with the former friendship for a time deadened in her bosom but Charney she only looked where he was when she was forced to give him an order but this was no spite against the family for it was noticed that she paid special attention to young Valence Charney the hussar who had been given her Austrian rosette at the officer's dinner indeed as he was crossing the gallery to announce to the master of the Buckhounds that the king would go hunting that day Marie Antoinette who came out of the chapel perceived him and greeted him the king goes hunting she repeated what a mistake when the weather is threatening is it not Andrea yes answered the lady of honor absently where will the chase be in Moudon Wood my lady well accompany him and watch over him at this moment the head of the Charney's appeared he smiled to Andrea and remarked that is advice which my brother will bear in mind during the dangers to the king as well as during his pleasures at the sound of his voice for she had not seen him coming Marie Antoinette started and rejoined with studied rudeness I should have been astonished if that speech had come from any but your lordship for it contains a foreboding Andrea saw her husband blanche but he bowed without retort he noticed her surprise that he bore it so patiently for he quickly said I am most unhappy that I can no longer speak to the queen without offense the no longer was spoken with a fine actor's due stress on the important words in a line speech is only bad when the intention is so snapped the queen through her teeth locked with anger the ear hears hostily when the mind is hostile as the repartee of Charny more aptly than politely I shall wait to reply till the count of Charny is happier in his attacks went on the queen and I shall wait to attack till the queen's most excellent majesty is more happy in servitors than lately Andrea grasped her husband's hand hastily and prepared to go out of the gallery with him when a glance from her mistress retained her what does your husband have to say to me she inquired sent to Paris yesterday by the king I found it in great turmoil yes the Parisians are going to pull down the best deal the Dutch have taken Holland anything fresher my lord it is true that they are pulling down the prison but that affords them nothing but stones and they want for bread let them be hungry said the queen to do in the matter since others rule the roost there was a day when the queen was the first to be compassionate in times of general distress said the count when she went up into the garret and the prayers of those she helped rose from the garrets on to God yes and I have been nicely repaid for this pity for others returned the lady bitterly one of my worst miseries came from my going into a garret she alluded of course to the incident of the queen's necklace already described in this series because your majesty was once deceived is all humanity to be measured by that bushel oh how our gracious lady was loved at that period she darted a flaming look at him to be brief she said what is happening in the capital only tell me what you have actually seen for I want to depend on the accuracy of your words I saw people packed on the water side waiting for the flower boats others crowding the baker's doors waiting for bread a famishing people husbands watching their wives sadly mothers mourning over their babes their fists were clenched and shaken in the direction of Versailles alas I fear that the dangers which my brothers and I are ready to brave and under which we may die will not be forthcoming the queen had leaned on a windowsill and with a view of expressing on concern she looked out instead of towards the count they saw her start and she exclaimed Andrea who is this rider he seems by his speed to bear news and hot haste Andrea went up but almost instantly retreated turning pale and gasped and reproach to call me to see him Sharni had looked also and he said it is Dr. Gilbert so it is said Marie Antoinette in such a tone that it was not possible to tell whether she had or had not visited on Andrea her personal spite Gilbert arrived with the sequel to the ominous scenes which Sharni described the famished women had started for Versailles they were escorted by ragamuffins willing to be shielded by their petticoats and ripe for any deeds seven or eight thousand women repeated the queen when Gilbert had delivered his message of coming woe she spoke with scorn but they have been reinforced to double that number on the way they are hungry and come to ask bread of the king just what I feared said Sharni what is to be done prepare the king to receive them suggested Gilbert why expose him she expatulated with that bravery and personal consciousness of her traits and of her husband's weakness which ought not to be exhibited before strangers but were Sharni and Gilbert strangers one destined to guard the king the other the queen the count replied for both having resumed all his command for he had sacrificed his pride Madame Dr. Gilbert is right the king is still loved he will make a speech and disarm these furies but who will apprise the king he is in Mudan woods and the ways may be blocked will your majesty see and mean not the courtier but the man of war returned the count simply a soldier is made to be slain he did not wait for an answer or to hear the sigh but rapidly went out sped away for Mudan the sky was menacing and rain began to dot the dust but Versailles was filling with people who had heard a noise like approaching thunder the soldiers took up their muskets slowly and the horse