In consequence, they ordered the immediate departure of the King and his family.
The King, having informed himself of the cause of the tumult, said, with his usual impassibility, “Very well; let us go.”
The Queen then reappeared on the balcony holding her son by the hand. She pointed out the National Guards to him, saying some words in a whisper.
An inhabitant of St. Menehould, who was at an adjoining window, assured me that the following were the words that she spoke. “Do you see those blue toads? It is they who wish us to set out!”
It is needless to say that the National Guards wore the blue uniform.
As the royal family crossed the hall of the Hotel de Ville, into which opened the door of the chapel, where the prisoners had heard mass, the Queen perceiving the captives, distributed among them five louis—the King ten.
At two o’clock the carriages started for Châlons. From the time that the King had been recognised he took the place of honor in the vehicle.
MM. de Malden, de Moustier, and de Valory, sat on the box, but they were not strapped to it as some people have said.
Not a single shout for the King, except that which Dampierre uttered, as we have before mentioned, was used at either his arrival or departure. The only shouts raised were “Vive la nation!” “Vivent les patriotes!”