Then, with a sigh:—
“Ah! what will the queen say to this?”
Chapter VIII
Showing what was taking place at Versailles while the King was listening to the Speeches of the Municipality
IN the interior of the Hôtel de Ville the king received the most flattering welcome; he was styled the Restorer of Liberty.
Being invited to speak,—for the thirst for speeches became every day more intense,—and wishing, in short, to ascertain the feelings of all present, the king placed his hand upon his heart, and said:—
“Gentlemen, you may always calculate on my affection.”
While he was thus listening in the Hôtel de Ville to the communications from the government,—for from that day a real government was constituted in France, besides that of the throne and the National Assembly,-the people outside the building were admiring the beautiful horses, the gilt carriage, the lackeys, and the coachman of his Majesty.
Pitou, since the entry of the king into the Hôtel de Ville, had, thanks to a louis given by Father Billot, amused himself in making a goodly quantity of cockades of red and blue ribbons, which he had purchased with the louis, and with these, which were of all sizes, he had decorated the horses’ ears, the harness, and the whole equipage.
On seeing this, the imitative people had literally metamorphosed the king’s carriage into a cockade-shop.
The coachman and the footmen were profusely ornamented with them.
They had, moreover, slipped some dozens of them into the carriage itself.
However, it must be said that Monsieur de Lafayette, who had remained on horseback, had endeavored to restrain these honest propagators of the national colors, but had not been able to succeed.
And therefore, when the king came out:—
“Oh, oh!” cried he, on seeing this strange bedizenment of his equipage.
Then, with his hand he made a sign to Monsieur de Lafayette to approach him.
Monsieur de Lafayette respectfully advanced, lowering his sword as he came near the king.
“Monsieur de Lafayette,” said the king to him, “I was looking for you to say to you that I confirm your appointment to the command of the National Guards.”
And Louis XVI. got into his carriage amid a universal acclamation.
As to Gilbert, tranquillized henceforward as to the personal safety of the king, he had remained in the hall with Bailly and the electors.
The speechifying had not yet terminated.
However, on hearing the loud hurrahs which saluted the departure of the king, he approached a window, to cast a last glance on the square, and to observe the conduct of his two country friends.
They were both, or at least they appeared to be, still on the best terms with the king.
Suddenly Gilbert perceived a horseman advancing rapidly along the Quay Pelletier, covered with dust, and obliging the crowd, which was still docile and respectful, to open its ranks and let him pass.
The people, who were good and complaisant on this great day, smiled while repeating:—
“One of the king’s officers!—one of the king’s officers!”
And cries of “Long live the king!” saluted the officer as he passed on, and women patted his horse’s neck, which was white with foam.
This officer at last managed to reach the king’s carriage, and arrived there at the moment when a servant was closing the door of it.
“What! is it you, Charny?” cried Louis XVI.
And then, in a lower tone:—
“How are they all out yonder?” he inquired.
Then, in a whisper:—
“The queen?”
“Very anxious, Sire,” replied the officer, who had thrust his head completely into the carriage-window.
“Do you return to Versailles?”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Well, then, tell our friends they have no cause for uneasiness. All has gone off marvellously well.”
Charny bowed, raised his head, and perceived Monsieur de Lafayette, who made a friendly sign to him.
Charny went to him, and Lafayette shook hands with him; and the crowd, seeing this, almost carried both officer and horse as far as the quay, where, thanks to the vigilant orders given to the National Guards, a line was formed to facilitate the king’s departure.
The king ordered that the carriage should move out at a walking pace, till it reached the Place Louis XV. There he found his body-guards, who were awaiting the return of the king, and not without impatience; so that this impatience, in which every one participated, kept on increasing every moment, and the horses were driven on at a pace which increased in rapidity as they advanced upon the road to Versailles.