e done
no harm: but, indolent and passive as he was, everything seemed to
conspire to prevent all mutual understanding between him and the nation.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER SEVEN.

AT SAINT CLOUD.

One of his wishes was, to a certain degree, gratified at length. He got
a little more hunting when June came. To the surprise of the court, and
many besides, the royal family were quietly permitted to go to their
country-house at Saint Cloud, a few miles from Paris, when the weather
became too warm for a comfortable residence at the Tuileries. The
National Guard followed them; but the king rode out daily, attended only
by an officer of General Lafayette's staff. The queen was guarded by
another of these officers, and the Dauphin by a third.

It seems rather strange that so much liberty should have been allowed,
when so lately every precaution was taken to prevent the flight of the
family. During the past winter and spring, and the next season, the
leaders of the revolution kept a constant watch upon the palace, and
knew all that went on there. They knew what persons were admitted at
back doors to consult with the queen. They also knew, after the family
returned from Saint Cloud, how many horses were in the royal stables,
and how many of them stood constantly saddled and bridled. They knew
how the royal carriages were kept stuffed with luggage, ready to start
at a moment's warning,--the royal arms being nearly rubbed out from the
panels. They declared also that they knew that the king's old aunts
meant to go away, carrying off, not only plenty of treasure, but little
Louis; and that a boy, very like Louis, had been in training for some
time, to represent him, when the true Dauphin should have been carried
to his uncle, over the frontiers. All this was published in the
newspapers, so that, if the old princesses had any such plan prepared,
they were obliged to give it up. Thus were the family guarded in Paris,
before and after, and yet, in June, they were riding and driving about
Saint Cloud, believing that they might go off any day they chose.
Perhaps, however, this might not have proved so easy as they thought.
There might have been spies about them that they did not know of; and,
since nothing could be worse than their management of all business
matters, from inexperience and want of knowledge of other people's minds
and affairs, their enemies might feel pretty secure that the royal
prisoners could not fly far w