the high court of Parliament； forty…nine in number； gathered at the
council…room in order to pronounce sentence。 At the same early hour；
an immense； closely…thronged crowd gathered in the broad square in
front of the prison； and gazed in breathless expectation at the
great gate of the building； hoping every minute that the judges
would come out； and that they should learn the sentence。
But the day wore on； and still the gates remained shut； no news came
from the council…room to enlighten the curiosity of the crowd that
filled the square and the adjacent streets。
Here and there the people began to complain； and loud voices were
heard grumbling at the protracted delay； the long deliberations of
the judges。 Here and there faces were seen full of scornful
defiance； full of laughing malice； working their way through the
crowd； and now and then dropping stinging words； which provoked to
still greater impatience。 All the orators of the clubs and of the
secret societies were there among the crowd； all the secret and open
enemies of the queen had sent their instruments thither to work upon
the people with poisonous words and mocking observations； and to
turn public opinion in advance against the queen； even in case the
judges did not condemn her； that is； if they did not declare the
cardinal innocent of conspiracy against the sovereign； and contempt
of the majesty of the queen。
It was known that in his resume； the attorney…general had alluded to
the punishment of the cardinal。 That was the only news which had
worked its way out of the court…room。 Some favored journalist； or
some friend of the queen； had heard this； it spread like the wind
all over Paris； and in thousands upon thousands of copies the words
of the attorney…general were distributed。
His address purported to run as follows： that 〃Cardinal de Rohan is
indicted on the accusation； and must answer the Parliament and the
attorney…general respecting the following charges： of audaciously
mixing himself up with the affairs of the necklace； and still more
audaciously in supposing that the queen would make an appointment
with him by night； and that for this he would ask the pardon of the
king and the queen in presence of the whole court。 Further； the
cardinal is enjoined to lay down his office as grand almoner within
a certain time； to remove to a certain distance from the royal
residence and not to visit the places where the royal family may be
living； and lastly； to remain in prison till the complete
termination of the trial。〃
The friends and dependants of the cardinal； the enemies and
persecutors of the queen； received this decision of the attorney…
general with vexation and anger； they found fault with the servility
of the man who would suffer the law to bow before the throne； they
made dishonorable remarks and calumnious innuendoes about the queen；
who； with her coquetry and the amount received from the jewels； had
gained over the judges； and who would； perhaps have appointed a
rendezvous with every one of them in order to gain him over to her
side。
〃Even if the judges clear her；〃 cried the sharp voice of Marat from
the heart of the crowd； 〃the people will pass sentence upon her。 The
people are always right； the people cannot be bribedthey are like
God in this； and the people will not disown their verdict before the
beautiful eyes and the seductive smiles of the Austrian woman。 The
people will not be made fools of； they will not believe in the story
of the counterfeited letters and the forged signature。〃
〃No；〃 shouted the crowd； laughing in derision； 〃we will not believe
it。 The queen wrote the letters； her majesty understands how to
write love…letters！〃
〃The queen loves to have a hand in all kinds of nonsense；〃 thundered
the brewer Santerre； in another group。 〃She wanted to see whether a
pretty girl from the street could play the part of the Queen of
France； and at the same time she wanted to avenge herself upon the
cardinal because she knew that he once found fault with her before
her mother the empress； on account of her light and disreputable
behavior； and the bad manners which； as the dauphiness； she would
introduce into this court。 Since then she has with her glances； her
smiles； and her apparent anger； so worked upon the cardinal as to
make him fall over ears in love with the beautiful； pouting queen。
And that was just what she wanted； for now she could avenge herself。
She appointed a rendezvous with the cardinal； and while she secretly
looked on the scene in the thicket； she allowed the pretty
Mademoiselle Oliva to play her part。 And you see that it is not such
a difficult thing to represent a queen； for Mademoiselle Oliva
performed her part so well that the cardinal was deceived； and took
a girl from the streets to be the Queen of France。〃
〃Oh； better times are coming； better times are coming！〃 cried Simon
the cobbler； who was close by； with his coarse laugh。 〃The cardinal
took a girl from the streets for the Queen of France； but wait a
little and we shall see the time when she will have to sweep the
