'What am I to do?' exclaimed the unfortunate king; 'I wish one of my brothers had been born before me.'
The door half opened, and the queen appeared. She beckoned to the king, and he followed her, closing the door behind him.
'Supposing we fail,' said Vaudreuil; 'I believe that our only chance of safety is to fly the country.'
'If his majesty reject our proposal,' said Artois, 'I fly to-morrow. I have no desire to have my head carried about on the end of a pike.'
'What shall you do?' asked Berthier of his father-in-law.
'I!' answered Foulon, taking snuff; 'I shall die.'
'I shall be off,' said Berthier, roughly; 'I'm not likely to run the risk of being murdered like Flesselles, without the satisfaction of knowing that my death will be avenged.'
'I suppose if we retire, Necker will return,' said De Broglie. 'Well, let his majesty try peace; it has failed once, and it will fail again.'
'Are you aware, marshal,' said Foulon, 'that Mirabeau has been crying out for your head?'