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the idea of privately making； with the assistance of a locksmith who had worked with him above ten years； a place of concealment in an inner corridor of his apartments。 The place of concealment； but for the man's information； would have been long undiscovered？ The wall in which it was made was painted to imitate large stones； and the opening was entirely concealed among the brown grooves which formed the shaded part of these painted stones。 But even before this locksmith had denounced what was afterwards called the iron closet to the Assembly； the Queen was aware that he had talked of it to some of his friends； and that this man； in whom the King from long habit placed too much confidence； was a Jacobin。 She warned the King of it； and prevailed on him to fill a very large portfolio with all the papers he was most interested in preserving； and entrust it to me。 She entreated him in my presence to leave nothing in this closet； and the King； in order to quiet her； told her that he had left nothing there。 I would have taken the portfolio and carried it to my apartment； but it was too heavy for me to lift。 The King said he would carry it himself； I went before to open the doors for him。 When he placed the portfolio in my inner closet he merely said； 〃The Queen will tell you what it contains。〃 Upon my return to the Queen I put the question to her； deeming； from what the King had said； that it was necessary I should know。 〃They are；〃 the Queen answered me； 〃such documents as would be most dangerous to the King should they go so far as to proceed to a trial against him。 But what he wishes me to tell you is； that the portfolio contains a 'proces…verbal' of a cabinet council； in which the King gave his opinion against the war。 He had it signed by all the ministers； and； in case of a trial； he trusts that this document will be very useful to him。〃 I asked the Queen to whom she thought I ought to commit the portfolio。 〃To whom you please；〃 answered she； 〃you alone are answerable for it。 Do not quit the palace even during your vacation months： there may be circumstances under which it would be very desirable that we should be able to have it instantly。〃
At this period M。 de La Fayette； who had probably given up the idea of establishing a republic in France similar to that of the United States； and was desirous to support the first constitution which he had sworn to defend； quitted his army and came to the Assembly for the purpose of supporting by his presence and by an energetic speech a petition signed by twenty thousand citizens against the late violation of the residence of the King and his family。 The General found the constitutional party powerless； and saw that he himself had lost his popularity。 The Assembly disapproved of the step he had taken； the King； for whom it； was taken； showed no satisfaction at it； and he saw himself compelled to return to his army as quickly as he could。 He thought he could rely on the National Guard； but on the day of his arrival those officers who were in the King's interest inquired of his Majesty whether they were to forward the views of Gendral de La Fayette by joining him in such measures as he should pursue during his stay at Paris。 The King enjoined them not to do so。 From this answer M。 de La Fayette perceived that he was abandoned by the remainder of his party in the Paris guard。
On his arrival a plan was presented to the Queen； in which it was proposed by a junction between La Fayette's army and the King's party to rescue the royal family and convey them to Rouen。 I did not learn the particulars of this plan； the Queen only said to me upon the subject that M。 de La Fayette was offered to them as a resource； but that it would be better for them to perish than to owe their safety to the man who had done them the most mischief； or to place themselves under the necessity of treating with him。
I passed the whole month of July without going to bed； I was fearful of some attack by night。 There was one plot against the Queen's life which has never been made known。 I was alone by her bedside at one o'clock in the morning； we heard somebody walking softly down the corridor； which passes along the whole line of her apartments； and which was then locked at each end。 I went out to fetch the valet de chambre； he entered the corridor； and the Queen and myself soon heard the noise of two men fighting。 The unfortunate Princess held me locked in her arms； and said to me； 〃What a situation！ insults by day and assassins by night！〃 The valet de chambre cried out to her from the corridor； 〃Madame； it is a wretch that I know； I have him！〃〃Let him go；〃 said the Queen； 〃open the door to him； he came to murder me； the Jacobins would carry him about in triumph to…morrow。〃 The man was a servant of the King's toilet； who had taken the key of the corridor out of his Majesty's pocket after he was in bed； no doubt with the intention of committing the crime suspected。 The valet de chambre； who was a very strong man； held him by the wrists； and thrust him out at the door。 The wretch did not speak a word。 The valet de chambre said； in answer to the Queen； who spoke to him gratefully of the danger to which he had exposed himself； that he feared nothing； and that he had always a pair of excellent pistols about him for no other purpose than to defend her Majesty。 The next day M。 de Septeuil had all the locks of the King's inner apartments changed。 I did the same by those of the Queen。
We were every moment told that the Faubourg St。 Antoine was preparing to march against the palace。 At four o'clock one morning towards the latter end of July a person came to give me information to that effect。 I instantly sent off two men； on whom I could rely； with orders to proceed to the usual places for assembling； and to come back speedily and give me an account of the state of the city。 We knew that at least an hour must elapse before the populace or the faubourgs assembled on the site of the Bastille could reach the Tuileries。 It seemed to me sufficient for the Queen's safety that all about her should be awakened。 I went softly into her room； she was asleep； I did not awaken her。 I found General de W in the great closet； he told me the meeting was； for this once； dispersing。 The General had endeavoured to please the populace by the same means as M。 de La Fayette had employed。 He saluted the lowest poissarde； and lowered his hat down to his very stirrup。 But the populace； who had been flattered for three years； required far different homage to its power； and the poor man was unnoticed。 The King had been awakened； and so had Madame Elisabeth； who had gone to him。 The Queen； yielding to the weight of her griefs； slept till nine o'clock on that day； which was very unusual with her。 The King had already been to know whether she was awake； I told him what I had done； and the care I had taken not to disturb her。 He thanked me； and said； 〃I was awake； and so was the whole palace； she ran no risk。 I am very glad to see her take a little rest。 Alas！ her griefs double mine！〃 What was my chagrin when； upon awaking and learning what had passed； the Queen burst into tears from regret at not having been called； and began to upbraid me； on whose friendship she ought to have been able to rely； for having served her so ill under such circumstances！ In vain did I reiterate that it had been only a false alarm； and that she required to have her strength recruited。 〃It is not diminished；〃 said she； 〃misfortune gives us additional strength。 Elisabeth was with the King； and I was asleep；I who am determined to perish by his side！ I am his wife； I will not suffer him to incur the smallest risk without my sharing it。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
During July the correspondence of M。 Bertrand de Molleville with the King and Queen was most active。 M。 de Marsilly； formerly a lieutenant of the Cent…Suisses of the Guard； was the bearer of the letters。
＇I received by night only the King's answer； written with his own hand； in the margin of my letter。 I always sent him back with the day's letter that to which he had replied the day before； so that my letters and his answers； of which I contented myself with taking notes only； never remained with me twenty…four hours。 I proposed this arrangement to his Majesty to remove all uneasiness from his mind； my letters were generally delivered to the King or the Queen by M。 de Marsilly； captain of the King's Guard； whose attachment and fidelity were known to their Majesties。 I also sometimes employed M。 Bernard de Marigny； who had left Brest for the purpose of sharing with his Majesty's faithful servants the dangers which threatened the King。〃Memoirs of Bertrand de Molleville；〃 vol。 ii。； p。 12。＇
He came to me the first time with a note from the Queen directed to M。 Bertrand himself。 In this note the Queen said： 〃Address yourself with full confidence to Madame Campan； the conduct of her brother in Russia has not at all influenced her sentiments； she is wholly devoted to us； and if； hereafter； you should have anything to say to us verbally； you may rely entirely upon her devotion and discretion。〃
The mobs which gathered a