The King heard her scream and heard the shot.
"Burning powder in my honor?" he said.
"Yes, Sire," was Gilbert's easy reply.
It was never known what hand fired this regicidal shot which justified the Queen's fear that her husband would be assassinated.
While all was festivity at Paris, gloom settled down on Versailles at eventide. With darkness came its retinue of fears and sinister visions, when suddenly uproar was heard at the end of the town.
The Queen shuddered and ran to a window which she opened with her own hand.
A hussar came up to the palace; it was a lieutenant sent by Charny who had gone on towards Paris to get the news. He reported that the King was safe and sound, and that he would arrive shortly.
Taking her two children by the hand, Marie Antoinette went down and out upon the grand staircase, where were grouped the servants and the courtiers.
Her piercing eye perceived a woman in white leaning on the stone balustrade and eagerly looking into the shadows: it was Countess Andrea, enrapt in expectation of her husband so that she did not see her royal mistress, or disdained to notice her.
Whether she bore the Queen rancor or merely yearned to see her husband, it was a double stab for the beloved of Charny.