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of the rioters from Marseilles singing beneath her windows；
〃Allons； enfants de la patrie；〃 or the Parisians chanting the 〃Qa
ira； fa ira！〃 she sprang from her bed （she now never disrobed
herself on retiring）； hurried to the beds of her children to see
that they were not in danger； or called her maids and commanded them
to light the candles； that they might at least see the danger which
threatened。
At last； on the night of the 9th of August； the long…feared terror
arrived。
A gun fired in the court of the Tuileries announced its advent。
Marie Antoinette sprang from her bed； and sent her waiting…maid to
the king to waken him。 The king had already risen； his ministers and
a few tried friends were now with him。 The queen wakened her
children； and assisted in dressing them。 She then went with the
little ones to the king； who received them with an affectionate
greeting。 At length a blast of trumpets announced that the movement
had become general； the thunder of cannon and the peals of bells
awakened the sleeping city。
The royal family； crowded close together； silently awaited the
stalking of the republic into the halls of the king's palace； or the
saving of the monarchy by the grace of God and the bravery of their
faithful friends。 For even then monarchy had those who were true to
it； and while the trumpet…blasts continued and the bells to ring； to
awaken republicans to the struggle； the sounds were at the same time
the battle…cry of the royalists； and told them； that the king was in
danger and needed their help。
About two hundred noblemen had remained in Paris； and had not
followed the royal princes to Coblentz to take arms against their
own country。 They had remained in Paris； in order to defend the
monarchy to the last drop of their blood； and at least to be near
the throne； if they were not able to hold it up longer。 In order not
to be suspected； they carried no arms； and yet it was known that
beneath the silk vest of the cavalier they concealed the dagger of
the soldier； and they received in consequence the appellation of
〃Chevaliers of the Dagger。〃
At the first notes of the trumpet the nobility had hurried on the
night of the 10th of August to the Tuileries； which were already
filled with grenadiers； Swiss guards； and volunteers of every rank；
who had hastened thither to protect the royal family。 All the
staircases； all the corridors and rooms； were occupied by them。
The 〃Chevaliers of the Dagger〃 marched in solemn procession by them
all to the grand reception…room； where were the king； the queen； and
the children。 With respectful mien they approached the royal pair；
imploring the king's permission to die for him； and beseeching the
queen to touch their weapons； in order to make them victorious； and
to allow them to kiss the royal hand； in order to sweeten death for
them。 There were cries of enthusiasm and loyalty on all sides； 〃Long
live the king of our fathers！〃 cried the young people。 〃Long live
the king of our children！〃 cried the old men； taking the dauphin in
their arms and raising him above their heads； as if he were the
living banner in whose defence they wished to die。
As the morning dawned； the king； at the pressing request of his
wife； walked with her and the children through the halls and
galleries of the palace； to reanimate the courage of their defenders
who were assembled there； and to thank them for their fidelity。
Everywhere the royal family was received with enthusiasm； everywhere
oaths of loyalty to death resounded through the rooms。 The king then
went； accompanied by a few faithful friends； down into the park； to
review the battalions of the National Guard who were stationed
there。
When Louis appeared； the cry； 〃Long live the king！〃 began to lose
the unanimity which had characterized it in the palace。 It was
suppressed and overborne by a hostile murmur； and the farther the
king advanced； the louder grew these mutterings； till at last； from
hundreds and hundreds of throats； the thundering cry resounded；
〃Abdication or death！ Long live Petion！ Resignation or death！〃
The king turned hastily around； and； with pale face and forehead
covered with drops of cold sweat； he returned to the palace。
〃All is lost！〃 cried the queen； bitterly； 〃Nothing more remains for
us than to die worthily。〃
But soon she raised herself up again； and new courage animated her
soul； when she saw that new defenders were constantly pressing into
the hall； and that even many grenadiers of the National Guard
mingled in the ranks of the nobility。
