To this building, situated near the Tuileries, the king,
accompanied by his three defenders and two municipal defenders, and
surrounded by National Guards, was conducted from the Temple. The
people danced around the carriage with wild shouts of joy and curses
of the king. Within the vehicle sat Louis, completely calm and self-
possessed.
"This man must be filled with a singular fanaticism," said
Colombeau, one of the leading officials, in the report which he gave
to the Convention of the ride. "It is otherwise inexplicable how
Louis could be so calm, since he had so much reason to fear. After
we had all entered the carriage, and were driving through the
streets, Louis entered upon conversation, which soon turned upon
literature, and especially upon some Latin authors. He gave his
judgments with remarkable correctness and insight, and it appeared
to me that he took pleasure in showing his learning. One of us said
that he did not enjoy Seneca, because his love for riches stood in
marked contrast with his pretended philosophy, and because it could
not easily be forgiven him that before the senate he apologized for
the crimes of Nero. This reflection did not seem to affect Louis in
the least. When we spoke of Livy, Capet said that he seemed to have
taken satisfaction in composing great speeches which were never
uttered to any other audience than that which was reached from his
study-table; 'for,' he added, 'it is impossible that generals really
delivered such long speeches in front of their armies.
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