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such an excited； unreasonable state； that words will no longer be
sufficient to satisfy them。 Your majesty might assure them ever so
solemnly that you entertain no hostile intentions whatever against
Paris； and that you will not call outside help to your assistance；
and the exasperated people would mistrust your assurances！ For in
all their rage the people have a distinct consciousness of the
crimes they are engaged in committing in creating this rebellion
against the crown； and they know that it were not human； that it
were divine； for your majesty to forgive such crimes； and therefore
they would not credit such forgiveness。〃
〃How well General Lafayette knows how to interpret the thoughts of
this fanatical rabble； whom he calls 'the people！' 〃ejaculated the
queen； with a scornful laugh。 At this instant a loud； thundering cry
was heard below； and thousands upon thousands of voices shouted；
〃The king！ We want to see the king！〃
Louis's face lighted up。 With quick step he hurried to the window
and raised it。 The people did not see him at once； but the king saw。
He saw the immense square in front of the palace； which had been
devoted to the rich equipages of the nobility； occupied by the
humbler classesthe troops of his staff marching up in their gala
uniformshe saw it filled with a dense mass of men whom Lafayette
had called 〃the people；〃 whom the queen had termed a 〃riotous
rabble；〃 surging up and down； head pressed to head； here and there
faces distorted with rage； eyes blazing； fists clinched； arms bare；
and pikes glistening in the morning light； while a great roar； like
that which comes from the sea in a tempest； filled the air。
〃You are right； Lafayette；〃 said the king； who looked calmly at this
black sea of human life〃you are right； this is the people； there
are here probably twenty thousand men； and Heaven defend me from
regarding all as criminals and rabble！ I believe〃
A tremendous shout now filled the air。 The king had been seen； some
one had noticed him at the open window； and now all heads and all
looks were directed to this window； and twenty thousand voices
cried； 〃Long live the king！ Long live the king！〃
Louis turned with a proud； happy look to the gentlemen and ministers
who stood near him； Marie Antoinette having withdrawn to the
farthest corner of the room； where； throwing her arms around both of
the children； and drawing them to her bosom； she had sunk into a
chair。
〃What do you say now； gentlemen？〃 asked the king。
〃Did they not want to make me believe that my good people hate their
king； and wish him ill？ But when I show myself to them； hear how
they shout to greet me！〃
〃To Paris！〃 was now the roar of the mob below。 〃We want the king
should go to Paris！〃
〃What do they say？ What do they want？〃 asked Louis； turning to
Lafayette； who now stood close beside him。
〃Sire； they are shouting their wishes to you； that you and the royal
family should go to Paris。〃
〃And you； general； what do you say？〃 asked the king。
〃Sire； I have taken the liberty already to say that words and
promises are of no more avail to quiet this raving； maddened people；
and to make them believe that you have no hostile designs against
Paris。〃
〃But if I go to Paris and reside there for a time； it is your
opinion； as I understand it； that the people would be convinced that
I have no evil intentions against the citythat I should not
undertake to destroy the city in which I might live。 That is your
meaning； is it not？〃
〃Yes； sire； that is what I wanted to say。〃
〃To Paris； to Paris！〃 thundered up from below。 〃The king shall go to
Paris！〃
Louis withdrew from the window and joined the circle of his
ministers； who； with their pale faces； surrounded him。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the king； 〃you are my counsellors。 Well； give me
your counsel。 Tell me now what I shall do to restore peace and
quiet。〃
But no one replied。 Perplexed and confused they looked down to the
ground； and only Necker found courage to answer the king after a
long pause。
〃Sire；〃 he said； 〃it is a question that might be considered for days
which your majesty has submitted to us； and on its answer depends；
perhaps； the whole fate of the monarchy。 But； as you wish to know
the opinions of your ministers； I will venture to give mine： that it
would be the safest and most expedient course for your majesty to
comply with the wishes of the people； and go to Paris！〃
〃I supposed so；〃 whispered the king； dropping his head。
〃To Paris！〃 cried the queen； raising her head。 〃It is impossible。
