ched towards this troop at the head of a battalion
of the National Guard, if he had pronounced these words: 'I am your
King; I order you to lay down your arms,' the success would have been
decided. The flight of a single battalion of rebels would have
sufficed to frighten and disperse the others, even before they were
formed into line."

{291}

It was at this time that Roederer, instead of counselling resistance,
implored Louis XVI. to seek shelter in the Assembly for the royal
family. "Sire," he said in an urgent tone, "Your Majesty has not five
minutes to lose; there is no safety for you except in the National
Assembly. In the opinion of the department, it is necessary to go
there without delay. There are not men enough in the courtyards to
defend the palace; nor are they perfectly well-disposed. On the mere
recommendation to be on the defensive, the cannoneers have already
unloaded their cannons."--"But," said the King, "I did not see many
persons on the Carrousel."--"Sire," returned Roederer, "there are a
dozen pieces of artillery, and an immense crowd is arriving from the
faubourgs." The idea of a flight before the insurrection revolted the
Queen's pride. "What are you saying, Sir?" cried she; "you are
proposing that we should seek shelter with our most cruel persecutors!
Never! never! I will be nailed to these walls before I consent to
leave them. Sir, we have troops."--"Madame, all Paris is on the march.
Resistance is impossible. Will you cause the massacre of the King,
your children, and your servants?"

Louis XVI. still hesitating, Roederer vehemently insisted. "Sire,"
said he, "time presses; this is no longer an entreaty nor even a
counsel we take the liberty of offering you; there is only one thing
left for us to do now, and we ask your permission to take you away."
The King looked fixedly at his {292} interlocutor for several seconds;
then, turning to the Queen, he said: "Let us go," and rose to his feet.
Madame Elisabeth said: "Monsieur Roederer, do you answer for the King's
life?"--"Yes, Madame, with my own," responded the communal attorney.
Then, turning to the King: "Sire," said he, "I ask Your Majesty not to
take any of your court with you, but to have no cortege but the
department and no escort except the National Guard."--"Yes," replied
the King, "there is nothing but that to say." The Minister of Justice
exclaimed: "The ministers will follow the King."--"Yes, they have a
place in the