squadrons under the command of Mandat, a
loyal officer, who kept them ranged with their cannon round the outer
enclosures of the palace. Just at dawn, Mandat was sent for by the
magistrates of the city, and went alone, suspecting no danger. To his
amazement, he found that, with the exception of the mayor and one or two
more, the entire magistracy was changed, and now composed of furious
revolutionary men. They arrested him, and ordered him to prison; but
the mob seized him on the steps, and murdered him. The question next
was, what his soldiers would do now they had lost their commander. They
were hungry and weary; and were heard to say how sad it would be to fire
upon their own countrymen--how much easier to side with them. Now was
the moment for the king to speak and act. Now he was told what a gloomy
and uncertain temper these squadrons were in. He owed it to his office,
to his family, to his adherents, to his Swiss guards, to endeavour to
confirm these soldiers in their duty to him. A word, a look, a gesture
might, in the right moment, have done it. What did he do?

In the middle of the night, while all was supposed to be well among the
soldiers outside, the king had retired for a while. When he appeared
again, on the arrival of fresh tidings, it was seen, by the powder being
rubbed off from one side of his head, that he had been lying down to get
a little sleep. The queen and Princess Elizabeth also withdrew; but not
to sleep. They went, with Madame Campan to attend upon them, to a small
room on the ground-floor, where they lay down on couches. In preparing
to lie down, the princess took out the cornelian pin which fastened her
dress, and showed Madame Campan what was engraved upon it. It was the
stem of a lily, with the inscription, "Oblivion of wrongs: forgiveness
of injuries."

"I fear," said the princess, "our enemies do not regard that maxim: but
we must, nevertheless." The ladies conversed sadly enough, but little
imagining what was happening to Mandat. At last they heard a shot.
They sprang from their couches, observing that this was the first shot,
but would not be the last. They must go to the king. They did so,
desiring Madame Campan to follow, and to be in waiting with the other
ladies.--At four o'clock, the queen came out of the king's apartment,
saying that she had no longer any hope whatever, as Mandat was killed.
Yet the king was going out to review the squadrons who had lost their