The mob thronged the precincts of the Palace, some persons had even penetrated into the grand chamber; no deliberations went on.  Towards midnight, several companies of the French guards entered the hall of the Pas-Perdus; all the exits were guarded.  The court was in commotion, the young councillors demanded that the deliberations should go on publicly.  “Gentlemen,” said President de Gourgues, “would you derogate from the ancient forms?” The spectators withdrew.  The Marquis d’Agoult, aide-major of the French guards, demanded admission; he had orders from the king.  The ushers opened the doors; at sight of the magistrates in scarlet robes, motionless upon their seats, the officer was for a moment abashed; he cast his eye from bench to bench, his voice faltered when he read the order signed by the king to arrest “MM. d’Espremesnil and De Montsabert, in the grand chamber or elsewhere.”  “The court will proceed to deliberate thereon, sir,” replied the president.  “Your forms are to deliberate,” hotly replied M. d’Agoult, who had recovered himself; “I know nothing of those forms, the king’s orders must be executed without delay; point out to me those whom I have to arrest.”  Silence reigned throughout the hall; not a word, not a gesture indicated the accused.  Only the dukes and peers made merry aloud over the nobleman charged with so disagreeable a mission:  he repeated his demand:  “We are all d’Espremesnil and Montsabert,” exclaimed the magistrates.  M. d’Agoult left the room.

He soon returned, accompanied by an exon of the short robe, named Larchier.  “Show me whom I have to arrest,” was the officer’s order.  The exon looked all round the room; he knew every one of the magistrates; the accused were sitting right in front of him.  “I do not see MM. d’Espremesnil and Montsabert anywhere,” he at last said, tremulously.  M. d’Agoult’s threats could not get any other answer out of him.

The officer had gone to ask for fresh orders; the deputation sent to Versailles had returned, without having been received by Louis XVI., of whom an audience had not been requested.  The court wanted to send some of the king’s people at once to notify a fresh request; the troops guarded all the doors, nobody could leave the Palace.

“Gentlemen,” said d’Espr4mesnil at last, “it would be contrary to our honor as well as to the dignity of the Parliament to prolong this scene any further; and, besides, we cannot be the ruin of Larchier; let M. d’Agoult be shown in again.”  The officer was recalled, the magistrates were seated and covered.  “Sir,” said M. d’Espremesnil, “I am one of those you are in search of.  The law forbids me to obey orders irregularly obtained (surpris) of the sovereign, and it is to be faithful to him that I have not mentioned who I am until this moment.  I call upon you to state whether, in case I should not go with you voluntarily, you have orders to drag me from this building.”  “Certainly,