“On behalf of the King, I, François Claude Amour de Bouillé, lieutenant-general of the King’s armies, &c. The captain of the 1st Regiment of Dragoons is ordered to march, with forty men of his regiment, on the 19th, from Clermont to St. Menehould, where, on the 20th and 21st, he will await a convoy of money, which will be escorted by a detachment of the 6th Regiment of Hussars from Pont-de-Somme-Vesles, on the Châlons road. The dragoons and their horses will be lodged equally among the hotel keepers. The captain will be reimbursed for all expenses incurred for the provender for the horses, and each dragoon will receive increased pay in place of his rations.
“De Bouillé.
“Metz, 14th June, 1791.”
At this moment the cries of the people mounted to the chamber in which the council were assembled, interrogating M. Dandoins. These cries demanded that the dragoons should be disarmed.
“You hear, captain?” said the Mayor. “It is needful, in order to tranquillize the people, that your men lay down their arms. Go down, and order them to do so.”
“I will do so, if you will give me a written authority,” replied M. Dandoins.
The order was given, and at the command of M. Dandoins the arms of the dragoons, and the accoutrements of the horses, were carried into the Hotel de Ville.
At the moment M. Dandoins and his lieutenant M. La Cour, reappeared at the door of the Hotel de Ville opening on the Place, the exasperation of the multitude reached a culminating point. Every voice cried, “He is a traitor! He knew all! He has imposed upon the municipality!”
They conducted the two officers to the town prison.
Let us now follow the royal carriages, and, as a matter of course, MM. Guillaume and Drouet, their pursuers.