About eleven in the morning we heard that a detachment of hussars had been seen on the road from Stenay.
I left my work, giving a few words of explanation to M. Gerbaut and Mdlle. Sophie. They partook of the general agitation which pervaded the town, or rather the air which seemed tremendous with coming events.
Mdlle. Sophie was very much excited, especially when I announced the approach of the hussars. Two days previously, MM. Malmy and Courtemont had arrived at Varennes.
I crossed the bridge and entered the Grand Place on one side, at the same moment as the hussars entered it at the other.
They stopped a moment on the Place, spoke to the groom, who had arrived the evening before with the relays, which, by superior orders, they had stabled in the old Convent of the Cordeliers.
They were commanded by a tall officer of effeminate appearance, and blonde complexion. He spoke French with a very strong German accent. His name was M. de Rokrey.
He put up in the Place, not at an hotel, but with a tradesman of the town, to whom he bore a letter of recommendation.
Behind me a great number of the inhabitants of the High Town were descending and forming themselves in groups with those of the Low Town.
About one o’clock, two young officers arrived by the same route, and stopped to speak with him who commanded the detachment.