The man who read it was Pétion.
This decree ordered them to proceed to the King, not only to ensure his safety, but also as a mark of respect due to royalty, as represented in the persons of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
The King knew that M. Latour-Maubourg was a Royalist.
He therefore desired that, as two deputies had to sit in the carriage with him, he would name the two. The Queen expressed the same desire.
M. Latour-Maubourg replied, in a whisper:—
“I accepted the sad mission which introduces me to your Majesty only in the hopes of being of some service to you. Your Majesty can, then, count upon me as a faithful follower. But I have not the power of Barnave, who exercises an enormous influence over the Assembly. He is vain as an advocate, and will be flattered by having a seat in the carriage of the King. It is, therefore, needful that he should occupy a place, and that the Queen should take the opportunity of improving his acquaintance. I, therefore, beg your Majesties to excuse my surrendering my seat.”
The Queen bowed her head. She wished to again assume her womanly properties, and to seduce Barnave, as she had Mirabeau. To be sure, it was humiliating, but, at the same time, it was a distraction.
Strange contradiction! It was the King who had most repugnance to Barnave’s occupying a seat in the royal carriage. Barnave, a little Dauphinois advocate, pride upon his face, his nose perked up in the air, and his tout ensemble proclaiming insufferable conceit, took his place. Pétion likewise, his rosy cheeks glowing with satisfaction, disposed of himself to his perfect content.
Barnave and Pétion, therefore, as we have said, entered the royal carriage.
Madame de Tourzel had resigned her place, and entered, with M. Latour-Maubourg, the carriage set apart for the attendants.