"Madame," said General Lafayette, "I have come to ask your majesty
whether you will not have the goodness to let me know the hours in
which you may wish to visit the park and the garden, that I may make
my arrangements accordingly."
"That means, general," cried the queen, "that it is not to depend
upon my free-will when and at what times I am to walk in the park,
but it will be allowed me only at certain hours, just as prisoners
are allowed to take their walks at certain hours."
"I beg your pardon, madame," said the general, with great respect;
"your majesty will graciously believe, that to me, the peace and
security of your exalted person is sacred above every thing, and
that I regard it as my first duty to protect you against every
insult, and every thing that may be disagreeable."
"And so it has come to that," cried Marie Antoinette, angrily. "The
Queen of France must be protected against insults and disagreeable
things. She is not to go out when she will into her park, because
she has to fear that, if General Lafayette has not previously made
his special preparations, the people will insult her. But if this is
so, sir, why do you not close the gates of the park? It is royal
property, and it probably will be allowed to the king to defend his
private property from the brutality of the rabble.
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