Once only did a question provoke an answer in any other tone than that of a lofty imperturbable equanimity.  She had not known till that moment the depth of her enemies’ wickedness, or the cruelty with which her son’s mind had been dealt with, worse ten thousand times than the foulest tortures that could be applied to the body.  Both her children had been subjected to an examination, in the hope that something might be found to incriminate her in the words of those who might hardly be able to estimate the exact value of their expressions.  The princess had been old enough to baffle the utmost malice of her questioners; and the boy had given short and plain replies from which nothing to suit their purpose could be extracted, till they forced him to drink brandy, and, when he was stupefied with drink, compelled him to sign depositions in which he accused both the queen and Elizabeth of having trained him in lessons of vice.  At first, horror at so monstrous a charge had sealed the queen’s lips; but when she gave no denial, a juryman questioned her on the subject, and insisted on an answer.  Then at last Marie Antoinette spoke in sublime indignation.  “If I have not answered, it was because nature itself rejects such an accusation made against a mother.  I appeal from it to every mother who hears me.”

Marie Antoinette had been allowed two counsel, who, perilous as was the duty imposed upon them, cheerfully accepted it as an honor; but it was not intended that their assistance should be more than nominal.  She had only known their names on the evening preceding the trial; but when she addressed a letter to the President of the Convention, demanding a postponement of the trial for three days, as indispensable to enable them to master the case, since as yet they had not had time even to read the whole of the indictment, adding that “her duty to her children bound her to leave nothing undone which was requisite for the entire justification of their mother,” the request was rudely refused; and all that the lawyers could do was to address eloquent appeals to the judges and jurymen, being utterly unable, on so short notice, to analyze as they deserved the arguments of the prosecutor or the testimony by which he had professed to support them.  But before such a tribunal it signified little what was proved or disproved, or what was the strength or weakness of the arguments employed on either side.  It was long after midnight of the second day that the trial concluded.  The jury at once pronounced the prisoner guilty.  The judges as instantly passed sentence of death, and ordered it to be executed the next morning.