What detained her?
The Queen was lost. She maintained that the Wicket de l’Echelle was to the right. The third garde, not knowing Paris well, yielded to the Queen’s certainty, though he fancied that it was to the left.
They therefore left by the wicket at the water’s side; got confused on the quays; crossed the bridge; walked down the Rue du Bac, where the Queen was forced to acknowledge her error, as they had completely lost their way.
The garde was compelled to inquire the way to the Wicket de l’Echelle. They had to cross the Place de Carrousel a second time. Under the arch, they found themselves face to face with some lacqueys, carrying torches, and escorting a carriage which was approaching at a trot. The Queen had just time to turn her face to the wall, in order to avoid being recognised.
She had recognised Lafayette.
The garde came to the front, in order to the more effectually screen her.
But she struck the wheels of the carriage with the little cane that ladies carried at that period, saying, “Go to, gaoler!—I am out of thy power.”
This is but a tradition; the garde says, on the contrary, that the Queen was so frightened, that she dropped his arm and fled, but that he ran after her, took her by the hand, and drew her back.
They crossed the Carrousel at full speed, passed the Wicket de l’Echelle, and at last saw the carriage which was awaiting them.