At that sight, all elevated their hats on the ends of their muskets or pikes, and shouted “Vive la nation!”
That cry had almost completely taken the place of “Vive le Roi!”
We arrived at Varennes, which we expected to find in flames, with the streets running blood. From the height of the hill, which descends to the Rue des Réligieuses, we had a good view of the town.
All was quiet.
The people of Clermont, when they first arrived, were taken for the brigands, whom they were expecting every moment.
When they recognised them, there was a general embracing, and crying “Vive la nation!”
Then we arrived, in our turn; and two hours afterwards, the men of Montfalcon, De Bousance, and De Vouziez. The latter had marched eight leagues in five hours.
They bivouacked in the Place de Latry, and the Place de Grand Monarque.
They then laid out tables for a public repast, where, after an ancient custom, each one chose his companions, and found his own dinner.
I had one visit to pay in Varennes—a place to which I seldom came, and where I only knew two persons, M. Guillaume and M. Billaud.