guards got into the saddle with the hesitation of the soldier when his adversaries are beneath his notice what could be done against women who had thrown down their weapons on the road and had scarce the power to drag themselves into the town half way they had divided eight loaves found at Sev 32 pounds of bread among 7000 Maillard had accompanied them and induced the last who were armed to lay aside their weapons at the first houses of the place he suggested that they should sing long live Henry fourth to show that they had no ill feelings against royalty they sang in a feeble wine great was the amazement at the palace where the harpies and furies were expected to see the tottering singers hunger giving the giddiness of intoxication pressing their haggard thinned livid blotched and dusty faces against the gilded bars of the gates and hanging on by their bony hands from the weird groups came wails and howls while the dull eyes emitted sparks now and again the hands let go the bars to be brandished in threat or held out imploringly it was a gloomy sight what do you want challenged some priest minister of Paris bread was the cry when you had but one master you were never hungry he replied testily you see how you stand since you have 1200 he came away yelled at the gates to be kept closed but they had soon to be opened to a deputation from parliament which mayard had obtained unfortunately valence sharni with the guards had ridden against the mob two women of the twelve with the deputation were wounded to whom sharni who had returned to announce the arrival of the king and gilbert rushed to assist opened the doors called out the king a palace is a inquiry it must receive all callers an asylum for all but the kings and queens muttered deputy mooney spoke for the deputation while a flower girl who had started this woman's war by beating the fallen on a drum undertook to address the king unfortunately she was so weak that she fainted after gasping bread my lord she tried the king andrea ran up with her smelling bottle and sharni gave the queen a reproachful glance for not having thought of this act turning pale she retired to her own rooms get the coaches ready she said the king and I are going to ramboyer meanwhile the flower girl finding herself in the king's arms on coming to her senses screamed with bashfulness I will give you a kiss my pretty one he said you are well worth it oh how good you are so you will give the order that the grain shall come into palli to stop the famine I will sign the order my child the king said though I am afraid it will do no good sitting at a table he was about to write when a discharge of firearms followed a solitary shot a second charge of cavalry had been made on the men and a man of their supporters had fired a gun to break the arm of lieutenant sub-on-year of the guards he was going to strike a young soldier who was defending with naked hands a woman who had dropped behind him for protection the bullets from the lifeguards carbines had killed one woman the mob replied and two soldiers were knocked off their horses at the same time shouts of make room for the guns were heard as the men of sentin twans ward dragged up three field pieces which they leveled at the palace gates luckily the rain had damped the priming powder and the match suddenly a whisper came to gilbert without his knowing who spoke general lafayette is half an hour's march away and coming it was a valuable hint gilbert ran and caught one of the horses of the dismounted guards and as he dashed off the other followed his stable companion hearing the hooves gilbert thought he was pursued and looked back over his shoulder he saw the animal caught by the rains and his throat cut then the people fell on the carcass with knives and cut it up while gilbert was racing to meet lafayette who arrived with the national guards the king was signing the acceptation of the resolution of the rights of man for mounier and the older to let grain pass into paris for louisanne champery the flower girl as the first drumbeats were heard of the national guards entering versailles the king felt his arm respectfully touched it was by andreia sire the queen supplicates your majesty not to wait for the parisians but take the head of your lifeguards and the flanders regiment which will cut their way through is this your advice count charney yes sire if without stopping you cross the frontier otherwise you should stay the king shook his head he stayed not from having courage but because he had not strength to go a runaway king he muttered tell the queen to depart alone he said to andreia the queen returned five minutes afterwards the queen came and stood by her husband's side i have come to die with you she said unaffectedly how handsome she is now muttered charney but she heard him for she started i believe in all truth that it is better to die than live sire said dr. gilbert running in fear nothing now general lafayette is here the king did not like lafayette but there his feelings stopped while the queen hated him and let her hate be seen she took three steps back but the king stayed with her with an imperative gesture the courtiers formed two groups charney and gilbert stood next the king steps were heard up to the door of many persons but all alone general lafayette entered as he did so some voice exclaimed here comes cromwell no sir said the marquise smiling cromwell would not have walked unguarded into the presence of charles first louis sixteenth turned to those imprudent friends who had made an enemy of the man hurrying to his