marie antoinette and her son-第24节
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necklace； and that she had appropriated it to her own use。 The
countess is therefore guilty of theft and deception。 She is；
moreover； guilty of forgery； for she has imitated the handwriting of
the queen； and subscribed it with the royal name。 But the hand is
neither that of the queen； nor does the queen ever subscribe herself
'Marie Antoinette of France。' This makes Lamotte open to the charge
of both forgery and contempt of majesty； for she has even dared to
drag the sacred person of the Queen of France into her mesh of lies；
and to make her majesty the heroine of a dishonorable love…
adventure。〃
〃My lord；〃 cried Countess Lamotte； with a loud laugh； 〃you are not
driven to the necessity of involving the queen in dishonorable love…
adventures。 The queen is in reality the heroine of so many
adventures of this character； that you can have your choice of them。
A queen who visits the opera…house balls incognito； drives thither
masked and in a fiacre； and who appears incognito on the terraces of
Versailles with strange soldiers； exchanging jocose words with them…
…a queen of the type of this Austrian may not wonder to find her
name identified with the heroine of a love…adventure。 But we are
speaking now not of a romance； but of a reality； and I am not to be
accused of forgery and contempt of majesty without having the proofs
brought forward。 This cannot； however； be done； for I have the
proofs of my innocence。 The cardinal had an interview with the
queen； and she gave him a receipt for the diamonds。 If she wrote her
signature differently from her usual manner； it is not my fault。 It
only shows that the queen was cunning enough to secure an alibi； so
to speak； for her signature； and to leave a rear door open for
herself； through which she could slip with her exalted name； in case
the affair was discovered； and leave me to be her bete de
souffrance。 But I am by no means disposed to accept this part； for I
declare here solemnly； before God and man； that I am innocent of the
crime laid to my charge。 I was only a too true and devoted friend；
that is all！ I sacrificed my own safety and peace to the welfare of
my exalted friends； and I now complain of them that they have
treated me unthankfully in this matter。 But they must bear the
blame； they alone。 Let the queen show that she did not give the
cardinal a rendezvous in the park of Versailles； let her further
show that she did not sign the promissory note； and the letters to
his eminence； and then I shall be exposed to the charge of being a
deceiver and a traitor。 But so long as this is not doneand it
cannot be done； for God is just； and will not permit the innocent to
suffer for the guiltyso long will all France； yes； all Europe； be
convinced that the queen is the guilty one； that she received the
jewels； and paid the cardinal for them as a coquette and light…
minded woman does； with tender words； with smiles and loving looks；
and； last of all； with a rendezvous！〃
〃You are right；〃 said the attorney…general； as the countess ceased；
and looked around her with a victorious smile〃you are quite right；
God IS just； and He will not permit the innocent to suffer for the
guilty。 He will not let your infernal intrigue stand as truth； He
will tear away the mask of innocence from your deceiver's face； and
lot you stand forth in all your impudence and deception。〃
〃My lord；〃 cried the countess； smiling； 〃those are very high…
sounding words； but they are no proofs。〃
〃We will now give the proofs；〃 answered the attorney…general；
turning to one of the guards。 〃Let the lady enter who is waiting in
the room outside。〃
The officer gave a sign to one of the men who stood near the door
leading to the witness…room； he entered the adjoining apartment； but
soon after returned alone and whispered something in the officer's
ear。
〃The lady asks the court's indulgence for a few moments；〃 said the
officer； aloud。 〃As she must be separated some hours from her child；
she asks permission to suckle it a few moments。〃
The president cast an inquiring look at the judges； who all nodded
affirmatively。
The law was silent before the voice of Nature； all waited
noiselessly till the witness had quieted her child。
And now the door of the witness…room opened； and upon the threshold
was seen a woman's figure； at whose unexpected appearance a cry of
amazement rose from the lips of all the spectators on the tribune；
and all eyes were aflame with curiosity。
It was the queenno one but the queen who was entering the hall！ It
