Ange Pitou by Alexandre Dumas

Author:Alexandre Dumas [Dumas, Alexandre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Novel
Publisher: 1873 Press
Published: 2000-07-09T07:00:00+00:00

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Chapter XXX

A King and a Queen

THE queen, after glancing round, exchanged friendly greetings with the king, who gave her his hand.

"To what good chance," asked Marie Antoinette, "do I owe this visit?"

"Really to chance; you have spoken correctly, Madame. I have just met De Charny, who said he was commissioned by you to go and tell all our warriors to keep themselves quiet. It affords me much pleasure that you have taken so wise a resolution, and I was unwilling to pass your apartment without thanking you."

"Yes," said the queen, "I have in fact reconsidered the matter, and have come to the conclusion that it is decidedly the best course to leave the troops at rest, and thus to afford no pretext for intestine war."

"Good! that is right!" said the king. "I am delighted to find you of that opinion. I knew very well that I should bring you over to it at last."

"Your Majesty sees that you have gained your object without much trouble; since, uninfluenced by you, I have formed my decision."

"Well done! that is a proof that you are almost reasonable, and when I have communicated to you some of my reflections, you will be so altogether."

"But if we are of the same opinion, Sire, to impart to me these reflections would be useless."

"Oh, calm yourself, Madame! I have no wish to enter upon discussion; you know well that I like it no more than you do. This will be a conversation. Come, now; are you not glad to talk with me occasionally about the affairs of France, as a good wife does with her spouse about domestic matters?"

These last words were uttered with that perfect good-nature which Louis XVI. invariably manifested towards his familiar friends.

"Oh, Sire," answered the queen, "I am always happy to do so; but is the time well chosen?"

"I believe that it is. You desire that there should be no hostile demonstration. Did you not this moment say so?"

"I did."

"But you have not explained to me your reason."

"You did not ask me."

"Well, I now ask you."

"Impotence!"

"Ah! that is the reason, is it? If you thought yourself the stronger, you would make war."

"If I thought that I was the stronger, I should burn Paris."

"Oh, I was certain that your motives for not wishing war were not the same as mine."

"Well, let us hear yours."

" Mine?" asked the king. "Yes," answered Marie Antoinette, "yours."

"I have but one."

"Mention it."

"Oh, that is soon done! I do not wish to enter into war with the people, because I find that the people are right."

Marie Antoinette made a gesture of surprise.

"Right!" she exclaimed, "the people right in rebelling!"

"Certainly."

"Right in storming the Bastille, in killing the governor, in murdering the provost of the merchants, in exterminating your soldiers?"

"Yes, by Heaven, they were!"

"Oh," exclaimed the queen, "these are your reflections, and it was such reflections as these that you wished me to hear!"

"I have told you them as they occurred to me."

"At dinner?"

"Good!" said the king, "we are about to fall back on the subject of nourishment.

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