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bread！ I lived and throve upon it。 Look at me； and see what such
fare has made of me！ Look at me！ I am not yet twenty…four years old；
and yet I have the appearance of an old woman； and I have the
feeling and the experience of an old woman！ Nothing moves me now；
and the only thing that lives and burns in my heart is revenge。
Believe me； were I in your place I should know how to exasperate the
Austrian； I should succeed in drawing out her tears。〃
〃Well； and how would you begin？ Really； I should like to know how to
bring this incarnation of pride to weeping。〃
〃Has not she children？〃 asked Madame Simon； with a horrible
calmness。 〃I would torture and provoke the children； and that would
soon make the heart of the woman humble and pliable。 Oh； she may
count herself happy that I am not in your place； and that her
children are not under my tender hands。 But if it ever happens that
I can lay my fingers upon the shoulders of the little wolves； I will
give them something that will make them cry out； and make the old
wolf howl with rage。 I will show her as little favor then as she
showed when my poor mother and I were begging for my dear father！ Go
up； go up and try at once。 Plague the children； and you will see
that that will make the Austrian pliable。〃
〃That is fine talk；〃 muttered Tison； as she went up the staircase；
〃but she has no children； while I have a daughter； a dear； good
daughter。 She is not with me； but with my mother in Normandy；
because she can be taken better care of there than here。 It is
better for the good child that she has not gone through these evil
days full of blood and grief with us。 But I am always thinking of
her； and when one of these two children here looks up to me so
gravely with great； open eyes； it always makes me think of my
Solonge。 She has exactly such large； innocent eyes； and that touches
my heart so that I cannot be harsh with the children。 They； of
course； are not at all to blame for having such bad； miserable
parents； who have treated the people shamefully； and made them poor
and wretched。 No； they have had nothing to do with it； and I cannot
be severe with the children； for I am always thinking of my little
Solonge！ I will provoke the Austrian woman as much as I can； but not
the childrenno； not the children！〃
Meanwhile； Mistress Simon had taken her place upon the chair near
the open door in the porter's lodge； and sat there with her cold；
immovable face staring into empty space with her great coal…black；
glistening eyes； while her hands were busily flying； making the
polished knitting…needles click against each other。
She was still sitting there； when at last her husband came down the
stairs to open the outer door of the Temple； conduct his friends
past the inner court； and to bring back the two officials who were
to keep guard during the night。
They passed the knitter with a friendly salutation and a bit of
pleasantryToulan stopping a moment to ask the woman after her
welfare； and to say a few smooth words to her about her courage and
her great force of character。
She listened quietly； let him go on with his talk； and when he had
ended； slowly raised her great eyes from her knitting to him。
〃You are a traitor；〃 she said； with coldness； and without any
agitation。 〃Yes； you are a traitor； and you； too； will have your
turn at the guillotine！〃
Toulan paled a little； but collected himself immediately； took leave
of the knitter with a smile； and hastened after the officials； who
were waiting for him at the open doorthe two who were to hold the
watch during the night having already entered。
Simon closed the door after them； exchanged a few words with them；
and then went into his lodge to join his rigid better half。
〃This has been a pleasant afternoon； and it is a great pity that it
is gone； for I have had a very good time。 We have played cards；
sung； smoked； and Toulan has made jokes and told stories； and made
much fun。 I always wonder where he gets so many fine stories； and he
tells them so well that I could hear him day and night。 Now that he
is gone； it seems tedious and dull enough here。 Well； we must
comfort ourselves that to…morrow will come by and by。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 asked his wife； sternly。
〃What sort of a day do you expect to…morrow to be？〃
〃A pleasant day； my dear Heloise； for Citizen Toulan will have the
watch again。 I begged him so long； that he at last promised to
exchange with Citizen Pelletan； whose turn regularly comes to…
morrow。 Pelletan is not well； and it would be very hard for him to
sit up there all day； and； besides； he would be dreadfully stupid。
It is a great deal pleasanter to have Toulan here with his jokes and
jolly stories； and so I begged him to come and take Pelletan's
place。 He is going to accommodate me and come。〃
His wife did not answer a word； but broke out in a burst of shrill；
mocking laughter； and with her angry black eyes she scrutinized her
husband's red； bloated face； as though she were reading him through
and through。
〃What are you laughing at？〃 he asked； angrily。 〃I would like to be
beyond hearing when you give way in that style。 What are you
laughing at？〃
〃Because I wonder at you； you Jack；〃 she answered sharply。 〃Because
you are determined to make an ass of yourself； and let dust be
thrown in your eyes； and put yourself at the disposal of every one
who soaps you over with smooth words。〃
〃Come；〃 said Simon； 〃none of that coarseness！ and if you〃
〃Hist！〃 she answered； commandingly。 〃I will show you at once that I
have told you the truth； and that you are making an ass of yourself；
or at least that you are on the point of doing so。 Now； listen。〃
The knitter laid her work aside； and had a long conversation in a
whisper with her husband。 When it ended； Simon stood up wearing a
dark look； and walked slowly backward and forward in the little
room。 Then he stopped and shook his fist threateningly at the room
above。 〃She shall pay for this；〃 he muttered〃 by God in heaven！
she shall pay for this。 She is a good…for…nothing seducer！ Even in
prison she does not leave off coquetting； and flirting； and turning
the heads of the men！ It is disgraceful； thoroughly disgraceful； and
she shall pay for it！ I will soon find means to have my revenge on
her！〃
During the whole evening Mistress Tison did not leave her place
behind the glass door for a moment； and at each stolen glance which
the queen cast thither she always encountered the malicious； glaring
eyes of the keeper； directed at her with an impudent coolness。
At last came the hour of going to bedthe hour to which the queen
looked impatiently forward。 At night she was at least alone and
unguarded。 After the death of the king； it had been found
superfluous to trouble the officials with the wearisome night…
watches； and they were satisfied； after darkness had set in and the
candles were lighted； with locking the three doors which led to the
inner rooms。
Did Marie Antoinette weep and moan at night； did she talk with her
sister； did she walk disconsolately up and down her room？the
republic granted her the privilege。 She could； during the night at
least； have a fe