CHAPTER VII.
THE KING'S MESSENGER.
On the morning of the second of April, an hour before Mirabeau yieldedup his last breath, a superior officer of the navy, wearing his fulldress uniform of captain, entered the Tuileries Palace like one to whomthe ways were familiar.
He took the private stairs to the King's apartments, where, by thestudy, a valet saw him and uttered a cry of surprise.
"Hue," he said, laying a finger on his lips, "can the King receive me?"
"His Majesty gave word that you were to be shown in whenever youarrived."
He opened a door and as a proof that the King was alone, he called out:
"The Count of Charny!"
"Let him enter," said the King; "I have been expecting him sinceyesterday."
Charny entered quickly and said as he went up to his royal master withrespectful eagerness:
"Sire, I am a few hours behindhand, but I hope to be forgiven when yourMajesty hears the reasons for the delay."
"Come, come, my lord; I awaited you with impatience, it is true; but Iwas of your opinion beforehand that an important cause alone could delayyour journey. You have come, and you are welcome."
He held out his hand which the courier kissed with reverence.
"Sire, I received your order early the day before yesterday and Istarted at three A. M. yesterday from Montmedy by the post."
"That explains the few hours delay," observed the sovereign, smiling.
"Sire," went on the count, "I might have dashed on and made better speedbut I wanted to study the road as it is generally used so as to remarkthe posting-houses where the work is well or ill done; I wished to jotthe time down by the minute. I have noted everything and am consequentlyin a position to answer on any point."
"Bravo, my lord," cried the King. "You are a first-rate servitor; butlet me begin by showing how we stand here; you can give me the news ofthe position out there afterwards."
"Things are going badly, if I may guess by what I have heard," observedCharny.
"To such a degree that I am a prisoner in the place, my dear count. Iwas just saying to General Lafayette that I would rather be King at Metzthan over France; but never mind, you have returned. You know my auntshave taken to flight? it is very plain why. You know the Assembly willallow no priests to officiate at the altar unless they take oaths to thecountry. The poor souls became frightened as Easter came near, thinkingthey risked damnation by confessing to a priest who had sworn to theConstitution, and I must confess, it was on my advice that they went toRome. No law opposes their journey and no one can think two poor womenwill much strengthen the party of the fugitive nobility. They chargedNarbonne with getting them off; but I do not know how the movement wasguessed. A visit of the same nature as we experienced at Versailles inOctober was projected upon them, but they happily got out by one doorwhile the mob rushed in by another. Just think of the crosses! not avehicle was at hand though three had been ordered to be ready. They hadto go to Meudon from Bellevue on foot.
"They found carriages there and made the start. Three hours afterwards,tremendous uproar in Paris: those who went to stop the flight found thenest warm but empty. Next day the press fairly howled: Marat said thatthey were carrying away millions; Desmoulins that they were taking theDauphin. Nothing of the sort: the two poor ladies had a few hundredthousand francs in their purses, and had enough to take care of withoutburdening themselves with a boy who might bring about their recognition.The proof was that they were recognized, without him, first at a placewhere they were let go through, and then at Arnay, where they werearrested. I had to write to the Assembly to get them passed, and spiteof my letter the Assembly debated all day. However, they were authorizedto continue their journey but on condition that the committee of theHouse should present a bill against quitting the kingdom."
"Yes," said Charny, "but I understood, that, in spite of a magnificentspeech from Mirabeau, the Assembly rejected the proposition."
"True, it was thrown out: but beside this slight triumph was greathumiliation for me. When the excitement was noticed over the departureof the two ladies, a few devoted friends, more than you may believebeing left to me, count--some hundreds of noblemen hastened to theTuileries and offered me their lives. The report was immediately spreadthat a conspiracy was discovered to spirit me away. Lafayette, who hadbeen gulled into going to the Bastile under a story that an attemptto rebuild it was under way, came back here furious at the hoax, andentered with sword and bayonet!--my poor friends were seized anddisarmed. Pistols were found on some, stilettos on others, each havingsnatched up at home any weapon handy. But the day is written down inhistory as that of the Knights of the Dagger!"
"Oh, Sire, in what dreadful times do we live," said Charny, shaking hishead.
"Yes, and Mirabeau perhaps dying, maybe dead at present speaking."
"The more reason to hasten out of this cauldron."
"Just what we have decided on. Have you arranged with Bouille? I hopehe is strong enough now. The opportunity was presented and I reinforcedhim."
