This is what they saw on entering, and what I saw from my window.
A narrow room, in the midst of which was a cask, which served as a table; on that table was placed some paper and some glasses. In a corner stood the King and Queen; by the window were Madame Elizabeth and Madame Royale; in the background, the Dauphin, overcome with fatigue, was sleeping on a bed, at the foot of which was Madame de Tourzel; at the door were stationed the two femmes-de-chambre—Madame de Neuville and Madame de Brunier, acting as sentinels—or, rather, two women armed with forks.
The first word that the King uttered was, “Well, gentlemen, when do we start?”
“When it pleases your Majesty.”
“Give your commands, sire,” said M. de Choiseul. “I have with me forty hussars; but lose no time. We must act before the citizens have an opportunity of bribing my men.”
“Well, gentlemen, descend, and clear the way; but mind, no violence.”
The young men went down.
The moment that M. de Goguelot had his hand on the street door, the National Guard summoned the hussars to dismount.
“Hussars,” cried M. de Goguelot, “remain in your saddles.”