relief count he said to charney i remain now that the general lafayette is here there is nothing to fear retire the troops on rambouillet regional guards will take the outpost and the lifeguards the palace come general he said to lafayette i have to confer with you come with us doctor he added to gilbert we must get away today thought the queen tomorrow it will be too late as she was going to her own rooms she was lighted by a red glare outside the palace the mob had made a barbeque of the soldiers horses and of chapter 24 chapter 25 of taking the best steel this is a libervox recording all libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervox.org recording by rita butros taking the best steel by alexander dumal chapter 25 the night of horrors the night went by quietly at midnight the queen had tried to go out to the trianon palace but the national guards had refused to let her pass when she spoke of feeling fear they answered that she was safer here than any other place she felt encouraged indeed on her return home by having her most faithful guards around her at the door was valence charney leaning on the carbine used by the lifeguards as well as the dragoons in those days it was not the habit of the indoor guards to carry swords on duty oh it is you viscount always faithful she said am I not at my post where my brother set me while he is by the king he is the head of our family and his place is to die before the head of the kingdom yes said the royal lady with marked bitterness you only have the right to die for the queen it will be a great honour for me if God permits me to accomplish that duty said the young man bowing what has become of the countess she asked returning after making a step to go for a suspicion had stung her in the heart she came past ten minutes ago and is having her bed made in your majesty's anti-chamber the queen bit her lip it was impossible to surprise the charneys in default in matters of duty thank you sir she said with a winning nod and wave of the hand for so well guarding the queen thank you brother from me for so well guarding the king in the anti-room Andrea was respectfully awaiting her I thank you as I have thanked the viscount and your husband through him Andrea made a curtsy and moved aside for her to go by the queen did not ask her to follow for this cold devotion which lasted unto death put her ill at ease Gilbert had gone away with General Lafayette who had been twelve hours on horseback and was ready to drop at the gates they saw B.A. who had come with the national guards ready to follow Gilbert like a dog to the end of the world all was quiet we repeat up to three in the morning then arrived a second army from town the other was composed of women and came for bread this one came for vengeance the other was composed of friends the leaders were Marat a hideous long-legged hunchback dwarf named Vérie who came to the surface from the mud when society was stirred and the Duke of Oguillon disguised as a fish fog they came like camp followers after a battle to fire and pillage there had been plenty of killing to do at the best deal but no plunder and they reckoned to make up for that at Versailles five in the morning five or six hundred of this riff-raff forced or scaled the great gate a sentinel had fired an alarm shot which slew one of the assailants divided as by a giant sword stroke the plunderers broke into two gangs one aiming at the royal plate the other at the crown jewels one stormed the queen's apartments the other made for the chapel where the kings were rose like a high tide the guards of the king at that hour were the regular sentry watching at the door and an officer who rushed out of the anti-chamber with a halberd snatched from the hands of the frightened Swiss porter who goes there challenged the sentinel three times while leveling his carbine the officer knew what excitement would result from firearms being shot off there in the private apartments so he beat up the gun with his halberd and barred the stairs with it clear across as he faced the intruders what do you want he challenged them oh dear nothing of course jeered several voices we are old friends of her majesty so let us pass you are pretty friends to bring war here there was no reply but an ominous laugh a man sees the axe headed spear and tried to rest it from the officer and as he would not let go he bit his hand the officer tore the weapon away shortened it so as to use it as an axe and split the cannibal's skull with one chop but the violence of the blow broke the staff in two made for ornament rather than use as it was the officer remained armed with two weapons in one the axe and the spear while he used both effectively the sentinel opened the anti-chamber door and called for help half a dozen guardsmen ran out to the rescue of Lord Charney gentlemen shouted the sentry swords flashed in the light of a lamp in the lobby and the assailants were given some work to do on either side of Charney cries of pain were heard and the blood spurred while the ruffians rolled down the marble steps which they streaked with gore the anti-room door opened and the sentry called out by order of the king gentlemen return the guards profited by the momentary confusion of these foes to execute the retreat with Charney the last to enter the haven the door was hardly closed behind him and the two large bolts shot into the sockets before a hundred blows sounded on it but they piled up the furniture against it so that it would hold out for ten minutes during that time reinforcements might arrive the second