murder　stalked　around　the　palace　of　the　Kings　of　France。
  How　soon　were　these　thoughts　to　become　fact！　Sleep；　Marie
  Antoinette；　sleep！　One　last　hour　of　peace　and　security！
  One　last　hour！　Before　the　morning　dawns　Hate　will　awaken　thee；　and
  Murder's　terrible　voice　will　resound　through　the　halls　of　the　Kings
  of　France！
  CHAPTER　XIII。
  THE　NIGHT　OF　HORROR。
  Marie　Antoinette　slept！　The　fearful　excitement　of　the　past　day　and
  of　the　stormy　evening；　crowded　with　its　events；　had　exhausted　the
  powers　of　the　queen；　and　she　had　fallen　into　that　deep；　dreamless
  sleep　which　sympathetic　and　gracious　Nature　sometimes　sends　to　those
  whom　Fate　pursues　with　suffering　and　peril。
  Marie　Antoinette　slept！　In　the　interior　of　the　palace　a　deep　calm
  reigned；　and　Lafayette　had　withdrawn　from　the　court　in　order　to
  sleep　too。　But　below；　upon　this　court；　Revolution　kept　her　vigils；
  and　glared　with　looks　of　hatred　and　vengeance　to　the　dark　walls
  behind　which　the　queen　was　sleeping。
  The　crown　of　France　had　for　centuries　sinned　so　much；　and　proved
  false　so　much；　that　the　love　of　the　people　had　at　last　been
  transformed　into　hate。　The　crown　had　so　long　sown　the　wind；　that　it
  could　not　wonder　if　it　had　to　reap　the　whirlwind。　The　crimes　and
  innovations　which　Louis　XIV。　and　Louis　XV。　had　sown　upon　the　soil　of
  France；　had　created　an　abyss　between　the　crown　and　the　people；　out
  of　which　revolution　must　arise　to　avenge　those　crimes　and　sins　of
  the　past　upon　the　present。　The　sins　of　the　fathers　had　to　be　visited
  upon　the　children　to　the　third　and　fourth　generation。
  Marie　Antoinette　did　not　know　it；　she　did　not　see　the　abyss　which
  had　opened　between　the　crown　and　the　people；　the　courtiers　and
  flatterers　had　covered　it　with　flowers；　and　with　the　sounds　of
  festivity　the　cries　of　a　distressed　people　had　been　drowned。
  Now　the　flowers　were　torn　away；　the　festive　sounds　had　ceased；　and
  Marie　Antoinette　saw　the　abyss　between　the　crown　and　the　people；　she
  heard　the　curses；　the　raging　cries　of　these　exasperated　men；　who　had
  been　changed　from　weak；　obedient　subjects　into　threatening；
  domineering　rebels。　She　looked　with　steady　eye　down　into　the　abyss；
  and　saw　the　monster　rise　from　the　depths　to　destroy　herself　and　her
  whole　house；　but　she　would　not　draw　back；　she　would　not　yield。　She
  would　rather　be　dragged　down　and　destroyed　than　meekly　and　miserably
  to　make　her　way　to　the　camp　of　her　enemies；　to　take　refuge　with
  them。
  Better　to　die　with　the　crown　on　her　head　than　to　live　robbed　of　her
  crown　in　lowliness　and　in　a；　subject　condition。　Thus　thought　Marie
  Antoinette；　as　at　the　close　of　that　dreadful　day　she　went　to　rest；
  this　was　her　prayer　as　she　sank　upon　her　couch：
  〃Give　me　power；　O　God；　to　die　as　a　queen；　if　I　can　no　longer　live　as
  a　queen！　And　strengthen　my　husband；　that　he　may　not　only　be　a　good
  man；　but　a　king　too！〃
  With　this　prayer　on　her　trembling　lips；　she　had　fallen　asleep。　But
  when　Campan　stole　on　tiptoe　to　the　queen's　bed　to　watch　her　mistress
  while　she　slept；　Marie　Antoinette　opened　her　eyes　again；　and　spoke
