the memoirs of marie antoinette-第62节

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CHAPTER　III。

In　February；　1790；　another　matter　gave　the　Court　much　uneasiness；　a　zealous　individual　of　the　name　of　Favras　had　conceived　the　scheme　of　carrying　off　the　King；　and　affecting　a　counter…revolution。　　Monsieur；　probably　out　of　mere　benevolence；　gave　him　some　money；　and　thence　arose　a　report　that　he　thereby　wished　to　favour　the　execution　of　the　enterprise。　The　step　taken　by　Monsieur　in　going　to　the　Hotel　de　Ville　to　explain　himself　on　this　matter　was　unknown　to　the　Queen；　it　is　more　than　probable　that　the　King　was　acquainted　with　it。　　When　judgment　was　pronounced　upon　M。　de　Favras　the　Queen　did　not　conceal　from　me　her　fears　about　the　confessions　of　the　unfortunate　man　in　his　last　moments。

I　sent　a　confidential　person　to　the　Hotel　de　Ville；　she　came　to　inform　the　Queen　that　the　condemned　had　demanded　to　be　taken　from　Notre…Dame　to　the　Hotel　de　Ville　to　make　a　final　declaration；　and　give　some　particulars　verifying　it。　　These　particulars　compromised　nobody；　Favras　corrected　his　last　will　after　writing　it；　and　went　to　the　scaffold　with　heroic　courage　and　coolness。　　The　judge　who　read　his　condemnation　to　him　told　him　that　his　life　was　a　sacrifice　which　he　owed　to　public　tranquillity。　　It　was　asserted　at　the　time　that　Favras　was　given　up　as　a　victim　in　order　to　satisfy　the　people　and　save　the　Baron　de　Besenval；　who　was　a　prisoner　in　the　Abbaye。

　　　　　＇Thomas　Mahy；　Marquis　de　Favras；　was　accused　in　the　month　of　　　　　　December；　1789；　of　having　conspired　against　the　Revolution。　　Having　　　　　　been　arrested　by　order　of　the　committee　of　inquiry　of　the　National　　　　　　Assembly；　he　was　transferred　to　the　Chatelet；　where　he　defended　　　　　　himself　with　much　coolness　and　presence　of　mind；　repelling　the　　　　　　accusations　brought　against　him　by　Morel；　Turcati；　and　Marquis；　with　　　　　　considerable　force。　　These　witnesses　declared　he　had　imparted　his　　　　　　plan　to　them；　it　was　to　be　carried　into　execution　by　12；000　Swiss　　　　　　and　12；000　Germans；　who　were　to　be　assembled　at　Montargis；　thence　to　　　　　　march　upon　Paris；　carry　off　the　King；　and　assassinate　Bailly；　La　　　　　　Fayette；　and　Necker。　　The　greater　number　of　these　charges　he　denied；　　　　　　and　declared　that　the　rest　related　only　to　the　levy　of　a　troop　　　　　　intended　to　favour　the　revolution　preparing　in　Brabant。　　The　judge　　　　　　having　refused　to　disclose　who　had　denounced　him；　he　complained　to　　　　　　the　Assembly；　which　passed　to　the　order　of　the　day。　　His　death　was　　　　　　obviously　inevitable。　　During　the　whole　time　of　the　proceedings　the　　　　　　populace　never　ceased　threatening　the　judges　and　shouting；　〃A　la　　　　　　lanterne！〃　　It　was　even　necessary　to　keep　numerous　troops　and　　　　　　artillery　constantly　ready　to　act　in　the　courtyard　of　the　Chatelet。　　　　　　The　judges；　who　had　just　acquitted　M。　de　Besenval　in　an　affair　　　　　　nearly　similar；　doubtless　dreaded　the　effects　of　this　fury。　　When　　　　　　they　refused　to　hear　Favras's　witnesses　in　exculpation；　he　compared　　　　　　them　to　the　tribunal　of　the　Inquisition。　　The　principal　charge　　　　　　against　him　was　founded　on　a　letter　from　M。　de　Foucault；　asking　him；　　　　　　〃where　are　your　troops？　　in　which　direction　will　they　enter　Paris？　　　　　　I　should　like　to　be　employed　among　them。〃　　Favras　was　condemned　to　　　　　　make　the　'amende　honorable'　in　front　of　the　Cathedral；　and　to　be　　　　　　hanged　at　the　Place　de　Greve。　　He　heard　this　sentence　with　wonderful　　　　　　calmness；　and　said　to　his　judges；　〃I　pity　you　much　if　the　testimony　　　　　　of　two　men　is　sufficient　to　induce　you　to　condemn。〃　　The　judge　　　　　　having　said　to　him；　〃I　have　no　other　consolation　to　hold　out　to　you　　　　　　than　that　which　religion　affords；〃　he　replied；　nobly；　〃My　greatest　　　　　　consolation　is　that　which　I　derive　from　my　innocence。〃〃Biographic　　　　　　Universelle〃＇

