第2章 Chapter 1 March 1794: the Police Have Arrested My

When a woman wants to please a man, she needs a good figure. I am too thin. So tomorrow I shall fill the frond of my dress with something. Then I shall look really grown up. Of course, I am grown up already; but nobody else seems to know that. Last November I was fourteen. Papa gave me this diary then for a birthday present.

“What shall I write in it?” I asked him. Its a beautiful diary, but the pages are rather large. Papa smiled and kissed me. “Write the story of Mademoiselle Desiree Clary,” he said. Then a worried look came into his face. Since our great revolution he has often had that look. A few days after my birthday. Papa suddenly died. So I havent been writing my diary; Ive been too sad. But Im starting it tonight because Im too worried to sleep. The police arrested my brother Etienne today. Tomorrow I must go to the Town Hall with his wife, Suzanne. We must try to save him. If we fail, perhaps hell be guillotined. Its a terrible thought.

The revolution began five years ago, and it hasnt finished yet. The police often arrest people. They even take women and children. Some are guillotined every day outside the Town Hall. Most of them have done nothing wrong; they just belong to noble families. But Papa was only a silk merchant. So why have they arrested Etienne?

Papas father wasnt rich. He had a little shop and he sold cheap cloth. So Papa had to work very hard. But he became the best silk merchant in Marseilles(Second largest city of France).He supplied some to Queen Marie Antoinette. But then the queen was guillotined. No one had paid us for her silk.

When the police arrested Etienne, Marie said to me: “Albitte is in town. Suzanne must ask him to free your brother.” Marie is our cook. When anything happens here in Marseilles she always knows. Ill tell the family during dinner, I replied. At dinner we were all very quiet and sad. Etiennes chair was empty. So was Papas, of course, Mama wont allow anyone else to sit on it. I was thinking about Albitte. I made little balls with my bread while I was thinking.

My sister Julie watched me for a moment. Then she said: “Desiree, dont play with your bread!” Shes only four years older than me, but she often talks like that. I get tired of her sometimes. I put a bread ball in my soup. Then I said: “Albitte is in town.” My family werent listening. They never listen when I say anything. So I said it again:

“Albitte is in town.” Mama said: “who is Albitte?” “Monsieur Albitte, ” I told her, “is a member of parliament. Hes the member for Marseilles. Hell be in his office tomorrow in the town Hall. Suzanne must ask him why they arrested Etienne. If it was a mistake, Albitte can free him.” Suzanne was crying into her soup. “But perhaps this member of parliament wont listen to me,” she said.

I turned to Mama. “If Suzanne is afraid, Ill go myself,” I said. “You will not!” Mama replied. “Youre only a child. Eat your dinner. Well talk this later. Perhaps a man ought to see Albitte.” A man? What man? I was too angry to say any more. If Etiennes life is in danger, his own family must try to save him.

After dinner they went to Suzannes room, but I had to sit with Monsieur Persson. I give him a French lesson every evening. Hes a quiet young man, and he comes from Sweden. His father is a silk merchant in Stockholm(Capital of Sweden).He came here so as to learn more about the silk business. Mama came in. She was looking worried. She didnt seem to notice Persson. “Listen, Desiree,” she said. “Suzanne has decided to see Albitte tomorrow. But shes afraid to go alone, so you shall go with her.”

Why me? Why not Julie? I was surprised. But I was excited too, so I didnt say anything. “tomorrow will be a difficult day for us all,” Mama continued. “we must go to bed early.” And she picked up the lamp from the table and carried it out. Persson and I were left alone in the firelight. “If youre going to bed, I must say good night,” he said. But he didnt get up, and his voice seemed strange. Then he added: “I wanted to tell you something. Im going home soon. My father needs me in Stockholm.”

“Im sorry,” I said. “But youll be glad to see your home again.” “Yes. Stockholm is the most beautiful city in the world. Especially in winter. Then there is green ice on the lake, and the city is covered in snow. Winter lasts a long time in Sweden” That didnt seem very beautiful; but I wasnt really listening. I was thinking” I must look pretty tomorrow. Then perhaps they will free my brother. Persson was still talking. “I want to ask you something, Mademoiselle Desiree. Will you give me your fathers copy of the Rights of Man?” Papa used to keep this document beside his bed. It contains all the important ideas of our revolution. Papa liked the ideas. But he didnt like all the results; too many people have been arrested and guillotined. When he died, I took the document for myself. Persson and I have read it together during his French lessons. The Swedes have had no revolution; they still have a king, and noble families. So they dont know the Rights of Man. “You may have the document, monsieur,” I said. “I want your friends in Sweden to read it.” At that moment the door opened again. Julies voice behind us cried: “When are you coming to bed, Desiree?” Then she noticed Persson. “Oh! I didnt see you there in the dark, monsieur. The child must go to bed now. Come along, Desiree.” Julie was angry with me again. She followed me into my bedroom. “You ought to be ashamed, ” she said, while I was undressing. “You must never sit in the dark with a young man. Youre Francois Clares daughter. And Persson cant even speak proper French.” Poor Julie! She needs a husband. If she had one, my life would easier. I shall have to find one for her. But she mustnt see this diary, so Im hiding it under my bed.