"Yes, Sire: but the War Minister has crossed your orders; the SaxonHussars have drawn from him, and the Swiss regiments refused. He hadtrouble to keep the Bouillon Foot at Montmedy Fort."
"Does he doubt now?"
"No Sire, but there are so many chances less. What matters? in thesedashes one must reckon on luck, and we still have ninety per cent ofchances. The question is if your Majesty holds to the Chalons Routealthough the posting at Varennes is doubtful?"
"Bouille already knows my reasons for the preference."
"That is why I have minutely mapped out the route."
"The route-chart is a marvel of clearness, my dear count. I know theroad as though I had myself travelled it."
"I have the following directions to add----"
"Let me look at them by the map." And he unfolded on the table a mapdrawn by hand with every natural feature laid in. It was a work of eightmonths. The two stooped over the paper.
"Sire, the real danger begins at St. Menehould and ceases at Stenay. Onthose eighteen leagues must be stationed the soldiers."
"Could they not be brought nearer Paris--say, up to Chalons?"
"It is difficult," was the response. "Chalons is too strong a place foreven a hundred men to do anything efficacious to your safety if menaced.Besides, Bouille does not answer for anything beyond St. Menehould. Allhe can do is set his first troops at Sommevelle Bridge. That is thefirst post beyond Chalons."
"What time will it take?"
"The King can go from Paris to Montmedy in thirty-six hours."
"What have you decided about the relay of horses at Varennes? where wemust be certain not to want for them; it is most important."
"I have investigated the spot and decided to place the horses on theother side of the little town. It will be better to dash through, comingfull speed from Clermont, and change horses five hundred paces from thebridge, guarded and defended if signalled by three or four men."
Charny gave the King a paper.
It was Bouille's arrangement of the stations of the troops along theroad for the royal escape. The cover would be that the soldiers werewaiting to convoy some money sent by the War Minister.
"Everything has been foreseen," said the King delightedly. "But talkingof money, do you know whether Bouille has received the million I senthim?"
"Yes, but as assignats are below par, he would lose twenty per centon the gross amount, only for a faithful subject of your Majesty whocashed, as if gold, a hundred thousand crowns' worth."
"And the rest?" inquired the King, eyeing the speaker.
"Count Bouille got his banker to take it; so that there will be no lackof the sinews of war."
"I thank you, my lord count," said the sovereign. "I should like toknow the name of the faithful servitor who perhaps lessened his cash bygiving the sum to Bouille."
"He is rich and consequently there was no merit in what he did. The onlycondition he put in doing the act was t
o have his name kept back."
"Still you know him?"
"Yes, I know who it is."
"Then, Lord Charny," said the monarch with the hearty dignity which hesometimes showed, as he took a ring off his finger, "here is a jewelvery dear to me. I took it off the finger of my dying father when hishand was chill in death. Its value is therefore that which I attach toit; it has no other; but for a soul which understands me, it will bemore precious than the finest diamond. Repeat to the faithful servitorwhat I say, my lord, and give him this gem from me."
Charny's bosom heaved as he dropped on one knee to receive the ring fromthe royal hand.
At this juncture the door opened. The King turned sharply, for a door toopen thus was worse than infraction of etiquette; it was an insult onlyto be excused by great necessity.
It was the Queen, pale and holding a paper. She let it drop with a cryof astonishment at seeing Count Charny at the feet of her consort. Thenoble rose and saluted the lady, who faltered:
"Charny here, in the King's rooms, in the Tuileries!" And she said toherself: "Without my knowing it!"
There was such sorrow in the tone that Charny guessed the reason andtook two steps towards her.
"I have just arrived and I was going to crave the King's permission forme to pay my respects to your Majesty," he said.
The blood reappeared on her cheeks; she had not heard that voice for along while and the sweet tone charmed her ears. She held out both handstowards him but brought back one upon her heart from its beating tooviolently. Charny noticed all this although in the short space requiredfor the King to pick up the paper, which the draft from the door hadfloated to the side of the room.
The King read without understanding.
"What is the meaning of the word 'Flee' three times written, and thefragment of a signature?" inquired he.
"Sire, it seems that Mirabeau died ten minutes ago, and that is theadvice he sends you."
"It is good advice," returned the King, "and this time the instant toput it into execution has come."
The Queen looked at them both, and said to the count:
"Follow me, my lord."