"You
think that I ought myself to announce to the people what I mean to
do?"
Lafayette bowed and pointed to the window, which shook even then
with the threatening cry, "The king! We will see the king! He shall
go to Paris! The king, the king!"
Louis listened awhile in thoughtful silence to this thundering
shout, which was at once so full of majesty and horror; then he
quickly raised his head.
"I will follow your advice, general," said he, calmly. "I will
announce my decision to the people. Give me your hand, madame, we
will go into the balcony-room. And you, gentlemen, follow me!"
The queen took the hand of her husband without a word, and gave the
other to the little dauphin, who timidly clung to her, while her
daughter Therese quietly and composedly walked near them.
BOOK III
CHAPTER XIV.
TO PARIS.
Without speaking a word, and with hasty steps, the royal couple,
followed by the ministers and courtiers, traversed the two adjoining
apartments, and entered the balcony-room, which, situated at the
centre of the main building, commanded a wide view of the inner
court and the square in front of it.
The valet Hue hastened, at a motion from the king, to throw open the
great folding doors, and the king, parting with a smile from Marie
Antoinette, stepped out upon the balcony.
Pages:
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339