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CHAPTER III。
In February； 1790； another matter gave the Court much uneasiness； a zealous individual of the name of Favras had conceived the scheme of carrying off the King； and affecting a counter…revolution。 Monsieur； probably out of mere benevolence； gave him some money； and thence arose a report that he thereby wished to favour the execution of the enterprise。 The step taken by Monsieur in going to the Hotel de Ville to explain himself on this matter was unknown to the Queen； it is more than probable that the King was acquainted with it。 When judgment was pronounced upon M。 de Favras the Queen did not conceal from me her fears about the confessions of the unfortunate man in his last moments。
I sent a confidential person to the Hotel de Ville； she came to inform the Queen that the condemned had demanded to be taken from Notre…Dame to the Hotel de Ville to make a final declaration； and give some particulars verifying it。 These particulars compromised nobody； Favras corrected his last will after writing it； and went to the scaffold with heroic courage and coolness。 The judge who read his condemnation to him told him that his life was a sacrifice which he owed to public tranquillity。 It was asserted at the time that Favras was given up as a victim in order to satisfy the people and save the Baron de Besenval； who was a prisoner in the Abbaye。
＇Thomas Mahy； Marquis de Favras； was accused in the month of December； 1789； of having conspired against the Revolution。 Having been arrested by order of the committee of inquiry of the National Assembly； he was transferred to the Chatelet； where he defended himself with much coolness and presence of mind； repelling the accusations brought against him by Morel； Turcati； and Marquis； with considerable force。 These witnesses declared he had imparted his plan to them； it was to be carried into execution by 12；000 Swiss and 12；000 Germans； who were to be assembled at Montargis； thence to march upon Paris； carry off the King； and assassinate Bailly； La Fayette； and Necker。 The greater number of these charges he denied； and declared that the rest related only to the levy of a troop intended to favour the revolution preparing in Brabant。 The judge having refused to disclose who had denounced him； he complained to the Assembly； which passed to the order of the day。 His death was obviously inevitable。 During the whole time of the proceedings the populace never ceased threatening the judges and shouting； 〃A la lanterne！〃 It was even necessary to keep numerous troops and artillery constantly ready to act in the courtyard of the Chatelet。 The judges； who had just acquitted M。 de Besenval in an affair nearly similar； doubtless dreaded the effects of this fury。 When they refused to hear Favras's witnesses in exculpation； he compared them to the tribunal of the Inquisition。 The principal charge against him was founded on a letter from M。 de Foucault； asking him； 〃where are your troops？ in which direction will they enter Paris？ I should like to be employed among them。〃 Favras was condemned to make the 'amende honorable' in front of the Cathedral； and to be hanged at the Place de Greve。 He heard this sentence with wonderful calmness； and said to his judges； 〃I pity you much if the testimony of two men is sufficient to induce you to condemn。〃 The judge having said to him； 〃I have no other consolation to hold out to you than that which religion affords；〃 he replied； nobly； 〃My greatest consolation is that which I derive from my innocence。〃〃Biographic Universelle〃＇
On the morning of the Sunday following this execution M。 de la Villeurnoy came to my house to tell me that he was going that day to the public dinner of the King and Queen to present Madame de Favras and her son； both of them in mourning for the brave Frenchman who fell a sacrifice for his King； and that all the royalists expected to see the Queen load the unfortunate family with favours。 I did all that lay in my power to prevent this proceeding。 I foresaw the effect it would have upon the Queen's feeling heart； and the painful constraint she would experience； having the horrible Santerre； the commandant of a battalion of the Parisian guard； behind her chair during dinner…time。 I could not make M。 de la Villeurnoy comprehend my argument； the Queen was gone to mass； surrounded by her whole Court； and I had not even means of apprising her of his intention。
When dinner was over I heard a knocking at the door of my apartment； which opened into the corridor next that of the Queen； it was herself。 She asked me whether there was anybody with me； I was alone； she threw herself into an armchair； and told me she came to weep with me over the foolish conduct of the ultras of the King's party。 〃We must fall；〃 said she； 〃attacked as we are by men who possess every talent and shrink from no crime； while we are defended only by those who are no doubt very estimable； but have no adequate idea of our situation。 They have exposed me to the animosity of both parties by presenting the widow and son of Favras to me。 Were I free to act as I wish； I should take the child of the man who has just sacrificed himself for us and place him at table between the King and myself； but surrounded by the assassins who have destroyed his father； I did not dare even to cast my eyes upon him。 The royalists will blame me for not having appeared interested in this poor child； the revolutionists will be enraged at the idea that his presentation should have been thought agreeable to me。〃 However； the Queen added that she knew Madame de Favras was in want； and that she desired me to send her next day； through a person who could be relied on； a few rouleaus of fifty Louis； and to direct that she should be assured her Majesty would always watch over the fortunes of herself and her son。
In the month of March following I had an opportunity of ascertaining the King's sentiments respecting the schemes which were continually proposed to him for making his escape。 One night about ten o'clock Comte d'Inisdal； who was deputed by the nobility； came to request that I would see him in private； as he had an important matter to communicate to me。 He told me that on that very night the King was to be carried off； that the section of the National Guard； that day commanded by M。 d'Aumont； was gained over； and that sets of horses； furnished by some good royalists； were placed in relays at suitable distances； that he had just left a number of the nobility assembled for the execution of this scheme； and that he had been sent to me that I might； through the medium of the Queen； obtain the King's positive consent to it before midnight； that the King was aware of their plan； but that his Majesty never would speak decidedly； and that it was necessary he should consent to the undertaking。 I greatly displeased Comte d'Inisdal by expressing my astonishment that the nobility at the moment of the execution of so important a project should send to me； the Queen's first woman； to obtain a consent which ought to have been the basis of any well…concerted scheme。 I told him； also； that it would be impossible for me to go at that time to the Queen's apartments without exciting the attention of the people in the antechambers； that the King was at cards with the Queen and his family； and that I never broke in upon their privacy unless I was called for。 I added； however； that M。 Campan could enter without being called； and if the Count chose to give him his confidence he might rely upon him。
My father…in…law； to whom Comte d'Inisdal repeated what he had said to me； took the commission upon himself； and went to the Queen's apartments。 The King was playing at whist with the Queen； Monsieur； and Madame； Madame Elisabeth was kneeling on a stool near the table。 M。 Campan informed the Queen of what had been communicated to me； nobody uttered a word。 The Queen broke silence and said to the King； 〃Do you hear； Sire； what Campan says to us？〃〃Yes； I hear；〃 said the King； and continued his game。 Monsieur； who was in the habit of introducing passages from plays into his conversation； said to my father…in…law； 〃M。 Campan； that pretty little couplet again； if you please；〃 and pressed the King to reply。 At length the Queen said； 〃But something must be said to Campan。〃 The King then spoke to my father…in…law in these words： 〃Tell M。 d'Inisdal that I cannot consent to be carried off！〃 The Queen enjoined M。 Campan to take care and； report this answer faithfully。 〃You understand；〃 added she； 〃the King cannot consent to be carried off。〃
Comte d'Inisdal was very much dissatisfied with the King's answer； and went out； saying； 〃I understand； he wishes to throw all the blame； beforehand； upon those who are to devote themselves for him。〃
He went away； and I thought the enterprise would be abandoned。 However； the Queen remained alone with me till midnight； preparing her cases of valuables； and ordered me not to go to bed。 She imagined the King's answer would be understood as a tacit consent； and merely a refusal to participate