On　the　morning　of　the　Sunday　following　this　execution　M。　de　la　Villeurnoy　came　to　my　house　to　tell　me　that　he　was　going　that　day　to　the　public　dinner　of　the　King　and　Queen　to　present　Madame　de　Favras　and　her　son；　both　of　them　in　mourning　for　the　brave　Frenchman　who　fell　a　sacrifice　for　his　King；　and　that　all　the　royalists　expected　to　see　the　Queen　load　the　unfortunate　family　with　favours。　　I　did　all　that　lay　in　my　power　to　prevent　this　proceeding。　　I　foresaw　the　effect　it　would　have　upon　the　Queen's　feeling　heart；　and　the　painful　constraint　she　would　experience；　having　the　horrible　Santerre；　the　commandant　of　a　battalion　of　the　Parisian　guard；　behind　her　chair　during　dinner…time。　　I　could　not　make　M。　de　la　Villeurnoy　comprehend　my　argument；　the　Queen　was　gone　to　mass；　surrounded　by　her　whole　Court；　and　I　had　not　even　means　of　apprising　her　of　his　intention。

When　dinner　was　over　I　heard　a　knocking　at　the　door　of　my　apartment；　which　opened　into　the　corridor　next　that　of　the　Queen；　it　was　herself。　She　asked　me　whether　there　was　anybody　with　me；　I　was　alone；　she　threw　herself　into　an　armchair；　and　told　me　she　came　to　weep　with　me　over　the　foolish　conduct　of　the　ultras　of　the　King's　party。　　〃We　must　fall；〃　said　she；　〃attacked　as　we　are　by　men　who　possess　every　talent　and　shrink　from　no　crime；　while　we　are　defended　only　by　those　who　are　no　doubt　very　estimable；　but　have　no　adequate　idea　of　our　situation。　　They　have　exposed　me　to　the　animosity　of　both　parties　by　presenting　the　widow　and　son　of　Favras　to　me。　　Were　I　free　to　act　as　I　wish；　I　should　take　the　child　of　the　man　who　has　just　sacrificed　himself　for　us　and　place　him　at　table　between　the　King　and　myself；　but　surrounded　by　the　assassins　who　have　destroyed　his　father；　I　did　not　dare　even　to　cast　my　eyes　upon　him。　　The　royalists　will　blame　me　for　not　having　appeared　interested　in　this　poor　child；　the　revolutionists　will　be　enraged　at　the　idea　that　his　presentation　should　have　been　thought　agreeable　to　me。〃　　However；　the　Queen　added　that　she　knew　Madame　de　Favras　was　in　want；　and　that　she　desired　me　to　send　her　next　day；　through　a　person　who　could　be　relied　on；　a　few　rouleaus　of　fifty　Louis；　and　to　direct　that　she　should　be　assured　her　Majesty　would　always　watch　over　the　fortunes　of　herself　and　her　son。