gang had darted towards the queen's apartments but the stairs were narrow and only two can go up abreast it was in the corridor that Valence Charney watched he fired when his challenge was not replied to the door opened and Andrea appeared having heard the shot save her majesty cried the young man they are after her life I am alone against fifty but never mind I shall hold her hand make haste the assailants stole upon him and he banged the door too shouting fast in the bolts I shall live long enough to give the queen time to flee turning around he ran too wretches through with his bayonet the queen had heard all this and Andrea found her a foot when she entered her bedroom two of her ladies hastily dressed her and urged her into the private way while Andrea always calm and indifferent to danger for herself bolted each door by which they passed at the junction of the communication of the two royal apartments a man was waiting it was Charney covered with blood the king cried Marie Antoinette on seeing this you promised to save him he is saved replied the count looking through the doorways and not seeing among the members of the royal family his wife he was going to ask about her when a glance from the queen stopped him he had no need to speak for her gaze plunging into his heart had read his wish rest easy she is coming she ran to the little prince whom she took in her arms closing the last door Andrea came into the bullseye hall like the rest she and her husband exchanged no word their smiles were ample strange those long-parted hearts began to yearn for one another since danger surrounded them the king is looking for you madame replied Charney to the queen's inquiries he was going to your rooms by one corridor while you came to his by another they heard the assassins yelling down with the Austrians death to Messalina no more of Lady Vito let us throttle her let her hang a couple of pistol shots were heard at the same time and two holes were bored in the door one bullet whizzed close to the young prince's head and buried itself in the hangings oh heavens we shall all die screamed the queen falling on her knees at a sign from Charney the life guardsmen formed a shelter for her and the royal children the king now joined them pale of face and his eyes full of tears calling for the queen as she had for him on seeing her he ran into her arms saved exclaimed she by the count replied the monarch indicating Charney and as he saved you too it was his brother said she my lord we owe more to your family than we can ever repay observed the sovereign the queen blushed as she met Andrea's glance and turned her head aside and the door resounded gentlemen we must hold the post for an hour said the count it will take that time to kill us seven if we hold out stoutly it is not likely that help will not have come for their majesties with these words he caught hold of an immense sideboard and his example being followed a head of shattered furniture formed a wall in which the guards cut loopholes to shoot through the queen prayed over her children she stifled their wailing and tears the king retired into a closet adjoining to burn papers which ought not to fall into strange hands the door was chopped at till pieces fell off every instant and through the gaps bloodpikes were thrust and jagged bayonets which tried to dart death at the same time bullets found holes in the breast work and furrowed the plaster on the gilded ceiling the length a bench on top of the sideboard fell down the buffet lost one panel and bloody arms were plunged in through the orifice to make the crevice larger the guards had burnt the last cartridge though not vainly for through the channel dead bodies were seen stirring the lobby at the shrieks of the ladies whose supposed death was to leap in at the breach the king returned to help up with the queen in the most remote room fasten all the doors after you at each door let two of us stand I ask to be the last and guard the last I warrant we shall keep them off for two hours they take forty minutes full to get through this the king hesitated it seemed so shameful to step from room to room closing doors on brave men left to die for him and have drawn back but for the queen if she had not had her children with her she would have stayed beside him but alas king or subject all have a flaw in the iron heart through which pierces terror when boldness elopes the king was about to give the order to retreat when the arms were suddenly retracted the spears and bayonets disappeared and the shouts and thwarts were silenced the instant of stillness all waited with parted lips listening ears and held breath the tramp of regular troops was heard the national guard shouted sharny my lord sharny bellowed a hearty voice on the other side of the door farmer b.a. cried sharny as a well-known face showed itself is it you my friend yes my lord where is the king and the queen sharny gave and sound god be thanked this way doctor gilbert two women's hearts thrilled variously at this name andreas and the queens sharny turning instinctively saw both turn pale he sighed as he shook his head open the doors gentlemen cried the king hear our friends the life guardsmen hurried to tear down the remains of the barrier the general lafayette was heard gentlemen of the national guard I pledged my word last night to the king that nothing appertaining to his majesty should incur harm if you allow his life guards to be hurt you break my word of honor and I shall no longer be worthy of being your chief when the obstacles were removed the two