His instinct shewed him that he would find in Barnave a protector.
Playing with a button on the coat of the representative, he discovered that a device was inscribed upon it, and, after many efforts, succeeded in reading it.
The device was, “Live free, or die.”
The Queen sighed, and regarded Barnave, her eyes filled with tears.
Barnave’s heart smote him.
This was his position. He followed his own individual romance in the midst of a royal and terrible history, when suddenly a noise was heard some paces behind the royal carriage.
The cries and tumult drew Barnave from the magic circle which surrounded him.
A venerable ecclesiastic approached the carriage, much in the same manner as M. de Dampierre had done, and uplifted his hands and blessed the royal martyr.
The mob, unsatiated by one murder, rushed upon the priest, and drew him away, to slaughter him in the ditch by the roadside.
I was on the opposite side of the carriage to where this affair was taking place.