  in　her　friendly　way　to　her　devoted　servant。
  〃Go　to　bed；　Campan；〃　said　she；　〃and　the　second　maid　must　lie　down
  too。　You　all　need　rest　after　this　evil　day；　and　sleep　is　so
  refreshing。　Go；　Campan；　good…night！〃
  Madame　de　Campan　had　to　obey；　and　stepped　out　into　the　antechamber；
  where　were　the　two　other　maids。
  〃The　queen　is　asleep；〃　she　said；　〃and　she　has　commanded　us　to　go　to
  rest　too。　Shall　we　do　so？〃
  The　two　women　answered　only　with　a　shake　of　the　head　and　a　shrug　of
  the　shoulders。
  〃I　know　very　well　that　we　are　agreed；〃　said　Madame　de　Campan；
  reaching　her　hand　to　them。　〃For　us　there　must　be　no　sleep　to…night；
  for　we　must　watch　the　queen。　Come；　my　friends；　let　us　go　into　the
  antechamber。　We　shall　find　Mr。　Varicourt；　who　will　tell　us　what　is
  going　on　outside。〃
  On　tiptoe　the　three　women　stole　out　into　the　second　ante…chamber；
  which　was　lighted　only　with　a　couple　of　glimmering　wax　tapers；　and
  in　its　desolate　disorder；　with　the　confusion　of　chairs；　divans；　and
  tables；　brought　back　sad　recollections　of　the　wild　women　who　had　on
  the　day　before　pressed　into　this　apartment　in　their　desire　to　speak
  with　the　queen。　Somebody　had　told　them　that　this　was　the　antechamber
  of　the　queen；　and　they　had　withdrawn　in　order　to　go　to　the
  antechamber　of　the　king。　But　they　now　knew　the　way　that　led　to　the
  apartments　of　the　queen；　they　knew　now　that　if　one　turned　to　the
  left　side　of　the　palace；　he　would　come　at　once　into　the　apartments
  occupied　by　the　royal　family；　and　that　the　queen　occupied　the
  adjacent　rooms；　directly　behind　the　hall　of　the　Swiss　Guard。
  Madame　de　Campan　thought　of　this；　as　she　cast　her　glance　over　this
  antechamber　which　adjoined　the　Swiss　hall；　and　this　thought　filled
  her　with　horror。
  Varicourt　had　not　yet　come　in；　nothing　disturbed　the　silence　around
  her；　except　the　dreadful　shouting　and　singing　outside　of　the　palace。
  〃Let　us　go　back　into　the　waiting…room；〃　whispered　her　companions；
  〃it　is　too　gloomy　here。　Only　hear　how　they　shout　and　laugh！　O　God；
  it　is　a　fearful　night！〃
  〃Yes；　a　fearful　night；〃　sighed　Madame　de　Campan；　〃and　the　day　that
  follows　it　may　be　yet　more　fearful。　But　we　must　not　lose　our
  courage。　All　depends　upon　our　having　decision；　upon　our　defying
  danger；　and　defending　our　mistress。　And　see；　there　comes　Mr。
  Varicourt；〃　she　continued；　earnestly；　as　the　door　quickly　opened；
  and　an　officer　of　the　Swiss　guard　came　in　with　great　haste。
  〃Tell　us；　my　friend；　what　news　do　you　bring　us？〃
  〃Bad　news；〃　sighed　Varicourt。　〃The　crowd　is　increasing　every　moment。
  New　columns　have　arrived　from　Paris；　and　not　only　the　common　people；
  but　the　speakers　and　agitators　are　here。　Everywhere　are　groups
  listening　to　the　dreadful　speeches　which　urge　on　to　regicide　and
  revolution。　It　is　a　dreadful；　horrible　night。　Treachery；　hatred；
  wickedness　around　the　palace；　and　cowardice　and　desertion　pass　out
  from　the　palace　to　them；　and　open　the　doors。　Many　of　the　royal
  soldiers　have　made　common　cause　with　the　people；　and　walk　arm　in　arm
  with　them　around　the　square。〃
  〃And　what　do　these　dreadful　men　want？〃　asked　Campan。　〃Why　do　they
