The Last Days of Marie Antoinette; From the French of G. Lenotre (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... Meanwhile I stood by and, as I watched him, meditated on the thoughtlessness of his age, which seemed to me to contrast so strikingly with the anxieties of his royal parents, and the demeanour they were obliged to preserve in this cruel situation of theirs. Madame Elizabeth, who noticed the sad absorption with which I followed the movements of the young Prince, and read my thoughts, condescended to tell me so on the first opportunity, and was kind enough to thank me. The tender affection of this good princess for her imprisoned relatives, whose misfortunes she had determined to share, made her very observant and acute, so that she learnt to judge of the commissioners' humanity by their looks and conduct, and she was not too proud to encourage it in them by expressing her gratitude. At dinner, which was served in the King's room, I again saw the whole royal family, but under a new aspect. Their food was still excellent, and carefully prepared. The royal prisoners were most abstemious, the princesses and M. le Dauphin drinking nothing but water, of which the King mixed a great deal with his wine. At dessert he indulged in a single glass of sweet wine. His skill in carving meat was remarkable; and he showed this skill in various kinds of manual work, with which he had been in the habit of amusing himself in happier times. The royal family spoke little, for reserve was forced upon them by the presence of the commissioners. As for me, the part I had undertaken to play was torture to me, for I reflected bitterly that I too was contributing to the restraint to which this august family was subjected even at their meals. 1 It was during one of these walks that Leqnenx, an architect of some repute, took the very interesting sketch that faces p....