But these noblemen； these 〃Chevaliers of the Dagger；〃 excited
mistrust； and a major of the National Guard demanded their removal
with a loud voice。
〃No；〃 cried the queen； eagerly； 〃these noblemen are our best
friends。 Place them before the mouth of the cannon； and they will
show you how death for one's king is met。 Do not disturb yourselves
about these brave people；〃
She continued； turning to some grenadiers who were approaching her；
〃your interests and theirs are common。
Every thing that is dearest to you and them…wives； children；
property…depends upon your courage and your common bravery。〃
The grenadiers extended their hands to the chevaliers； and mutual
oaths were exchanged to die for the royal family； to save the throne
or to perish with it。 It was a grand and solemn moment； full of
lofty eloquence！ The hearts of these noblemen and these warriors
longed impatiently for death。 With their hands laid upon their
weapons； they awaited its coming。
The populace rolled up in great masses to the palace。 〃Wild shrieks
were heard； the thunder of cannon； the harsh cries of women； and the
yells of men。 Within the palace they listened with suspended breath。
The queen straightened herself up； grasped with a quick movement the
hands of her children； drew them to herself； and； with head bent
forward and with breathless expectation； gazed at the door； like a
lioness awaiting her enemy； and making herself ready to defend her
young with her own life。
The door was suddenly opened； and the attorney…general Roderer burst
in。
〃Sire；〃 cried he； with impassioned utterance； 〃you must save
yourself！ All opposition is vain。 Only the smallest part of the
National Guard is still to be trusted； and even this part only waits
the first pretext to fraternize with the populace。 The cannoneers
have already withdrawn the loading from the cannon； because they are
unwilling to fire upon the people。 The king has no time to lose。
Sire； there is protection for you only in the National Assembly； and
only the representatives of the people can now protect the royal
family。〃
The queen uttered a cry of anger and horror。 〃How！〃 she cried。 〃What
do you say？ We seek protection with our worst enemies？ Never； oh；
never！ Rather will I be nailed to these walls； than leave the palace
to go to the National Assembly！〃 ＇Footnote： The queen's own words。
See Beauchesne； vol。 i。； p。 90。＇
And turning to the king； who stood silent and undecided； she spoke
to him with flaming words； with glowing eloquence； addressed him as
the father of the dauphin； the successor of Henry IV。 and Louis
XIV。； sought to animate his ambition and touch his heart； and tried
for the last time to kindle him with her courage and her decision。
In vain； all in vain。 The king remained silent and undecided。 A cry；
one single cry of grief； burst from the lips of the queen； and one
moment her head sank upon her breast。
〃Hasten； hasten； sire！〃 cried Roderer； 〃every moment increases the
peril。 In a quarter of an hour perhaps the queen and the children
will be lost beyond remedy！〃
These words awakened the king from his reverie。 He looked up and
nodded his head。 〃We can do nothing else；〃 he said。 〃Let us go at
once to the National Assembly。〃
〃Sir；〃 cried the queen； turning to Roderer； 〃is it true that we are
deserted by all？〃
〃Madame；〃 answered the attorney…general； sadly； 〃all opposition is
in vain； it will only increase the danger。 Would you suffer
yourself； the king； your children； and friends； to be killed？〃
〃God forbid it！ Would that I alone could be the offering！〃
〃Another minute；〃 urged Roderer； 〃perhaps another second； and it is
impossible to guarantee your life； and perhaps that of your husband
and children。〃
〃My children！〃 cried the queen； throwing her arms around them； and
drawing them to her breast。 〃No； oh no； I will not give them over to
the knife！〃
One sigh； one last sob； burst from her lips； and then she released
herself from the children； and approached the king and his
ministers。
〃This is the last sacrifice；〃 she said； heavily； 〃that I can offer。
I submit myself； M。 Roderer；〃 and then with louder tones； as if she
wanted to call all present to be witnesses； she continued； 〃will you
pledge yourself for the person of the king； and for that of my son？〃
〃Madame；〃 answered Roderer； solemnly； 〃I pledge myself for this；
that we are all ready to die at your side。 That is all that I can
promise。〃
And now the noblemen and the grenadiers pressed up to take the king
and queen in their escort。
〃For God's sake；〃 cried Roderer； 〃no demonstration； or the king is
lost！
〃Remain； my fri