A fourth official now entered, and whispered secretly to his
colleagues.
"Is my family no longer in safety here?" asked the king.
The official shrugged his shoulders. "The report has gone abroad
that the royal family is no longer in the Temple. This has excited
the people, and they desire that you all show yourselves at the
windows, but we will not permit it; you shall not show yourselves.
The public must have more confidence in its servants."
"Yes," cried the other official, still raising his fists--"yes, that
it must; but if the enemy come, the royal family shall die!"
And when at these words the dauphin began to cry aloud again, he
continued: "I pity the poor little fellow, but die he must!"
Meanwhile the cries outside were still louder, and abusive epithets
were distinctly heard directed at the queen. A fifth official then
came in, followed by some soldiers, in order to assure themselves,
in the name of the people, that the Capet family was still in the
tower. This official demanded, in an angry voice, that they should
go to the window and show themselves to the people.
"No, no, they shall not do it," cried the other functionaries.
"Why not?" asked the king. "Come, Marie."
He extended his hand to her, and advanced with her to the window.
"No, don't do it!" cried the official, rushing to the window.
Pages:
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519