Deputations, swift messengers, for it is at a distance over the River, come and go.  Lafayette and National Guardes, though without Drapeau Rouge, get under way; apparently in no hot haste.  Nay, arrived on the scene, Lafayette salutes with doffed hat, before ordering to fix bayonets.  What avails it?  The Plebeian “Court of Cassation,” as Camille might punningly name it, has done its work; steps forth, with unbuttoned vest, with pockets turned inside out:  sack, and just ravage, not plunder!  With inexhaustible patience, the Hero of two Worlds remonstrates; persuasively, with a kind of sweet constraint, though also with fixed bayonets, dissipates, hushes down:  on the morrow it is once more all as usual.

Considering which things, however, Duke Castries may justly ’write to the President,’ justly transport himself across the Marches; to raise a corps, or do what else is in him.  Royalism totally abandons that Bobadilian method of contest, and the Twelve Spadassins return to Switzerland,—­or even to Dreamland through the Horn-gate, whichsoever their home is.  Nay Editor Prudhomme is authorised to publish a curious thing:  ‘We are authorised to publish,’ says he, dull-blustering Publisher, that M. Boyer, champion of good Patriots, is at the head of Fifty Spadassinicides or Bully-killers.  His address is:  Passage du Bois-de-Boulonge, Faubourg St. Denis.’ (Revolutions de Paris (in Hist.  Parl. viii. 440).) One of the strangest Institutes, this of Champion Boyer and the Bully-killers!  Whose services, however, are not wanted; Royalism having abandoned the rapier-method as plainly impracticable.

Chapter 2.3.IV.

To fly or not to fly.

The truth is Royalism sees itself verging towards sad extremities; nearer and nearer daily.  From over the Rhine it comes asserted that the King in his Tuileries is not free:  this the poor King may contradict, with the official mouth, but in his heart feels often to be undeniable.  Civil Constitution of the Clergy; Decree of ejectment against Dissidents from it:  not even to this latter, though almost his conscience rebels, can he say ‘Nay; but, after two months’ hesitating, signs this also.  It was on January 21st,’ of this 1790, that he signed it; to the sorrow of his poor heart yet, on another Twenty-first of January!  Whereby come Dissident ejected Priests; unconquerable Martyrs according to some, incurable chicaning Traitors according to others.  And so there has arrived what we once foreshadowed:  with Religion, or with the Cant and Echo of Religion, all France is rent asunder in a new rupture of continuity; complicating, embittering all the older;—­to be cured only, by stern surgery, in La Vendee!