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lost。 Already； near the end of September； the remark applies which
Mirabeau makes to the Comte de la Marck：
〃Yes； all is lost； the King and Queen will be swept away； and you
will see the populace trampling on their lifeless bodies。〃
Eight days after this； on the 5th and 6th of October； it breaks out
against both King and Queen； against the National Assembly and the
Government； against all government present and to come； the violent
party which rules in Paris obtains possession of the chiefs of
France to hold them under strict surveillance； and to justify its
intermittent outrages by one permanent outrage。
V。
The 5th and 6th of October。
Once more； two different currents combine into one torrent to hurry
the crowd onward to a common end。 On the one hand are the
cravings of the stomach； and women excited by the famine：
〃Now that bread cannot be had in Paris； let us go to Versailles and
demand it there； once we have the King； Queen； and Dauphin in the
midst of us； they will be obliged to feed us；〃 we will bring back
〃the Baker； the Bakeress； and the Baker's boy。〃
On the other hand； there is fanaticism； and men who are pushed
on by the need to dominate。
〃Now that our chiefs yonder disobey us； let us go and make them
obey us forthwith； the King is quibbling over the Constitution and
the Rights of Man make him approve them ； his guards refuse to
wear our cockade make them accept it； they want to carry him off
to Metz make him come to Paris； here； under our eyes and in our
hands； he； and the lame Assembly too； will march straight on； and
quickly； whether they like it or not； and always on the right road。〃
Under this confluence of ideas the expedition is arranged。＇28＇
Ten days before this； it is publicly alluded to at Versailles。 On
the 4th of October； at Paris； a woman proposes it at the Palais…
Royal； Danton roars at the Cordeliers； Marat； 〃alone； makes as much
noise as the four trumpets on the Day of Judgment。〃 Loustalot writes
that a second revolutionary paroxysm is necessary。〃 〃The day
passes；〃 says Desmoulins； 〃in holding councils at the Palais…Royal；
and in the Faubourg Saint…Antoine； on the ends of the bridges； and
on the quays。。。 in pulling off the cockades of but one color。。。。
These are torn off and trampled under foot with threats of the lamp
post； in case of fresh offense； a soldier who is trying to refasten
his； changes his mind on seeing a hundred sticks raised against
him。〃＇29＇ These are the premonitory symptoms of a crisis； a huge
ulcer has formed in this feverish； suffering body； and it is about
to break。
But； as is usually the case； it is a purulent concentration of the
most poisonous passions and the foulest motives。 The vilest of men
and women were engaged in it。 Money was freely distributed。 Was it
done by intriguing subalterns who； playing upon the aspirations of
the Duke of Orleans； extracted millions from him under the pretext
of making him lieutenant…general of the kingdom？ Or is it due to the
fanatics who； from the end of April； clubbed together to debauch the
soldiery； and stir up a body of ruffians for the purpose of leveling
and destroying everything around them？＇30＇ There are always
Machiavellis of the highways and of houses of ill…fame ready to
excite the foul and the vile of both sexes。 On the first day that
the Flemish regiment goes into garrison at Versailles an attempt is
made to corrupt it with money and women。 Sixty abandoned women are
sent from Paris for this purpose； while the French Guards come and
treat their new comrades。 The latter have been treated at the
Palais…Royal； while three of them； at Versailles； exclaim； showing
some crown pieces of six livres； 〃What a pleasure it is to go to
Paris！ one always comes back with money ！〃 In this way； resistance
is overcome beforehand。 As to the attack； women are to be the
advanced guard； because the soldiers will scruple to fire at them；
their ranks； however； will be reinforced by a number of men
disguised as women。 On looking closely at them they are easily
recognized； notwithstanding their rouge； by their badly…shaven
beards； and by their voices and gait。＇31＇ No difficulty has been
found in obtaining men and women among the prostitutes of the
Palais…Royal and the military deserters who serve them as bullies。
It is probable that the former lent their lovers the cast…off
dresses they had to spare。 At night all will meet again at the
