Since she could not live as a queen, she would at
least die as one. She made her preparations for this calmly and with
characteristic decision. "They will kill me, I know," she said to
her maids. "I have only one duty left me, to prepare myself to die!"
She lost her accustomed spirit, wept much, and exhibited a great
deal of feeling. Yet she still stood guard over the shattered throne
like a resolute sentinel, and looked around with sharp and searching
glances, to keep an eye on the enemy, and to be ready for his nearer
approach.
She still continued to receive news about every thing that
transpired in Paris, every thing that was resolved upon in the
National Assembly and discussed in the clubs, and had the libels and
pamphlets which were directed at her all sent to her. Marie
Antoinette understood the condition of the capital and the feeling
of the people better than did the king (who often sat for hours, and
at times whole days, silent and unoccupied) better even than did the
ministers. She received every morning the reports of the emissaries,
followed the intrigues of the conspirators, and was acquainted with
the secret assemblies which Marat called together, and the alliances
of the clubs. She knew about the calling together of the forty-eight
sections of the Paris "fraternity" in one general convention.
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