Marie Antoinette turned to him, her eyes suffused with tears, and
let Toulan see her face darkened with grief and despair.
"No," she whispered, "I have only to obey; I have no commands to
give!"
"Lafayette," was now heard in the corridor--"General Lafayette is
coming!"
The queen advanced with hasty steps toward the entering general.
"Sir," she cried, "is this the peace and security that you promised
us, and for which you pledged your word? Hear that shouting without,
see us as if beleaguered here, and then tell me how it agrees with
the assurances which you made to me!"
"Madame, I have been myself deceived," answered Lafayette. "The most
sacred promises were made to me; all my requests and propositions
were yielded to. I succeeded in pacifying the crowd, and I really
believed and hoped that they would continue quiet; that--
"Sir," interrupted the queen, impatiently, "Whom do you mean by
'they?' Of whom are you speaking in such tones of respect?"
"Madame, I am speaking of the people, with whom I came to an
understanding, and who promised me to keep the peace, and to respect
the slumbers of your majesty."
"You are not speaking of the people, but of the rebels, the
agitators," cried Marie Antoinette, with flashing eyes. "You speak
of high traitors, who break violently into the palace of the king;
of murderers, who have destroyed two of our faithful subjects.
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