They go, poor ancient dames,—­whom the heart were hard that does not pity:  they go; with palpitations, with unmelodious suppressed screechings; all France, screeching and cackling, in loud unsuppressed terror, behind and on both hands of them:  such mutual suspicion is among men.  At Arnay le Duc, above halfway to the frontiers, a Patriotic Municipality and Populace again takes courage to stop them:  Louis Narbonne must now back to Paris, must consult the National Assembly.  National Assembly answers, not without an effort, that Mesdames may go.  Whereupon Paris rises worse than ever, screeching half-distracted.  Tuileries and precincts are filled with women and men, while the National Assembly debates this question of questions; Lafayette is needed at night for dispersing them, and the streets are to be illuminated.  Commandant Berthier, a Berthier before whom are great things unknown, lies for the present under blockade at Bellevue in Versailles.  By no tactics could he get Mesdames’ Luggage stirred from the Courts there; frantic Versaillese women came screaming about him; his very troops cut the waggon-traces; he retired to the interior, waiting better times. (Campan, ii. 132.)

Nay, in these same hours, while Mesdames hardly cut out from Moret by the sabre’s edge, are driving rapidly, to foreign parts, and not yet stopped at Arnay, their august nephew poor Monsieur, at Paris has dived deep into his cellars of the Luxembourg for shelter; and according to Montgaillard can hardly be persuaded up again.  Screeching multitudes environ that Luxembourg of his:  drawn thither by report of his departure:  but, at sight and sound of Monsieur, they become crowing multitudes; and escort Madame and him to the Tuileries with vivats.  (Montgaillard, ii. 282; Deux Amis, vi. c. 1.) It is a state of nervous excitability such as few Nations know.

Chapter 2.3.V.

The Day of Poniards.

Or, again, what means this visible reparation of the Castle of Vincennes?  Other Jails being all crowded with prisoners, new space is wanted here:  that is the Municipal account.  For in such changing of Judicatures, Parlements being abolished, and New Courts but just set up, prisoners have accumulated.  Not to say that in these times of discord and club-law, offences and committals are, at any rate, more numerous.  Which Municipal account, does it not sufficiently explain the phenomenon?  Surely, to repair the Castle of Vincennes was of all enterprises that an enlightened Municipality could undertake, the most innocent.