Day dawned.
It was the 25th of June. They returned to Paris after five days absence.
Five days! What terrible events had come to pass in the space of five days!
As they approached Paris, Barnave retook his seat at the back.
No longer was it a seat of honor, but the place of danger.
If a fanatic should fire on the King, which was, indeed, probable; if on the Queen, which was more than probable;—Barnave was there, to arrest with his own body the fell bullet aimed at royalty.
M. Mathieu Damas had been charged by Lafayette, Royalist though he was, to protect their entry.
This able strategist had drawn from all parties in order to diminish the danger. He confided the guarding of the carriage to the grenadiers, whose tall hats hid entirely the doors; a line of horse grenadiers formed a second ring.
As for the three guards whom Louis XVI had not wished to go, two grenadiers, with their muskets bayoneted, sat a little behind the box-seat, ready to suppress any attempt at rescue or flight.