streets with a broom； that the noble people may walk across with dry
feet！〃
In the loud laugh with which the crowd greeted this remark of the
cobbler； was mingled one single cry of anger； which； however； was
overborne by the rough merriment of the mass。 It came from the lips
of a man in simple citizen's costume； who had plunged into the mob
and worked his way forward with strong arms； in order to reach a
place as near as possible to the entrance…door of the prison； and to
be among the first to learn the impending sentence。
No one； as just said； had heard this cry； no one had troubled
himself about this young man； with the bold defiant face； who； with
shrugged shoulders； was listening to the malicious speeches which
were uttered all around him； and who replied to them all with
flaming looks of anger； pressing his lips closely together； in order
to hold back the words which could hardly be suppressed。
He succeeded at last in reaching the very door of the prison； and
stood directing his eyes thither with gloomy looks of curiosity。
His whole soul lay in this look； he heard nothing of the mocking
speeches which echoed around him； he saw nothing of what took place
about him。 He saw only this fatal door； he only heard the noises
which proceeded from within the prison。
At last； after long waiting； and when the sun had set； the door
opened a little； and a man came out。 The people who； at his
appearance； had broken into a loud cry of delight； were silent when
it was seen that it was not the officer who would announce the
verdict with his stentorian voice； but that it was only one of the
ordinary servants of the court； who had been keeping watch at the
outer gate。
This man ascended with an indifferent air the steps of the
staircase； and to the loud questions which were hurled at him by the
crowd； whether the cardinal were declared innocent； he answered
quietly； 〃I do not know。 But I think the officer will soon make his
appearance。 My time is up； and I am going home； for I am half dead
with hunger and thirst。〃
〃Let the poor hungry man go through；〃 cried the young man； pressing
up to him。 〃Only see how exhausted he is。 Come； old fellow； give me
your hand； support yourself on me。〃
And he took the man by the arm； and with his powerful elbows forced
a way through the crowd。 The people let them pass； and directed
their attention again to the door of the prison。
〃The verdict is pronounced？〃 asked the young man； softly。
〃Yes； Mr。 Toulan；〃 he whispered； 〃the councillor gave me just now；
as I was handing him a glass of water； the paper on which he had
written it。〃
〃Give it to me； John； but so that nobody can see； otherwise they
will suspect what the paper contains； and they will all grab at it
and tear it in bits。〃
The servant slid； with a quick motion； a little folded paper into
the hand of the young man； who thanked him for it with a nod and a
smile； and then quickly dropped his arm； and forced his way in
another direction through the crowd。 Soon； thanks to his youth and
his skill； he had worked through the dense mass； then with a flying
step he sped through the street next to the square； then more
swiftly still through the side streets and alleys； till he reached
the gate that led out to the street of Versailles。 Outside of this
there was a young man in a blue blouse； who； in an idle and listless
manner； was leading a bridled horse up and down the road。
〃Halloo； Richard； come here！〃 cried the young man。
〃Ah！ Mr。 Toulan；〃 shouted the lad in the blouse； running up with the
horse。 〃You have come at last； Mr。 Toulan。 I have been already
waiting eight hours for you。〃
〃I will give you a franc for every hour；〃 said Mr。 Toulan； swinging
himself into the saddle。 〃Now go home； Richard； and greet my
sweetheart； if you see her。〃
He gave his horse a smart stroke； pressed the spurs into his flanks；
and the powerful creature sped like an arrow from a bow along the
road to Versailles。
In Versailles； too； and in the royal palace； this day had been
awaited with anxious expectations。 The king； after ending his daily
duties with his ministers； had gone to his workshop in order to work
with his locksmith； Girard； upon a new lock； whose skilful
construction was an invention of the king。
The queen； too； had not left her room the whole day； and even her
friend； the Duchess Julia de Polignac； had not been able to cheer up
the queen by her pleasant talk。
At last； when she saw that all her efforts were vain； and that
nothing could dissipate the sadness of the queen； the duchess had
made the proposition to go to Trianon； and there to call together
the circle of her intimate friends。
But the queen sorrowfully shook her head； and gazed at the duchess
with a troubled look。
〃You speak of the circle of my friends；〃 she said。 〃Ah！ the circle
of those whom I considered my friends is so rent and broken； that
scarcely any torn fragments of it remain； and I fear to bring them
together again； for I know that what once is broken cannot be mended
again。〃
〃And so does your majesty not believe in your friends any more？〃
ask