"We come," he said, "to ask you to stop bloodshed. If the fighting continues, it will carry with it not only the most frightful calamities, but a real revolution."
The marshal confined himself to a question of military honour, maintaining that it was the duty of the people first to cease fighting; nevertheless he added this postscript to a letter which he was writing to the King:
"I think it is urgent that Your Majesty should avail yourself without delay of the overtures that have been made."
Colonel Komierowski, aide-de-camp to the Duc de Raguse, was shown into the King's closet at Saint-Cloud, and handed him the letter; the King said to him:
"I will read this letter."
The colonel withdrew and waited orders; seeing that they were not forthcoming, he begged M. le Duc de Duras to go to the King to ask for them. The duke replied that etiquette made it impossible for him to enter the closet. At last M. Komierowski was sent for by the King and told to enjoin the marshal "to hold out."
General Vincent on his side hurried down to Saint-Cloud; he forced the door which was denied him, and told the King that all was lost:
"My dear fellow," replied Charles X., "you are a good general, but these are things that you know nothing about."
*