The Countess De Charny - Volume II (9 page)

“Have you any poison, Freron?” asked Lucile.

“I? If we do not succeed to-morrow, I shall manage to get myself killed. I am so tired of life that I am trying my best to find some way of ridding myself of it,” was the reply.

Rebecqui was more sanguine.

“I know my Marseillais,” he exclaimed. “I selected them myself, and know that every mother’s son of them ■will be faithful to the last! Kot one of them will flinch.”

After supper some one suggested that they should pay Danton a visit. Barbaroux and Rebecqui declined, saying they were expected at the barracks, Freron had an appointment at the city-hall with Sergent and Manuel, and Brune was to spend the night with Santerre; so only Camille and Lucile went to Danton’s when the party broke up.

The Desmoulins and Danton households were intimate, the women as well as the men being close friends.

We are all well acquainted with Danton, — his wife is not

AN EVENTFUL NIGHT AT DANTON’S. 75

SO well known ; so a few words in regard to this remarkable woman, who was the object of her husband’s idolatrous affection, may not be out of place here.

In the plaster cast in Colonel Morin’s collection, taken, Michelet believes, after death, the chief characteristics noticeable in her countenance are goodness, calmness, and strength.

Although not yet attacked by the malady which resulted in her death in 1793, she was already nervous and depressed, as if with the near approach of death had come an intuitive knowledge of the future.

Tradition states that she was naturally pious and timid; but, in spite of this piety and timidity, she certainly spoke her mind most vigorously on one occasion, and that was on the day she announced her intention of marrying Danton, in the face of her parents’ violent opposition.

Like Lucile, Madame Danton seemed to see behind the gloomy and perturbed features of this obscure man, destitute alike of fame and fortune, the god of her idolatry; though, as in the case of Jupiter and Semele, this love was to prove her destruction.

One felt that it was a terrible and tempestuous fortune to which this poor creature bound herself; and perhaps there was as much compassion as love in the decision which united her to that god of thunder and of lightning who was to personify the famous year 1792, as Mirabeau liad personified 1791, and as Robespierre was to personify

1793.

The families lived only a short distance from each other. As soon as Camille and his wife reached Danton’s, one woman went straight to the other woman, and one man went straight to the otlicr man.

Madame Danton was in tears when they entered, and Danton was evidently trying to console her. The two women kissed each other, and the men shook hands.

” Do you think anything will come of it? ” asked Camille.

76 LA COMTESSE DE CIIARXY.

“I hope so, though Santerre is but lukewarm. Fortunately, the affair to-morrow will not be one of personal aggrandisement or individual leadership. The forces we have to rely upon are the general indignation and anger caused by long suffering, the wrath aroused by the interference and near approach of foreign armies, and the growing conviction that France has been basely betrayed. Forty-seven out of forty-eight municipal sections have voted for the king’s déposai; and each section has elected three commissioners to unite with the Commune in saving the country.”

“Saving the country? Those are rather vague instructions, it seems to me,” said Camille, shaking his head.

“How about Marat and Robespierre? “

“Neither of them is visible. One is hiding in his garret, and the other in his cellar. When all the danger is over, you ‘11 see them peering out, — one like a weasel, the other like an owl.”

“AndPetion?”

“It would take a shrewd man to find out where he stands. On the 4th he declared war iipon the palace. On the 8th he gave notice that he would no longer be responsible for the king’s safety. This morning he proposed to station National Guards in the Carrousel. This evening he asked the department for twenty thousand francs with which to send our Marseillais home.”

Just then another couple entered, — Monsieur and Madame Robert. It will be remembered that the year before, Madame Robert — then Mademoiselle de Kéralio — dictated at the patriot altar the famous petition which her husband wrote out.

Unlike the other two couples, — in which the husbands were so greatly superior to the wives, — this woman was greatly superior to her husband intellectual Ij’.

Robert was a stout man about forty years of age, a member of the Cordeliers Club, and the possessor of more patriotism than talent. He had very little ability as a

AN EVENTFUL NIGHT AT DANTON’s. 77

writer, was a bitter enemy of Lafayette’s, and exceedingly ambitious, if we can believe Madame Eoland’s description of him in her Memoirs.

