“ThereisonlyonefaultthatIcanfindwithit，itisnottrue。
Forifwewereallalike，andwereallbrothers，whyshouldthekingrideroundinhisgildedchariot，whileI，anoldcobbler，sitonmybenchandhavemyfacecoveredwithsweat？“
“ThekingisnosonofFreedom!“exclaimedthestranger，withanangrygesture。“ThekingisasonofTyranny，andthereforehewantstomakehisenemies，thesonsofFreedom，tobehisservants，hisslaves，andtobindourarmswithfetters。Butshallwealwaysbearthis？Shallwenotriseatlastoutofthedustintowhichwehavebeentrodden？“
“Yes，certainly，ifwecan，thenwewill，“saidSimon，withhisgrufflaugh。“Buthereisthehitch，sir，wecannotdoit。Thekinghasthepowertoholdusinhisfetters；andthisfinelady，MadameFreedom，ofwhomyousaythatsheisourmother，letsitcometopass，notwithstandingthathersonsarebounddowninservitudeandabasement。“
“Itmustbeforaseasonyet，“answeredtheother，withloud，raspingvoice；“butthedayofarisingisathand，andshowswithalaughingfacehowthosewhomshewilldestroyarerushingswiftlyupontheirowndoom。“
“Whatnonsenseisthatyouaretalking？“askedthecobbler。“ThosewhoaregoingtobedestroyedbyMadameLibertyareworkingouttheirownruin？“
“Andyettheyaredoingit，MasterSimon；theyarediggingtheirowngraves，onlytheydonotseeit，anddonotknowit；forthedivinitywhichmeanstodestroythemhassmittenthemwithblindness。Thereisthisqueen，thisAustrianwoman。Doyounotseewithyourwiseeyeshowlikeabusyspidersheisweavingherownshroud？“
“Now，thatiscertainlyanerror，“saidSimon；“thequeendoesnotworkatall。Sheletsthepeopleworkforher。“
“Itellyou，man，shedoeswork，sheisworkingatherownshroud，andIthinkshehasgotagoodbitofitready。Shehasnicefriends，too，tohelpherinit，andtodrawupthethreadsforthisroyalspider，andsogetreadywhatisneededforthisshroud。
There，forexample，isthatfineDukedeCoigny。DoyouknowwhothatDukedeCoignyis？“
“No，indeed，Iknownothingaboutit；Ihavenothingtodowiththecourt，andknownothingaboutthecourtrabble。“
“Thereyouareright，theyarearabble，“criedtheother，laughinginreturn。“Iknowit，forIamsounfortunateasnottobeabletosaywithyouthatIhavenothingtodowiththecourt。Ihavegoneintopalaces，andIshallcomeoutagain，butIpromiseyouthatmyexitshallmakemorestirthanmyentrance。Now，IwilltellyouwhotheDukedeCoignyis。Heisoneofthethreechiefparamoursofthequeen，oneofthegreatfavoritesoftheAustriansultana。“
“Well，now，thatisjolly，“criedthecobbler；“youareacomicalrogue，sir。Sothequeenhasherparamours？“
“Yes。YouknowthattheDukedeBesenval，atthetimethattheAustriancameasdauphinesstoFrance，saidtoher：’ThesehundredthousandParisians，madame，whohavecomeouttomeetyou，areallyourlovers。’NowshetakesthisexpressionofBesenvalinearnest，andwantstomakeeveryParisianaloverofhers。Onlywait，onlywait，itwillbeyourturnbyandby。YouwillbeabletopressthehandofthisbeautifulAustriantenderlytoyourlips。“
“Well，Iwillletyouknowinadvance，then，“saidSimon，savagely，“thatIwillpressitinsuchrightgoodearnest，thatitshallalwaysbearthemarksofit。Youwerespeakingjustnowofthethreechiefparamours——whatarethenamesoftheothertwo？“
“ThesecondisyourfineLorddeAdhemar；afool，arattle-head，abooby；butheishandsome，andajollylover。Ourqueenlikeshandsomemen，andeverybodyknowsthatsheisoneofthelaughingkind，amerryfly，particularlysincethecarousalsonthepalaceterrace。“
“Carousals!Whatwasthat？“
“Why，youpoorinnocentchild，thatisthenametheygivetothosenightlypromenadesthatourhandsomequeentookayearagointhemoonlightontheterraceatVersailles。Oh，thatwasamerrytime!
