Will your majesty have the goodness to ask the mayor of
Paris, and he will tell you, madame, how deeply moved all the good
citizens of Paris are at the truly noble spirit which prompted you
to refuse to initiate an investigation respecting the night of
horrors at Versailles, and to bring the ringleaders to justice."
"Is it true, M. de Bailly?" asked the queen, eagerly. "Was my
decision approved? Have I friends still among the people of Paris?"
"Your majesty," answered M. de Bailly, bowing low, "all good
citizens of Paris have seen with deep emotion the noble resolve of
your majesty, and in all noble and true hearts the royal words are
recorded imperishably, which your majesty spoke to the judges of the
Chatelet, 'I have heard all, seen all, and forgotten all!' With
tears of deep feeling, with a hallowed joy, they are repeated
through all Paris; they have become the watchword of all the well-
inclined and faithful, the evangel of love and forgiveness for all
women, of fidelity and devotion for all men! It has been seen and
confessed that the throne of France is the possessor not only of
goodness and beauty, but of forgiveness and gentleness, and that
your majesty bears rightly the title of the Most Christian Queen.
These nine words which your majesty has uttered, have become the
sacred banner of all true souls, and they will cause the golden days
to come back, as they once dawned upon Paris when the Dauphin of
France made his entry into the capital, and it could be said with
truth to the future queen, Marie Antoinette, 'Here are a hundred
thousand lovers of your person.
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