The Queen`s Confession

Their names were de Damas and Goguelat, and they told us they had brought a company of soldiers with them to the town but when their men had seen the revolutionaries gathering and knew that the King and I were prisoners they deserted. They had no wish to anger the leaders of the revolution by helping the King and Queen escape.

It was not long after when Choiseui himself arrived; he had a small company of men with him and had also had to fight his way to us.

He told us that the battle had been fierce and that he had been obliged to inflict wounds on some of those who sought to deter him.

The plan had gone awry, he said, and now they must plan afresh from here.

“I have sent warning to Bouille and it cannot be long before he joins us. I suggest. Sire, that we fight our way out of Varennes and take the road to Mononedy, we cannot then fail to meet Bouille. He will have his loyal troops and none will dare attack us then. We can carry Your Majesties to safety.”

“This is an excellent idea!” I cried. We must do it. ” But the King shook his head.

“I have said all along that I will not be responsible for shedding the blood of my people. If we tried to fight our way out of here many would be killed. These people out there are determined not to let us go.”

They are the mob,” said Choiseul.

“They have their pitchforks, but pitchforks are no use against our weapons.”

“As I said, there would be slaughter. Who knows, the Queen or the Dauphin might be hurt.”

“We could protect the child,” I said.

“I am ready to take a chance.”

“I would never permit it,” said the King.

“For even though we were all safe, some of my people would surely be killed. No, no. We must wait for Bouille to come. When the people see him they will realise that it is no use to fight against him and his army. They will go back to their homes and allow us to depart peacefully.”

“It is possible. Sire, that the revolutionaries may decide to take Your Majesties back to Paris before Bouille gets here.”

“It is a chance we must take. I will not have bloodshed on my account.”

I saw the stubborn look in his face and I knew he meant it.

I knew too that everything depended on Bouille reaching Varennes in time.

I did not sleep through that terrible night. I was aware of the voices outside the house, of the light of torches.

I was praying silently. Not that again! It is more than I can endure.

Let Bouille come . or let death come quickly, but not that. The horror of it came back to me—that ride from Versailles to Paris . the crowd . the unclean crowd . the smell of blood, the horrible leering savage faces, the obscene words on vile lips. I hated them.

God help me; they were canaille; it was not love of country that prompted them, it was love of cruelty. I thought: I would rather die now than suffer it again. And the children, those innocent children, to be submitted to this humiliation; this fearful knowledge of all that was bestial in the world to be thrust under their innocent eyes. Oh God spare us.

Louis slept. I could almost hate him. Was he a man . to sleep while

we were all in such danger? He must not have bloodshed . he must not harm his dear children . his children . those screaming beasts out there;

‘ he called them his children. Why was not Axel with us? ” Axel would have fought his way through them. How I lived through that fearful night I do not know. But c the dawn came, and with the daylight the noise outside the house increased.

I tried to close my eyes; I tried to sleep. If only I could sleep for a few minutes as Louis had all through the night. A hammering on the door startled me. I heard heavy feet on the stairs, and two men burst in upon us. I recognised one of them as a man named Romeuf who had guarded us in the Tuileries. The other was a man named Bayon.

They explained that they came on order from the National Assembly. One of them handed a document to the King. I read it with him. His rights were suspended and these two men had been sent to prevent his continuing on his journey.

I screwed it up and threw it into a corner of the room. The men looked on helplessly. At least they had some shame.

The King said gently: “The Marquis de Bouin6 is on his way to Varennes.

If you try to force us to return to Paris there could be bloodshed.”

“On the orders of Monsieur de La Fayette we are to take you back to Paris, Sire.”

“And what of the orders of your King?” I asked indignantly.

“We are obliged to obey the Assembly, Madame.”

“I wish to avoid bloodshed,” said Louis gently.

“I do not wish to fight my people. When the Marquis de Bouille arrives I shall leave here and, from a place to which we shall go, come to an understanding with those who are making this revoluon.”

Romeuf looked at his companion.

“We could wait for the Marquis to arrive,” he suggested, ‘since we were given no orders as to when we were to return to Paris. “

Bayon did not possess his loyalty.

“Are you a fool?” he demanded.

“Bouille is armed. What have the people but their pitchforks and a few knives? We must set out for Paris before Bouille arrives.”

We are exhausted,” I said.

“There are the children to consider.”

Bayon did not answer. He left us and I heard him go out of the house and talk to the crowds.

Romeuf looked at us apologetically and said: “You must think of anything. Your Majesties, which will delay the departure. Once Bouille arrives you are safe.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

Bayon came back. Already I heard the shouts of “A Paris’ outside the house.

“Prepare to leave at once,” said Bayon.

“The children must not be frightened,” I told him.

“They are exhausted. They must finish their sleep.”

“Arouse them at once, Madame.”

Madame de Tourzel and Madame Neuville awoke them. The Dauphin looked at Bayon and Romeuf and shrieked with pleasure.

‘now we have soldiers! ” he cried.

“Are you coming with us?”

“Yes, Monsieur Ie Dauphin,” said Bayon.

Even the soldiers agreed that we must eat before we left, and Madame Sausse was told to prepare food. I saw the determination in her face to take as long as she possibly could, doing so.

Bayon was impatient. He warned her that the people would not feel very kindly towards a dilatory housewife who was responsible for holding up their orders. Poor Madame Sausse, she did everything she could to help us. Such people as herself and Romeuf brought great hope to us in our difficulties.

I tried to eat but could not. In fact the only ones who could do justice to the food Madame Sausse had been so long preparing were the King and the children.

“Come now,” said Bayon. And there was no sign of Bouille.

It is all over, I thought. We can find no excuse to stay longer. Oh

God, send Bouille. Please give us this. Come,” said Bayon, roughly.

“There has been enough ? delay.”

He was hustling us to the door when Madame Neuville gave a little cry and slipped to the floor; she started to throw her ( arms about and made strange noises as though in a fit. ( I knelt beside her. I knew she was acting. I cried: