to　him；　〃Turn　back；　Mirabeau；　turn　back！　for　with　every　step　forward
  you　are　only　going　deeper　into　your　grave。〃　He　stopped；　and　with　his
  hand…kerchief　wiped　away　the　drops　of　cold　sweat　which　gathered　upon
  his　forehead。
  〃It　is　folly；〃　he　said；　〃perfect　folly。　Truly　I　am　as　tremulous　as　a
  girl　going　to　her　first　rendezvous。　Shame　on　you；　Mirabeau；　be　a
  man！〃
  He　shook　his　head　as　if　he　wanted　to　dispel　these　evil　forebodings；
  and　hastened　forward　to　meet　Count　de　la　Marck；　who　appeared　at　the
  bending　of　the　allee。
  〃The　queen　is　already　here；　and　is　waiting　for　you；　Mirabeau；〃　said
  the　marquis；　with　a　slight　reproach　in　his　voice。
  Mirabeau　shrugged　his　shoulders　instead　of　replying；　and　went　on
  more　rapidly。　There　soon　opened　in　front　of　them　a　small　grass…plat；
  surrounded　by　bushes；　and　on　the　bench　opposite；　the　lady　in　the
  white；　neat　dress；　with　a　straw　hat　on　her　arm；　her　hair　veiled　with
  black　lacethat　lady　was　Marie　Antoinette。
  Mirabeau　stopped　in　his　walk；　and　fixed　a　long；　searching　look　upon
  her。　When　he　turned　again　to　his　friend；　his　face　was　pale；　and　bore
  plain　traces　of　emotion。
  〃My　friend；〃　whispered　he　to　La　Marck；　〃I　know　not　why；　but　I　have　a
  strange　feeling！　I　have　not　wept　since　the　day　on　which　my　father
  drove　me　with　a　curse　from　the　house　of　my　ancestors；　but；　seeing
  yonder　woman；　I　could　weep；　and　an　unspeakable　sympathy　fills　my
  soul。〃
  The　queen　had　seen　him；　too；　and　had　grown　pale；　and　turned
  tremblingly　to　the　king；　who　stood　beside　her；　half　concealed　by　the
  foliage。
  〃There　is　the　dreadful　man！〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　with　a　shudder。
  〃My　God！　a　thrill　of　horror　creeps　through　all　my　veins；　and　if　I
  only　look　at　this　monster；　I　have　a　feeling　as　though　I　should
  sicken　with　loathing！〃　＇Footnote：　The　queen's　own　words。　See　〃Madame
  du　Campan；〃　vol。　II。＇
  〃Courage；　my　dear　Marie；　courage；〃　whispered　the　king。　〃Remember
  that　the　welfare　of　our　future；　and　of　our　children；　perhaps；
  depends　upon　this　interview。　See；　he　is　approaching。　Receive　him
  kindly；　Marie。　I　will　draw　back；　for　you　alone　shall　have　the　honor
  of　this　day；　and　monarchy　has　in　you　its　fairest　representative。〃
  〃But　remain　so　near　me；　sire；　that　you　can　hear　me　if　I　call　for
  help；〃　whispered　Marie　Antoinette。
  The　king　smiled。　〃Fear　nothing；　Marie；〃　he　said；〃　and　believe　that
  the　danger　for　Mirabeau　is　greater　than　for　you。　The　name　of
  criminal　will　be　fastened　not　to　us；　but　to　Mirabeau；　if　it　shall　be
  known　that　he　has　come　to　visit　us　here。　I　will　withdraw；　for　there
  is　Mirabeau。〃
  And　the　king　withdrew　into　the　thicket；　while　Mirabeau　stopped　near
  the　queen；　and　saluted　her　with　a　profound　bow。
  Marie　Antoinette　rose　from　her　marble　seat。　At　this　moment　she　was
  not　the　queen　giving　an　audience；　but　the　anxious　lady；　advancing　to
  meet　danger；　and　desirous　to　mitigate　it　by　politeness　and　smiles。
  〃Come　nearer；　count；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　still　standing。　But　as
  he　approached；　the　queen　sank　slowly　upon　the　seat；　and　raised　her
  eyes　to　Mirabeau；　with　an　almost　timid　look；　who　now　did　not　seem　to
