Guards stationed in the palace had
orders never to lose sight of the royal family. They therefore, for
some weeks, kept the doors open day and night, having their eyes upon
the royal party all day, and upon their very beds at night. The queen
caused a small bed to be placed between the door of her chamber and her
own bed, that she might sleep or weep on her pillow without being
exposed to the observation of her soldier-gaolers. One night, however,
the officer who was on watch, perceiving that the queen was awake, and
her attendant asleep, drew near her bed to give her some advice how she
should conduct herself in regard to politics. The queen begged him to
speak low, that her attendant might not be disturbed. The lady awoke,
however, and was in terror when she saw with whom the queen was
conversing. Her majesty then used the smooth and flattering tone which
she always appeared to think her enemies would be pleased with, desiring
the lady not to be alarmed, for that this officer was an excellent man,
no doubt truly attached to the king, though mistaken as to what were the
intentions of both the king and herself.

The king one day rose to shut the door of the room where he was sitting
with his family. The guard immediately threw it open again, saying that
he had orders to keep it open; and that the king would only give himself
useless trouble by shutting it. The difficulty now was to find any
opportunity for private conversation. This was done through the
attachment of one of the guards, who often took a very disagreeable post
which nobody else desired to have. This was in a dark corridor where
candles had to be used all day, and where, therefore, no sentinel would
like being on guard for twenty-four hours together, in the month of
July. Saint Prix, an actor, devoted, however, himself to this service,
for the sake of the king and queen, who often met here for short
conversations. Saint Prix, on these occasions, retired out of hearing,
and gave notice if he believed anyone was coming.

This extreme of insulting rigour did not last long this time. In August
the family were allowed to open and shut their doors when they pleased,
and the king was treated with more outward respect. The Assembly was
then preparing a Constitution, which it was believed the king would
sign; and it would be well that, at the time of doing so, he should
appear in the eyes of the world as a king, and not a prisoner who acted
merely up