"He is very saucy in the midst of his army; let us see if he would talk as big if he stood among us."
He escaped censure by a nominal majority—a victory worse than a defeat.
Lafayette had again sacrificed his popularity for the Royalists.
He cherished a last hope. With the enthusiasm to be kindled among the National Guards by the king and their old commander, he proposed to march on the Assembly and put down the Opposition, while in the confusion the king should gain the camp at Maubeuge.
It was a bold scheme, but was almost sure in the state of minds.
Unfortunately, Danton ran to Petion at three in the morning with the news, and the review was countermanded.
Who had betrayed the king and the general? The queen, who had said she would rather be lost than owe safety to Lafayette.
She was helping fate, for she was doomed to be slain by Danton.
But supposing she had less spite, and the Girondists might have been crushed. They were determined not to be caught napping another time.