Suddenly a whisper came to Gilbert without his knowing who spoke.
"General Lafayette is half an hour's march away and coming."
It was a valuable hint.
Gilbert ran and caught one of the horses of the dismounted guards, and as he dashed off the other followed his stable-companion. Hearing the hoofs, Gilbert thought he was pursued and looked back over his shoulder. He saw the animal caught by the reins and his throat cut; then the people fell on the carcase with knives and cut it up.
While Gilbert was racing to meet Lafayette, who arrived with the National Guards, the King was signing the acceptation of "the Resolution of the Rights of Man," for Mounier, and the older to let grain pass into Paris for Louison Champry the flowergirl.
As the first drum beats were heard of the National Guards entering Versailles, the King felt his arm respectfully touched: it was by Andrea.
"Sire, the Queen supplicates your Majesty not to wait for the Parisians, but take the head of your Lifeguards and the Flanders Regiment which will cut their way through."
"Is this your advice, Count Charny?"
"Yes, Sire, if without stopping, you cross the frontier; otherwise, you should stay."
The King shook his head; he stayed, not from having courage but because he had not strength to go.