ithout being caught.

There was a plan for escape completely formed, as we know from the lady
to whom the queen confided it. No one doubted of the entire success of
this scheme; and the lady daily expected and hoped to have to wait in
vain for the return of the royal family from their drive.

They went out every afternoon at four o'clock; and often did not return
till eight, and sometimes even not till nine. The king went on
horseback, attended by grooms and pages on whom he could rely. The
ladies, in a carriage, were also followed by grooms and pages. The plan
was for all to ride to the same place on a certain afternoon, by
different roads,--the king on horseback, the queen and her daughter, and
the princess Elizabeth, in a carriage; the Dauphin and Madame de Tourzel
in a chaise; and some of the royal suite in other vehicles. On meeting
in a wood, twelve miles from Saint Cloud, the three officers of
Lafayette's staff were to be gained over, or to be overpowered by the
servants; and then all were to push on for the frontier. Meanwhile, the
people at home would wait till nine o'clock, quietly enough. Then, on
becoming alarmed and looking about, they would find on the king's desk a
letter to the Assembly, which they would instantly forward. It could
not reach Paris before ten; and then the Assembly would not be sitting.
The president would have to be found; and the Assembly could hardly be
got together, or messengers sent after the fugitives, before midnight;
when the royal family would have had a start of eight hours.

The lady to whom the queen confided this scheme approved it, but asked
no questions, and hoped she should not be told the precise day, as she
was to be left behind, and wished to be able to say that she had not
known that they intended more than an afternoon drive when they went
forth. One June evening, nine o'clock came, and none of them were home.
The attendants walked restlessly about the courts, and wondered. The
lady's heart beat so that she was afraid her emotion would be observed.
But presently she heard the carriage-wheels; and all returned as usual.
She told the queen that she had not expected to see her home to-night:
and the queen replied that they must wait till the king's aunts had left
France, and till they knew whether the plan would suit the wishes of
their friends over the frontier.

It was believed by many persons, and certainly by Lafayette, that there
were plots, at this ti