On his return, M. de Choiseul, who, as we said, preceded the King by twelve hours, would take command of the forty hussars at Pont-de-Somme-Vesles. At Pont-de-Somme-Vesles he would await the King, and would escort him to St. Menehould. At St. Menehould the hussars would give place to the dragoons, and be left to block the road.
After the King, no one would be allowed to pass.
After twenty-four hours the road would be left clear, for by that time the King would be beyond the frontier.
M. de Choiseul had orders signed by the King, authorizing him to demand the needful number of men. Six hundred louis d’or were distributed by him to the soldiers.
On the 14th of June, M. de Bouillé, who was in Hungary, received a letter from the King.
The departure is postponed for twenty-four hours. Whence came this new delay?
We will tell you: the reason was a serious one.
The King did not receive his quarterly income until the 20th; and being economical, he did not wish to lose it.
This reason, good as it was, made M. de Bouillé despair.