close to the King’s statue and there were also figures of dolphins and a great picture of myself and the Dauphin in a medallion. Bergamot had been poured on the banks of the Seine to disguise the foul odours which sometimes arose from that river, and the fountains were flowing with wine.
“All in your honour, my dear, and that of your husband.” Then I should certainly be there to see it,” I replied.
“But un recognised She laughed that odd braying laugh.
“It would not be in accordance with etiquette for the people to see me before I am formally introduced to them.”
“It would certainly not be. So tonight we are two noblewomen come to see the people enjoy themselves.”
As we came nearer to the city, the sky was suddenly illuminated with fireworks, for it was not dark. I exclaimed in wonder, for I had never
seen such a beautiful display. 77 We were almost at the Place Louis XV—which I did not know then—when our escort stopped abruptly. Our carriage pulled up with a jerk. I was aware of screams and shouting; I vaguely saw a mass of people and I had no idea what this meant. The driver turned our carriage; and, the bodyguard surrounding us, we started back with great speed the way we had come.
“What is it?” I asked.
Madame Adelaide did not answer. She was frightened and she did not say a word as we raced back to Versailles.
The next day I learned what had happened. Some of the fireworks had exploded and started a fire; a fireman’s cart coming into the square met a crowd of people and carriages hurrying from the fire; another crowd was rushing into the square to see what was happening; nothing could move;
the congestion was complete. Forty thousand people were held up in the Rue Royale, the Rue de la Bonne-Morue and the Rue Saint-Florenrin.
There was a panic. Many people fell and were trampled on; carriages toppled over; horses tried to break free. People were climbing over the bodies of those who had fallen in a vain endeavour to escape, and many were trampled to death: There were terrible stories of that night.
Everyone was talking about the disaster. The Dauphin came into our bedchamber; he was deeply shocked and this made him seem older, more alive. He told me that one hundred and thirty-two people had been killed on the previous night.
I felt the tears in my eyes and he looked at me and did not turn away quickly as he always had before.
“It’s my fault,” I said.
“If I hadn’t come here it would not have happened.”
He continued to look at me.
“I must do what I can to help,” he said.
“Oh yes,” I answered fervently.
“Please do.”
He sat down at a table and began to write and I went and looked over his shoulder.
“I have learned of the disaster,” he wrote, and I noticed 78 how swiftly his pen glided over the paper, ‘which came to Paris on my account. I am deeply distressed and I send you the sum which the King gives me each month for my private expenses. It is all I have to give.
I want it to help those who have been most badly hurt. “
He lifted his eyes to my face and touched my hand—just for a moment.
“It is the least I can do,” he said. I should like to give what I have,” I told him. He nodded and looked down at the table. I knew then that he did not really dislike me. There was some other reason why he neglected me.
The disaster was talked of long afterwards. It was another of those omens. There was the storm which had spoilt the wedding-day celebrations; the blot I had made when signing my name; and then this great calamity when the people of Paris had come in their thousands to celebrate the wedding and had met death and disaster.
Don’t meddle in politics or interfere in other people’s affairs. You must not take this disappointment too much to heart. Never be peevish. Be tender but by no means demanding. If you caress your husband, do so in moderation. If you show impatience you could make matters worse.
Listen to no secrets and
“All in your honour, my dear, and that of your husband.” Then I should certainly be there to see it,” I replied.
“But un recognised She laughed that odd braying laugh.
“It would not be in accordance with etiquette for the people to see me before I am formally introduced to them.”
“It would certainly not be. So tonight we are two noblewomen come to see the people enjoy themselves.”
As we came nearer to the city, the sky was suddenly illuminated with fireworks, for it was not dark. I exclaimed in wonder, for I had never
seen such a beautiful display. 77 We were almost at the Place Louis XV—which I did not know then—when our escort stopped abruptly. Our carriage pulled up with a jerk. I was aware of screams and shouting; I vaguely saw a mass of people and I had no idea what this meant. The driver turned our carriage; and, the bodyguard surrounding us, we started back with great speed the way we had come.
“What is it?” I asked.
Madame Adelaide did not answer. She was frightened and she did not say a word as we raced back to Versailles.
The next day I learned what had happened. Some of the fireworks had exploded and started a fire; a fireman’s cart coming into the square met a crowd of people and carriages hurrying from the fire; another crowd was rushing into the square to see what was happening; nothing could move;
the congestion was complete. Forty thousand people were held up in the Rue Royale, the Rue de la Bonne-Morue and the Rue Saint-Florenrin.
There was a panic. Many people fell and were trampled on; carriages toppled over; horses tried to break free. People were climbing over the bodies of those who had fallen in a vain endeavour to escape, and many were trampled to death: There were terrible stories of that night.
Everyone was talking about the disaster. The Dauphin came into our bedchamber; he was deeply shocked and this made him seem older, more alive. He told me that one hundred and thirty-two people had been killed on the previous night.
I felt the tears in my eyes and he looked at me and did not turn away quickly as he always had before.
“It’s my fault,” I said.
“If I hadn’t come here it would not have happened.”
He continued to look at me.
“I must do what I can to help,” he said.
“Oh yes,” I answered fervently.
“Please do.”
He sat down at a table and began to write and I went and looked over his shoulder.
“I have learned of the disaster,” he wrote, and I noticed 78 how swiftly his pen glided over the paper, ‘which came to Paris on my account. I am deeply distressed and I send you the sum which the King gives me each month for my private expenses. It is all I have to give.
I want it to help those who have been most badly hurt. “
He lifted his eyes to my face and touched my hand—just for a moment.
“It is the least I can do,” he said. I should like to give what I have,” I told him. He nodded and looked down at the table. I knew then that he did not really dislike me. There was some other reason why he neglected me.
The disaster was talked of long afterwards. It was another of those omens. There was the storm which had spoilt the wedding-day celebrations; the blot I had made when signing my name; and then this great calamity when the people of Paris had come in their thousands to celebrate the wedding and had met death and disaster.
Don’t meddle in politics or interfere in other people’s affairs. You must not take this disappointment too much to heart. Never be peevish. Be tender but by no means demanding. If you caress your husband, do so in moderation. If you show impatience you could make matters worse.
Listen to no secrets and
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