  her　a　monster；　for　his　mien　was　disturbed；　and　his　eyes；　which　had
  always　been　represented　as　so　fearful；　had　a　gentle；　respectful
  expression。
  〃Count；〃　said　the　queen；　and　her　voice　trembled　a　little　〃count；　if
  I　found　myself　face　to　face　with　an　ordinary　enemy；　a　man　who　was
  aiming　at　the　destruction　of　monarchy；　without　seeing　of　what　use　it
  is　for　the　people；　I　should　be　taking　at　this　moment　a　very　useless
  step。　But　when　one　talks　with　a　Mirabeau；　one　is　beyond　the　ordinary
  conditions　of　prudence；　and　hope　of　his　assistance　is　blended　with
  wonder　at　the　act。〃　＇Footnote：　The　queen's　own　words。See　〃Marie
  Antoinette　et　sa　Famille〃　Par　M。　de　Lescure；　p。　484。＇
  〃Madame；〃　cried　Mirabeau；　deeply　moved；　〃I　have　not　come　here　as
  your　enemy；　but　as　your　devoted　servant；　who　is　ready　cheerfully　to
  give　his　life　if　he　can　be　of　any　service　to　the　monarchy。〃
  〃You　believe；　then；　that　it　is　a　question　of　life；　or；　if　you
  prefer；　of　death；　which　stands　between　the　French　people　and　the
  monarchy？〃　asked　the　queen；　sadly。
  〃Yes；　I　am　convinced　of　that；〃　answered　Mirabeau。　〃But　I　still　hope
  that　we　can　answer　the　question　in　favor　of　the　monarchy；　provided
  that　the　right　means　are　applied　in　season。〃
  〃And　what；　according　to　your　views；　are　the　right　means；　count？〃
  Mirabeau　smiled　and　looked　with　amazement　into　the　noble　face　of　the
  queen；　who；　with　such　easy　composure；　had　put　into　this　one　short
  question　what　for　centuries　had　perplexed　the　greatest　thinkers　and
  statesmen　to　answer。
  〃Will　your　majesty　graciously　pardon　me　if　I　crave　permission；
  before　I　answer；　to　put　a　question　in　like　manner　to　my　exalted
  queen？〃
  〃Ask　on；　count；〃　replied　Marie　Antoinette；　with　a　gentle　inclination
  of　her　head。
  〃Well；　madame；　this　is　my　question：　'Does　your　majesty　purpose　and
  aim　at　the　reestablishment　of　the　old　regime；　and　do　you　deem　it
  possible　to　roll　the　chariot　of　human　history　and　of　politics
  backward？〃
  〃You　have　in　your　question　given　the　answer　as　well；〃　said　Marie
  Antoinette；　with　a　sigh。　〃It　is　impossible　to　reerect　the　same
  edifice　out　of　its　own　ruins。　One　must　be　satisfied　if　out　of　them　a
  house　can　be　built；　in　which　one　can　manage　to　live。〃
  〃Ah；　your　majesty；〃　said　Mirabeau；　with　feeling；　〃this　answer　is　the
  first　ray　of　light　which　breaks　through　the　heavy　storm…clouds！　The
  new　day　can　be　descried　and　hailed　with　delight！　After　hearing　this
  noble　answer　of　your　majesty；　I　look　up　comforted；　and　the　clouds　do
  not　terrify　me　longer；　for　I　know　that　they　will　soon　be　pastthat
  is；　if　we　employ　the　right　means。〃
  〃And　now　I　repeat　my　question；　count；　What；　according　to　your　view；
  are　the　right　means？〃
  〃First　of　all；　the　recognition　of　what　is　wrong；〃　answered　Mirabeau；
  〃and　then　the　cheerful　and　honest　will　to　do　what　is　found　to　be
  necessary。〃
  〃Well；　tell　me；　what　is　it　that　is　wrong？〃
  Mirabeau　bowed；　and　then　began　to　speak　to　her　in　his　clear；　sharp
  way；　which　was　at　the　same　time　so　full　of　energy；　of　the　situation
  of　France；　the　relation　of　the　various　political　parties　to　one
