“Well, madame, I recognize you, and will give you a proof;” and she drew the box from her pocket, saying, “you left this at my house.”
“But supposing this to be true, what makes you so agitated?”
“I am agitated by the danger that your majesty is incurring here.”
“Not before you have put on this mask;” and she offered hers to the queen, who, however, did not take it.
“I beg your majesty; there is not an instant to lose.”
The queen put on the mask. “And now, pray come away,” added Jeanne.
“Your majesty has not been seen by any one?”
The queen mechanically moved to the door, but said again, “Will you explain yourself?”
“Will not your majesty believe your humble servant for the present, that you were running a great risk?”
“I will have the honor to tell your majesty whenever you will grant me an hour’s audience; but it would take too long now;” and seeing that the queen looked displeased, “Pray, madame,” said she, turning to the Princess Lamballe, “join your petitions to mine that the queen should leave this place immediately.”
“I think we had better, madame,” said the princess.
“Well, then, I will,” answered the queen; then, turning to Madame de la Motte, “You ask for an audience?” she said.
“I beg for that honor, that I may explain this conduct to your majesty.”
“Well, bring this box with you, and you shall be admitted; Laurent, the porter, shall have orders to do so.” Then going into the street, she called in German, “Kommen sie da, Weber.”
A carriage immediately drove up, they got in, and were immediately out of sight.
When they were gone, Madame de la Motte said to herself, “I have done right in this—for the rest, I must consider.”
During this time, the man who had pointed out the fictitious queen to the people touched on the shoulder another man who stood near him, in a shabby dress, and said. “For you, who are a journalist, here is a fine subject for an article.”
“The danger of being governed by a king who is governed by a queen who indulges in such paroxysms as these.”
The journalist laughed. “But the Bastile?” he said.
“Pooh, nonsense! I do not mean you to write it out plainly. Who can interfere with you if you relate the history of Prince Silou and the Princess Etteniotna, Queen of Narfec? What do you say to that?”