"Mamma," cried the dauphin, nestling close up to the queen, "is to-
day going to be just like yesterday?" [Footnote: The very words of
the dauphin.--See Beauchesne, vol. i.]
The door was hastily opened, and the king entered.
"Sire," asked Marie, eagerly advancing toward him, "are they going
to renew the dreadful scenes of yesterday?"
"On the contrary, Marie, they are going to bring to their reckoning
those who occasioned the scenes of yesterday," answered the king. "A
deputation from the Court of Chatelet have come to the Tuileries,
and desire of me an authorization to bring to trial those who are
guilty, and of you any information which you can give about what has
taken place. The mob have accompanied the deputation hither, and
hence arise these cries. I am come to ask you, Marie, to receive the
deputation of Chatelet."
"As if there were any choice left us to refuse to see them,"
answered Marie Antoinette, sighing. "The populace who are howling
and crying without are now the master of the men who come to us with
a sneer, and ask us whether we will grant them an audience. We must
submit!"
The king did not answer, but shrugged his shoulders, and opened the
door of the antechamber. "Let them enter," he said to the
chamberlains there.
The two folding doors were now thrown open, and the loud voice of an
officer announced, "The honorable judges of Chatelet!"
Slowly, with respectful mien and bowed head, the gentlemen, arrayed
in their long black robes, entered the room, and remained humbly
standing near the door.
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