Madame Robert was thirty-four. She was small, clever, witty, and proud, and had been educated by her father, Guinement de Kéralio, who had also numbered among his pupils a young Corsican whose wonderful career he was far from suspecting.

Educated by her father, as we have said. Mademoiselle de Kéralio naturally became an exceedingly learned and accomplished woman. At the age of seventeen she wrote, translated, and compiled. At eighteen she wrote a novel entitled “Adélaïde.”

As her father’s salary barely sufficed for his own needs, he wrote for several periodicals, and more than once affixed his signature to articles which his daughter prepared, and which were infinitely superior to his own.

The Roberts had just passed through the Saint-Antoine quarter, and they reported that things wore a rather peculiar appearance there. The night was beautiful; but the streets were deserted, though all the windows were brilliantly lighted.

Just as Madame Robert finished her description, the sound of a bell made everybody start. It was the first stroke of the alarm-bell resounding from the Cordeliers Club.

” Good! ” cried Danton. “I hear our Marseillais. That is their signal, I ‘ve no doubt.”

The two women gazed at each other in terror.

“The signal,” exclaimed Madame Danton. “Is the palace to be attacked to-night?”

No one made any reply; but Desmoulins, who had gone into the next room at the first stroke of the bell, returned with his musket in his hand.

Lucile uttered a cry. Then, feeling she had no right to discourage the man she loved at this trying moment, she rushed into the alcove where Madame Danton ‘s bed stood, and, falling on her knees, began to weep bitterly.

78 LA COMTESSE DE CHARXY.

Camille followed her. “Don’t worry,” he whispered tenderly; “I won’t leave Danton’s side.”

The three men departed. IMadame Danton seemed almost like a dying woman; Lucile was still kneeling by the bed, with her face buried in her hands, sobbing violently. Madame Eobert clung to her husband’s neck, and begged to be allowed to accompany him.

When the door had closed upon his retreating form, she exclaimed passionately, — without seeming to realise that every word was a stab to Madame Danton, — ” This is all Danton’s fault! If my husband is killed, I will not survive him; but I will kill Danton before I die! “

An hour passed. They heard the door open. Madame Robert sprang forward, Lucile raised her head, Madame Danton remained perfectly motionless. It was Danton who entered.

“Alone?” cried Madame Eobert, wildly.

” Be calm, madame. Nothing will happen before morning.”

“But Camille?” demanded Lucile.

“And Robert?” added Madame Robert.

“They are both at the Cordeliers Club. I came home to report. Nothing will happen to-night, and I ‘11 convince you of it by going to sleep.”

He threw himself on the bed without undressing, and in five minutes was as fast asleep as if no struggle of life and death was pending between king and people.

About one o’clock in the morning Camille, too, returned.

“I bring you news of Robert,” he said. “He has gone to the municipal authorities to carry our proclamations. Don’t be uneasy. They are for to-morrow; but — “

He shook his head, as if in doubt. Then, laying his head on Lucile’s shoulder, he in turn fell asleep.

He had been sleeping about half an hour when somebody rang. Madame Robert flew to open the door. Her husband had come for Danton, in behalf of the municipal officers. He aroused him.

AN EVENTFUL NIGHT AT DANTON’s. 79

“Go away,” cried Danton. “Let me sleep. To-morrow will be time enough.”

So Robert and bis wife returned to their own home.

Presently the door-bell rang again. Madame Danton went to the door this time, and admitted a big, fair-haired fellow, about twenty years of age, wearing the uniform of a captain in the National Guards, and holding a gun in his hand.

“Is Monsieur Danton in? ” he asked.

“Well, what is wanted now? ” demanded Danton.

“They are waiting for you down there, Monsieur Danton.”

“Where do you mean? “

“At the municipal headquarters.”

“Who is waiting for me? “

“The commissioners from the different sections, and Monsieur Billot in particular.”

“And who are you, captain? “

“I am Ange Pitou, captain of the Haramont National Guards.”

“Ah, ha!”

“And one of the takers of the Bastille.”

” Good ! “

“I received a letter from Monsieur Billot, telling me there was likely to be trouble down here, and that all good patriots ought to be on hand: so I started off with such of my men as were willing to come; but as they are not so good walkers as I am, they stopped over night at Dam-martin. They’ll be on hand early to-morrow morning, I think.”

“At Damraartin. Why, tliat ‘s twenty miles off! “

“Yes.”

