The queen, instead of answering, clasped him in her
arms, and beckoned to Theresa to come to her side. "Oh! my children,
my dear children, I only wanted to see you; I--"
The door opened, and the king, followed by his sister, Princess
Lamballe, and Madame Tourzel, entered.
"What is it?" cried Marie Antoinette. "Some new misfortune, is it
not?"
She was silent, for she now became aware of the presence of both of
the municipal officials, who had come in behind the ladies, and in
whose presence she would not complain. Manuel, who, since the 10th
of August, had been attorney-general--Manuel, the enemy of the
queen, the chief supervisor of the prisoners in the Temple, was
there--and Marie Antoinette would not grant him the triumph of
seeing her weakness.
"You have something to say to us, sir," said the queen, with a voice
which she compelled to be calm.
Yes, Manuel had something to say to her. He had to lay before her
and the king a decree of the National Assembly, which ordered old
parties who had accompanied "Louis Capet and his wife" to the
Temple, either under the name of friends or servants, to leave the
place at once. The queen had not a word of complaint, but her pride
was vanquished; she suffered Manuel to see her tears. She extended
her arms, and called the faithful Lamballe to her, mingled her tears
with those of the princess, and then gave a parting kiss to Madame
de Tourzel and her daughter.
Pages:
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513