"Quite true; but Choiseul failed to say that the former was preferred, and that Dumouriez fought bravely for its success."
"The day when we accept him for minister it will be equivalent to a declaration of war to all Europe."
"Why, madame, this declaration is already made in all hearts," retorted Gilbert. "Do you know how many names are down in this district as volunteers to start for the campaign? Six hundred thousand. In the Jura, the women have proposed all the men shall march, as they, with pikes, will guard their homes."
"You have spoken a word which makes me shudder—pikes! Oh, the pikes of '89! I can ever see the heads of my Life Guardsmen carried on the pikes' point."
"Nevertheless, it was a woman, a mother, who suggested a national subscription to manufacture pikes."
"Was it also a woman who suggested your Jacobins adopting the red cap of liberty, the color of blood?"
"Your majesty is in error on that point," said Gilbert, although he did not care to enlighten the queen wholly on the ancient head-gear. "A symbol was wanted of equality, and as all Frenchmen could not well dress alike, a part of a dress was alone adopted: the cap such as the poor peasant wears. The red color was preferred, not as it happens to be that of blood, but because gay, bright, and a favorite with the masses."
"All very fine, doctor," sneered the queen. "I do not despair of seeing such a partisan of novelties coming some day to feel the king's pulse, with the red cap on your head and a pike in your hand."
Seeing that she could not win with such a man, the queen retired, half jesting, half bitter.
Princess Elizabeth was about to do the same, when Gilbert appealed to her: