“As Her Majesty would not see any of those who offered themselves, except in my presence, I availed myself, in this instance, of the opportunity it gave me by enforcing the arguments of Dumourier.  But all I could say, all the earnest representations to be deduced from this critical crisis, could not prevail with her, even so far as to persuade her to temporise with Dumourier, as she had done with many others on similar occasions.  She was deaf and inexorable.  She treated all he had said as the effusion of an overheated imagination, and told him she had no faith in traitors.  Dumourier remained upon his knees while she was replying, as if stupefied; but at the word traitor he started and roused himself; and then, in a state almost of madness, seized the Queen’s dress, exclaiming, ’Allow yourself to be persuaded before it is too late!  Let not your misguided prejudice against me hurry you to your own and your children’s destruction; let it not get the better, Madame, of your good sense and reason; the fatal moment is near; it is at hand!’ Upon this, turning, he addressed himself to me.

“‘Oh, Princess,’ he cried, ’be her guardian angel, as you have hitherto been her only friend, and use your never-failing influence.  I take God once more to witness, that I am sincere in all I have said; that all I have disclosed is true.  This will be the last time I shall have it in my power to be of any essential service to you, Madame, and my Sovereign.  The National Assembly will put it out of my power for the future, without becoming a traitor to my country.’

“‘Rise, monsieur,’ said the Queen, ’and serve your country better than you have served your King!’

“‘Madame, I obey.’

“When he was about to leave the room, I again, with tears, besought Her Majesty not to let him depart thus, but to give him some hope, that, after reflection, she might perhaps endeavour to soothe the King’s anger.  But in vain.  He withdrew very much affected.  I even ventured, after his departure, to intercede for his recall.

“‘He has pledged himself,’ said I, ‘to save you, Madame!’

“‘My dear Princess,’ replied the Queen, ’the goodness of your own heart will not allow you to have sinister ideas of others.  This man is like all of the same stamp.  They are all traitors; and will only hurry us the sooner, if we suffer ourselves to be deceived by them, to an ignominious death!  I seek no safety for myself.’

“‘But he offered to serve the King also, Madame.’

“‘I am not,’ answered Her Majesty, ’Henrietta of France.  I will never stoop to ask a pension of the murderers of my husband; nor will I leave the King, my son, or my adopted country, or even meanly owe my existence to wretches who have destroyed the dignity of the Crown and trampled under foot the most ancient monarchy in Europe!  Under its ruins they will bury their King and myself.  To owe our safety to them would be more hateful than any death they can prepare for us’