the memoirs of marie antoinette-第32节

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eceived　them　in　a　room　within　that　called　the　closet　of　the　women　on　duty；　and　these　women　announced　them　in　her　Majesty's　apartment。

The　Duc　de　Lauzun　had　a　good　deal　of　wit；　and　chivalrous　manners。　　The　Queen　was　accustomed　to　see　him　at　the　King's　suppers；　and　at　the　house　of　the　Princesse　de　Guemenee；　and　always　showed　him　attention。　　One　day　he　made　his　appearance　at　Madame　de　Guemenee's　in　uniform；　and　with　the　most　magnificent　plume　of　white　heron's　feathers　that　it　was　possible　to　behold。　　The　Queen　admired　the　plume；　and　he　offered　it　to　her　through　the　Princesse　de　Guemenee。　　As　he　had　worn　it　the　Queen　had　not　imagined　that　he　could　think　of　giving　it　to　her；　much　embarrassed　with　the　present　which　she　had；　as　it　were；　drawn　upon　herself；　she　did　not　like　to　refuse　it；　nor　did　she　know　whether　she　ought　to　make　one　in　return；　afraid；　if　she　did　give　anything；　of　giving　either　too　much　or　too　little；　she　contented　herself　with　once　letting　M。　de　Lauzun　see　her　adorned　with　the　plume。　　In　his　secret　〃Memoirs〃　the　Duke　attaches　an　importance　to　his　present；　which　proves　him　utterly　unworthy　of　an　honour　accorded　only　to　his　name　and　rank

A　short　time　afterwards　he　solicited　an　audience；　the　Queen　granted　it；　as　she　would　have　done　to　any　other　courtier　of　equal　rank。　　I　was　in　the　room　adjoining　that　in　which　he　was　received；　a　few　minutes　after　his　arrival　the　Queen　reopened　the　door；　and　said　aloud；　and　in　an　angry　tone　of　voice；　〃Go；　monsieur。〃　　M。　de　Lauzun　bowed　low；　and　withdrew。　　The　Queen　was　much　agitated。　　She　said　to　me：　〃That　man　shall　never　again　come　within　my　doors。〃　　A　few　years　before　the　Revolution　of　1789　the　Marechal　de　Biron　died。　　The　Duc　de　Lauzun；　heir　to　his　name；　aspired　to　the　important　post　of　colonel　of　the　regiment　of　French　guards。　　The　Queen；　however；　procured　it　for　the　Duc　du　Chaatelet。　　The　Duc　de　Biron　espoused　the　cause　of　the　Duc　d'Orleans；　and　became　one　of　the　most　violent　enemies　of　Marie　Antoinette。

It　is　with　reluctance　that　I　enter　minutely　on　a　defence　of　the　Queen　against　two　infamous　accusations　with　which　libellers　have　dared　to　swell　their　envenomed　volumes。　　I　mean　the　unworthy　suspicions　of　too　strong　an　attachment　for　the　Comte　d'Artois；　and　of　the　motives　for　the　tender　friendship　which　subsisted　between　the　Queen；　the　Princesse　de　Lamballe；　and　the　Duchesse　de　Polignac。　　I　do　not　believe　that　the　Comte　d'Artois　was；　during　his　own　youth　and　that　of　the　Queen；　so　much　smitten　as　has　been　said　with　the　loveliness　of　his　sister…in…law；　I　can　affirm　that　I　always　saw　that　Prince　maintain　the　most　respectful　demeanour　towards　the　Queen；　that　she　always　spoke　of　his　good…nature　and　cheerfulness　with　that　freedom　which　attends　only　the　purest　sentiments；　and　that　none　of　those　about　the　Queen　ever　saw　in　the　affection　she　manifested　towards　the　Comte　d'Artois　more　than　that　of　a　kind　and　tender　sister　for　her　youngest　brother。　　As　to　the　intimate　connection　between　Marie　Antoinette　and　the　ladies　I　have　named；　it　never　had；　nor　could　have；　any　other　motive　than　the　very　innocent　wish　to　secure　herself　two　friends　in　the　midst　of　a　numerous　Court；　and　notwithstanding　this　intimacy；　that　tone　of　respect　observed　by　persons　of　the　most　exalted　rank　towards　majesty　never　ceased　to　be　maintained。