You cannot be in earnest in being willing to go of your own accord
down into the abyss of revolution； in order to be destroyed there！
To Paris！〃
〃To Paris！〃 was the thundering cry from below； as if the words of
the queen had awakened a fearful； thousand…voiced echo。 〃To Paris！
The king and the queen shall go to Paris！〃
〃And never come from there！〃 cried the queen； with； bursting tears。
〃Speak； Lafayette！〃 cried the king。 〃What do you think？〃
〃Sire； I think that there is only one way to restore peace and to
quiet the people； and that is； for your majesty to go to…day with
the royal family to Paris。〃
〃It is my view； too；〃 said Louis； calmly。 〃Then go； Lafayette； tell
the people that the king and queen； together with the dauphin and
the princess； will journey today to Paris。〃
The simple and easily spoken words had two very different effects in
the cabinet on those who heard them。 Some faces lightened up with
joy； some grew pale with alarm； there were sighs of despair； and
cries of fresh hope。 Every one felt that this was a crisis in the
fate of the royal familysome thinking that it would bring
disaster； others deliverance。
The queen alone put on now a grave； decided look； a lofty pride
lighted up her high brow； and with an almost joyful expression she
looked at her husband； who had been induced to do somethingat
least； to take a decisive step。
〃The king has spoken；〃 she said； amid the profoundest silence； 〃and
it becomes us to obey the will of the king； and to be subject to it。
Madame de Campan； make all the preparations for my departure； and do
it in view of a long stay in Paris！〃
〃Now； Lafayette；〃 asked the king； as the general still delayed in
the room； 〃why do you not hasten to announce my will to the people？〃
〃Sire；〃 answered Lafayette； solemnly； 〃there are moments when a
people can only be pacified by the voice either of God or of its
king； and where every other human voice is overwhelmed by the
thunder of the storm！〃
〃And you think that this is such a moment？〃 asked the king。 〃You
think that I ought myself to announce to the people what I mean to
do？〃
Lafayette bowed and pointed to the window； which shook even then
with the threatening cry； 〃The king！ We will see the king！ He shall
go to Paris！ The king； the king！〃
Louis listened awhile in thoughtful silence to this thundering
shout； which was at once so full of majesty and horror； then he
quickly raised his head。
〃I will follow your advice； general；〃 said he； calmly。 〃I will
announce my decision to the people。 Give me your hand； madame； we
will go into the balcony…room。 And you； gentlemen； follow me！〃
The queen took the hand of her husband without a word； and gave the
other to the little dauphin； who timidly clung to her； while her
daughter Therese quietly and composedly walked near them。
BOOK III
CHAPTER XIV。
TO PARIS。
Without speaking a word； and with hasty steps； the royal couple；
followed by the ministers and courtiers； traversed the two adjoining
apartments； and entered the balcony…room； which； situated at the
centre of the main building； commanded a wide view of the inner
court and the square in front of it。
The valet Hue hastened； at a motion from the king； to throw open the
great folding doors； and the king； parting with a smile from Marie
Antoinette； stepped out upon the balcony。 In an instant； as if the
arm of God had been extended and laid upon this raging sea； the
roaring ceased； then； as soon as the king was recognized； a
multitudinous shout went up； increasing every moment； and sending
its waves beyond the square； out into the adjoining streets。
〃The king！ Long live the king！〃
Louis； pale with emotion and with tears in his eyes； went forward to
the very edge of the balcony； and； as a sign that he was going to
speak； raised both hands。 The motion was understood； and the loud
cries were hushed which now and then burst from the mighty mass of
people。 Then above the heads of the thousands there who gazed
breathlessly up； sounded the loud； powerful voice of the king。
〃I will give my dear people the proof that my fatherly heart is
distrusted without reason。 I will journey to…day with the queen and
my children to Paris； and there take up my residence。 Return
thither； my children； I shall follow you in a few hours and come to
Paris！〃
Then； while the people were breaking out into a cry of joy； and were
throwing arms； caps； and clothes up into the air； Louis stepped back
from the balcony into the hall。
Instantly there arose a new cry below。 〃The queen shall show
herself！ We want to see the queen！ The queen！ the queen！ the