"The leaves are falling early this year," observed the king.
"Did not one of those men write that royalty will not outlast the fall of the leaf?" questioned the queen.
"Yes, my lady," replied Charny.
"What was the name of this cunning prophet?"
"Manuel."
A new obstacle rose in the path of the royal family: a numerous crowd of men and women, who were waiting with menacing gestures and brandished weapons on the steps and the terrace which had to be gone over to reach the riding-school.
The danger was the worse from the Swiss being unable to keep in rank. The captain tried in vain to get through, and he showed so much rage that Roederer cried:
"Be careful, sir—you will lead to the king being killed."
They had to halt, but a messenger was sent to the Assembly to plead that the king wanted asylum.
The House sent a deputation, at the sight of whom the mob's fury was redoubled.