Hapless De Breze; doomed to survive long ages, in men’s memory, in this faint way, with tremulent white rod!  He was true to Etiquette, which was his Faith here below; a martyr to respect of persons.  Short woollen cloaks could not kiss Majesty’s hand as long velvet ones did.  Nay lately, when the poor little Dauphin lay dead, and some ceremonial Visitation came, was he not punctual to announce it even to the Dauphin’s dead body:  “Monseigneur, a Deputation of the States-General!” (Montgaillard, ii. 38.) Sunt lachrymae rerum.

But what does the Oeil-de-Boeuf, now when De Breze shivers back thither?  Despatch that same force of bayonets?  Not so:  the seas of people still hang multitudinous, intent on what is passing; nay rush and roll, loud-billowing, into the Courts of the Chateau itself; for a report has risen that Necker is to be dismissed.  Worst of all, the Gardes Francaises seem indisposed to act:  ’two Companies of them do not fire when ordered!’ (Histoire Parlementaire, ii. 26.) Necker, for not being at the Seance, shall be shouted for, carried home in triumph; and must not be dismissed.  His Grace of Paris, on the other hand, has to fly with broken coach-panels, and owe his life to furious driving.  The Gardes-du-Corps (Body-Guards), which you were drawing out, had better be drawn in again. (Bailly, i. 217.) There is no sending of bayonets to be thought of.

Instead of soldiers, the Oeil-de-Boeuf sends—­carpenters, to take down the platform.  Ineffectual shift!  In few instants, the very carpenters cease wrenching and knocking at their platform; stand on it, hammer in hand, and listen open-mouthed. (Histoire Parlementaire, ii. 23.) The Third Estate is decreeing that it is, was, and will be, nothing but a National Assembly; and now, moreover, an inviolable one, all members of it inviolable:  ’infamous, traitorous, towards the Nation, and guilty of capital crime, is any person, body-corporate, tribunal, court or commission that now or henceforth, during the present session or after it, shall dare to pursue, interrogate, arrest, or cause to be arrested, detain or cause to be detained, any,’ &c. &c. ’on whose part soever the same be commanded.’ (Montgaillard, ii. 47.) Which done, one can wind up with this comfortable reflection from Abbe Sieyes:  “Messieurs, you are today what you were yesterday.”

Courtiers may shriek; but it is, and remains, even so.  Their well-charged explosion has exploded through the touch-hole; covering themselves with scorches, confusion, and unseemly soot!  Poor Triumvirate, poor Queen; and above all, poor Queen’s Husband, who means well, had he any fixed meaning!  Folly is that wisdom which is wise only behindhand.  Few months ago these Thirty-five Concessions had filled France with a rejoicing, which might have lasted for several years.  Now it is unavailing, the very mention of it slighted; Majesty’s express orders set at nought.

All France is in a roar; a sea of persons, estimated at ‘ten thousand,’ whirls ‘all this day in the Palais Royal.’ (Arthur Young, i. 119.) The remaining Clergy, and likewise some Forty-eight Noblesse, D’Orleans among them, have now forthwith gone over to the victorious Commons; by whom, as is natural, they are received ‘with acclamation.’