In　the　month　of　March　following　I　had　an　opportunity　of　ascertaining　the　King's　sentiments　respecting　the　schemes　which　were　continually　proposed　to　him　for　making　his　escape。　　One　night　about　ten　o'clock　Comte　d'Inisdal；　who　was　deputed　by　the　nobility；　came　to　request　that　I　would　see　him　in　private；　as　he　had　an　important　matter　to　communicate　to　me。　He　told　me　that　on　that　very　night　the　King　was　to　be　carried　off；　that　the　section　of　the　National　Guard；　that　day　commanded　by　M。　d'Aumont；　was　gained　over；　and　that　sets　of　horses；　furnished　by　some　good　royalists；　were　placed　in　relays　at　suitable　distances；　that　he　had　just　left　a　number　of　the　nobility　assembled　for　the　execution　of　this　scheme；　and　that　he　had　been　sent　to　me　that　I　might；　through　the　medium　of　the　Queen；　obtain　the　King's　positive　consent　to　it　before　midnight；　that　the　King　was　aware　of　their　plan；　but　that　his　Majesty　never　would　speak　decidedly；　and　that　it　was　necessary　he　should　consent　to　the　undertaking。　　I　greatly　displeased　Comte　d'Inisdal　by　expressing　my　astonishment　that　the　nobility　at　the　moment　of　the　execution　of　so　important　a　project　should　send　to　me；　the　Queen's　first　woman；　to　obtain　a　consent　which　ought　to　have　been　the　basis　of　any　well…concerted　scheme。　　I　told　him；　also；　that　it　would　be　impossible　for　me　to　go　at　that　time　to　the　Queen's　apartments　without　exciting　the　attention　of　the　people　in　the　antechambers；　that　the　King　was　at　cards　with　the　Queen　and　his　family；　and　that　I　never　broke　in　upon　their　privacy　unless　I　was　called　for。　　I　added；　however；　that　M。　Campan　could　enter　without　being　called；　and　if　the　Count　chose　to　give　him　his　confidence　he　might　rely　upon　him。

My　father…in…law；　to　whom　Comte　d'Inisdal　repeated　what　he　had　said　to　me；　took　the　commission　upon　himself；　and　went　to　the　Queen's　apartments。　The　King　was　playing　at　whist　with　the　Queen；　Monsieur；　and　Madame；　Madame　Elisabeth　was　kneeling　on　a　stool　near　the　table。　　M。　Campan　informed　the　Queen　of　what　had　been　communicated　to　me；　nobody　uttered　a　word。　　The　Queen　broke　silence　and　said　to　the　King；　〃Do　you　hear；　Sire；　what　Campan　says　to　us？〃〃Yes；　I　hear；〃　said　the　King；　and　continued　his　game。　　Monsieur；　who　was　in　the　habit　of　introducing　passages　from　plays　into　his　conversation；　said　to　my　father…in…law；　〃M。　Campan；　that　pretty　little　couplet　again；　if　you　please；〃　and　pressed　the　King　to　reply。　　At　length　the　Queen　said；　〃But　something　must　be　said　to　Campan。〃　　The　King　then　spoke　to　my　father…in…law　in　these　words：　〃Tell　M。　d'Inisdal　that　I　cannot　consent　to　be　carried　off！〃　　The　Queen　enjoined　M。　Campan　to　take　care　and；　report　this　answer　faithfully。　　〃You　understand；〃　added　she；　〃the　King　cannot　consent　to　be　carried　off。〃

Comte　d'Inisdal　was　very　much　dissatisfied　with　the　King's　answer；　and　went　out；　saying；　〃I　understand；　he　wishes　to　throw　all　the　blame；　beforehand；　upon　those　who　are　to　devote　themselves　for　him。〃

He　went　away；　and　I　thought　the　enterprise　would　be　abandoned。　　However；　the　Queen　remained　alone　with　me　till　midnight；　preparing　her　cases　of　valuables；　and　ordered　me　not　to　go　to　bed。　　She　imagined　the　King's　answer　would　be　understood　as　a　tacit　consent；　and　merely　a　refusal　to　participate