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stands nearer to him than even his exalted aunts； and I am the one
whom he most trusts and whom he selects to be his chief adviser。 But
this is just the offence which will never be forgiven me： it has
fallen to my lot to take from my enemies and opponents their
influence over my husband。 The time has gone by when Madame Adelaide
could gain an attentive ear when she came to the king； and in her
passionate rage charged me with unheard of crimes； which had no
basis excepting that in some little matters I had loosened the
ancient chains of etiquette； the time is past when Madame Louise
could presume to drive me with her flashing anger from her pious
cell and make me kneel in the dust； and when it was permitted to the
Count de la Morch to accuse the queen before the king of having
risen in time to behold the rising of the sun at Versailles； in
company with her whole court。 The king loves me； and Madame Adelaide
is no longer the political counsellor of the king； the ministers
will no longer be appointed according to her dictate； and the great
questions of the cabinet are decided without appealing to her！ I
know that this is a new offence which you lay to my charge； and that
by your calumniations and suspicions you make me suffer the penalty
for it。 I know that the Count de Provence stoops to direct epigrams
and pamphlets against his sister…in…law； his sovereign； and through
the agency of his creatures to scatter them through Paris。 I know
that in his saloons all the enemies of the queen are welcome； and
that charges against me are made without rebuke； and that there the
weapons are forged with which I am assailed。 But take care lest some
day these weapons be turned against you！ It is you who are
imperilling the kingdom； and undermining the throne； for you do not
hesitate setting before the people an example that nothing is sacred
to you； that the dignity of the throne no longer has an existence；
but that it may be denied with vile insinuations； and the most
poisonous arrows directed against those who wear the crown of St。
Louis on their head。 But all you； the aunts； the brothers of the
king； and the whole swarm of their intimates and dependents； you are
all undermining the monarchy； for you forget that the foreigner； the
Austrian； as you call herthat she is Queen of France； your
sovereign； your lord； and that you are nothing better than her
subjects。 You are criminals； you are high traitors！〃
〃Madame；〃 cried the Princess Adelaide； 〃Madame； what language is
this that〃
〃It is the language of a woman in reply to a calumniator； the
language of a queen to a rebellious subject。 Madame； have the
goodness not to answer me again。 You have come into the palace of
your sovereign to accuse her； and she has answered you as becomes
her station。 Now we have nothing more to say to each other。 You
requested a half…hour's private audience with me； and the time has
gone。 Farewell； madame； my carriage stands ready； and I go to
Trianon。 I shall； however； say nothing to the king respecting the
new attack which you have made upon me； and I promise you that I
shall forget it and forgive it。〃
She nodded lightly； turned herself around； and； with lofty carriage
and proud self…possession； left the apartment。
Princess Adelaide looked after her with an expression of the deepest
hate； and entirely forgetful of her lofty station； even raised her
hand threateningly in the direction of the door through which the
noble figure of the queen had just vanished。 〃I shall not forget nor
forgive；〃 muttered she。 〃I shall have my revenge on this impudent
person who dares to threaten me and even to defy me； and who calls
herself my sovereign。 This Austrian； a sovereign of the princess
royal of France！ We will show her where are the limits of her power；
and where are the limits of France！ She shall go back to Austria； we
want her not； this Austrian who dares to defy us。〃
Proud and erect though the bearing was with which the queen left
Madame Adelaide； she had hardly entered her own room and closed the
door which separated her from her enemy； when she sank groaning upon
a seat； and a flood of tears streamed from her eyes。
〃Oh； Campan； Campan！ what have I been compelled to hear？〃 cried she；
bitterly。 〃With what expressions have they ventured to address the
Queen of France！〃 Madame de Campan； the first lady…in…waiting on the
queen； who had just then entered the porcelain room； hastened to her
mistress； and； sinking upon her knees； pressed the fallen hand of
the queen to her lips。 〃Your majesty is weeping！〃 she whispered with
her mild； sympathetic voice。 〃 Your majesty has given the princess
the satisfaction of knowing that she has succeeded in drawing tears
from the Queen of France； and reddening her beautiful eyes。〃
〃No； I will not give her this pleasure；〃 said the queen； quickly
raising herself up and drying her eyes。 〃I will be merry； and why do
I weep？ She sought to make me sick； she sought to wound me； but I
have given back the sickness； and the wounds which I have inflicted
upon her will not so soon heal。〃
〃Has your majesty inflicted anything upon the princess？〃 cried
Madame de Campan； in agitation。
〃Yes；〃 answered Marie Antoinette； with triumphant joy。 〃I have
scourged her； I have wounded her； for I have distinctly intimated to
her that I am Queen of France； and she my subject。 I have told her；
that when she dares direct her calumnies against the queen； she is
guilty of high…treason。〃
〃Oh！〃 exclaimed Madame de Campan； 〃the proud princess will never
pardon that。 Your majesty has now become her irreconcilable enemy；
and she will leave no stone unturned to revenge herself upon you。〃
〃She may attempt to revenge herself upon me；〃 cried the queen； whose
countenance began to brighten up once more。 〃I fear neither her nor
her whole set。 All their arrows will fall powerless at my feet； for
the love of my husband and my pure conscience form the protection
which secures me。 And what can these people accomplish against me？
They can slander me； that is all。 But their calumnies will； in the
end； prove that it is lies they tell； and no one will give them
confidence more。〃
〃Ah！ your majesty does not know the wickedness of the world；〃 sighed
Campan； sadly。 〃Your majesty believes that the good are not
cowardly； and that the bad are not reckless。 Your majesty does not
know that the bad have it in their power to corrupt public opinion；
and that then the good have not the courage to meet this corrupting
influence。 But public opinion is a monster that brings the charge；
passes judgment； pronounces the sentence； and inflicts the
punishment in one person。 Who thinks lightly of it； arrays against
himself an enemy stronger than a whole army； and less open to
entreaty than death。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried the queen； raising her head proudly； 〃I do not fear this
enemy。 She shall not dare to attack me。 She shall crouch and shrink
before my gaze as the lion does when confronted by the eye of a
virgin。 I am pure and blameless。 I pledged my troth to my husband
before he loved me； and how shall I now break it； when he does love
me； and is the father of my dear children？ And now； enough o