  another；　to　the　court；　and　the　throne。　In　strongly　outlined
  sentences　he　characterized　the　chiefs　of　the　political　clubs；　the
  leaders　of　the　parties　in　the　National　Assembly；　and　spoke　of　the
  perilous　goal　which　the　demagogues；　the　men　of　the　extreme　Left；
  aimed　at。　He　did　not；　from　delicacy；　speak　the　word　〃republican；〃
  but　he　gave　the　queen　to　understand　that　the　destruction　of　the
  monarchy　and　the　throne；　the　annihilation　of　the　royal　family；　was
  the　ultimate　object　aimed　at　by　all　the　raving　orators　and　leaders
  of　the　extreme　Left。
  The　queen　had　listened　to　him　with　eager；　fixed　attention；　and；　at
  the　same　time；　with　a　dignified　composure；　and　the　earnest；
  thoughtful　look　of　her　large　eyes　had　penetrated　and　moved　Mirabeau
  more　and　more；　so　that　his　words　came　from　his　lips　like　a　stream　of
  fire；　and　kindled　a　new　hope　even　in　himself。
  〃All　will　yet　be　well；〃　he　cried；　in　conclusion；　〃we　shall　succeed
  in　contending　with　the　hidden　powers　that　wish　to　undermine　your
  majesty's　throne；　and　to　take　from　the　hands　of　your　enemies　these
  dangerous　weapons　of　destruction。　I　shall　apply　all　my　power；　all　my
  eloquence　to　this。　I　will　oppose　the　undertakings　of　the　demagogues；
  I　will　show　myself　to　be　their　public　opponent；　and　zealously　serve
  the　monarchy；　making　use　of　all　such　means　of　help　as　are　adapted　to
  move　men's　minds；　and　not　to　trouble　and　terrify　them；　as　if　freedom
  and　self…government　were　to　be　taken　from　them；　and　yet　which　will
  restore　the　credit　and　power　of　the　monarchy。〃
  〃Are　you；　then；　with　honest　and　upright　heart；　a　friend　of　ours？〃
  asked　Marie　Antoinette；　almost　supplicatingly。　〃Do　you　wish　to
  assist　us；　and　stand　by　us；　with　your　counsel　and　help？〃
  Mirabeau　met　her　inquisitive　and　anxious　look　with　a　cordial　smile；
  a　noble　and　trustworthy　expression　of　face。　〃Madame；〃　he　said；　with
  his　fine；　resonant　voice；　〃I　defended　monarchical　principles　when　I
  saw　only　their　weakness；　and　when　I　did　not　know　the　soul　nor　the
  thoughts　of　the　daughter　of　Maria　Theresa；　and　little　reckoned　upon
  having　such　an　exalted　mediator。　I　contended　for　the　rights　of　the
  throne　when　I　was　only　mistrusted；　when　calumny　dogged　all　my　steps；
  and　declared　me　guilty　of　treachery！　I　served　the　monarchy；　then；
  when　I　knew　that　from　my　rightful；　but　misled　king；　I　should　receive
  neither　kindness　nor　reward。　What　shall　I　do　now；　when　confidence
  animates　my　spirit；　and　gratitude　has　made　my　duties　run　directly　in
  the　current　of　my　principles？　I　shall　be　and　remain　what　I　have
  always　been；　the　defender　of　monarchy　governed　by　law；　the　apostle
  of　liberty　guaranteed　by　the　monarchy。〃　＇Footnote：　Mirabeau's　own
  words。See　〃Memoires　du　Comte　de　Mirabeau；〃　vol　III。；　p。　290。＇
  〃I　believe　you；　count；〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette；　with　emotion。　〃You
  will　serve　us　with　fidelity　and　zeal；　and　with　your　help　all　will
  yet　be　well。　I　promise　yon　that　we　will　follow　your　counsels；　and
  act　in　concord　with　you。　You　will　put　yourself　in　communication　with
  the　king；　you　will　consult　him　about　needful　matters；　and　advise　him
  about