Besides, the Chevalier d’Abzac is the chief of the great stable, and he would not allow a courier to mount his horse—he whose duty it was to inspect the couriers-if the courier was about to set out in a manner that would not do honor to the royal stables.
The page therefore could not set out without having both his spurs.
The result of all this was, that instead of overtaking the page on the road to Arnouville—galloping at full speed—he was overtaken before he had left the courtyard of the palace.
He was already in the saddle and was about to depart in the most irreproachable good order.
The despatch is taken from him, the text of the missive is left unchanged, for it was as good for the one as the other. Only instead of writing the address, “To Monsieur de Machaut, at Arnouville,” mesdames wrote, “To Monsieur le Comte de Maurepas, at Pontchartrain.”
The honor of the royal stable is saved, but the monarchy is lost.
With Maurepas and Calonne everything goes on marvellously: the one sings, the other pays; but besides the courtiers, there are the receivers-general, who also have their functions to perform.
Louis XIV. began his reign by ordering two receivers-general to be hanged, with the advice of Colbert; after which he took Lavallière for his mistress and built Versailles. Lavallière cost him nothing.
But Versailles, in which he wished to lodge her, cost him a round sum.
Then, in 1685, under the pretext that they were Protestants, he drove a million of industrious men from France.
And thus, in 1707, still under the great king, Boisguilbert said, speaking of 1698:—
“Things still went on well in those days, there was yet some oil in the lamp. But now all has come to an end for want of aliment.”
What could be said eighty years afterwards, when the Dubarrys, the Polignacs, had taken their fill? After having made the people sweat water, they would make them sweat blood. That was all.
And all this in so delightful and polite a manner.
In former days the contractors of the public revenue were harsh, brutal, and cold, as the prison gates into which they cast their victims.
But in these days they are philanthropists: with one hand they despoil the people, it is true; but with the other they build hospitals for them.
One of my friends, a great financier, has assured me that out of one hundred and twenty millions, which the town dues bring in, the contractors managed to keep seventy millions for themselves.
It happened that at a meeting where the state of expenses was demanded, a counsellor, playing upon the word, said:—
“It is not any particular state that we require; what we want are the States-General.”
The spark fell upon gunpowder, the powder ignited and caused a general conflagration.
Every one repeated the saying of the counsellor, and the States-General were loudly called for.
The court fixed the opening of the States-General for the 1st of March, 1789.
On the 24th of August, 1788, Monsieur de Brienne withdrew from public affairs. He was another who had managed the financial affairs with tolerable recklessness.
But on withdrawing, he at least gave good counsel; he advised that Necker should be recalled.
Necker resumed the administration of affairs, and all again breathed confidently.
Notwithstanding this, the great question of the three orders was discussed throughout France.
Sieyès published his famous pamphlets upon the Tiers État.1
Dauphiny, the States of which province still met in spite of all the court could do, decided that the representation of the Tiers État should be on an equality with that of the nobility and clergy.
The assembly of the notables was reconstructed.
This assembly lasted thirty-two days, that is to say, from the 6th of November to the 8th of December, 1788.
On this occasion the elements performed their part. When the whip of kings does not suffice, the whip of Providence whistles in the air and compels the people to move onward.
Winter came, accompanied by famine. Hunger and cold opened the gates of 1789.
Paris was filled with troops, its streets with patrols.
Two or three times the muskets of the soldiers were loaded in the presence of the people, who were dying of hunger.