Larochejaquelin, however, was always true to him; he knew that he was an orphan, without brother, sister, or relatives, and with the devotion of a real friend, he overlooked all his faults, and greatly magnified his talents.  For Henri’s sake, M. de Lescure tolerated him, and the three were therefore much together; they came from the same country; they belonged to the same club; they had the same political sympathies; and were looked upon as dear and stedfast friends.

On the 10th of August, the King left the Tuilleries, and took refuge in the National Assembly; during the greater part of the night he remained there with his family.  Early on the following morning, he was removed, under a guard, to the Feuillants; and on the 12th it was decided that he should be confined in the prison of the Temple.

It was on the morning of the 12th, that the last meeting of the little club of the Poitevins took place.

They met with throbbing hearts and blank faces; they all felt that evil days had come that the Revolution which had been so petted and caressed by the best and fairest in France, had become a beast of prey, and that war, anarchy, and misrule were at hand.

They sat waiting on the morning of the 12th, till they should learn the decision of the Assembly with regard to the King.  De Lescure was there calm and grave, but with much melancholy in his countenance.

Larochejaquelin was there.  Hot and eager, whispering plans for rescuing the King, to which the less resolute hardly dared to listen.  Charette, the Prince de Talmont, d’Autachamps, Fleuriot, and others, all of whom now detested the Revolution, though they could not but feel the danger of proclaiming themselves royalists.

“Denot will be here directly,” said La Rochejaquelin; “he is at the Assembly—­they are not apt to be very tedious in their decisions.”

“Danton has openly declared,” said Fleuriot, “that the armed sections shall remain in revolt, unless the Assembly decree the abolition of the monarchy.”

“Lafayette,” said the Prince, “is the only man now who could save the country—­if Lafayette will move, he might still save the throne.”

“He could do nothing,” said d’Autachamps, “but add himself to the ruins—­the regiments, to a man, would side with the populace.”

“I don’t know,” said Larochejaquelin, “I don’t think so.  See how our Swiss fought—­could any men be more true to their officers or their colours? and do you think there are not thousands in the French army as true, as brave as they?  If Lafayette would raise his hand, I for one would join him.”

“Wait, Henri, wait,” said de Lescure, “wait till you know whether Lafayette and the army will really be wanting to save the King.  If Roland be still firm, and Vergniaud true to his principles, they may still quell the fury of the Jacobins——­the moderate party has still a large majority in the Assembly.”

“Roland and Vergniaud are both true,” said Fleuriot, “but you will find, de Lescure, that they can do nothing but yield or go—­they must vanish out of the Assembly and become nothing—­or else they must go with the people.”