The king had been allowed to communicate with several officers:  M. de Guoguelas, M. de Damas, M. de Choiseul had seen him.  The procureur syndic, and the municipal officers of Varennes, showed both respect and pity for their king, even in the execution of what they believed to be their duty.  The people do not pass at once from respect to outrage.  There is a moment of indecision in every sacrilegious act, in which they seem yet to reverence that which they are about to destroy.  The authorities of Varennes and M. Sausse, although believing they were the saviours of the nation, were yet far from wishing to offend the king, and guarded him as much as their sovereign as their captive.  This did not escape the king’s notice; he flattered himself that at the first demand made by M. de Bouille, respect would prevail over patriotism, and that he would be set at liberty, and he expressed this belief to his officers.

One of them, M. Derlons, who commanded the squadron of hussars stationed at Dun, between Varennes and Stenay, had been informed of the king’s arrest at two o’clock in the morning by the commander of the detachment at Varennes:  having escaped this town, M. Derlons, without awaiting any orders from the general, and anticipating them, he ordered his hussars to mount, and galloped to Varennes, determined to rescue the king by force.  On his arrival at the gates of that town, he found them barricaded and defended by a numerous body of national guards, who refused to allow the hussars to enter the town.  M. Derlons dismounted, and leaving his men outside, demanded to see the king, which was consented to.  His aim was to inform the king that M. de Bouille was about to march thither at the head of the royal Allemand regiment, and also to assure himself, if it was impossible for his squadron to force the obstacles, to break down the barricades in the upper town, and carry off the king.  The barricades appeared to him impregnable to cavalry, he therefore gained admittance to the king, and asked him what were his orders.  “Tell M. de Bouille,” returned the king, “that I am a prisoner, and can give no orders.  I much fear he can do no more for me, but I pray him to do all he can.”  M. Derlons, who was an Alsatian, and spoke German, wished to say a few words in that language to the queen, in order that no person present might understand what passed.  “Speak French, sir,” said the queen, “we are overheard.”  M. Derlons said no more, but withdrew in despair; but he remained with his troop at the gates of Varennes, awaiting the arrival of the superior forces of M. de Bouille.

XXII.