were
sounded. A great silence ensued, and Lubin, who had a stentorian
voice, read loud enough to be heard by the royal family confined in the
dungeon, this proclamation, the death knell of monarchy: "Royalty is
abolished in France. All public acts will be dated from the first year
of the Republic. The seal of State will be inscribed with this motto:
_Republique francaise_. The National Seal will represent a woman
seated on a sheaf of arms, holding in one hand a pike surmounted by a
liberty-cap." Hebert (the famous Pere Duchesne) was at this moment on
guard near the royal family. Sitting on the threshold of their
chamber, he sought to discover a movement of vexation or anger, or any
other emotion on their faces. He was unsuccessful. While listening to
the revolutionary decree which snatched away his throne, the descendant
of Saint Louis, Henry IV., and Louis XIV. experienced not the slightest
trouble. He had a book in his hand, and he quietly went on reading it.
As impassive as her spouse, the Queen neither made a movement nor
uttered a word. When the proclamation was finished, the trumpets
sounded again. Clery then went to the window, and the eyes of the
crowd turned instantly towards him. As they mistook him for Louis
XVI., they overwhelmed him with insults. The gendarmes made
threatening {389} gestures, and he was obliged to withdraw so as to
quiet the tumult. While the populace was unchained around the Temple
prison, one man alone was calm, one man alone seemed a stranger to all
anxiety: it was the prisoner.

A new era begins. The death-struggle of royalty is over. Royalty is
dead, and the King is soon to die. Gregoire, who had stolen the vote
(there were but 371 conventionists present; 374 were absent; that is to
say, more than half), is both surprised and enthusiastic about what he
has done. He confesses that for several days his excessive joy
deprived him of appetite and sleep. Such joy will not last very long.
M. Taine compares revolutionary France to a badly nourished workman,
poor, and overdriven with toil, and yet who drinks strong liquors. At
first, in his intoxication, he thinks he is a millionnaire, loved and
admired; he thinks himself a king. "But soon the radiant visions give
place to black and monstrous phantoms.... At present, France has
passed through the period of joyous delirium, and is about to enter on
another that is sombre; behold it, capable of daring, suffering, and
doin