A sigh passed the lips of the King’s defenders. They felt him giving way in their hands.
“Let us reason coolly,” said the King. “The municipal council do not refuse to let me go. The annoyance is, that we are compelled to spend the night here; but before daybreak, M. de Bouillé will be acquainted with the situation in which we are. He is at Stenay. Stenay is but eight leagues from here; two hours will take one there, and another two suffice to bring back a message. M. de Bouillé cannot fail to be here in the morning, then shall we depart without danger or violence.”
As he uttered these words, without announcing themselves, or asking the permission of the King to be admitted, the municipal council entered the room.
The decision that they had arrived at was brief and precise.
The people strongly objected to the King’s continuing his route, and had resolved to send a courier to the National Assembly to know its sentiments.
In fact, a citizen of Varennes, an M. Maugin, surgeon by profession, had started at full speed for Paris.
M. de Goguelot saw that there was not an instant to lose; he dashed from the house, and found M. de Malmy at the door.
“Monsieur,” he said, “you live here, therefore you know this part of the country. A man, come what will, must set out for Stenay to advise M. de Bouillé of the predicament in which the King is placed, and return with a sufficient force to rescue him.”
“I will go myself,” said M. de Malmy.
And sticking his spurs into his horse, he set off at a gallop.