The　Queen；　much　occupied　with　the　society　of　Madame　de　Polignac；　and　an　unbroken　series　of　amusements；　found　less　time　for　the　Abbe　de　Vermond；　he　therefore　resolved　to　retire　from　Court。　　The　world　did　him　the　honour　to　believe　that　he　had　hazarded　remonstrances　upon　his　august　pupil's　frivolous　employment　of　her　time；　and　that　he　considered　himself；　both　as　an　ecclesiastic　and　as　instructor；　now　out　of　place　at　Court。　　But　the　world　was　deceived　his　dissatisfaction　arose　purely　from　the　favour　shown　to　the　Comtesse　Jules。　　After　a　fortnight's　absence　we　saw　him　at　Versailles　again；　resuming　his　usual　functions。

The　Queen　could　express　herself　with　winning　graciousness　to　persons　who　merited　her　praise。　　When　M。　Loustonneau　was　appointed　to　the　reversion　of　the　post　of　first　surgeon　to　the　King；　he　came　to　make　his　acknowledgments。　　He　was　much　beloved　by　the　poor；　to　whom　he　had　chiefly　devoted　his　talents；　spending　nearly　thirty　thousand　francs　a　year　on　indigent　sufferers。　　The　Queen　replied　to　his　thanks　by　saying：　〃You　are　satisfied；　Monsieur；　but　I　am　far　from　being　so　with　the　inhabitants　of　Versailles。　　On　the　news　of　your　appointment　the　town　should　have　been　illuminated。〃〃How　so；　Madame？〃　asked　the　astonished　surgeon；　who　was　very　modest。　　〃Why；〃　replied　the　Queen；　〃if　the　poor　whom　you　have　succoured　for　the　past　twenty　years　had　each　placed　a　single　candle　in　their　windows　it　would　have　been　the　most　beautiful　illumination　ever　witnessed。〃

The　Queen　did　not　limit　her　kindness　to　friendly　words。　　There　was　frequently　seen　in　the　apartments　of　Versailles　a　veteran　captain　of　the　grenadiers　of　France；　called　the　Chevalier　d'Orville；　who　for　four　years　had　been　soliciting　from　the　Minister　of　War　the　post　of　major；　or　of　King's　lieutenant。　　He　was　known　to　be　very　poor；　but　he　supported　his　lot　without　complaining　of　this　vexatious　delay　in　rewarding　his　honourable　services。　　He　regularly　attended　the　Marechal　de　Segur；　at　the　hour　appointed　for　receiving　the　numerous　solicitations　in　his　department。　　One　day　the　Marshal　said　to　him：　〃You　are　still　at　Versailles；　M。　d'Orville？〃〃Monsieur；〃　he　replied；　〃you　may　observe　that　by　this　board　of　the　flooring　where　I　regularly　place　myself；　it　is　already　worn　down　several　lines　by　the　weight　of　my　body。〃　　The　Queen　frequently　stood　at　the　window　of　her　bedchamber　to　observe　with　her　glass　the　people　walking　in　the　park。　　Sometimes　she　inquired　the　names　of　those　who　were　unknown　to　her。　　One　day　she　saw　the　Chevalier　d'Orville　passing；　and　asked　me　the　name　of　that　knight　of　Saint　Louis；　whom　she　had　seen　everywhere　for　a　long　time　past。　　I　knew　who　he　was；　and　related　his　history。　　〃That　must　be　put　an　end　to；〃　said　the　Queen；　with　some　vivacity。　　〃Such　an　example　of　indifference　is　calculated　to　discourage　our　soldiers。〃　　Next　day；　in　crossing　the　gallery　to　go　to　mass；　the　Queen　perceived　the　Chevalier　d'Orville；　she　went　directly　towards　him。　　The　poor　man　fell　back　in　the　recess　of　a　window；　looking　to　the　right　and　left　to　discover　the　person　whom　the　Queen　was　seeking；　when　she　thus　addressed　him：　〃M。　d'Orville；　you　have　been　several　years　at　Versailles；　soliciting　a　majority　or　a　King's　lieutenancy。　　You　must　have　very　powerless　patrons。〃〃I　have　none；　Madame；〃　replied　the　Chevalier；　in　great　confusion。　　〃Well！　I　will　take　you　under　my　protection。　　To…morrow　at　the　same　hour　be　here　with　a　petition；　and　a　memorial　of　your　services。〃　　A　fortnight　after；　M。　d'Orville　was　appointed　King's　lieutenant；　either　at　La　Rochelle　or　at　Rochefort。

