Thus Billet returned home after an absence of three months, although he had intended to be away only a week.
Pitou followed him, bearing twenty-five louis destined from Gilbert for the equipment and maintenance of the Haramont National Guard.
Sebastian stayed with his father.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PORTRAIT OF CHARLES FIRST.
A WEEK has passed since the events related. Everybody was saying: The Revolution is finished; the King is delivered from Versailles, and his courtiers and evil counsellors. The King is placed in life and actuality. He had heretofore the license to work wrong; now he has full liberty to do good.
The dread from the riots had brought the conservatives over to the royalty. The Assembly had been frightened, too, and saw that it depended on the King. A hundred and fifty of its members took to flight.
The two most popular men, Lafayette and Mirabeau, became royalists. The latter wanted the other to unite with him to save the crown, but while honorable Lafayette had a limited brain, he did not see the orator’s genius.
Mirabeau was all for the Duke of Orleans, whom Lafayette advised, nay, ordered to quit the kingdom.
“But suppose I come back without your permission?” said the prince.
“Then, I hope you will do me the honor to cross swords with me at the first battle,” replied the marquis.