“And how many leagues is Haramont from Paris? “

“About sixteen. I left there this morning at five o’clock — “

“And arrived here? “

“About ten this evening. I went to Monsieur Santerre’s

80 LA COMTESSE DE CHAliNY.

in search of Monsieur Billot; but tliey told me there that they hail n’t seen him, and that I should be sure to find him at the Jacobin Club. The Jacobins sent me to the Cordeliers Club; and at the Cordeliers Club they told me he had gone to the city -hall.”

“And you found him at the city-hall?”

“Yes, monsieur; and he gave me your address, and said, ‘Are you tired, Pitou? ‘ — *No, indeed, Monsieur Billot. ‘ — ‘Then go and tell Danton he ‘s a sluggard, and that we ‘re waiting for him ! ‘ “

” Upon my word, here ‘s a youth that makes me feel ashamed of myself!” exclaimed Danton, springing out of bed. “Let us start, my friend, let us start at once.”

He kissed his wife, and then left the house in company with Pitou.

Madame Danton uttered a moan, and sank back in her armchair.

Lucile thought she was weeping, and respected her grief.

But after a few moments, seeing that her hostess did not move, she woke Camille, and then went to Madame Danton. The poor woman had swooned.

The first rays of the morning sun were peering through the shutters. The day promised to be a fine one, but the sky was as red as blood, — a most unfortunate omen.

THE TENTH OF AUGUST. 81

CHAPTER X.

THE TENTH OF AUGUST.

We have described what was taking place in Republican homes; now let us see what was going on in the royal palace, barely five hundred yards away.

There, too, the women were weeping and praying, weeping even more copiously, perhaps ; for Chateaubriand says the eyes of princes are so formed as to contain an immense quantity of tears.

If we do each person justice, however, we must admit that it was only Madame Elizabeth and the Princesse de Lamballe who were weeping as well as praying; for though the queen prayed, she certainly did not weep.

They all supped at the usual hour, for nothing could destroy the king’s appetite.

When they left the table, Madame Elizabeth and the princess returned to the room known as the Council Chamber, where it had been arranged for all the members of the royal family to spend the night and listen to the reports ; but the queen took the king aside and asked him to accompany her to another apartment.

“Where do you wish me to go?” asked the king.

” To my room. Will you not consent to put on the shirt of mail you wore on the 14th of July? “

” It was quite right and proper to protect myself from an assassin’s knife or bullet in a time of conspiracy; but in time of war, when my friends are risking their lives for me, it would be cowardly.”

Having said this, the king left the queen, and went into his private room, where he shut himself up with his con—

VOL. IV. — 6

82 LA COMTESSE DE CHARNY.

fessor, and the queen rejoined the ladies in the Council Chamber.

“What is his Majesty doing?” asked Madame de Lamballe.

“He is at confession,” responded the queen, with an accent of mingled scorn and contempt.

Just at that moment the door opened, and Monsieur de Charny appeared. He was pale, but perfectly calm.

” Can I speak to the king? ” he asked, bowing to the queen,

“Just at present the king is — myself.”

Charny was better aware of this fact than any one else; nevertheless, he insisted.

“You can go to the king’s room, of course, monsieur,” replied the queen; “but you will disturb him very much, I assure you.”

” I understand. The king, I suppose, is with Monsieur Pétion, who has just arrived at the palace.”

“The king is with his confessor, monsieur.”

“Then it is to you I must make my report as major-general of the palace.”

“Yes, monsieur, if you will be so kind.”

” I have the honour, then, to report to your Majesty the disposal of my forces. The mounted gendarmes, number-ing six hundred men, commanded by Messieurs Rulhières and Verdieres, are ranged in line of battle on the Place du Louvre. The other Paris gendarmes (foot) I have stationed in the stables. A detachment of one hundred and fifty men has been detailed to guard the registry of accounts and the treasury, if need be. Thirty more Paris gendarmes — those usually on duty outside the city walls — have been stationed on the stairway leading to the Princes’ Courtyard. Two hundred officers and men of the old foot-guards and horse-guards, fifty young Royalists, and as many gentlemen — three hundred and fifty or four hundred good fighters in all — are massed in the passage called the Bull’s Eye and the adjacent hall-ways. Two or three