  encamp　around　the　palace？　What　is　their　object？〃
  Mr。　Varicourt　sadly　bowed　his　head；　and　a　loud　sigh　came　from　his
  courageous　breast。　〃They　want　what　they　shall　never　have　while　I　am
  alive；〃　he　then　said；　with　a　decided　look。　〃I　have　sworn　fidelity　to
  the　king　and　queen；　and　I　shall　keep　it　to　death。　My　duty　calls　me；
  for　the　hour　of　changing　guards　is　near；　and　my　post　is　below　at　the
  great　staircase　which　leads　up　here。　We　shall　meet　at　daylight；　if　I
  am　then　alive。　But　till　then　we　shall　do　our　duty。　I　shall　guard　the
  grand　staircase；　do　you　guard　the　sleeping…room　of　the　queen。〃
  〃Yes；　we　will　do　our　duty；〃　answered　Madame　de　Campan；　extending　her
  hand　to　him。　〃We　will　watch　over　those　to　whom　we　have　devoted
  ourselves；　and　to　whom　we　have　vowed　fidelity。　No　one　shall　pass
  into　the　chamber　of　the　queen　while　we　are　alive；　shall　there？〃
  〃Never；〃　replied　both　of　the　women；　with　courageous　decision。
  〃And　no　one　shall　ascend　the　great　staircase　so　long　as　I　live；〃
  said　Varicourt。　〃Adieu　now；　ladies；　and　listen　carefully　to　every
  sound。　If　a　voice　calls　to　you；　'It　is　time；'　wake　the　queen　and
  save　her；　for　danger　will　then　be　right　upon　her。　Hark；　it　is
  striking　three；　that　is　the　hour　of　changing　guard。　Farewell！〃
  He　went　quickly　to　the　door；　but　there　he　stood　still；　and　turned
  once　more　around。　His　glance　encountered　that　of　his　friend；　and
  Madame　de　Campan　understood　its　silent　language　well；　for　she
  hastened　to　him。
  〃You　have　something　to　say　to　me？〃
  〃Yes；〃　he　whispered　softly；　〃I　have　a　presentiment　that　I　shall　not
  survive　the　horrors　of　this　night。　I　have　one　whom　I　love；　who；　as
  you　know；　is　betrothed　to　me。　If　I　fall　in　the　service　of　the　king；
  I　ask　you　to　see　my　Cecilia；　and　tell　her　that　I　died　with　her　name
  upon　my　lips！　Tell　her　not　to　weep　for　me；　but　at　the　same　time　not
  to　forget　me。　Farewell。〃
  He　hurriedly　opened　the　door　and　hastened　away。　Madame　de　Campan
  repressed　the　tears　which　would　fill　her　eyes；　and　turned　to　the　two
  maids。
  〃Now；〃　said　she；　with　decisive　tones；　〃let　us　return　to　the　waiting…
  room　and　watch　the　door　of　the　queen's　chamber。〃
  With　a　firm　step　she　walked　on；　and　the　ladies　followed。　Without　any
  noise　they　entered　the　little　hall；　where　in　the　mornings　those
  ladies　of　the　court　used　to　gather　who　had　the　right　to　be　present
  while　the　queen　dressed　herself。　Madame　de　Campan　locked　the　door
  through　which　they　had　entered；　behind　her；　drew　out　the　key　and　hid
  it　in　her　pocket。
  〃No　one　will　enter　here　with　my　will；〃　said　she。　〃Now　we　will　place
  chairs　before　the　door　of　the　sleeping…room；　and　sit　there。　We　shall
  then　have　erected　a　barricade　before　our　queen；　a　wall　which　will　be
  as　strong　as　any　other；　for　there　beat　three　courageous　hearts
  within　it。〃
  They　sat　down　upon　the　chairs；　whose　high　backs　leaned　against　the
  door　of　the　queen's　room；　and；　taking　one　another's　hands；　began
  their　hallowed　watch。
  All　was　still　and　desolate　around　them。　No　one　of　the　women　could
  break　the　silence　with　a　word　or　a　remark。　With　dumb　l