was her slim； fine figure； it was her fresh； voting； rosy
countenance； with the fair； charming oval of her delicately…tinted
cheeks； it was her finely…cut mouth； with the full； lower lips；
there were her large； grayish…blue eyes； her high forehead； her
beautiful； chestnut…brown hair； arranged in exactly the manner that
Leonard； the queen's hair…dresser； was accustomed to dress hers。 The
rest of her toilet； also； was precisely like that of the queen when
she appeared in the gardens of Versailles and dispensed with court
etiquette。 A bright dress of light linen flowed down in long； broad
folds over her beautiful figure； her chest and the full shoulders
were covered by a short white robe a l'enfant； and on the loftily
dressed hair lay a white cap； trimmed with lace。
Yes； it was the queen； as she had often been seen wandering up and
down in the broad walks of Versailles； and even the ladies on the
tribune； who often enough had seen the monarch close at hand and had
spoken with her； looked in astonishment at the entering figure； and
whispered； 〃It is she！ The queen herself is coming to give her
evidence。 What folly； what thoughtlessness！〃
While all eyes were directed upon this unexpected figure； no one had
thought of the Countess Lamotte…Valois； no one had noticed how she
shrank back； and then started from her seat； as if she wanted to fly
from the horror which so suddenly confronted her。
No； the officer who stood near her chair had noticed this movement；
and with a quick and strong grasp seized her arm。
〃What do you want； madame？ Why do you rise from your chair after
being told to sit still； if you do not want to be chained？〃
At the touch of the officer； Lamotte had； as it appeared； regained
her whole composure； and had conquered her alarm。
〃I rose；〃 she said calmly； 〃to pay my respects to the Queen of
France； like a good subject； but as I see that no one else stands
up； and that they allow the queen to enter without rising from their
seats； I will take mine again。〃 And the countess slowly sank into
her chair。
〃Come nearer；〃 cried President de L'Aigre to the royal personage；
and she stepped forward； allowing her eyes to wander unconstrainedly
through the hall； and then； as she approached the table； behind
which the president and the judges sat； greeting them with a
friendly nod and smile which caused her lips to part。 Again there
passed through the hall a wave of amazement； for now； when the lady
opened her mouth； the first dissimilarity to the queen appeared。
Behind her cherry…red lips there were two rows of poor； broken
teeth； with gaps between them； whereas Marie Antoinette had； on
account of her faultless teeth； been the object of admiration and
envy to all the ladies of her court。
〃Who are you； madame； and what are you called？〃 asked the president。
〃Who am I； sir？〃 replied the lady； with a slight flush； 〃Good Lord！
that is hard to answer。 I was a light…minded and idle girl； that did
not like to work； but did like to live well； and had no objection to
dress； and led a tolerably easy life； till one day my heart was
surprised by love。 After being enamoured of my Sergeant George； I
resolved to lead an honorable and virtuous life； and since my little
son was born I have tried to be merely a good mother and a good
wife。 Do you now want to know what I am called？ Down to the present
time I am called Mademoiselle Oliva。 You had me arrested in Brussels
and brought here exactly nine days before the appointed time of my
marriage with my dear George。 He had promised me that our child
should be able to regard us as regularly married people； and he
wanted to keep his promise； but you prevented him； and it is your
fault that my dear little boy was born in prison； and that his
father was not there to greet him。 But you will confess that I am
guilty of no crime； and then you will fulfil my wish； and give me a
written certificate of my innocencethat is；〃 she corrected
herself； blushing； 〃of my innocence in this matter； that I may be
able to justify myself to my son； when I have to tell him that he
was born in prison。 It is such a dreadful thing for a mother to have
anything that she is ashamed to confess to her child！〃
A murmur of applause ran through the hall； and the ladies upon the
tribune looked with sympathy upon this fair woman； whose faithful
love made her beautiful； and whose mother…feeling gave her dignity。
〃So your name is Mademoiselle Oliva？〃 asked the president。
〃Yes； sir； that unfortunately is the name I am called by；〃 answered
she； sighing； 〃but as soon as I leave the prison I shall be married；
and then I shall be called Madame George。 For my child's
