Hestoodup，andhandedMadamedeCampanapaper。“Andnow，madame，“
hecontinued，“allowmetoretire，thatImayreturntoParis，formysweetheartisexpectingme，and，besides，theyareexpectingsomedisturbanceinthecity。Imustgo，therefore，toprotectmyhouse。“
“Go，myyoungfriend，“saidMadamedeCampan，warmlypressinghishand。“Receivemyheartiestthanksforyourdevotion，andbesurethequeenshallhearofit。farewell，farewell!“
“No，“criedMarieAntoinette，emergingfrombehindthescreenwithalaugh，“no，donotgo，sir!Remaintoreceiveyourqueen’sthanksforthedisinterestedzealwhichyouhavedisplayedformethisday。“
“Thequeen!“whisperedToulan，turningpale，“thequeen!“
AndfallinguponhiskneehelookedatthequeenwithsuchanexpressionofraptureandadmirationthatMarieAntoinettewastouched。
“Ihavemuchtothankyoufor，Mr。Toulan，“shesaid。“Notmerelythatyouarethebearerofimportantnews——IthankyoubesidesforconvincingmethattheQueenofFrancehasfaithfulanddevotedfriends，andtoknowthisissocheeringtomethatevenifyoubringmebadnews，mysorrowwillbesoftenedbythisknowledge。I
thankyouagain，Mr。Toulan!“
Toulanperceivedthatthequeenwasdismissinghim；hestoodupandretreatedtothedoor，hiseyesfixedonthequeen，andthen，afteropeningthedoor，hesank，asitwere，overcomebythestormofhisemotions，asecondtimeuponhisknee，andfoldinghishands，raisedhisgreat，beamingeyestoheaven。
“Godinheaven，“hesaidloudlyandsolemnly，“IthankTheeforthejoyofthishour。FromthismomentIdevotemyselftotheserviceofmyqueen。SheshallhenceforthbethedivinitywhomIserve，andtowhomIwill，ifIcanavailanything，freelyoffermybloodandlife。ThisIswear，andGodandthequeenhaveheardmyoath!“
Andwithoutcastinganotherglanceatthequeen，withoutsalutingher，Toulanroseandsoftlylefttheroom，tightlyclosingthedoorafterhim。
“Singular，“murmuredthequeen，“reallysingular。Whenhetooktheoathashudderpassedthroughmysoul，andsomethingseemedtosaytomethatIshouldsometimebeveryunhappy，andthatthisyoungmanshouldthenbenearme。“
“Yourmajestyisexcitedto-day，andsoeverythingseemstohaveasadmeaning，“saidMadamedeCampan，softly。
“Butthesentence，thesentence!“criedthequeen。“Givemethepaper，Iwillreaditmyself。“
MadamedeCampanhesitated。“Wouldyourmajestynotprefertoreceiveitinthepresenceoftheking，andhaveitreadbyhismajesty？“
“No，no，Campan。Ifitisfavorable，Ishallhavepleasureincarryingthegoodnewstotheking。Ifitisunfavorable，thenIcancollectmyselfbeforeIseehim。“
“Butitissodarkherenowthatitwillbeimpossibletoreadwriting。“
“Youareright，letusgointomysitting-room，“saidthequeen。
“Thecandlesmustbelightedtherealready。Come，Campan，sinceIamindebtedtoyouforthisearlymessage，youshallbethefirsttolearnit。Come，Campan，gowithme!“
Withaquickstepthequeenreturnedtoherapartments，andenteredhersitting-room，followedbyMadamedeCampan，whosecountenancewasfilledwithsadforebodings。Thequeenwasright；thecandleshadalreadybeenlightedinherapartments，anddiffusedalightlikethatofdaythroughoutherlargesitting-room。Inthelittleporcelaincabinet，however，therewasamilderlight，asMarieAntoinettelikedtohaveitwhenshewasaloneandsansceremonial。
Thecandlesonthemainchandelierwerenotlighted，andonthetableofSevreschinaandrosewoodwhichstoodbeforethedivanweretwosilvercandlesticks，eachwithtwowaxcandles。Thesefourweretheonlylightsintheapartment。
“Now，Campan，“saidthequeen，sinkingintothearmchairwhichstoodbeforethetable，nearthedivan，“nowgivemethepaper。Butno，youwouldbetterreadittome——butexactlyasitstands。Youpromisemethat？“
