Marie Antoinette — Complete eBook

Jeanne-Louise-Henriette Campan
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 574 pages of information about Marie Antoinette — Complete.

Marie Antoinette — Complete eBook

Jeanne-Louise-Henriette Campan
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 574 pages of information about Marie Antoinette — Complete.
happened to pass him.  He took care always to be in bed before we went to supper, because he knew that we must pass through his room.  My father suffered it all with gentleness, forgiving the man from the bottom of his heart.  My mother bore it with a dignity that frequently repressed his insolence.”  The only occasion, Madame Royale adds, on which the Queen showed any impatience at the conduct of the officials, was when a municipal officer woke the Dauphin suddenly in the night to make certain that he was safe, as though the sight of the peacefully sleeping child would not have been in itself the best assurance.

Clery, the valet de chambre of the Dauphin, having with difficulty obtained permission to resume his duties, entered the Temple on the 24th August, and for eight days shared with M. de Hue the personal attendance; but on the 2d September De Hue was arrested, seals were placed on the little room he had occupied, and Clery passed the night in that of the King.  On the following morning Manuel arrived, charged by the Commune to inform the King that De Hue would not be permitted to return, and to offer to send another person.  “I thank you,” answered the King.  “I will manage with the valet de chambre of my son; and if the Council refuse I will serve myself.  I am determined to do it.”  On the 3d September Manual visited the Temple and assured the King that Madame de Lamballe and all the other prisoners who had been removed to La Force were well, and safely guarded.  “But at three o’clock,” says Madame Royale, “just after dinner, and as the King was sitting down to ‘tric trac’ with my mother (which he played for the purpose of having an opportunity of saying a few words to her unheard by the keepers), the most horrid shouts were heard.  The officer who happened to be on guard in the room behaved well.  He shut the door and the window, and even drew the curtains to prevent their seeing anything; but outside the workmen and the gaoler Rocher joined the assassins and increased the tumult.  Several officers of the guard and the municipality now arrived, and on my father’s asking what was the matter, a young officer replied, ’Well, since you will know, it is the head of Madame de Lamballe that they want to show you.’  At these words my mother was overcome with horror; it was the only occasion on which her firmness abandoned her.  The municipal officers were very angry with the young man; but the King, with his usual goodness, excused him, saying that it was his own fault, since he had questioned the officer.  The noise lasted till five o’clock.  We learned that the people had wished to force the door, and that the municipal officers had been enabled to prevent it only by putting a tricoloured scarf across it, and allowing six of the murderers to march round our prison with the head of the Princess, leaving at the door her body, which they would have dragged in also.”

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Marie Antoinette — Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.