I will myself,
general, see to it that I be protected from insults, and that, at
any time when it pleases me, I may go into the park and the inner
gardens. I will ask his majesty the king to allow the gates of the
park and. the promenade on the quay to be closed. That will close
every thing, and we shall at least gain the freedom thereby of being
able to take walks at any time, without first sending information to
General Lafayette."
"Madame, I expected that you would answer me so," said Lafayette,
sadly, "and I have therefore brought M. de Bailly with me, that he
might join me in supplicating your majesty to graciously abstain
from taking measures of violence, and not to further stir up the
feelings of the people, already so exasperated."
"And so you are of this opinion, sir?" asked Marie Antoinette,
turning to M. Bailly. "You, too, regard it as a compulsory measure,
for the king to claim his own right, and to keep out of his property
those who insult him."
"Your majesty, the king is, unfortunately, not free to make use of
this right, as you call it."
"You will not say, sir, that if it pleases the king not to allow
evil-disposed persons to enter the park of the Tuileries, he has not
the right to close the gates?"
"Madame, I must indeed take the privilege of saying so," answered M.
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