and some of the lower classes were said to have died of actual famine.  In their distress the citizens looked to the king, and attributed their misery in a great degree to his ignorance of their situation, which was caused by his living at Versailles.  They nicknamed him the “Baker,” as if he could supply them with bread, and began to clamor for him at least to take up an occasional residence among them in in his capital.  From raising a cry, the step was easy to organize a riot to compel him to do so.  And to this object the partisans of the Duke of Orleans, assisted, if not prompted, by Mirabeau, now began to apply themselves, hoping that the result would be the deposition of Louis and the enthronement of the duke, who might be glad to take the great orator for his prime minister.

So certain did the conspirators feel of success, that they took no pains to keep their machinations secret.  As early as the middle of September intelligence was received at Versailles that the Parisians would march upon that town in force, on the 5th of October; and the Assembly was greatly alarmed, believing, not without reason, that the object of the intended attack was to overawe and overbear them.  The magistrates of the town were even more terrified, and besought the king to bring up at least one regiment for their protection.  And, prudent and reasonable as the request was, the compliance with it furnished the agents of sedition with pretexts for further violence.

A regiment, known as that of Flanders, was sent for from the frontiers, and speedily arrived at Versailles, when, according to their old and hospitable fashion, the Body-guard,[2] who regarded Versailles as their home, invited the officers, and with them the officers of the Swiss Guard, and those of the town militia also, to a banquet on the 1st of October.  The opera-house, as had often been done in similar instances, was lent for the occasion; and the boxes were filled with the chief ladies of the court and of the town, and also with many members of the Assembly, as spectators.  So enthusiastic were the acclamations that greeted the toast of the king’s health, that, though Marie Antoinette had previously desired that the royal family should not appear to have any connection with the entertainment, the captain of the guard, the Count de Luxembourg, had no difficulty in persuading her that it would but be a graceful recognition of such spontaneous and sincere loyalty at such a time if she were to honor the banquet with her presence, though but by the briefest visit.  Louis, too, accepted the proposal with greater warmth than usual, and when the royal pair with their children—­the queen, as was her custom, leading one in each hand—­descended from their apartments and walked through the banquet-hall, the enthusiasm was redoubled.  The spectators, among whom were many members of the Assembly, caught the contagion.  Loyal cheers resounded from every part of the theatre, and the feelings excited became