em? He constitutes himself the organ of his army
and of honest men. Where are these honest men? How has the army been
able to deliberate?" Guadet concluded thus: "I demand that the
Minister of War be asked whether he gave leave of absence to M.
Lafayette, and that the extraordinary Committee of Twelve make a report
to-morrow on the danger of granting the right of petition to generals."
Ramond, one of the most courageous members of the right, was the next
speaker: "Four days ago," said he, "an armed multitude asked to appear
before you. Positive laws forbade such a thing, and a proclamation
made by the department on the previous day recalled this law and
demanded that it should be put into execution. You paid no attention,
but admitted armed men into your midst. To-day M. Lafayette presents
himself; he is known only by reason of his love of liberty; his life is
a series of combats against despotisms of every sort; he has {235}
sacrificed his life and fortune to the Revolution. It is against this
man that pretended suspicions are directed and every passion unchained.
Has the National Assembly two weights and measures, then? Certainly,
if respect is to be had to persons, it should be shown to this eldest
son of French liberty." This eulogy exasperated the left. Deputy
Saladin exclaimed: "I ask M. Ramond if he is making M. Lafayette's
funeral oration?" However, the right was still in the majority. After
a long tumult Guadet's motion against Lafayette was rejected by 339
votes against 234. The general left the Assembly surrounded by a
numerous cortege of deputies and National Guards, and went directly to
the palace of the Tuileries.

It is the decisive moment. The vote just taken may serve as the
starting-point of a conservative reaction if the King will trust
himself to Lafayette. But how will he receive him? The sovereign's
greeting will be polite, but not cordial. The King and Queen say they
are persuaded that there is no safety but in the Constitution. Louis
XVI. adds that he would consider it a very fortunate thing if the
Austrians were beaten without delay. Lafayette is treated with a
courtesy through which suspicion pierces. When he leaves the palace, a
large crowd accompany him to his house and plant a may-pole before the
door. On the next day Louis XVI. was to review four thousand men of
the National Guard. Lafayette had proposed to appear at this review
{236} beside the King and make a speech