The Marquis de Croissy told of the
heroism with which another Swiss, Miomandre of St. Marie, had
defended the door between the suites of the king and queen, and had
gained time to draw the bolt and barricade the door. And during all
these reports, and while the cabinet was filling more and more with
pale men and women, the king went composedly on dispatching his
breakfast.
The queen, who had long before completed her toilet, now went up to
him, and with gentle, tremulous voice conjured him to declare what
should be done--to come at last out of this silence, and to speak
and act worthy of a king.
Louis shrugged his shoulders and set the replenished cup which he
was just lifting to his mouth, on the silver waiter. At once the
queen beckoned to the valet Hue to come up.
"Sir," said she, commandingly, "take these things out. The king has
finished his breakfast."
Louis sighed, and with his eye followed the valet, who was carrying
the breakfast into the garde-robe.
"Now, sire," whispered Marie Antoinette, "show yourself a king."
"My love," replied the king, quietly, "it is very hard to show
myself a king when the people do not choose to regard me as one.
Only hear that shouting and yelling, and then tell me what I can do
as a king to bring these mad men to peace and reason?"
"Sire, raise your voice as king; tell them that you will avenge the
crimes of this night, take the sword in your hand and defend the
throne of your fathers and the throne of your son, and then you will
see these rebels retire, and you will collect around you men who
will be animated with fresh courage, and who will take new fire from
your example.
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