“Yourmajestyhascommanded，andImustobey，“saidCampan，bowing。
“Read，read，“urgedMarieAntoinette。“Letmeknowthesentence。“
MadamedeCampanunfoldedthepaper，andwentnearertothelightinordertoseebetter。MarieAntoinetteleanedforward，foldedbothhandsinherlap，andlookedatCampanwithanexpressionofeagerexpectation。
“Read，read!“sherepeated，withtremblinglips。MadamedeCampanbowedandread：
“First——Thewriting，thebasisofthetrial，thenoteandsignatures，aredeclaredtobeforgedinimitationofthequeen’shand。
“Second——CountLamotteissentencedincontumaciontothegalleysforlife。
“Third——ThewomanLamottetobewhipped，markedonbothshoulderswiththeletterO，andtobeconfinedforlife。
“Fourth——RetauxdeVilettetobebanishedforlifefromFrance。
“Fifth——MademoiselleOlivaisdischarged。
“Sixth——Thelordcardinal——“
“Well，“criedthequeen，passionately，“whydoyoustammer，whydoyoutremble？Hehasbeendischarged；Iknowitalready，forwearealreadyatthenamesoftheacquitted。Readon，Campan。“
AndMadamedeCampanreadon：
“Thelordcardinalisacquittedfromeverycharge，andisallowedtopublishthisacquittal。“
“Acquitted!“criedthequeen，springingfromherseat，“acquitted!
Oh，Campan，whatIfearedistrue。TheQueenofFrancehasbecomethevictimofcabalsandintrigues。TheQueenofFranceinherhonor，dignity，andvirtue，isinjuredandwoundedbyoneofherownsubjects，andthereisnopunishmentforhim；heisfree。Pityme，Campan!Butno，onthecontrary，Ipityyou，IpityFrance!IfIcanhavenoimpartialjudgesinamatterwhichdarkensmycharacter，whatcanyou，whatcanallothershopefor，whenyouaretriedinamatterwhichtouchesyourhappinessandhonor？[Footnote：TheverywordsofthequeenSee“MemoiresdeMadamedeCampan，“vol。ii。，o。
23。]Iamsad，sadinmyinmostsoul，anditseemstomeasifthisinstantweretoovershadowmywholelife；asiftheshadesofnighthadfallenuponme，and——whatisthat？Didyoublowoutthelight，Campan？“
“YourmajestyseesthatIamstandingentirelyawayfromthelights。“
“Butonlysee，“criedthequeen，“oneofthecandlesisputout!“
“Itistrue，“saidMadamedeCampan，lookingatthelight，overwhichabluishcloudwasyethovering。“Thelightisputout，butifyourmajestyallowsme，I——“
Shewassilent，andherbearingassumedtheappearanceofamazementandhorror。
Thecandlewhichhadbeenburningintheotherarmofthecandlestickwentoutliketheonebefore。
Thequeensaidnotaword。Shegazedwithpalelipsandwide-openedeyesatboththelights，thelastsparkofwhichhadjustdisappeared。
“Willyourmajestyallowmetolightthecandlesagain？“askedMadamedeCampan，extendingherhandtothecandlestick。
Butthequeenheldherhandfast。“Letthembe，“shewhispered，“I
wanttoseewhetherboththeotherlights——“
Suddenlyshewasconvulsed，and，risingslowlyfromherarm-chair，pointedwithsilentamazementatthesecondcandlestick。
Oneofthetwootherlightshadgoneout。
Onlyonewasnowburning，anddarkshadowsfilledthecabinet。Theonelightfaintlyilluminedonlythecentre，andshonewithitsglareuponthepale，horrifiedfaceofthequeen。
“Campan，“shewhispered，raisingherarm，andpointingatthesinglelightwhichremainedburning，“ifthisfourthlightgoesoutliketheotherthree，itisabadomenforme，andforebodestheapproachofmisfortune。“
Atthisinstantthelightflaredupandilluminedtheroommoredistinctly，thenitsflamebegantodieaway。Oneflaremoreandthislightwentout，andadeepdarknessreignedinthecabinet。
Thequeenutteredaloud，piercingcry，andsankinaswoon。