ders, and they appeared to hesitate in
crossing the threshold they had burst open. During this doubtful moment,
the Marshal de Mouchy, Acloque, the three grenadiers and two servants,
made the king retreat a few paces, and then placed themselves between
him and the populace. The grenadiers presented their bayonets, and for a
moment kept the crowd at bay. But the increasing mob pushed forward the
first ranks. The first who pressed in was a man in rags, with naked
arms, haggard eyes, and foaming at the mouth. "Where is the _veto_?" he
said, thrusting in the direction of the king's breast a long stick with
an iron dart at the end. One of the grenadiers pressed down this stick
with his bayonet, and thrust aside the arm of this infuriated creature.
The brigand fell at the feet of the citizen, and this act of energy
imposed on his companions, and they trampled upon the man as he lay.
Pikes, hatchets, and knives were lowered or withdrawn. The majesty of
royalty resumed its empire for a moment, and this mob restrained itself
at a certain distance from the king, in an attitude rather of brutal
curiosity than of ferocity.

XIX.

Several officers of the National Guard, roused by the report of the
king's danger, had hastened to join the brave grenadiers, and made a
space round Louis XVI. The king, who had but one thought, which was to
keep the people away from the apartment in which he had left the queen,
ordered the door of the _Salle de Conseil_ to be closed behind him. He
was followed by the multitude into the salon of the _OEil de Boeuf_,
under pretence that this apartment, from its extent, would allow a
greater quantity of citizens to see and speak with him. He reached the
room surrounded by a vast and turbulent crowd, and was happy at finding
that only himself was exposed to blows from weapons of all kinds, which
thousands of hands brandished over his head; but as he turned his head
he saw his sister, Madame Elizabeth, who extended her arms, and was
anxious to rush towards him.

She had escaped from the women who retained the queen and children in
the bed-chamber. She adored her brother, and wished to die with him.
Young, excessively beautiful, and deeply respected at court, for the
piety of her life and her passionate devotion to the king, she had
renounced all love from her intense affection for her family. Her
dishevelled hair, her eyes swimming with tears, her arms extended
towards the king, gave to her a despairing a