first persons seen were general lafayette and gilbert a little to their left was b.a delighted at having had a part in the king's deliverance it was he who had gone and roused up the general for this deed long live the king long live the queen roared b.a ah if you had stayed in palais this would not have happened general what do you advise as the king of the marquis I think you should show yourself at the window gilbert nodded and louis walked straight to the window opened it and stepped down the balcony long live the king was the universal shout come to palais added others while a few but the most dreadful ones let us have the queen out here all shivered the king lost color as did gilbert and charney she looked at lafayette who said fear nothing all alone she questioned with the charming manners he preserved to old age he gently detached the clinging children from their mother and urged them out upon the balcony he offered his hand to marientoinette adding if your majesty will rely on me all will go well he let her out on the balcony above the marble courtyard a sea of inflamed human heads the yell that burst forth at sight of the queen was immense but none could say whether it was threat or joy she kissed her hand this time applause rent the air for the meanest there did homage to beauty and womanhood strange people muttered the austrian but what about my lifeguards can you do nothing for them let me have one of them charney drew back for he had offered himself as the scape cat for the officers revelry of the first october and he did not want amnesty andrea took his hand and also stood back again those two had understood each other and the queen flashed her eye with panting bosom she gasped in a broken voice another a guardsman obeyed who had not his captain's reasons lafayette led him out on the balcony put his own tricolored cockade in his hat and shook his hand bravo lafayette the lifeguards are not a bad sort they were frustrated but they were drowned by the cheers all is over and the fine weather sets in said the general for the calm not to be broken again one final sacrifice is necessary come to paris general you may announce that i shall depart for the capital in an hour with the queen and the rest of the royal family this order seemed to remind charney of something he had forgotten the queen followed him both guided by tracks of blood the queen shut her eyes and groping for support met the hand of charney which led her on suddenly she felt him shudder a dead man she shrieked opening her eyes will your majesty excuse me taking away my arm i find what i sought the remains of my brother valance here lay the unfortunate young man whom the head of the charneys had ordered to let himself be slain for the queen's sake he had punctiliously obeyed end of chapter 25 chapter 26 belays sorrow at a time when the queen and her consort were leaving versailles never more to return under its roof the following scene was taking place in one of its inner yards damp with the rain which a bitter fall gale was beginning to dry up over a dead body a man clad in black was bending a man in the royal life guards uniform knelt on the other side three paces off stood a third person with fixed eyes and closed hands the body was of a young man not more than 23 all of whose blood seemed to have poured out through ghastly wounds in the head and chest his furrowed and livid white breast appeared yet to heave with the disdainful breath of hopeless defense her own back and the mouth open in pain and anger recalled the fine figure of speech of the ancient romans and with a long drawn wail the spirit fled to the abode of shades the man in black was gilbert the lifeguards officer count charnie the bystander belay the corpse was vis count valence charnies gilbert regarded it with that fixed gaze which suspends the fleeing soul in the dying and seems in the dead able to recall the fled one cold and rigid he's dead and really dead he said at last charnie uttered a hoarse groan and pressing the corpse in his arms emitted so heart-rending a sob that the physician shuttered and belay went off a little to hide his head in a corner of the quadrangle suddenly the mourner raised the body against the wall in a sitting posture and slowly came away but looking to see if it would not revive and follow him gilbert remained on one knee resting his chin on his hand thoughtfully appalled and motionless then belay quitted the nook and came to him saying as he no longer heard the wails of the count which had made his heart ache alas dr. gilbert this is really civil war and what you foretold is coming to pass only the trouble comes sooner than i believed and perhaps sooner than you calculated i've seen villains slaughter wicked men i've trembled in all my limbs and felt a horror for such monsters but yet the men who were killed so far were worthless now as you predicted they're killing honest folk they've killed viscount charnie i do not shutter but i grieve so much horror for the murders as fear for myself the young gentleman has been fouley done to death for he was only a soldier and fought he ought not to have been butchered he uttered a sigh from his vitals to think that i knew him when a child he continued i can see him now riding along on his little gray pony carrying bread round to the poor on behalf of his mother he was a fine pink and white-faced child with big blue eyes who was always laughing well it is queer since i've seen him laying there bleeding and disfigured it's no longer a corpse that i think of him but as the pretty boy with the basket