for the hundredth time,
Majesty, when near the point of action, draws back; writes, after one
has waited, palpitating, an endless summer day, that 'he has reason
to believe the Insurrection is not so ripe as you suppose.' Whereat
Bertrand-Moleville breaks forth 'into extremity at one of spleen and
despair, d'humeur et de desespoir.' (Bertrand-Moleville, Memoires, ii.
129.)

Chapter 2.6.VI.

The Steeples at Midnight.

For, in truth, the Insurrection is just about ripe. Thursday is the
ninth of the month August: if Forfeiture be not pronounced by the
Legislature that day, we must pronounce it ourselves.

Legislature? A poor waterlogged Legislature can pronounce nothing. On
Wednesday the eighth, after endless oratory once again, they cannot
even pronounce Accusation again Lafayette; but absolve him,--hear
it, Patriotism!--by a majority of two to one. Patriotism hears it;
Patriotism, hounded on by Prussian Terror, by Preternatural Suspicion,
roars tumultuous round the Salle de Manege, all day; insults many
leading Deputies, of the absolvent Right-side; nay chases them, collars
them with loud menace: Deputy Vaublanc, and others of the like, are glad
to take refuge in Guardhouses, and escape by the back window. And so,
next day, there is infinite complaint; Letter after Letter from insulted
Deputy; mere complaint, debate and self-cancelling jargon: the sun of
Thursday sets like the others, and no Forfeiture pronounced. Wherefore
in fine, To your tents, O Israel!

The Mother-Society ceases speaking; groups cease haranguing: Patriots,
with closed lips now, 'take one another's arm;' walk off, in rows, two
and two, at a brisk business-pace; and vanish afar in the obscure places
of the East. (Deux Amis, viii. 129-88.) Santerre is ready; or we will
make him ready. Forty-seven of the Forty-eight Sections are ready; nay
Filles-Saint-Thomas itself turns up the Jacobin side of it, turns down
the Feuillant side of it, and is ready too. Let the unlimited Patriot
look to his weapon, be it pike, be it firelock; and the Brest brethren,
above all, the blackbrowed Marseillese prepare themselves for the
extreme hour! Syndic Roederer knows, and laments or not as the issue may
turn, that 'five thousand ball-cartridges, within these few days, have
been distributed to Federes, at the Hotel-de-Ville.' (Roederer a la
Barre, Seance du 9 Aout in Hist. Parl. xvi. 393.)

And ye likewise, gallant gentlemen, defenders of Royalty, crowd ye on