TheCountd’Artoiswasoncethefriendofthequeen，theonlyoneoftheroyalfamilywhowishedherwell，andwhodefendedhersometimesagainstthehatredoftheroyalauntsandsisters-in-law，andthecraftybrother。ButwhilelivinginCoblentz，theCountd’ArtoishadbecometheembitteredenemyofMarieAntoinette。Hehadhearditsooftensaidonallsidesthatthequeenbyherlevity，herextravagance，andherintrigues，wasthecauseofall，thatshealonehadbroughtabouttherevolution，thatheatlastbelievedit，andturnedangrilyagainsttheroyalwoman，whoseworstoffenceintheeyesoftheprincelayinthis，thatshehadbeentheoccasionofhisenforcedexiletoCoblentz。
AndMarieAntoinetteknewalltheseintrigueswhichwereforgedbytheprinceinCoblentzagainstherself——knewaboutallthecalumniesthatweresetincirculationthere；shereadthelibelsandpamphletswhichthestorm-windofrevolutionshookfromthedrytreeofmonarchylikewitheredautumnleaves，andscatteredthroughallFrance，thattheymightbeeverywherefoundandread。
“Theywillkillme，“shewouldoftensay，withasigh，afterreadingthesepamphletssteepedwithhate，andwritteninblood——“yes，theywillkillme，butwithmetheywillkillthekingandthemonarchytoo。Therevolutionwilltriumphoverusall，andhurlusalltogetherdownintothegrave。“
Butstillshewouldmakeeffortstocontroltherevolutionandrestorethemonarchyagainoutofitshumiliations。TheEmperorJosephII。，brotherofthequeen，oncesaidofhimself，“Iamaroyalist，becausethatismybusiness。“MarieAntoinettewasaroyalistnotbecauseitwasherbusiness；shewasaroyalistbyconviction，aroyalistinhersoul，hermind，andherinmostnature。
Forthisshewoulddefendthemonarchy；forthisshewouldcontendagainsttherevolution，untilsheshouldeitherconstrainittotermsorbeswallowedupinit。