At two of the afternoon they arrived at St. Menehould.
Loss of sleep and weariness was telling on all the prisoners, but particularly on the Dauphin, who was feverish and wanted to be undressed and put to bed, as he was not well, he said.
But St. Menehould was the place most enraged against the Royal Family. So no attention was paid to the King who ordered a stop. A contradictory order from Billet led to the change of horses being hooked on the pole.
The Queen could not withstand her child's complaints and holding the little prince up at the window to show him to the people, shivering and in tears, she said:
"Gentlemen, in pity for this boy, stop!"
"Forward, March!" shouted Billet.
"Forward," repeated the people.
Billet passed the carriage window to take his place in the front when the Queen appealed to him:
"For shame, sir, it is plain, I repeat that you never were a father."
"And I repeat, madam, that I was a father once, but am one no longer."