　　　　　＇Louis　XVI。　vied　with　his　Queen　in　benevolent　actions　of　this　kind。　　　　　　An　old　officer　had　in　vain　solicited　a　pension　during　the　　　　　　administration　of　the　Duc　de　Choiseul。　　He　returned　to　the　charge　in　　　　　　the　times　of　the　Marquis　de　Montesnard　and　the　Duc　d'Aiguillon。　　He　　　　　　urged　his　claims；　to　Comte　du　Muy；　who　made　a　note　of　them。　　Tired　　　　　　of　so　many　fruitless　efforts；　he　at　last　appeared　at　the　King's　　　　　　supper；　and；　having　placed　himself　so　as　to　be　seen　and　heard；　cried　　　　　　out　at　a　moment　when　silence　prevailed；　〃Sire。〃　　The　people　near　him　　　　　　said；　〃What　are　you　about？　　This　is　not　the　way　to　speak　to　the　　　　　　King。〃〃I　fear　nothing；〃　said　he；　and　raising　his　voice；　repeated；　　　　　　〃Sire。〃　　The　King；　much　surprised；　looked　at　him　and　said；　〃What　do　　　　　　you　want；　monsieur。〃〃Sire；〃　answered　he；　〃I　am　seventy　years　of　　　　　　age；　I　have　served　your　Majesty　more　than　fifty　years；　and　I　am　　　　　　dying　for　want。〃〃Have　you　a　memorial？〃　　replied　the　King。　　〃Yes；　　　　　　Sire；　I　have。〃〃Give　it　to　me；〃　and　his　Majesty　took　it　without　　　　　　saying　anything　more。　　Next　morning　he　was　sent　for　by　the；　King；　　　　　　who　said；　〃Monsieur；　I　grant　you　an　annuity　of　1；500　livres　out　of　　　　　　my　privy　purse；　and　you　may　go　and　receive　the　first　year's　payment；　　　　　　which　is　now　due。〃　　（〃Secret　Correspondence　of　the　Court：　Reign　of　　　　　　Louis　XVI。〃）　The　King　preferred　to　spend　money　in　charity　rather　　　　　　than　in　luxury　or　magnificence。　　Once　during　his　absence；　M。　　　　　　d'Augivillers　caused　an　unused　room　in　the　King's　apartment　to　be　　　　　　repaired　at　a　cost　of　30；000　francs。　　On　his　return　the　King　made　　　　　　Versailles　resound　with　complaints　against　M。　d'Augivillers：　〃With　　　　　　that　sum　I　could　have　made　thirty　families　happy；〃　he　said。＇




CHAPTER　IX。

From　the　time　of　Louis　XVI。's　accession　to　the　throne；　the　Queen　had　been　expecting　a　visit　from　her　brother；　the　Emperor　Joseph　II。　　That　Prince　was　the　constant　theme　of　her　discourse。　　She　boasted　of　his　intelligence；　his　love　of　occupation；　his　military　knowledge；　and　the　perfect　simplicity　of　his　manners。　　Those　about　her　Majesty　ardently　wished　to　see　at　Versailles　a　prince　so　worthy　of　his　rank。　　At　length　the　coming　of　Joseph　II。；　under　the　title　of　Count　Falkenstein；　was　announced；　and　the　very　day　on　which　he　would　be　at　Versailles　was　mentioned。　　The　first　embraces　between　the　Queen　and　her　august　brother　took　place　in　th