words of your majesty；〃 cried Liancourt。 〃The doubts and disquiet
into which the National Assembly is falling more and more every day
are not to be dispelled in any other way than by the appearance of
your majesty's gracious face。 I beseech you to appear to…day at the
National Assembly。 The service of to…day； which begins in a few
hours； may take the most unfortunate turn； if you； sire； do not take
this saving step。〃
Just then the door opened； and Monsieur； together with Count
d'Artois； entered。 Both brothers of the king appeared to be in the
greatest excitement。 From their appearance and gestures it could be
inferred that the news brought by the Duke de Liancourt had reached
the palace of Versailles。
Liancourt at once approached the Count d'Artois； and said to him in
decisive tones：
〃Prince； your head is threatened by the people。 I have with my own
eyes seen the poster which announces this fearful proscription。〃
The prince uttered a cry of terror at these words； and stood in the
middle of the room like one transfixed。
〃It is good； if the people think so；〃 he said then； recovering
himself。 〃I am； like the people； for open war。 They want my head；
and I want their heads。 Why do we not fire？ A fixed policy； no
quarter to the so…called freedom ideas…cannon well served！ These
alone can save us！〃
〃His majesty the king has come to a different conclusion！〃 said the
Duke de Liancourt； bowing low before the king； who stood calmly by
with folded arms。
〃I beg my brothers； the Count de Provence and the Count d'Artois； to
accompany me this morning to the Assembly of States…General；〃 said
the king； in a firm tone。
〃I wish to go thither in order to announce to the Assembly my
resolution to withdraw my troops。 At the same time I shall announce
to them my decided wish that they may complete the work of their
counsels in peace； for I have no higher aim than through them to
learn the will of the nation。〃
Count d'Artois retreated a step in amazement。 Upon his mobile face
appeared the sharp； satirical expression which was peculiar to the
character of the prince。 It was different with Provence； who； at the
king's words； quickly approached him to press his hand in token of
cordial agreement and help。
At this moment the door of the chamber was opened； and the queen；
accompanied by several persons； her most intimate companions；
entered in visible excitement。
〃Does your majesty know what has happened？〃 she asked； with pale
face and tearful eyes； as she violently grasped the king's hand。
〃It will be all well yet；〃 said the king； with gentle dignity； 〃it
will prove a help to us that we have nothing as yet to accuse
ourselves with。 I am resolved to go to…day to the National Assembly；
and to show it a sign of my personal confidence； in announcing the
withdrawal of my troops from Paris and Versailles。〃
The queen looked at her husband with the greatest amazement； then；
like one in a trance； she dropped his hand and stood supporting her
fair head upon her hand； with a thoughtful； pained expression。
〃By doing so your majesty will make the revolution an irrevocable
fact；〃 she then said； slowly raising her eyes to him； 〃and it
troubles me； sire； that you will again set foot in an Assembly
numbering so many dreadful and hostile men； and in which the
resolution made last month to disband it ought to have been carried
into effect long ago。〃
〃Has the Assembly； in fact； so many dreadful members？〃 asked the
king； with his good…natured smile。 〃Yet I see before me here two
extremely amiable members of that Assembly； and their looks really
give me courage to appear there。 There is my old； true friend； the
Duke de Liancourt； and even in the train of your majesty there is
the valiant Count de la Marck； whom I heartily welcome。 May I not；
Count de la Marck； depend upon some favor with your colleagues in
the National Assembly？〃 asked the king； with an amiable expression。
〃Sire；〃 answered the count； in his most perfect court manner； 〃in
the variety of persons constituting the Assembly； I do not know a
single one who would be able to close his heart to the direct word
of the monarch； and such condescending grace。 The nobility； to whose
side I belong； would find itself confirmed thereby in its fidelity；
the clergy would thank God for the manifestation of royal authority
which shall bring peace； and the Third Estate would have to confess
in its astonishment that safety comes only from the monarch's
hands。〃
The king smiled and nodded in friendly manner to the count。
〃It seems to me；〃 he said； 〃that the time is approaching for us to
go to the Assembly。 Their royal highnesses Count de Provence and
Count d'Artois will accompany me。 I commission the Duke de Liancourt
to go before us to the Salle des Menus； and to announce to the
Assembly； directly after the opening of the session； that we shall
appear there at once in person。〃
On this the king dismissed all who were present。 The queen took
tender leave of him； in a manner indicating her excited feelings。
She had never seen her royal husband bearing himself in so decided
