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the lowest class； were metamorphosed into lieutenants or captains； almost all the musicians of the chapel ventured one day to make their appearance at the King's mass in a military costume； and an Italian soprano adopted the uniform of a grenadier captain。 The King was very much offended at this conduct； and forbade his servants to appear in his presence in so unsuitable a dress。
The departure of the Duchesse de Polignac naturally left the Abbe de Vermond exposed to all the dangers of favouritism。 He was already talked of as an adviser dangerous to the nation。 The Queen was alarmed at it； and recommended him to remove to Valenciennes； where Count Esterhazy was in command。 He was obliged to leave that place in a few days and set off for Vienna； where he remained。
On the night of the 17th of July the Queen； being unable to sleep； made me watch by her until three in the morning。 I was extremely surprised to hear her say that it would be a very long time before the Abbe de Vermond would make his appearance at Court again； even if the existing ferment should subside； because he would not readily be forgiven for his attachment to the Archbishop of Sens； and that she had lost in him a very devoted servant。 Then she suddenly remarked to me； that although he was not much prejudiced against me I could not have much regard for him； because he could not bear my father…in…law to hold the place of secretary of the closet。 She went on to say that I must have studied the Abbe's character； and； as I had sometimes drawn her portraits of living characters； in imitation of those which were fashionable in the time of Louis XIV。； she desired me to sketch that of the Abbe； without any reserve。 My astonishment was extreme； the Queen spoke of the man who； the day before； had been in the greatest intimacy with her with the utmost coolness； and as a person whom； perhaps； she might never see again！ I remained petrified； the Queen persisted； and told me that he had been the enemy of my family for more than twelve years； without having been able to injure it in her opinion； so that I had no occasion to dread his return； however severely I might depict him。 I promptly summarised my ideas about the favourite； but I only remember that the portrait was drawn with sincerity； except that everything which could denote antipathy was kept out of it。 I shall make but one extract from it： I said that he had been born talkative and indiscreet； and had assumed a character of singularity and abruptness in order to conceal those two failings。 The Queen interrupted me by saying； 〃Ah！ how true that is！〃 I have since discovered that； notwithstanding the high favour which the Abbe de Vermond enjoyed； the Queen took precautions to guard herself against an ascendency the consequences of which she could not calculate。
On the death of my father…in…law his executors placed in my hands a box containing a few jewels deposited by the Queen with M。 Campan on the departure from Versailles of the 6th of October； and two sealed packets； each inscribed； 〃Campan will take care of these papers for me。〃 I took the two packets to her Majesty； who kept the jewels and the larger packet； and； returning me the smaller； said； 〃Take care of that for me as your father…in…law did。〃
After the fatal 10th of August； 1792；＇The day of the attack on the Tuileries； slaughter of the Swiss guard； and suspension of the King from his functions。＇ when my house was about to be surrounded； I determined to burn the most interesting papers of which I was the depositary； I thought it my duty； however； to open this packet； which it might perhaps be necessary for me to preserve at all hazards。 I saw that it contained a letter from the Abbe de Vermond to the Queen。 I have already related that in the earlier days of Madame de Polignac's favour he determined to remove from Versailles； and that the Queen recalled him by means of the Comte de Mercy。 This letter contained nothing but certain conditions for his return； it was the most whimsical of treaties； I confess I greatly regretted being under the necessity of destroying it。 He reproached the Queen for her infatuation for the Comtesse Jules； her family； and society； and told her several truths about the possible consequences of a friendship which ranked that lady among the favourites of the Queens of France； a title always disliked by the nation。 He complained that his advice was neglected； and then came to the conditions of his return to Versailles； after strong assurances that he would never； in all his life； aim at the higher church dignities； he said that he delighted in an unbounded confidence； and that he asked but two things of her Majesty as essential： the first was； not to give him her orders through any third person； and to write to him herself； he complained much that he had had no letter in her own hand since he had left Vienna； then he demanded of her an income of eighty thousand livres； in ecclesiastical benefices； and concluded by saying that； if she condescended to assure him herself that she would set about procuring him what he wished； her letter would be sufficient in itself to show him that her Majesty had accepted the two conditions he ventured to make respecting his return。 No doubt the letter was written； at least it is very certain that the benefices were granted； and that his absence from Versailles lasted only a single week。
In the course of July； 1789； the regiment of French guards； which had been in a state of insurrection from the latter end of June； abandoned its colours。 One single company of grenadiers remained faithful； to its post at Versailles。 M。 le Baron de Leval was the captain of this company。 He came every evening to request me to give the Queen an account of the disposition of his soldiers； but M。 de La Fayette having sent them a note； they all deserted during the night and joined their comrades； who were enrolled in the Paris guard； so that Louis XVI。 on rising saw no guard whatever at the various posts entrusted to them。
The decrees of the 4th of August； by which all privileges were abolished； are well known。
＇It was during the night of the 4th of August；〃 says Rivarol； 〃that the demagogues of the nobility； wearied with a protracted discussion upon the rights of man； and burning to signalise their zeal； rose all at once； and with loud exclamations called for the last sighs of the feudal system。 This demand electrified the Assembly。 All heads were frenzied。 The younger sons of good families； having nothing； were delighted to sacrifice their too fortunate elders upon the altar of the country； a few country cures felt no less pleasure in renouncing the benefices of others； but what posterity will hardly believe is that the same enthusiasm infected the whole nobility； zeal walked hand in hand with malevolence； they made sacrifice upon sacrifice。 And as in Japan the point of honour lies in a man's killing himself in the presence of the person who has offended him； so did the deputies of the nobility vie in striking at themselves and their constituents。 The people who were present at this noble contest increased the intoxication of their new allies by their shouts； and the deputies of the commons； seeing that this memorable night would only afford them profit without honour； consoled their self…love by wondering at what Nobility； grafted upon the Third Estate； could do。 They named that night the 'night of dupes'； the nobles called it the 'night of sacrifices'。〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
The King sanctioned all that tended to the diminution of his own personal gratifications； but refused his consent to the other decrees of that tumultuous night； this refusal was one of the chief causes of the ferments of the month of October。
In the early part of September meetings were held at the Palais Royal； and propositions made to go to Versailles； it was said to be necessary to separate the King from his evil counsellors； and keep him； as well as the Dauphin； at the Louvre。 The proclamations by the officers of the commune for the restoration of tranquillity were ineffectual； but M。 de La Fayette succeeded this time in dispersing the populace。 The Assembly declared itself permanent； and during the whole of September； in which no doubt the preparations were made for the great insurrections of the following month； the Court was not disturbed。
The King had the Flanders regiment removed to Versailles； unfortunately the idea of the officers of that regiment fraternising with the Body Guards was conceived； and the latter invited the former to a dinner； which was given in the great theatre of Versailles； and not in the Salon of Hercules； as some chroniclers say。 Boxes were appropriated to various persons who wished to be present at this entertainment。 The Queen told me she had been advised to make her appearance on the occasion； but that under existing circumstances she thought such a step might do more harm than good； and that； moreover； neither she nor the King ought directly to have anything to do with such a festival。 She ordered me to go； and desired me to observe everything closely； in order to give