common rendezvous； on the benches of the National Assembly； where
they are quite as much at home as in their own houses。＇32＇ In any
event； the first band which marches out is of this stamp； displaying
the finery and the gaiety of the profession； 〃most of them young；
dressed in white； with powdered hair and a sprightly air；〃 many of
them 〃laughing； singing； and drinking；〃 as they would do at setting
out for a picnic in the country。 Three or four of them are known by
name one brandishing a sword； and another； the notorious
Théroigne。 Madeleine Chabry Louison； who is selected to address the
King； is a pretty grisette who sells flowers； and； no doubt；
something else； at the Palais…Royal。 Some appear to belong to the
first rank in their calling； and to have tact and the manners of
society suppose； for instance； that Champfort and Laclos sent
their mistresses。 To these must be added washerwomen； beggars；
bare…footed women； and fishwomen； enlisted for several days before
and paid accordingly。 This is the first nucleus； and it keeps on
growing； for； by compulsion or consent； the troop incorporates into
it； as it passes along； all the women it encounters seamstresses；
portresses； housekeepers； and even respectable females； whose
dwellings are entered with threats of cutting off their hair if they
do not fall in。 To these must be added vagrants； street…rovers；
ruffians and robbers the lees of Paris； which accumulate and come
to the surface every time agitation occurs： they are to be found
already at the first hour； behind the troop of women at the H？tel…
de…Ville。 Others are to follow during the evening and in the night。
Others are waiting at Versailles。 Many； both at Paris and
Versailles； are under pay： one； in a dirty whitish vest； chinks gold
and silver coin in his hand。 Such is the foul scum which； both
in front and in the rear； rolls along with the popular tide；
whatever is done to stem the torrent； it widens out and will leave
its mark at every stage of its overflow。
The first troop； consisting of four or five hundred women； begin
operations by forcing the guard of the H？tel…de…Ville； which is
unwilling to make use of its bayonets。 They spread through the
rooms and try to burn all the written documents they can find；
declaring that there has been nothing but scribbling since the
Revolution began。＇33＇ A crowd of men follow after them； bursting
open doors； and pillaging the magazine of arms。 Two hundred
thousand francs in Treasury notes are stolen or disappear； several
of the ruffians set fire to the building； while others hang an abbé。
The abbé is cut down； and the fire extinguished only just in time：
such are the interludes of the popular drama。 In the meantime； the
crowd of women increases on the Place de Grève； always with the same
unceasing cry； 〃Bread！〃 and 〃To Versailles！〃 One of the conquerors
of the Bastille； the usher Maillard； offers himself as a leader。 He
is accepted； and taps his drum； on leaving Paris； he has seven or
eight thousand women with him； and； in addition； some hundreds of
men ； by dint of remonstrances； he succeeds in maintaining some kind
of order amongst this rabble as far as Versailles。 But it is a
rabble notwithstanding； and consequently so much brute force； at
once anarchical and imperious。 On the one hand； each； and the worst
among them； does what he pleases which will be quite evident this
very evening。 On the other hand； its ponderous mass crushes all
authority and overrides all rules and regulations which is at
once apparent on reaching Versailles。 Admitted into the
Assembly； at first in small numbers； the women crowd against the
door； push in with a rush； fill the galleries； then the hall； the
men along with them； armed with clubs； halberds； and pikes； all
pell…mell； side by side with the deputies； taking possession of
their benches； voting along with them； and gathering about the
President； who； surrounded； threatened； and insulted； finally
abandons the position； while his chair is taken by a woman。＇34＇ A
fishwoman commands in a gallery； and about a hundred women around
her shout or keep silence at her bidding； while she interrupts and
abuses the deputies：
〃Who is that speaker there？ Silence that blabbermouth； he does not
know what he is talking about。 The question is how to get bread。
Let papa Mirabeau speak we want to hear him。〃
A decree on subsistence having been passed； the leader