|
|
| L'Indépendence |
Chapter 2: Dr. Franklin
Everywhere was to be felt that the war which raged in America gradually also attended France. It was whispered that France would actively take part in the armed clashes between the British and the colonial powers.
This would mean that France would officially declare war on England. Hadn’t this land suffered enough escapades in its long-standing history already? It seemed as if the monarchs never learned from it. Europe lived from its little power games and apparently this would never change also in future.
All this caused in Oscar only a headache. If she tried not to think about possible consequences of this senseless battle every single day, she was really confronted with it.
There had been Dr. Benjamin Franklin at the court of Versailles for some weeks. He had been sent as a diplomat to France by request of the Congress members of America. It was unpredictable how long he would stay in Versailles, and within it was clearer why he had made such a long way to the Europe.
It seemed inevitable that an agreement would be signed.
It was the sixth day in February in the year 1778 when a solemn audience in honour of Mr. Franklin was held in the palace.
Oscar also was forced to participate to this occasion as a commander of the royal guard regiment. Usually she always tried to avoid such celebrations, but she had to admit to herself that she increasingly became more curious on the Franklin’s personality. They told that not only he was a representative of the congress of the colonial powers, but also showed many other paramount qualities which caused deep respect in Versailles.
So among the rest he was supposed to have worked many years as a writer and to be an acknowledged natural scientist. Also he had already done a large number of inventions which could enrich the world.
Against her will Oscar was immediately fascinated by the Franklin’s personality. In the large audience hall of the king’s couple countless nobleman and also bishops of the whole court had appeared in order to attend the discussion with the king.
Nevertheless they all were bitterly disappointed, only polite words had been said again and the loyalty of France towards America had manifested again.
During the whole conversation Oscar with an eye observed Marie-Antoinette who had taken her place beside the king.
When Dr. Franklin stated the present situation in the east of Colonial states and many battles and victims connected with them, recognized she clearly first anxious looks of the queen.
For Oscar she was like an open book to be read. She wasn’t worried about those many nameless dead people, her worries were about one and only man. Swedish count who had joined the war voluntarily. And since then no message from him had arrived to the castle.
“So few news about André also” flashed through Oscar’s mind, and instantly she became heavy at heart.
Approximately half a year had passed already since he had followed Fersen in the apparently sure death.
Although there wasn’t much hope for both of them, Oscar had never stopped believing, that they all would meet again one day. Oscar didn’t know that she had the same expression in her eyes in the moment like queen had.
It was evident how close their destinies were intertwined with each other.
Oscar stretched her chin once more and dedicated her whole attention to the conversation between the ambassador and king Louis XVI himself again.
The audience hadn’t lasted long and court’s society soon scattered again in the countless galleries of Versailles.
Everyone was aware that the arrangement with the king would be concluded behind closed doors. But after that it had been only a question of hours until the result would have been discussed around. The walls in Versailles had ears and just everywhere.
Oscar used the opportunity and followed Franklin who also left the audience hall. Outside on the wide paths of the palace, one was more undisturbed than in some private apartment and thus Oscar detained the ambassador near a bust which adorned the passage “Dr. Franklin! May I claim a moment of your time please?”
Appealed turned to her surprised “Oh, of course, Monsieur, with what knowledge can I serve you?”
Oscar indicated a bow “My name is Oscar Francois de Jarjayes, I am Commander of the Royal Guar…”
Even before she could explain her concern further she was interrupted by Franklin with a grin “Oh, are you the woman entire Versailles speaks about? A woman with military education who also holds a military rank at the court of His Majesty the King!” apparently Franklin could hardly hold back his knowledge and it seemed to Oscar, as if it amused him that she was a woman who showed the qualities of a man.
Her look darkened immediately. Still she wasn’t used to the fact that someone doubted her achievements taking as a basis the fact that she was a woman.
Franklin recognized the change of her mood caused by his words immediately however he continued “Do not misunderstand me, Commander! I feel honored to get to know you! Here in Versailles you are apparently the only woman who could measure with a man. In America, nevertheless, it isn’t unusual! There are many women like you…”
That surprised Oscar and her arising fury disappeared immediately and she became curious about his words “I beg your pardon, what do you mean, Doctor? There are women like me there?”
A renewed smile touched his lips and to underline his following speech he nodded the head constantly “Well, there are many women in our country who have enlisted to the military service no matter whether this concerns only provisions supply for the soldiers or the cleaning of the cannons. They fulfill their work ardently and are mostly more courageous than some soldier!”
