l in vain. The first day
that he was to be admitted, a man whom Barnave knew to be dangerous having
met him in the courtyard of the palace, he determined to cross it without
stopping, and walked in the gardens in order to lull suspicion. I was
desired to wait for Barnave at a little door belonging to the entresols of
the palace, with my hand upon the open lock. I was in that position for
an hour. The King came to me frequently, and always to speak to me of the
uneasiness which a servant belonging to the Chateau, who was a patriot,
gave him. He came again to ask me whether I had heard the door called de
Decret opened. I assured him nobody had been in the corridor, and he
became easy. He was dreadfully apprehensive that his connection with
Barnave would be discovered. "It would," said the King, "be a ground for
grave accusations, and the unfortunate man would be lost." I then
ventured to remind his Majesty that as Barnave was not the only one in the
secret of the business which brought him in contact with their Majesties,
one of his colleagues might be induced to speak of the association with
which they were honoured, and that in letting them know by my presence
that I also was informed of it, a risk was incurred of removing from those
gentlemen part of the responsibility of the secret. Upon this observation
the King quitted me hastily and returned a moment afterwards with the
Queen. "Give me your place," said she; "I will wait for him in my turn.
You have convinced the King. We must not increase in their eyes the
number of persons informed of their communications with us."

The police of M. de Laporte, intendant of the civil list, apprised him, as
early as the latter end of 1791, that a man belonging to the King's
offices who had set up as a pastrycook at the Palais Royal was about to
resume the duties of his situation, which had devolved upon him again on
the death of one who held it for life; that he was so furious a Jacobin
that he had dared to say it would be a good thing for France if the King's
days were shortened. His duty was confined to making the pastry; he was
closely watched by the head officers of the kitchen, who were devoted to
his Majesty; but it is so easy to introduce a subtle poison into made
dishes that it was determined the King and Queen should eat only plain
roast meat in future; that their bread should be brought to them by M.
Thierry de Ville-d'Avray, intendant of the smaller apartment