And yet Marie Antoinette
saw it all! She saw a woman raise a child, she saw the child throw
her a kiss with its little hand! At that the queen gave way for an
instant, her lips quivered, her eyes were darkened with a tear! This
solitary sign of human sympathy reanimated the heart of the queen,
and gave her a little fresh life.
But the people took good care that Marie Antoinette should not carry
this one drop of comfort to the end of her journey. The populace
thronged around the car, howled, groaned, sang ribald songs, clapped
their hands, and pointed their fingers in derision at Madame Veto.
The queen, however, remained calm, her gaze wandering coldly over
the vast multitude; only once did her eye flash on the route. It was
as she passed the Palais Royal, where Philippe Egalite, once the
Duke d'Orleans, lived, and read the inscription which he had caused
to be placed over the main entrance of the palace.
At noon the car reached its destination. It came to a halt at the
foot of the scaffold; Marie Antoinette dismounted, and then walked
slowly and with erect head up the steps.
Not once during her dreadful ride had her lips opened, not a
complaint had escaped her, not a farewell had she spoken. The only
adieu which she had to give on earth was a look--one long, sad look-
-directed toward the Tuileries; and as she gazed at the great pile
her cheeks grew paler, and a deep sigh escaped from her lips.
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