Oscar was shocked, not about the fact that women were present at the war but about that with which fervour Franklin described it to her “But aren’t the life of the women and children the reason why is fought during the war?”
“Indeed Commander,” agreed Franklin and became suddenly serious and his look vague again “But don’t you believe that British soldiers spare peaceful and defenseless women and children during the war. No, they are mistreated and then killed. It’s the reason why many American women fight on our side. They do not resign themselves to worship a land that lies on the other side of the ocean and power of this land. We are by right proud of our women who thus relinquish the old traditions of England. Only in this way we are able to win the war.”
Oscar was fascinated with which passion Franklin described the actions of the women. They seemed to be really more respectable on the foreign continent, than in France. She realized that far away from Europe a new culture seemed to develop, separated from the old facets of England. The Americans knew exactly what they were fighting for and this peculiarity distinguished this war from the countless fights which had been led in Europe. Human freedom and independence were the ideals.
“L’Indépendence!” as it had been reported in statement from the 4th July.
“Commander?” directed Franklin his words inquiringly to Oscar again.
She hadn’t noticed she had drifted away with her thoughts and had stared into the emptiness “I beg your pardon,” she said briefly when she returned into the present again “You speak with such a passion about your country, this has impressed me very much, Dr.Franklin. But tell – and I insistently ask you to speak frankly – how are things at the front going? It is rumored that many of your soldiers are the victims and not those of the opposite side. Will you win this war?”
Franklin remained dumb and seemed to think what he should answer.
Then however he glanced into all directions of the palace, almost as if he wanted to say something what wasn’t meant for everyone. He moved closer to the window behind the bust and at the same time pulled Oscar by her uniform sleeve with him “Listen, we meet grave losses,” he said hesitantly at last with muffled voice “few battles only could we win till present moment and the number of our soldiers dwindle. But I trust in Washington and his followers. He knows what shall be done!” a pause followed, but then “The approval of the interference of France into the war would be a support of the highest importance, but king’s decision hasn’t been made yet and therefore there is nothing left for me personally as to wait…”
Not all Franklin’s words had Oscar clearly heard. She had consciously understood only one: the number of the soldiers on American side dwindled! And with it also the survival chances for André and Fersen.
Sudden desperation spread within her, but she collected her thoughts and was able to control the feeling as good as it was possible. To reveal emotions before Franklin would be only dishonorable in her position. Still she couldn’t stop thinking that possibly one of the both could be already dead.
No! This wouldn’t be! Never! She would see both unharmed one day again! Her hands clenched to fists and she tried to preserve her self-control.
Without coming further at the Franklin's wish that the participation of France in the war would be enrichment, she had met a decision “Doctor, tell, is there a possibility to find certain soldiers? With the help of a letter or…” but she was quickly interrupted once again.
“Now, dear, it would be extremely difficult venture. Already by now it’s very delicate matter to send letters from foreign countries. Often our messages were intercepted by Britons. We already must use civilians to ensure that our letters reach their recipient, however we can never be sure…” Franklin stopped, because he thoroughly perceived his opponent’s suddenly arising disappointed look “May I inquire whom you would like to find?”
“It concerns my comrades who are very dear to me. I worry about them very much. Since they had left for the war, I’ve received no news from them…”
“Mmm, as I already said it would be difficult… In addition I consider my acceptance that you don’t know whereabouts of your friends is right, isn’t it?” asked Franklin further and received a hesitant nod as a result “I see only one possibility, the letter should be delivered to America by someone who is subordinated to you or other,” it was well-intentioned from Franklin, but Oscar knew she would find no one who would undertake to do this venture for her.
Hope faded once again and Oscar felt her helplessness increasing.
Polite words accompanied the departure of one of the most prominent and most intelligent men of 18th century.
Another eight years should have passed before Benjamin Franklin returned to America. In that time he had been elected president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania; a year before president of the Society against slavery. He had written more articles and other writings and also accomplished other inventions which shook the world, before he died on the 17th April, 1790 in Pennsylvania.
A man into the history of future textbooks would go down in.
Oscar was more than impressed by his helpfulness, but still she hadn’t got closer to her purpose.
She never saw Benjamin Franklin again, but nevertheless she regularly recalled his openness, intelligence and passion and hoped secretly that she had at least a part of these exceptional qualities herself.
However first of all she had to order all her thoughts, because he had given her such an intensive insight into warfare of the Americans.
And many sleepless nights should pass for her when she asked herself whether André and Fersen were still alive.
And she felt her yearning and desperation growing from day to day; and along with being powerless she wasn’t able to do anything.
|
|
|
|