on his left arm and a purse in his right hand really dr. gilbert i believe that i've had enough of this kind of thing and i do not care to see any more of it for as all of you foretold is it coming true i'm seeing you die and then be quiet belay said the physician shaking his head gently my hour has not struck but may have mine has down yonder the harvest is rotting the land is laying unplowed and my family languishes who might love and ten times more fondly since i've seen this corpse for which his family will weep what are you driving at belay do you suppose that i'm going to pity your fate oh no answered the farmer simply but as i must cry out when i'm in pain and as crying out leads to nothing i want to relieve myself in my own way in short i want to go home on my farm master gilbert what again look ye a voice down there is calling me home that voice is prompting you to desert shin belay i'm no soldier what do you want to do is worse than desert shin in a soldier i should like that explain doctor you come to palli to overthrow an old house and you turn away before the building is down for fear it will tumble on my friends yes doctor rather to save yourself why there's no log against taking care of number one said belay a pretty calculation as if the stones might not bound and falling and rolling to kill the runaway at a distance oh you know i'm not to be scared then you will remain for i have need of you here my dear belay my folks also have need of me at home belay belay i thought you had agreed with me that a man has no home when he loves his country i should like to know if you would talk like that if your son Sebastian lay there in that young gentleman's stead he pointed to the corpse belay a day will come when my son will see me laid out like that was the stoical response so much the worse for you doctor if he is as cold as you over it i hope he will bear it better than me and be all the family from having had my example then you want to ignore the youth to seeing blood flow at his tender age to be accustomed to fires murders gibbets riots night attacks to see queens insulted and kings badgered and when he is cool like you and steel like a sword blade do you expect he'll love and respect you no i do not want him to see any such sights which is why i have sent him down to villas caterez along with hange pitou though i almost regretted that present you say you're sorry for it today why today because he would have seen the fable of the lion and the mouse put in action which would be reality to him henceforth what do you mean doctor gilbert i say that he would have seen a blade an honest foul male come to town one who can neither read or write who never dreamed that his life could have any influence good or bad over the highest destinies he would have seen that this man who was about to quit peli as he wishes once more to do contribute efficaciously towards saving the king the queen and the two royal children how is this doctor gilbert asked billy staring how sublimely innocent you are i will tell you did you not awake at the first noise in the night guess the tumult was in tempest about to break on the royal residence and run to arouse general afayet for the general was sleeping that was natural enough he'd been riding for about 12 hours he'd been a bed for 4 and 20 you led him to the palace continued gilbert you led him into the thick of the scoundrels crying back villains the revenger is upon you that's right enough i did that well billy my friend you see that you have great compensation though you could not prevent this young gentleman from being betrude you did perhaps stay the great crime of the slaughter of the royal family it would be great why you would leave your country's service just when such a mighty reward was yours but who would know anything about it when i never suspected it myself you and i billy is that not enough the farmer meditated for a while before he said as he laid out his hand to the physician i guess you're right doctor but you know man is a weak selfish unsteady creature you're the only one who is just the other style what made you so misfortune replied the other with a smile filled with more grief than a sob lord house singular i thought misfortune soured a man weak man yes but if i were to meet misfortune and it was to make me wicked you may meet misfortune but you will never become wicked i answer for that then side billy i shall stay and see the game out but i shall show the white feather more than once like this but i shall be at hand to uphold you so be it said the farmer throwing a lazy look on viscount sharni's body which servants came to remove he said what a vastly pretty boy he was with his laughing eye when he rode along on his little gray with the purse poor little master charming poor billy he had not the mesmerist prophetic soul and he could not dream what events we have to trace now that the king and queen have started to Paris to follow the road marked by the revolution's red hot plowshare now that sharni begins to see what a winsome and noble wife he has now that our minor characters are standing out now that poor orange pitou putting Paris with regret is going to play a grand part in the drama of his own country our romance is but well on the way we shall meet our dear old friends and alas we shall find our stubborn old enemies in the pages of the continuation to this book under the title the hero of the people the end end of chapter 26 recording by russell newton atlanta georgia novel erick newton.com end of taking the best deal by alexander du maw