and confident a manner； and it almost awakened new confidence in her
troubled breast。 But at the same moment all the doubts and cares
returned； and sadly； with drooping head； the queen withdrew。
In the mean time； close upon the opening of the National Assembly
that morning； stormy debates had begun about the new steps which
they were going to take with the monarch。
Count Mirabeau had just been breaking out into an anathema in
flaming words about the holiday which the king had given to the new
regiments； when the Duke de Liancourt； who that moment entered the
hall； advanced to the speaker's desk and announced that the king was
just on the point of coming to the Assembly。 The greatest amazement；
followed immediately by intense disquiet； was expressed on all sides
at hearing this。 Men sprang up from their places and formed
scattered groups to talk over this unexpected circumstance and come
to an understanding in advance。 They spoke in loud； angry words
about the reception which should be given to the king in the
National Assembly； when Mirabeau sprang upon the tribune； and； with
his voice towering above every other sound； cried that 〃mere silent
respect should be the only reception that we give to the monarch。 In
a moment of universal grief； silence is the true lesson of kings。〃
＇Footnote： Mirabeau's own words。See 〃Memoires du Comte de
Mirabeau；〃 vol。 ii。； p。 301。＇
A resounding bravo accompanied these words； which appeared to
produce the deepest impression upon all parties in the Assembly。
Before the room was silent； the king； accompanied by his brothers；
but with no other retinue besides； entered the hall。 Notwithstanding
all the plans and efforts which had been made； his appearance at
this moment wrought so powerfully that； as soon as they saw him； the
cry 〃Long live the king！〃 was taken up and repeated so often as to
make the arched ceiling ring。
The king stood in the midst of the Assembly； bearing himself
modestly and with uncovered head。 He did not make use of an arm…
chair which was placed for him； but remained standing； as； without
any ceremony； he began to address the Assembly with truly
patriarchal dignity。 When at the very outset he said that as the
chief of the nation； as he called himself； he had come with
confidence to meet the nation's representatives； to testify his
grief for what had happened； and to consult them respecting the re…
establishing of peace and order； a pacified expression appeared upon
almost all faces。
With gentle and almost humble bearing the king then entered upon the
suspicions that had been breathed； that the persons of the deputies
were not safe。 With the tone of an honest burgher he referred to his
own 〃well…known character；〃 which made it superfluous for him to
dismiss such a suspicion。 〃Ah！〃 he cried； 〃it is I who have trusted
myself to you！ Help me in these painful circumstances to strengthen
the welfare of the state。 I expect it of the National Assembly。〃
Then with a tone of touching kindness he said： 〃Counting upon the
love and fidelity of my subjects； I have given orders to the troops
to withdraw from Paris and Versailles。 At the same time I commission
and empower you to convey these my orders to the capital。〃
The king now closed his address； which had been interrupted by
frequent expressions of delight and enthusiasm； but which was
received at the close with a thunder of universal applause。 After
the Archbishop of Brienne had expressed the thanks of the Assembly
in a few words； the king prepared to leave the hall。 At that instant
all present rose in order to follow the king's steps。 Silently the
whole National Assembly became the retinue of the king； and
accompanied him to the street。
The king wished to return on foot to the palace。 Behind him walked
the National Assembly in delighted； joyful ranks。 The startling
importance of the occasion seemed to have overpowered the most
hostile and the most alienated An immense crowd of people； which had
gathered before the door of the hall； seeing the king suddenly
reappear in the midst of the whole National Assembly； broke into
jubilant cries of delight。 The shouts； 〃Long live the king！ Long
live the nation！〃 blended in a harmonious concord which rang far and
wide。 Upon the Place d'Armes were standing the gardes du corps； both
the Swiss and the French； with their arms in their hands。 But they；
too； were infected with the universal gladness； as they saw the
procession； whose like had never been seen before； move on。
The cries which to…day solemnized the happy reconciliation of the
king and the people now were united with the discordant clang of
trumpets and the rattle of drums on all sides。
Upon the great balcony of the palace at Versailles stood the queen；
awaiting the return of the king。 The thousands of voices raised in
behalf of Louis XVI。 and the nation had drawn Marie Antoinette to
the balcony； after remaining in her own room with thoughts full of
evil forebodings。 She held the dauphin in her arms； and led her
little daughter。 Her eyes； from which the heavy veils of sadness
were