Summary

Adrienne

Armed men wearing the tricolor, called the sans-culottes, arrest Adrienne in September of 1792 in Le Puy (399). In the department of Le Puy, Adrienne realizes that she has a better chance of survival than if she were to be sent to Paris. Her sympathizers in Le Puy try to convince her to divorce Lafayette and rid herself of his name (401). Ultimately, she decides to stand by her husband, and in signing the petition protesting her arrest, she writes, “la femme Lafayette” (401).

Adrienne is imprisoned for two weeks in Le Puy and then put into house arrest (423). During her arrest at the chateau, she hears news that the papist is to be arrested (427). Adrienne speaks to the authorities in Brioude on his behalf and ultimately saves his life (429-430). The Reign of Terror in which royalists are put to death en masse is gearing...