Theironfencesoftheparkwerenotclosed，andthedearpeoplehadarighttoenter，andcouldwalknearthequeeninthemoonlight，andhearthefinemusicwhichwasconcealedbehindthehedges。Youjustaskthegood-lookingofficerofthelancers，whosatoneeveningonabenchbetweentwohandsomewomen，dressedinwhite，andjokedandlaughedwiththem。HecantellyouhowMarieAntoinettecanlaugh，andwhatfinenonsensehermajestycouldaffordtoindulgein。“[Footnote：SeeMadamedeCampane。“Memoires，“vol。i。]
“IwishIknewhim，andhewouldtellmeaboutit，“criedcobblerSimon，strikinghisfiststogether。“IalwaysliketohearsomethingbadaboutthisAustrianwoman，forIhateherandthewholecourtcrowdbesides。Whatrighthavetheytostrutandswell，andputonairs，whilewehavetoworkandsufferfrommorningtillnight？Whyistheirlifenothingbutjollity，andoursnothingbutmisery？I
thinkIamofjustasmuchconsequenceastheking，andmywomanwouldlookjustasniceasthequeen，ifshewouldputonfineclothesandrideroundinagildedcarriage。Whatputsthemupandputsusdown？“
“Itellyouwhy。Itisbecauseweareninniesandfools，andallowthemtolaughintheirsleevesatus，andmakedivinitiesoutofthemselves，beforewhomthepeople，or，astheycallthem，therabble，aretofallupontheirknees。Butpatience，patience!Therewillcomeatimewhentheywillnotlaugh，norcompelthepeopletofallupontheirkneesandbegforfavor。Butnofavorshallbegrantedtothem。Theyshallmeettheirdoom。“
“Ha!Iwishthetimewerehere，“shoutedthecobbler，laughing；“andIhopeImaybetherewhentheymeettheirpunishment。“
“Well，myfriend，thatonlydependsuponyourself，“saidthestranger。“Thetimewillcome，andifyouwishyoucancontributeyourshare，thatitmayapproachwithmorerapidsteps。“
“WhatcanIdo？Tellme，forIamreadyforeverything？“
“Youcanhelpwhettheknife，thatitmaycutthebetter，“saidthestranger，withahorriblegrimace。“Come，come，donotlookatmesoastonished，brother。Therearealreadyagoodnumberofknife-
sharpenersinthegoodcityofParis，andifyouwanttojointheircompany，comethiseveningtome，andIwillmakeyouacquaintedwithsome，andintroduceyoutoourguild。“
“Wheredoyoulive，sir，andwhatisyourname？“askedthecobbler，withglowingcuriosity。
“IliveinthestableoftheCountd’Artois，andmynameisJeanPaulMarat。“
“Inthestable!“criedthecobbler。“Myfaith，Ihadnotsupposedyouwereahostleroracoachman。Itmustbeafunnysight，M。
Marat，toseeyoumounteduponahorse。“
“YouthinkthatsuchabigtoadasIdoesnotbelongthereexactly。
Well，thereyouareright，brotherSimon。Myrealbusinessisnotatallwiththehorses，butwiththemeninthestable。Iamthehorse-
doctor，brotherSimon，horse-doctoroftheCountd’Artois；andIcanassureyouthatIamatolerablyskilfuldoctor，forIhaveyokedtogethermanyahostlerandjockeywhomthestable-keepersofthedearArtoishavefavoredwithaliberaldispensationoftheirlash。
So，comethiseveningtome，notonlythatImayintroduceyoutogoodsociety，butcomeifyouaresick。Iwillrestoreyou，anditshallcostyounothing。Icuremybrothersofthepeoplewithoutanypay，foritisnottherightthingforbrotherstotakemoneyoneofanother。So，brotherSimon，Ishalllookforyouthiseveningatthestable；butnowImustleaveyou，formysickfolksareexpectingme。Justonemoreword。Ifyoucomeaboutseveno’clocktovisitme，theoldwitchthatkeepsthedoorwillcertainlytellyouthatIamnotathome。Iwill，therefore，giveyouthepass-word，whichwillallowyoutogoin。Itis’Liberty，Equality，Fraternity。’Good-by。“
Henoddedtothecobblerwithafearfulgrimace，andstrodeawayquickly，inspiteofnotbeingabletolifthisleftfootoverthebroadsquareoftheHoteldeVille。
MasterSimonlookedafterhimatfirstwithaderisivesmile，andthisdiminutivefigure，withhisgreathead，onwhichahigh，blackfelthatjustkeptitsposition，seemedtoamusehimexcessively。
Allatonceathoughtstruckhim，and，likeanarrowimpelledfromthebow，hedashedforwardandranafterJeanPaulMarat。
“DoctorMarat，DoctorMarat!“heshouted，breathless，fromadistance。
Maratstoodstillandlookedaroundwithamaliciousglance。
“Well，whatisit？“snarledhe，“andwhoiscallingmynamesoloud？“
“ItisI，brotherMarat，“answeredthecobbler，panting。“Ihavebeenrunningafteryoubecauseyouhaveforgottensomething。“
“Whatisit？“askedMarat，feelinginhispocketswithhislongfingers。“Ihavemyhandkerchiefandthepieceofblackbreadthatmakesmybreakfast。Ihavenotforgottenanything。“
“Yes，JeanPaulMarat，youhaveforgottensomething，“answeredMasterSimon。“Youweregoingtotellmethenamesofthethreechiefparamoursofthequeen，andyouhavegivenonlytwo——theDukedeCoignyandLordAdhemar。YouseeIhaveagoodmemory，andretainallthatyoutoldme。Sogivemethenameofthethirdone，forI
willconfesstoyouthatIshouldliketohavesomethingtosayaboutthismatterinmyclubthisafternoon，anditwillmakequiteasensationtocomeprimedwiththisstoryabouttheAustrianwoman。“
“Well，Ilikethat，Ilikethat，“saidMarat，laughingsoastoshowhismouthfromoneeartotheother。“Now，thatisafinethingtohaveaclub，whereyoucantellalltheselittlestoriesaboutthequeenandthecourt，anditwillbearealpleasuretometotellyouanysuchmattersasthesetocommunicatetoyourclub，foritisalwaysagoodthingtohaveanythingthattakesplaceatVersaillesandSt。CloudgettalkedoverhereatParisamongthedeargoodpeople。“
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