The queen wakened her
children, and assisted in dressing them. She then went with the
little ones to the king, who received them with an affectionate
greeting. At length a blast of trumpets announced that the movement
had become general; the thunder of cannon and the peals of bells
awakened the sleeping city.
The royal family, crowded close together, silently awaited the
stalking of the republic into the halls of the king's palace, or the
saving of the monarchy by the grace of God and the bravery of their
faithful friends. For even then monarchy had those who were true to
it; and while the trumpet-blasts continued and the bells to ring, to
awaken republicans to the struggle, the sounds were at the same time
the battle-cry of the royalists, and told them, that the king was in
danger and needed their help.
About two hundred noblemen had remained in Paris, and had not
followed the royal princes to Coblentz to take arms against their
own country. They had remained in Paris, in order to defend the
monarchy to the last drop of their blood, and at least to be near
the throne, if they were not able to hold it up longer. In order not
to be suspected, they carried no arms, and yet it was known that
beneath the silk vest of the cavalier they concealed the dagger of
the soldier, and they received in consequence the appellation of
"Chevaliers of the Dagger.
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